Method for operating a motor vehicle locking system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system (1), wherein: the motor vehicle locking system (1) has a drive (2) comprising an electric drive motor (3) for providing a motorised locking function, as well as a control assembly comprising a system control device (6) and comprising a lock control unit (7); during normal operation, the system control device (6) is used to query whether an operating event has been detected via an operating element (9) on the basis of an operating element supply voltage (UB) based on an on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle (5); upon detection of the operating event, the drive (2) is actuated by means of the control assembly in order to provide the locking function; the lock control unit (7) has an electrical energy storage device (13); and an energy storage voltage (13) is provided by means of the energy storage device (13) in an emergency operation, in particular in the event of failure of the on-board electrical system, in order to provide an emergency supply voltage to the drive (2). According to the invention, the lock control unit (7) is used to provide the operating element (9) with the operating element supply voltage (UB) based on the energy storage voltage (13) in order to detect the operating event, wherein, during normal operation, the provision of the operating element supply voltage (UB) based on the energy storage voltage (13) is suppressed by the query of the detection of the operating event by means of the system control device (6).

Description

[0001] Procedure for operating a motor vehicle locking system

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system according to the preamble of claim 1, a motor vehicle locking system according to claim 9 and a motor vehicle according to claim 12.

[0003] The motor vehicle locking system in question is used for all types of motorized locking functions for locking elements of a motor vehicle. These include, in particular, locking elements such as side doors, rear doors, tailgates, trunk lids, hoods, or the like. These locking elements can generally be designed as pivoting or sliding doors. The motorized locking function particularly relates to a motor vehicle lock associated with the motor vehicle locking system. Further examples of the relevant locking functions of a motor vehicle are drive arrangements that provide motorized adjustment of the aforementioned locking elements.

[0004] The prior art (DE 10 2020 102 775 A1) discloses a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system with a motor vehicle lock that has a lock latch and a pawl as locking elements. The lock latch can be moved into a closed position in which it is in holding engagement with the locking part and in which it is fixed by the pawl. The motor vehicle lock is further equipped with an electric drive with which the pawl can be lifted out, so that the lock latch can be adjusted to its open position, releasing the locking part.

[0005] In order to meet the requirements for the safety of the power supply of such motor vehicle locks, the known control arrangement has a rechargeable energy storage device, whereby the electrical power supply of the motor vehicle locking system is ensured via an emergency supply voltage even in emergency operation, in particular in the event of a failure of a normal supply voltage.

[0006] The invention is based on the problem of designing and developing a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system in such a way that the use of the motor vehicle locking system in emergency operation is further optimized.

[0007] The above problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0008] It is assumed that a control arrangement with a higher-level system control unit and a local lock control unit is provided for the operation of the motor vehicle locking system. The key consideration is that other components assigned to the motor vehicle locking system can also be operated using the lock control unit's energy storage unit, which is provided for the emergency power supply of the drive. An operating element, which, for example, has a sensor arrangement for detecting actuation via a key query, is also supplied with electrical energy via the energy storage unit. However, discharging of the energy storage unit during normal operation should be avoided as far as possible, which is achieved by querying the operating element during normal operation using the system control unit.

[0009] In detail, it is proposed that the control element supply voltage is provided to the control element by means of the lock control on the basis of the energy storage voltage for detecting the control event, wherein the provision of the control element supply voltage on the basis of the energy storage voltage is suppressed in normal operation by querying the detection of the control event by means of the system control unit.

[0010] Particularly preferably, the supply of the control element on the basis of the energy storage device is based on a time control, here a lock timer according to claim 2, the activation of which can be suppressed as long as the query is carried out by means of the system control unit.

[0011] In the particularly preferred embodiment according to claim 3, a lock delay is provided, after which the control element's supply voltage is switched on from the energy storage device. A repeated reset, triggered by the query via the system control unit, prevents switching on from the energy storage device during normal operation. If no query is made during emergency operation with an inactive system control unit, the lock timer switches on the control element.

[0012] The subject matter of claim 4 relates to the aforementioned configuration of the query by means of the system control unit via a timer, here via a control unit timer, which allows polling of the control element during normal operation. A particularly simple and expedient suppression of activation from the energy storage device during normal operation is achieved in the configuration according to claim 5 by comparing the delays of the timers of the system control unit and the lock control.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment according to claim 6, the energy storage device has at least one double-layer capacitor and a boost arrangement, whereby a high power density can be provided for the motor vehicle locking system.

