Electric locking mechanism of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical locking arrangement of a motor vehicle (1) comprising, for opening a door (2) of the motor vehicle (1), an electrically operated auxiliary door lock (3) and an electrically operated main door lock (4), wherein the main door lock (4) comprises a control unit (9), an auxiliary power source (10) configured to provide an auxiliary supply voltage, and a voltage amplifier (11) configured to amplify the auxiliary supply voltage, and the control unit (9) is configuredto open the auxiliary vehicle door lock (3) after an emergency operating condition has occurred, using a main supply voltage provided by a main power source of the vehicle (1) and / or using the amplified auxiliary supply voltage, and to open the main vehicle door lock (4) using the amplified auxiliary supply voltage at a time interval after opening the auxiliary vehicle door lock (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electric locking arrangement of a motor vehicle comprising an electrically operated auxiliary door lock and an electrically operated main door lock for opening a door of the motor vehicle, wherein the main door lock comprises a control unit, an auxiliary power source configured to provide an auxiliary supply voltage and a voltage amplifier configured to amplify the auxiliary supply voltage.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method for opening a door of a motor vehicle by means of an electrically operated auxiliary motor vehicle door lock and an electrically operated main motor vehicle door lock, wherein the main motor vehicle door lock comprises an auxiliary energy source provided for supplying an auxiliary supply voltage and a voltage amplifier provided for amplifying the auxiliary supply voltage.

[0003] Electric locking systems, also known as electrically operated locking systems, are known from the prior art and are used for the electric opening and locking of a door, in particular a sliding door of a motor vehicle. Such locking systems are often designed as so-called multi-point locking systems, consisting of a main lock and one or more auxiliary locks, hereinafter referred to as the motor vehicle main door lock and the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock, respectively. As a rule, such locking systems have an integrated or separately arranged control unit that, by means of a locking mechanism provided in the lock, causes the door to open or lock, so that, as a consequence of opening, an electric door drive can open the door.

[0004] To ensure that the lock can still be opened in the event of a main power supply interruption to the vehicle, i.e., in the event of an emergency operating condition, such lock assemblies are often equipped with an emergency power supply in the form of supercapacitors. This allows the door to be opened using an auxiliary power supply provided by the supercapacitor after the emergency operating condition occurs. Higher energy demands, voltage drop over long supply lines, and reduced emergency opening cycles with multiple lock assemblies often necessitate expensive measures such as voltage amplifiers (so-called boosters), additional cells for voltage increase, or supercapacitors with higher capacity.Due to regularly differing voltage levels between the auxiliary power supply voltage provided by the supercapacitor and the vehicle's main supply voltage, voltage amplifiers are required to amplify the auxiliary power supply voltage provided by the supercapacitor. Such voltage amplifiers lead to undesirable additional costs, especially when installed in multiple auxiliary locks.

[0005] Based on this situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cost-optimized method for opening an electric lock assembly when emergency operating conditions occur. A further object is to provide a corresponding method.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] Accordingly, the invention is solved by an electric locking arrangement of a motor vehicle comprising an electrically operated auxiliary door lock and an electrically operated main door lock for opening a door of the motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle main door lock comprises a control unit, an auxiliary power source set up to provide an auxiliary supply voltage and in particular a voltage amplifier set up to amplify the auxiliary supply voltage, and The control unit is configured to open the auxiliary door lock of the motor vehicle by means of a main supply voltage provided by a main power source of the motor vehicle and / or by means of the auxiliary supply voltage, in particular amplified, after the occurrence of an emergency operating condition, and to open the main door lock of the motor vehicle by means of the auxiliary supply voltage, in particular amplified, at a time interval from the opening of the auxiliary door lock.

[0008] A key aspect of the proposed solution is that, after an emergency operating condition occurs, for example, a drop in system voltage below a threshold, the vehicle's auxiliary door lock(s) are opened preventively. At this point, the auxiliary power source is typically still fully charged and / or a residual voltage from the main power source is available, which can be used to open the vehicle's auxiliary door lock.

