Method for operating lock device of motor vehicle and corresponding lock device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a lock device of a motor vehicle, comprising a lock which fixes a vehicle flap movably mounted on the motor vehicle in a locked position in a locking arrangement of the lock, in the unlocked setting of the lock, the vehicle valve is held in the locked position or released in order to displace it into a first open position, and in the released setting of the lock, the vehicle valve is released in order to displace it into a second open position different from the first open position. The lock is actuated using an actuator by means of which the adjusting element can be displaced, the lock being switched from a locked setting to an unlocked setting when the adjusting element is displaced in a first manner and switched from the unlocked setting to a released setting when the adjusting element is displaced in a second manner, the actuator displaces the adjusting element only when actuated by two separate controllers. The invention also relates to a lock device for a motor vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a locking device of a motor vehicle, wherein the locking device has a lock which, in a locked setting of the lock, fixes a vehicle valve movably supported on the motor vehicle in a locked position, in an unlocked setting of the lock, holds the vehicle valve in the locked position or releases the vehicle valve to displace the vehicle valve into a first open position, and in a released setting of the lock, releases the vehicle valve to displace the vehicle valve into a second open position different from the first open position. The invention also relates to a locking device for a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The prior art discloses, for example, document DE 199 23 703 B4, which describes a hood locking / unlocking device, wherein the locking / unlocking device comprises a locking mechanism for locking the hood of a motor vehicle in its locked position, an electric drive coupled to the locking mechanism and for unlocking the locking mechanism, and a control device for selectively releasing the electric drive in response to certain status information of the motor vehicle.

[0003] It is provided here that the control device only releases the electric drive if the status information indicates a tightened handbrake and / or a decoupled transmission of the motor vehicle, and the control device is designed so that, after a certain period of time after unlocking the locking mechanism, the control device activates the locking mechanism for automatically locking the engine hood in order to bring the engine hood into its locked position and then activates the electric drive in order to lock the locking mechanism again.

[0004] Furthermore, document DE 10 2021 119 876 A1 discloses a device for controlling a lock of a vehicle flap. The device comprises an operating element that can be manipulated by a user in order to close an electrical circuit and thus unlock the lock of the vehicle flap. Furthermore, the device comprises a circuit breaker that is designed to prevent the electrical circuit from being closed by the operating element when the vehicle door is locked and to enable the electrical circuit to be closed by the operating element when the vehicle door is open. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a locking device of a motor vehicle which has advantages over known methods and in particular satisfies common safety requirements with a simpler construction.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for operating a lock device of a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1. It is provided that the lock is actuated using an actuator, by means of which an adjusting element can be displaced, wherein upon a first displacement of the adjusting element the lock is switched from a locked setting to an unlocked setting, and upon a second displacement of the adjusting element the lock is switched from an unlocked setting to a released setting, and wherein the actuator displaces the adjusting element only when actuated by two separate controllers.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments and suitable improvements of the invention are given in the dependent claims. It should be pointed out that the exemplary embodiments described in the description are not restrictive; on the contrary, any combination of the features disclosed in the description, claims and drawings can be realized.

[0008] The method is used to operate a locking device, which has at least a lock and an actuator. The locking device is preferably a component of a motor vehicle, but can of course also be present separately from the motor vehicle, in particular before the locking device is mounted on the motor vehicle. The lock is arranged and designed to temporarily keep the vehicle flap locked and to temporarily release the vehicle flap for opening. The vehicle flap is movably mounted on the motor vehicle, preferably swivellably mounted on the motor vehicle, i.e. swivellably mounted on the motor vehicle about a swivelling axis.

[0009] The vehicle flap is arranged and designed to temporarily cover or cover a space arranged in the body of a motor vehicle. This space is, for example, the front space of the motor vehicle, in particular the engine compartment. In this case, the vehicle flap can also be referred to as a front flap, a front hood or an engine hood. Alternatively, the space is a rear space or a luggage compartment; in this case, the vehicle flap is present as a rear flap or a luggage compartment cover.

[0010] In any case, the body of the motor vehicle has a recess which is present as a spatial access opening. The recess is at least temporarily covered at least partially by the vehicle flap. Preferably, in one position, the vehicle flap largely closes the recess, ie, completely closes the recess, in particular except for a gap present at the edge. In this case, the vehicle flap can cover the recess or be arranged in the recess.