[0014] The boost arrangement can serve to provide the control element supply voltage and can be activated intermittently. Particularly preferred is the configuration with a secondary boost stage and a main boost stage according to claim 7, wherein the periodic activation of the secondary boost stage is used to supply voltage to the control element.

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the respective timing circuits are specified in claim 8.

[0016] According to a further teaching according to claim 9, which has independent significance, a motor vehicle locking system is claimed, wherein the motor vehicle locking system has a drive with an electric drive motor for providing a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element of the motor vehicle, as well as a control arrangement with a system control unit and a lock control, wherein the motor vehicle locking system is configured to carry out the proposed method. Reference may be made to all explanations of the proposed method. In the preferred embodiment according to claim 10, a motor vehicle lock is further provided for the locking element of the motor vehicle, wherein the electric drive is provided for the motorized lifting of the pawl of the motor vehicle lock. The proposed solution can take into account the special security requirements of motor vehicle locksmiths.

[0017] A particularly preferred embodiment of the motor vehicle locking system is one in which the lock control is integrated into the motor vehicle lock. Accordingly, the motor vehicle lock is configured to provide emergency power to the control element, which is provided, for example, in a door handle.

[0018] According to a further teaching according to claim 12, which also has independent significance, a motor vehicle with a proposed motor vehicle locking system is claimed. Reference is made to all statements regarding the proposed method and the proposed motor vehicle locking system.

[0019] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing which merely illustrates exemplary embodiments. In the drawing,

[0020] Fig. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a motor vehicle with a proposed motor vehicle locking system and a motor vehicle lock in a partially disassembled side view and

[0021] Fig. 2 a) a schematic representation of a control arrangement of the proposed motor vehicle locking system; b), c) exemplary time curves of the control element supply voltage.

[0022] The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system 1, wherein the motor vehicle locking system 1 has a drive 2 with an electric drive motor 3 for providing a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element 4 of a motor vehicle 5.

[0023] The term "drive motor" herein encompasses all types of electric actuators, in particular rotary and linear actuators. The drive motor 3 is preferably a rotary electric motor, which is further preferably configured as a brushed DC motor or as a brushless DC motor. During normal operation, the drive 2 can be powered by a standard supply voltage, here and preferably by a supply voltage of the on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle 5, which is provided by the central battery of the motor vehicle 5. The central battery is preferably the battery that provides the electrical energy required for starting the motor vehicle 5 and / or for driving the motor vehicle 5.

[0024] A motorized locking function is understood to mean that the adjustable locking element 4 of the motor vehicle 5 is adjusted, opened or closed, and / or locked or unlocked directly or indirectly by a movement generated by the electric drive 2. Regarding the design of the locking element 4, reference is made to the introductory explanations, whereby Fig. 1 illustrates the functionality of the motor vehicle locking system 1 for a locking element 4 designed as a side door. However, all explanations also apply to all other types of locking elements 4 of the motor vehicle 5.

[0025] The motor vehicle locking system 1 has a control arrangement with a system control unit 6 and a lock control unit 7. The control arrangement here has control electronics for implementing the control tasks associated with the motorized locking functions and is configured to control the electric drive 2. The lock control unit 7 is a local control unit, here integrated at least in the locking element 4, which preferably has a drive control unit 8 for the drive 2. The system control unit 6 performs control functions higher than the lock control unit 7, with the system control unit 6, for example, causing the drive control unit 8 to control the drive 2 during normal operation. Normal operation corresponds to the fact that the on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle 5 can provide a sufficient supply voltage for operating the drive 2.

[0026] The drive 2 can therefore be controlled during normal operation by the system control unit 6, the lock control unit 7, or jointly by the system control unit 6 and the lock control unit 7. The system control unit 6 is, for example, a door control unit or door control module. The system control unit 6 preferably manages the locking states of the locking element 4, such as "unlocked," "centrally locked," "theft-proof," "child-proof," and the like. The management of locking states can also be mapped to the lock control unit 7, particularly for an emergency operation (to be explained later) in which the system control unit 6 is not securely available.

[0027] During normal operation, the system control unit 6 queries the detection of an operating event via an operating element 9 using an operating element supply voltage UB based on an on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle 5. Preferably, the operating element 9 is designed as a door handle, as shown in Fig. 1, which is manually operated, for example, as part of the operating event. In principle, the term "operating element" can encompass several elements, for example, the inside door handle 10 and the outside door handle 11, as also shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, the detection of the operating event, particularly depending on the locking state, can be signaled to the lock control unit 7 by the system control unit 6. The lock control unit 7 can then initiate the motorized locking function.