[0009] After the vehicle's auxiliary door lock has been opened, any remaining energy in the auxiliary power source can be used exclusively to open the vehicle's main door lock. The proposed solution thus enables a multi-lock system to achieve comparable emergency performance to a single-lock system, without requiring higher backup capacities or complex additional circuitry to increase the auxiliary supply voltage provided by the power source in each lock.

[0010] In other words, the proposed staged opening of the multi-lock system, the proposed electric lock arrangement, allows for a significantly simpler design, which is therefore characterized by lower manufacturing costs. This is because, in particular, the vehicle auxiliary door lock opens immediately upon the occurrence of an emergency operating condition, eliminating the need for an auxiliary power source or a corresponding voltage amplifier.

[0011] The locking arrangement, also called a multi-point locking system, consists of the main vehicle door lock and one or more auxiliary vehicle door locks. The main vehicle door lock, also referred to as the main lock or main door lock, and / or the auxiliary vehicle door lock, also referred to as the auxiliary lock or auxiliary door lock, preferably has an electrically operated locking mechanism, particularly a rotary latch, known from the prior art, and / or is provided on and / or in the door. Corresponding to the respective lock or rotary latch, a locking bolt, in particular a main locking bolt and at least one auxiliary locking bolt, can be provided on the vehicle, for example on a B- or C-pillar, with which the respective lock or rotary latch can be engaged.Therefore, the term "opening the corresponding lock" used in the application refers in particular to opening the corresponding lock, specifically opening the corresponding rotary latch in relation to the corresponding lock bolt. Preferably, the term "unlocking" means that actuating elements for opening in the auxiliary door lock and / or main door lock of a motor vehicle are coupled into a force flow. Opening can then be effected, for example, by pulling a handle, in particular by means of a Bowden cable connection to the auxiliary door lock and / or main door lock of a motor vehicle. In contrast, unlocking or locking can represent a purely electronic status description that indicates whether or not a response should be made to an electronic opening signal.

[0012] The term "electrical" in the context of the application refers specifically to the features of the lock arrangement, the auxiliary door lock of the motor vehicle, and the main door lock of the motor vehicle, meaning in particular that opening is possible electrically, especially only electrically and therefore not mechanically, although it is also conceivable that at least a possibility for mechanical emergency opening exists.

[0013] The control unit, also called electronic control unit (ECU) or electronic control module (ECM), is primarily computer-based and / or can be connected to another control unit of the motor vehicle, for example via a CAN, LIN, MOST, FlexRay and / or Ethernet bus or protocol.

[0014] For the actual opening of the door, after the door has been unlocked by the locking mechanism, an electric drive may be provided, which can also be controlled by the control unit and / or another control unit present in the motor vehicle.

[0015] According to a preferred further development, the emergency operating condition includes a loss of the main supply voltage and / or a voltage drop of the main supply voltage, in particular by at least 20, 30, 40 or 50%, compared to a normal operating condition that differs from the emergency operating condition.

[0016] The emergency operating condition can occur, in particular, if, for example, due to an accident, the locking mechanism is no longer supplied with the main supply voltage from the vehicle's primary power source, as is the case under normal operating conditions. With a main supply voltage of 12 V DC, the normal operating condition can occur, for example, if the main supply voltage has dropped by 20% to 9.6 V DC.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment, the vehicle auxiliary door lock opens immediately, in particular instantly, after the emergency operating condition is met. This is because immediately after the emergency operating condition is met, either a residual voltage from the main power source may still be available, through which the vehicle auxiliary door lock is evident, or the auxiliary power source is still sufficiently charged, in particular fully charged, to open the vehicle auxiliary door lock preventively.