[0011] The vehicle flap can be arranged in different positions, i.e. at least in a closed position and an open position, the open position also being referred to herein as the second open position. Between the closed position and the (second) open position there may be a further open position, which is also referred to as the first open position. In the closed position, the vehicle flap further closes off a space of the motor vehicle or a recess built in the vehicle body than in the open position at least. Thus, the vehicle flap covers the recess to a greater extent at least than in the (second) open position.

[0012] In the second open position, the vehicle flap at least partially releases the recess, in particular completely or at least almost completely. For example, the vehicle flap is designed here so that a user of the motor vehicle can enter the space from the outside through the recess when the vehicle flap is arranged in the second open position, for example in order to place transported objects, in particular luggage, in the space. Thus, in the second open position, the user is allowed to enter the space of the vehicle flap from the outside through the recess. In the locked position of the vehicle flap, access to the space through the recess is prohibited; therefore, when the second open position is present, the user cannot enter the space through the recess.

[0013] The lock of the locking device can be set to three different states, namely, a locked setting, an unlocked setting and a released setting. In the locked setting, the lock holds the vehicle valve in its locked position, so that the vehicle valve is prevented from shifting from the locked position in the direction of the second open position. In the unlocked setting, the vehicle valve is unlocked, but it can still be set so that the lock holds the vehicle valve in the locked position, that is, the vehicle valve is prevented from shifting from the locked position in the direction of the second open position.

[0014] Alternatively, the lock allows the vehicle hatch to be displaced into a first open position in the unlocked setting. In the first open position, the vehicle hatch is only partially open, i.e. the recess is only partially released, in particular less than in the second open position. The distance between the first open position and the locked position is, for example, at most 20%, 10% or 5% of the distance between the second open position and the locked position.

[0015] The lock has, for example, a locking mechanism and a capture mechanism. In the locked setting of the lock, the vehicle valve is held in the locked position by means of the locking mechanism. In the unlocked setting, the locking mechanism releases the vehicle valve so that the vehicle valve is displaced from the locked position, but the displacement of the vehicle valve is limited by the capture mechanism. The capture mechanism is, for example, arranged in such a way that it continues to hold the vehicle valve in the locked position. Alternatively, the capture mechanism is arranged and designed in such a way that it allows the vehicle valve to be displaced to a first open position. In the released setting of the lock, the vehicle valve is released by the locking mechanism as well as the capture mechanism, thereby allowing the vehicle valve to be displaced from the locked position to a second open position. A high level of safety is thus achieved, since an unintentional release of the vehicle valve and its opening is reliably prevented.

[0016] In order to achieve a structurally simple design of the lock device, the lock should be operated using only a single actuator. The actuator is in the form of an electric actuator, for example, it is implemented as an electric motor or at least has such a motor. The actuator is coupled to an adjusting element in terms of drive technology, in this regard, the adjusting element can be displaced when using the actuator, for example, the adjusting element can be displaced between a first position and a second position. The adjusting element is in turn coupled to the lock in terms of drive technology, so that the lock can be operated by the actuator via the adjusting element. The adjusting element can be in the form of, for example, a motor shaft of the actuator, a shaft coupled to the motor shaft of the actuator, a rod, etc. In this regard, the adjusting element can be implemented in any form as long as the lock can be operated via the adjusting element when using the actuator.

[0017] The actuator is connected to the lock in terms of drive technology in such a way that, in the case of a first displacement of the adjusting element, the lock switches from the locked setting to the unlocked setting. In the case of a second displacement of the adjusting element after the first displacement, the lock switches from the unlocked setting to the released setting. In other words, two separate displacements of the adjusting element are necessary in order to switch the lock from the locked setting to the released setting. The lock can therefore be referred to as a two-stroke lock, since two strokes of the actuator are required in order to completely release the vehicle flap. It is preferably necessary that, in order to switch the lock from the locked setting to the released setting, the adjusting element must be displaced twice at intervals in time. It is therefore not sufficient for the first displacement and the second displacement to be part of the same continuous displacement of the adjusting element.

[0018] Since the lock is adjusted from the locked setting via the unlocked setting to the released setting solely by means of an actuator, which is preferably only one actuator, the lock can also be accidentally set to the released setting and the vehicle hatch can be accidentally opened in the event of a malfunction of the actuator or in the event of an incorrect actuation of the actuator. For this reason, a double displacement of the actuating element is necessary for this purpose, and on the other hand, the actuation should be carried out by two separate controllers in order to further increase the safety of the actuator.

[0019] Only when controlled by the two separate controllers does the actuator cause the adjustment element to be displaced according to the first displacement or the second displacement. If only one of the two controllers controls the actuator or one of the controllers controls the actuator incorrectly, the actuator will not operate, so the adjustment element is not displaced, so that the lock reliably maintains its current setting. Preferably, each of the controllers meets the safety requirements according to ASIL-B. Therefore, by combining the two controllers to control the actuator, the lock device meets the safety requirements according to ASIL-D.

[0020] For example, when the operating element is actuated, the control of the actuator is initiated in order to displace the adjusting element. The operating element is preferably arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle, in particular in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. For example, the operating element is present on the dashboard of the motor vehicle or in the footwell of the motor vehicle driver. The operating element is present, for example, as a switch, preferably as a push button switch, a rocker switch, a pressure switch or the like. The lock device is particularly designed such that when the operating element is actuated, the lock switches from the locked setting to the released setting, even if the switch is only actuated briefly.

[0021] A refinement of the invention provides that the adjusting element can be displaced between a first position and a second position by means of an actuator, wherein the displacement between the first position and the second position is performed as a first displacement of the adjusting element and the further displacement between the first position and the second position is performed as a second displacement of the adjusting element. In this regard, the adjusting element can be present at least in the first position and the second position and can be displaced between these two positions by means of the actuator. The actuator can be operated to at least displace the adjusting element from the first position into the second position. Preferably, in addition, the operation of the actuator is also provided to displace the adjusting element from the second position into the first position, which is especially absolutely necessary. Although such a resetting can in principle be achieved by means of a spring element, which pushes the adjusting element in the direction of the first position. However, this is disadvantageous for safety reasons. Therefore, the lock device is designed without such a spring element, so that the adjusting element does not cause a change in the setting of the lock except for its displacement by means of the actuator.

[0022] The first displacement of the adjusting element required to switch the lock from the locked setting to the unlocked setting is in the form of a displacement between the first position and the second position, i.e., from the first position into the second position. In this regard, it is necessary that the adjusting element is completely displaced from the first position into the second position in order to switch the lock from the locked setting to the unlocked setting. The same applies to the second displacement. The second displacement is also in the form of a displacement of the adjusting element between the first position and the second position, i.e., from the first position into the second position.

[0023] Therefore, in order to switch the lock from the unlocked setting to the released setting, it is necessary to completely displace the adjusting element from the first position into the second position. The first displacement and the second displacement include displacement of the adjusting element in the same direction by means of the actuator, and the first displacement and the second displacement preferably cover the same distance, i.e., from the first position of the adjusting element to the second position. Thus, a high safety of the locking device is achieved.

[0024] According to an improved solution of the present invention, the first connection of the actuator is electrically connected to the first switch of the first controller in the controller, and the second connection of the actuator is electrically connected to the second switch of the second controller in the controller, wherein the corresponding connection is electrically connected to the first electrode in the first setting of the corresponding switch, and is electrically connected to the second electrode in the second setting of the corresponding switch, and is electrically separated from the first electrode and the second electrode in the third setting of the corresponding switch. The actuator exists as an electrical actuator and has a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection, which are electrically connected to the controller. Specifically, the first connection of the actuator is electrically connected to the first switch of the first controller, and the second connection of the actuator is electrically connected to the second switch of the second controller. The switch preferably exists as an electronic switch, that is, in particular as a power semiconductor switch, for example as a field effect transistor or as a bipolar transistor, or at least contains an electronic switch. The switch is especially implemented as a three-state switch, that is, the switch can have three different settings.

[0025] Thus, the actuator is present in a circuit extending between the controllers, and the circuit includes at least a first switch and a second switch in addition to the actuator. Each of the switches can have three different settings, namely a first setting, a second setting and a third setting. In the first setting and the second setting, the connection of the actuator, which is connected to the corresponding switch, is connected to a certain electrode. In the third setting, the connection of the actuator is electrically separated from the first electrode and the second electrode by the corresponding switch. Therefore, in the third setting of the switch, neither the first electrode nor the second electrode is electrically connected via the switch connection.

[0026] The two electrodes correspond to different potentials. For example, the first electrode is the positive electrode and the second electrode is the negative electrode. In any case, the electrodes or their potentials are selected such that, when the actuator is connected to the two poles accordingly, a displacement of the adjusting element from the first position into the second position and vice versa is possible. This results in the advantages described.