[0018] Following a preferred further development, the control unit is configured to open the vehicle's main door lock in response to an opening signal. Such an opening signal can be generated by operating a door handle located on the inside and / or outside of the door. However, it is also conceivable that the opening signal is generated automatically by the control unit after a predefined period of time has elapsed since the occurrence of the emergency operating condition, for example, after 12, 24, or 48 hours. It is also conceivable that the control unit generates the opening signal when the auxiliary power source's charge level is so low that, without further waiting, the vehicle's main door lock could no longer be opened using the auxiliary power source.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, the auxiliary door lock and the main door lock are designed to open a sliding door, a tailgate, a side door, and / or a front hatch of the vehicle. Preferably, the auxiliary door lock and the main door lock are arranged at a distance from each other, for example, 30, 40, or 50 cm apart. More preferably, the auxiliary door lock and the main door lock are arranged on the same side of the door or on opposite sides of the door. In the case of a sliding door, the auxiliary door lock is preferably arranged at an upper rear edge of the door, while the main door lock is arranged centrally at the rear edge.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary power source comprises at least one supercapacitor, in particular two supercapacitors connected in series, at least one battery, and / or at least one accumulator. Supercapacitors provide a relatively large amount of energy for a relatively short time and can thus be advantageously used to open door locks when an emergency operating condition occurs.

[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control unit, the auxiliary power source, and in particular the voltage amplifier are arranged within, in particular, a housing of the vehicle's main door lock, or at least the control unit is arranged at a distance from, in particular, the housing of the vehicle's main door lock. The housing can be made of plastic and / or metal. Preferably, the vehicle's auxiliary door lock does not have a control unit and / or an auxiliary power source.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the main vehicle door lock is opened at least 12, 24, 48 hours, or one week after the auxiliary vehicle door lock has been opened. Provided the auxiliary power source is kept in a fully charged state by the main power source, an auxiliary power source designed, for example, as a supercapacitor, regularly still has sufficient energy to open the main vehicle door lock even after 12, 24, 48 hours, or one week after the auxiliary vehicle door lock has been opened. In this respect, the auxiliary power source is preferably designed as an emergency power supply.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment, the auxiliary vehicle door lock is designed without amplifiers and / or voltage converters. This means, in particular, that no voltage amplifier and / or voltage converter is provided in the auxiliary vehicle door lock. For example, a motor provided in the auxiliary vehicle door lock for actuating the auxiliary vehicle door lock is connected without a voltage converter to the main power source and / or an output of the voltage amplifier of the main vehicle door lock.

[0024] Following a preferred further training, the control unit is configured to open the vehicle auxiliary door lock and the vehicle main door lock, particularly simultaneously and / or especially by means of the main supply voltage, during a normal operating condition that deviates from the emergency operating condition.

[0025] Normal operating conditions are understood to mean, in particular, a regular state of the motor vehicle in which the locking mechanism is supplied with the main supply voltage from the primary power source. Under normal operating conditions, the vehicle's auxiliary door lock and main door lock open, either simultaneously or with a time delay.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment, the auxiliary power source is configured to be charged via the main supply voltage during normal operating conditions that deviate from the emergency operating condition. Preferably, the auxiliary power source is maintained in a fully charged state so that, after the emergency operating condition occurs, the vehicle's auxiliary door lock and, in any case, the vehicle's main door lock can be opened.

[0027] The problem is further solved by a motor vehicle comprising an electric locking arrangement as previously described and the main energy source, which is designed in particular as a battery. The main energy source is designed in particular as the vehicle's battery and provides in particular a voltage of 12 or 24 V direct current.

[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment, the motor vehicle comprises a sliding door, a tailgate, a side door, and / or a front hatch, which can be opened by means of the vehicle's auxiliary door lock and the vehicle's main door lock. Preferably, a plurality of auxiliary door locks are provided.

[0029] The problem is further solved by a method for opening a motor vehicle door by means of an electrically operated auxiliary motor vehicle door lock and an electrically operated main motor vehicle door lock, wherein The motor vehicle main door lock includes an auxiliary power source set up to provide an auxiliary supply voltage and, in particular, a voltage amplifier set up to amplify the auxiliary supply voltage, and with the steps: Following the occurrence of an emergency operating condition, the vehicle's auxiliary door lock is opened using a main supply voltage provided by a main power source of the vehicle and / or using the auxiliary supply voltage, which is particularly amplified. time-spaced after opening the vehicle auxiliary door lock, opening the vehicle main door lock by means of the particularly reinforced auxiliary supply voltage.