[0027] In a first setting of the first switch, the first connection of the actuator is connected to the first electrode, and in a second setting of the first switch, the first connection of the actuator is connected to the second electrode. In a first setting of the second switch, the second connection of the actuator is electrically connected to the first electrode, and in a second setting, the second connection of the actuator is electrically connected to the second electrode. Thus, if the two switches are in the same setting, the two connections of the actuator are electrically connected to the same electrode.

[0028] For example, the actuator is coupled to the switches of the controller in such a way that when the first switch is in the first setting and the second switch is in the second setting, the actuator displaces the adjusting element from the direction of the first position to the direction of the second position, and when the first switch is in the second setting and the second switch is in the first setting, the actuator displaces the adjusting element from the direction of the second position to the direction of the first position. This enables the high safety of the locking device to be achieved.

[0029] According to a refinement of the invention, when the lock is in the locked setting, in a first step, the adjusting element is displaced from the first position into the second position by means of the actuator to adjust the unlocked setting, in a second step, the adjusting element is displaced from the second position into the first position by means of the actuator, and in a third step, the adjusting element is displaced from the first position into the second position by means of the actuator to adjust the released setting. Overall, therefore, the actuator needs to be actuated in three steps in order to switch the lock from the locked setting to the released setting.

[0030] In a first step, the adjusting element is displaced from the first position to the second position, in a second step, the adjusting element is displaced from the second position to the first position, and in a third step, the adjusting element is displaced again from the first position to the second position. In particular, it is provided that in the first step, the actuator is displaced from the first position to the second position along a first direction of movement of the adjusting element, in the second step, the adjusting element is displaced from the second position to the first position along a second direction of movement of the adjusting element opposite to the first direction of movement, and in the third step, the actuator is displaced again from the first position to the second position along the first direction of movement. Thus, in order to switch the lock from the locked setting to the released setting, the actuator is displaced in different directions of movement and is controlled accordingly by means of two separate controllers. This also serves to achieve the high safety.

[0031] A refinement of the invention provides that, in order to displace the adjusting element from the first position to the second position, the first switch is adjusted to the first setting and the second switch is adjusted to the second setting, and / or in order to displace the adjusting element from the second position to the first position, the first switch is adjusted to the second position and the second switch is adjusted to the first setting. This method has already been mentioned. By means of different settings of the switches of the control unit, opposite directions of movement of the adjusting element are achieved. The advantages that can be achieved thereby have also been discussed.

[0032] According to a refinement of the invention, before the first setting or the second setting is adjusted, the switch of each controller is in the third setting; and / or after each displacement of the adjusting element, the switch of each controller is set to the third setting. In order to prevent the controller from erroneously controlling the actuator, the switch should always be adjusted to the third setting between the adjustment from the first setting to the second setting or vice versa. In particular, each switch is adjusted to the third setting when changing from the first setting to the second setting or vice versa, until each of the switches is in the third setting. This enables reliable control of the actuator and enables fault detection.

[0033] According to an improved embodiment of the invention, each controller evaluates at least one state variable of the motor vehicle separately from the respective other controller and determines a release value based on the state variable, wherein, in the case of a first value of the release variable, the switch of the controller is allowed to be adjusted to the first setting and / or the second setting, and in the case of a second value of the release variable, the switch of the controller is prohibited from being adjusted to the first setting and / or the second setting. Thus, before the controller controls the actuator to shift the adjusting element, for example, based on the manipulation of the operating element, one of the release values ​​is determined by each of the controllers. Thus, for example, the first controller determines the first release value and the second controller determines the second release value. To determine the release value for the same release variable, the controllers in particular use the same state variable or a plurality of the same state variables.

[0034] The release value contains information about whether the corresponding controller should operate the actuator. If the first release value of the first controller corresponds to the first value, it is allowed to adjust the first switch to the first setting and / or the second setting, otherwise it is prohibited to adjust the first switch to the first setting and / or the second setting. If the second release value of the second controller corresponds to the first value, it is allowed to set the second switch of the second controller to the first setting and / or the second setting, otherwise it is prohibited to set the second switch of the second controller to the first setting and / or the second setting. Therefore, each controller in the controller determines whether the actuator should be operated to shift the adjusting element, that is, it determines whether the actuator should be operated to shift the adjusting element according to at least one state parameter of the motor vehicle. High safety of the locking device is achieved in this way.

[0035] A further development of the invention provides that at least one of the following variables is used as at least one state variable: the driving speed of the motor vehicle, the opening state of a door of the motor vehicle, the opening state of a vehicle flap, the connection state of a data transmission connection between the controllers, the result of a comparison between the release values ​​of the controllers and the voltage applied to the actuator. The at least one state variable is supplied to each of the controllers, for example via a corresponding data transmission connection between a device for determining the state variable and the corresponding controller.

[0036] It can be provided that only exactly one of the variables mentioned is used as the state variable. However, preferably a plurality of the variables mentioned, in particular all of the variables mentioned, are included in the release value, i.e. are taken into account when determining the release value. If at least one or more state variables are referred to in this description, these statements are always equivalent. A state variable is to be understood as at least one state variable and vice versa, at least one state variable is to be understood as a state variable.

[0037] The driving speed of the motor vehicle relates in particular to the current speed of the motor vehicle in its main driving direction, in particular in the forward driving direction. For example, if the driving speed of the motor vehicle is zero, i.e. the motor vehicle is at a standstill, the release value is then set to the first value. If the driving speed of the motor vehicle is not zero, the release value is preferably always set to the second value. The open state of the doors of the motor vehicle indicates whether the doors are completely closed or at least partially open. Only when the doors are partially open is the release value set to the first value, otherwise to the second value. Particularly preferably, the open states of a plurality of doors or all doors of the motor vehicle are taken into account when determining the release value. Adjustment of the lock to the release setting is permitted only when at least one door of the motor vehicle is at least partially open.

[0038] The opening state of the vehicle valve itself can also be incorporated into the release value. For example, this prevents the lock from further switching to the release setting because the lock is already in this release setting. In addition, the connection state of the data transmission connection between the controllers is evaluated in order to determine the release value. The controllers exchange data, such as correspondingly determined release values, via the data transmission connection. In order to achieve particularly high safety, the opening of the vehicle valve is prevented if the data transmission connection does not exist or is disturbed. For this purpose, the lock is set to the unlocking setting by selecting the release value accordingly. If the connection state of the data transmission connection corresponds to a data transmission connection that does not exist or is disturbed, the release value is set to the second value. On the other hand, if the connection state corresponds to a normally operating data transmission connection, the release value is set to the first value.

[0039] Additionally or alternatively, the comparison result between the release values ​​is taken into account. For example, the control unit determines a preset value / preliminary value for the release value and exchanges the preset values ​​with one another. If the release values ​​or the preset values ​​of the control unit differ from one another, the vehicle valve is not allowed to be opened, so the release value is set to the second value. Only when the release values ​​or their preset values ​​match is the release value set equal to the first value.

[0040] Furthermore, the voltage applied to the actuator can be used when determining the release value. In this regard, each of the controllers measures the voltage applied to the actuator, i.e., to the connection connected to the switch of the respective controller. If a non-zero voltage is determined, it can be concluded that the switch of the respective other controller is defective or that the connection of the actuator is incorrectly connected to one of the poles. In this case, the release value of the controller that determined this situation is set to the first setting.

[0041] If multiple parameters are used, the release value is preferably set to the first value only when all of the conditions mentioned are met. Even if only one condition is not met, the release value is set to the second value to achieve particularly high safety and prevent unintentional opening of the vehicle hatch.

[0042] The improvement scheme of the present invention provides that the actuator used is stable in the first position and / or the second position. This should be understood as that the actuator is stably held in the first position or the second position by the controller when it is not powered. For this purpose, the actuator is designed to be self-locking or at least self-retaining (selbsthaltend), so that the force applied to the actuator by the lock via the adjusting element does not cause or only causes the displacement of the adjusting element when it exceeds a certain adjustment force. If the actuator is self-locking, the adjustment force will never cause the displacement of the adjusting element, at least not a non-destructive displacement. In other words, the actuator does not allow non-destructive displacement of the adjusting element in its self-locking design. In the self-retaining design of the actuator, if the adjustment force acting on the adjusting element reaches or exceeds a certain adjustment force, the displacement of the adjusting element is allowed. If the adjustment force is less than the certain adjustment force, the actuator keeps the adjusting element fixed in position. Therefore, in this case, the non-destructive displacement of the adjusting element can also be achieved without powering the actuator. Preferably, the actuator is stable in each of its two positions. In this case, the actuator can be said to be bistable. This also contributes to a particularly high level of safety.