[0030] Advantages and further developments of the method become apparent to the person skilled in the art by analogy to the lock arrangement described above.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and a preferred embodiment. However, it is important to note that these embodiments do not limit the invention but merely represent various configurations. The features shown can be implemented individually or in combination with other features described in the description and claims.

[0032] It shows: Fig. 1 an electric locking arrangement of a motor vehicle in a schematic side view according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 1, in the present case designed as a delivery van, in a schematic side view according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the invention is also applicable to all other vehicles.

[0034] The motor vehicle 1 has a side sliding door 2, which can be opened by means of an electric locking mechanism. The electric locking mechanism comprises an electrically operated auxiliary door lock 3 and an electrically operated main door lock 4, by means of which the door 2 can be unlocked or opened and locked relative to the motor vehicle 1.

[0035] As in Fig. As indicated by arrows in Figure 1, the auxiliary door lock 3 and the main door lock 4 are located on or in the door 2 and, by means of a respective rotary latch (not shown), interact with an auxiliary locking bolt 5 located on a C-pillar of the vehicle 1 and a main locking bolt 6 to lock the door 2. The auxiliary door lock 3 and the auxiliary locking bolt 5 are located at the rear upper end of the door 2, while the main door lock 4 and the main locking bolt 6 are located vertically below them, approximately in the middle of the rear end of the door 2.

[0036] Within a housing 7 of the vehicle's main door lock 4, in addition to the actual, schematically indicated, electrically operated locking mechanism 8 comprising the rotary latch, a computer- or microprocessor-based control unit 9, an auxiliary power source 10, and a voltage amplifier 11 are provided. The auxiliary power source 10 is designed as a supercapacitor, namely comprising two supercapacitors connected in series, which, when charged, provide an auxiliary supply voltage in the range of 5 to 5.4 V DC. This auxiliary supply voltage is amplified to 12 V DC by the voltage amplifier 11, which is designed as a booster.

[0037] The motor vehicle 1 has a main energy source 12 in the form of a battery, which provides a main supply voltage of 12 V DC during normal operating conditions, i.e., during regular operation of the motor vehicle 1. The control unit 9 is configured to simultaneously open the auxiliary door lock 4 and the main door lock 3 of the motor vehicle using the main supply voltage during normal operating conditions, for example, by actuating a door handle 13 provided on the door 2.

[0038] The door handle 13 is equipped with an electrical switch (not shown) that detects the actuation of the door handle 13 and sends a corresponding opening signal to the control unit 9. During normal operating conditions, the main power source 12 charges the auxiliary power source 10 with electrical energy. Thus, the auxiliary power source 10 is fully or nearly fully charged during normal operating conditions.

[0039] The control unit 9 is further configured to open the vehicle auxiliary door lock 3 immediately after an emergency operating condition occurs, using the main supply voltage provided by the main power source 12 of the vehicle 1 and / or using the amplified auxiliary supply voltage. An emergency operating condition occurs, for example, when the main supply voltage to the lock assembly fails as a result of an accident, or when the main supply voltage drops by at least 20, 30, 40, or 50% compared to the main supply voltage during normal operating conditions (which deviate from the emergency operating condition).

[0040] At a time interval after the opening of the auxiliary door lock 3, the control unit 9 causes the main door lock 4 to open by means of the auxiliary supply voltage, amplified by the voltage amplifier 11 and thus provided by the auxiliary power source 10. The auxiliary door lock 4 and the main door lock 3 are electrically connected for this purpose, with the auxiliary door lock 4 being amplifier-free, i.e., without its own voltage amplifier and also without its own auxiliary power source. The opening of the main door lock 4 can occur in response to an opening signal received from the door handle 13, for example, 12, 24, 48 hours, or one week after the opening of the auxiliary door lock 3.