[0043] The present invention also relates to a locking device for a motor vehicle, which is particularly used to perform the method according to any one or more of the above claims, wherein the locking device has a lock, which fixes a vehicle valve movably supported on the motor vehicle in a locked position of the vehicle valve in a locked setting of the lock, holds the vehicle valve in the locked position or releases the vehicle valve to shift to a first open position in an unlocked setting of the lock, and releases the vehicle valve to shift to a second open position different from the first open position in a released setting of the lock.

[0044] It is provided here that the lock can be operated using an actuator, by means of which the adjusting element can be shifted, wherein the lock is arranged and designed so that when the adjusting element performs a first shift, the lock switches from a locked setting to an unlocked setting, and when the adjusting element performs a second shift, the lock switches from an unlocked setting to a released setting, and wherein the lock device is designed so that the actuator shifts the adjusting element only when it is controlled by two separate controllers.

[0045] The advantages of the embodiments of the locking device and the method have already been pointed out. The locking device for a motor vehicle and the method for operating the locking device can be modified according to the embodiments within the scope of the description, so that reference is made to these embodiments in this regard. However, the vehicle flap can be, but does not necessarily have to be, a component of the locking device.

[0046] The features and combinations of features described in the specification, in particular the features and combinations of features described in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures, can be used not only in the respectively given combination, but also in other combinations or alone, as long as it does not depart from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the specification and / or the figures, but are derived from or can be deduced from the described embodiments, are also considered to be included in the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Without limiting the invention, the invention is further explained below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In this case, the only drawing:

[0048] Figure 1 A schematic illustration of a locking device for a motor vehicle and a vehicle hatch of a motor vehicle is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Figure 1 The schematic illustration of a lock device 1 is shown, which has at least a lock 2, which is only shown briefly, and an actuator 3 for actuating the lock 2. The lock 2 is assigned to a vehicle flap 4 which is movably mounted on the motor vehicle and to which a sensor 5 is assigned for determining the open state of the vehicle flap 4. The lock 2 can have different settings, namely a locked setting, an unlocked setting and a released setting.

[0050] In the locked setting, the lock 2 holds the vehicle valve 4 in the locked position. In the unlocked setting of the lock 2, the lock continues to hold the vehicle valve 4 in the locked position or releases the vehicle valve to displace the vehicle valve into the first open position. In the released setting of the lock 2, the lock releases the vehicle valve 4 to displace the vehicle valve into a second open position different from the first open position.

[0051] The lock 2 is actuated by means of a single actuator 3, which is connected to the lock 2 in terms of drive technology via an adjusting element 6. The actuator 3 is provided as an electric actuator and preferably has a motor 7, which is connected to the actuator 3 in terms of drive technology via the adjusting element 6. The motor 7 is preferably the only motor of the actuator 3. The actuator 3 has a first connection 8 and a second connection 9. The first connection 8 is electrically connected to a first control 10, more precisely to a first switch 11 of the first control 10. The second connection 9 is electrically connected to a second control 12, more precisely to a second switch 13 of the second control 12.

[0052] Each of the switches 11, 13 can have three different settings. In a first setting, the corresponding switch 11 or 12 connects the corresponding connection 8 or 9 to the first pole, and in a second setting, the corresponding switch 11 or 12 connects the corresponding connection 8 or 9 to the second pole. In a third setting, the corresponding connection 8 or 9 is electrically separated from the two poles. The two controllers 10 and 12 can be designed identically and used for the same purpose. However, the two controllers can also be set and designed for different purposes. In addition, the two controllers can also have different structures from each other.

[0053] The lock device 1 is designed so that the lock 2 is switched from the locked setting to the unlocked setting during a first displacement of the adjusting element 6 and from the unlocked setting to the released setting during a second displacement of the adjusting element 6. Each of the two displacements includes a displacement of the adjusting element 6 from a first position of the adjusting element 6 to a second position by means of the actuator 3. Between the first displacement and the second displacement, the adjusting element is reset from the second position to the first position. For this purpose, the switches 11, 13 of the controllers 10, 12 are adjusted accordingly. Thus, a high level of safety is achieved and an unintentional opening of the vehicle flap 4 is reliably avoided.

[0054] List of reference numerals:

[0055] 1 Locking device

[0056] 2 Locks

[0057] 3 Actuator

[0058] 4 Vehicle valves

[0059] 5 Sensors

[0060] 6. Adjustment elements

[0061] 7 Motor

[0062] 8 First connection part

[0063] 9 Second connection part

[0064] 10 First Controller

[0065] 11. First switch

[0066] 12 Second Controller

[0067] 13 Second switch

Claims

1. A method for operating a locking device (1) of a motor vehicle, wherein: The lock device (1) comprises a lock (2) which, in the locked setting of the lock (2), fixes a vehicle valve (4) movably supported on a motor vehicle in a locked position, in the unlocked setting of the lock (2), holds the vehicle valve in the locked position or releases the vehicle valve to be displaced to a first open position, and in the released setting of the lock (2), releases the vehicle valve to be displaced to a second open position different from the first open position, characterized in that the lock (2) is operated using an actuator (3) by means of which an adjusting element (6) can be displaced, wherein the lock (2) switches from the locked setting to the unlocked setting when the adjusting element (6) performs a first displacement, and switches from the unlocked setting to the released setting when the adjusting element (6) performs a second displacement, wherein the actuator (3) only displaces the adjusting element (6) when it is controlled by two separate controllers (10, 12).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjusting element (6) can be displaced between a first position and a second position by means of an actuator (3), wherein as a first displacement of the adjusting element (6), a displacement between the first position and the second position is performed, and as a second displacement of the adjusting element (6), another displacement between the first position and the second position is performed.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A first connection portion (8) of the actuator (3) is electrically connected to a first switch (11) of a first controller among the controllers (10, 12), and a second connection portion (9) of the actuator (3) is electrically connected to a second switch (13) of a second controller among the controllers (10, 12), wherein the corresponding connection portions (8, 9) are electrically connected to a first electrode in a first setting of the corresponding switch (11, 13), are electrically connected to a second electrode in a second setting of the corresponding switch (11, 13), and are electrically separated from the first electrode and the second electrode in a third setting of the corresponding switch (11, 13).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that When the lock (2) is in the locked setting, in a first step, in order to adjust the unlocking setting, the adjusting element (6) is displaced from the first position to the second position by means of the actuator (3); in a second step, the adjusting element (6) is displaced from the second position to the first position by means of the actuator (3); in a third step, in order to adjust the releasing setting, the adjusting element (6) is displaced from the first position to the second position by means of the actuator (3).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In order to shift the adjustment element (6) from the first position to the second position, the first switch (11) is adjusted to the first setting and the second switch (13) is adjusted to the second setting, and / or in order to shift the adjustment element from the second position to the first position, the first switch (11) is adjusted to the second setting and the second switch (13) is adjusted to the first setting.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The switch (11, 13) of each controller (10, 12) is in the third setting before adjusting the first setting or the second setting, and / or the switch (11, 13) of each controller (10, 12) is adjusted to the third setting after each displacement of the adjustment element (6).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Each controller (10, 12) evaluates at least one state variable of the motor vehicle separately from the respective other controller (10, 12) and determines a release value from the state variable, wherein, in the case of a first value of the release value, adjustment of a switch (11, 13) of the controller (10, 12) to a first setting and / or a second setting is permitted, and in the case of a second value of the release value, adjustment of the switch (11, 13) of the controller (10, 12) to the first setting and / or the second setting is prohibited.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one of the following variables is used as at least one state variable: the driving speed of the motor vehicle, the opening state of a door of the motor vehicle, the opening state of a vehicle flap (4), the connection state of a data transmission connection between the controllers (10, 12), a comparison result between release values ​​of the controllers (10, 12) and a voltage applied to the actuator (3).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that An actuator (3) is used which is stable in the first position and / or in the second position.

10. A locking device (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular for carrying out the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: The lock device (1) comprises a lock (2) which, in the locked setting of the lock (2), fixes a vehicle valve (4) movably supported on a motor vehicle in a locked position, in the unlocked setting of the lock (2), holds the vehicle valve in the locked position or releases the vehicle valve to be displaced to a first open position, and in the released setting of the lock (2), releases the vehicle valve to be displaced to a second open position different from the first open position, characterized in that the lock (2) can be operated using an actuator (3) by means of which an adjusting element (6) can be displaced, wherein the lock (2) is arranged and designed to switch from the locked setting to the unlocked setting when the adjusting element (6) performs a first displacement, and from the unlocked setting to the released setting when the adjusting element (6) performs a second displacement, wherein the lock device (1) is designed so that the actuator (3) only displaces the adjusting element (6) when it is controlled by two separate controllers (10, 12).

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