[0041] In Fig.Figure 1 shows an application of the described lock arrangement to the electrically operated sliding door 2 of the motor vehicle 1. It is also possible to use the lock arrangement for a tailgate, another door, or a front hatch of the motor vehicle 1. Likewise, it is possible to use a battery or accumulator instead of or in addition to the supercapacitor. The control unit 9 can be located inside or outside the housing 7 of the motor vehicle's main door lock 4. Reference symbol list 1 motor vehicle 2 doors 3 Motor vehicle auxiliary door lock 4 Motor vehicle main door lock 5 auxiliary lock shackle 6 main lock shackle 7 cases 8 locks 9 Control unit 10 Auxiliary power source 11 voltage amplifiers 12 Main energy source 13 Door handle

Claims

[1] Electric locking arrangement of a motor vehicle (1) comprising for opening a door (2) of the motor vehicle (1) an electrically operated motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) and an electrically operated motor vehicle main door lock (4), wherein the motor vehicle main door lock (4) comprises a control unit (9), an auxiliary power source (10) configured to provide an auxiliary supply voltage and in particular a voltage amplifier (11) configured to amplify the auxiliary supply voltage, and the control unit (9) is configured to open the auxiliary vehicle door lock (3) after an emergency operating condition has occurred, using a main supply voltage provided by a main power source of the motor vehicle (1) and / or using the auxiliary supply voltage, which is in particular amplified, and to open the main vehicle door lock (4) using the auxiliary supply voltage, which is in particular amplified, at a time interval from the opening of the auxiliary vehicle door lock (3). [2] Electric lock arrangement according to the preceding claim, wherein the emergency operating condition comprises a loss of the main supply voltage and / or a voltage drop of the main supply voltage, in particular by at least 20, 30, 40 or 50%, compared to a normal operating condition that differs from the emergency operating condition. [3] Electric lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening of the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) takes place immediately after the occurrence of the emergency operating condition. [4] Electric lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (9) is configured to open the motor vehicle main door lock (4) in response to an opening signal. [5] Electric lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) and the motor vehicle main door lock (4) are designed to open a sliding door, a tailgate, a side door and / or a front flap of the motor vehicle (1). [6] Electric lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary power source (10) comprises at least one supercapacitor, in particular two supercapacitors connected in series, at least one battery and / or at least one accumulator. [7] Electrical lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (9), the auxiliary power source (10) and in particular the voltage amplifier (11) are arranged within, in particular, a housing (7) of the motor vehicle main door lock (4) or at least the control unit (9) is arranged at a distance from, in particular, the housing (7) of the motor vehicle main door lock (4). [8] Electric lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening of the motor vehicle main door lock (4) takes place at least 12, 24, 48 hours or one week after the opening of the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3). [9] Electric lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) is designed without voltage amplifier. [10] Electrical lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (9) is configured to open the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) and the motor vehicle main door lock (4) during a normal operating condition that deviates from the emergency operating condition, in particular simultaneously and / or in particular by means of the main supply voltage. [11] Electric lock arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary power source (10) is configured to be charged by means of the main supply voltage during a normal operating condition that differs from the emergency operating condition. [12] Motor vehicle comprising an electric locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims and the main energy source, in particular designed as a battery. [13] Motor vehicle according to the preceding claim, comprising a sliding door, a tailgate, a side door and / or a front flap which can be opened by means of the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) and the motor vehicle main door lock (4). [14] Method for opening a door (2) of a motor vehicle (1) by means of an electrically operated motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) and an electrically operated motor vehicle main door lock (4), wherein the motor vehicle main door lock (4) comprises an auxiliary power source (10) configured to provide an auxiliary supply voltage and in particular a voltage amplifier (11) configured to amplify the auxiliary supply voltage, and comprising the steps: after the occurrence of an emergency operating condition, opening the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3) by means of a main supply voltage provided by a main power source of the motor vehicle (1) and / or by means of the auxiliary supply voltage, which is in particular amplified, and time intervals from the opening of the motor vehicle auxiliary door lock (3), opening of the motor vehicle main door lock (4) by means of the particularly reinforced auxiliary supply voltage.

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