[0028] Here, and preferably, the operating element 9 has a sensor device 12, which enables the detection of at least part of the operating event. The sensor device 12 is preferably used to detect an electronic key of the motor vehicle 5, which is carried out, for example, via wireless communication via radio, BLE, NFC, or the like. Detection of the electronic key can be carried out in parallel with the detection of a manual actuation of an operating element 9. For example, the operating event is considered to be detected if both the door handle is manually operated, for example touched or pulled, and an electronic key is detected. It is also conceivable for the sensor device 12 to detect manual action by the operator on the motor vehicle 5, such as a touch, approach, or operator gesture. Examples of such sensor devices 12 include capacitive sensors, radar sensors, and / or optical sensors.The detection of the operating event via the operating element 9 is carried out using an electrical operating element supply voltage UB, which is used, for example, to operate the sensor device 12. The query by the system control unit 6 is understood to mean a targeted, direct or indirect supply of the operating element 9 with the operating element supply voltage UB by means of the system control unit 6, wherein it is checked whether an operating event has occurred. The system control unit 6 preferably polls the operating element 9, with which the operating element supply voltage UB is made available to the operating element 9 in a time-controlled manner and, depending on the presence of an operating event, an operating signal is forwarded to the control arrangement. The operating element supply voltage UB is preferably provided by the on-board electrical system, wherein the system control unit 6 carries out the query of the operating element 9.It is also conceivable that the control element supply voltage UB is provided for querying by means of the system control unit 6.

[0029] By means of the control arrangement, the drive 2 is activated to provide the closing function upon detection of the operating event. For example, the operating signal is transmitted to the system control unit 6, whereby the system control unit 6, during normal operation—preferably depending on the current closing state—instructs the drive control 8 to initiate the closing function.

[0030] The lock control 7 has an electrical, preferably rechargeable, energy storage device 13. In emergency operation, particularly in the event of a failure of the vehicle electrical system, the energy storage device 13 provides an energy storage voltage 13 to provide an emergency supply voltage for the drive 2. Based on the emergency supply voltage, the motorized locking function can be ensured even in emergency operation. Examples of emergency operation include a significant discharge of the central battery and a related voltage drop in the vehicle electrical system, as well as a crash in which the central battery and / or the vehicle electrical system's supply lines are damaged.

[0031] It is now essential that the control element supply voltage UB is provided to the control element 9 by means of the lock control 7 on the basis of the energy storage voltage 13 for detecting the operating event, wherein the provision of the control element supply voltage UB on the basis of the energy storage voltage 13 is suppressed in normal operation via the query for detecting the operating event by means of the system control unit 6.

[0032] Accordingly, even during normal operation, a supply of power to the control element 9 from the energy storage device 13, in particular a time-controlled supply, is provided. However, this supply is suppressed during normal operation, specifically based on the query by the system control unit 6, which, for example, queries the control element 9 via polling during normal operation. In emergency operation, a power supply to the system control unit 6 via the vehicle electrical system is no longer guaranteed, so that the query by the system control unit 6 may fail. Accordingly, if the query fails, the supply to the control element 9 implemented by the lock control 7 and the energy storage device 13 takes over.

[0033] Suppression is understood here to mean that, with a query, in particular a time-controlled one, by means of the system control unit 6, the control element supply voltage UB is prevented from being made available to the control element 9 based on the energy storage voltage 13. Therefore, during normal operation, no significant discharge of the energy storage device 13 occurs via the control element 9.

[0034] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the lock control 7 has a lock timer 14, by means of which the control element supply voltage UB is switched on to the control element 9 in time intervals and that the switching on is suppressed by the query by means of the system control unit 6 in normal operation.

[0035] The lock timer 14 causes a time-controlled connection of the control element supply voltage UB based on the energy storage device 13, and thus a power supply to the control element 9. In particular, this allows use of the control element 9 during the time periods in which connection occurs. The connection occurs in time periods, thus providing both time periods in which the control element supply voltage UB is connected and time periods in which no power is supplied to the control element 9 by the energy storage device 13. The time-period connection occurs in the manner of polling of the control element 9 by means of the lock control 7, with the control element supply voltage UB preferably being connected cyclically.

[0036] However, if a query is made by means of the system control unit 6, the time-controlled switching on of the control element supply voltage UB is prevented on the basis of the energy storage device 13.

[0037] It is particularly preferred that the lock timer 14 is used to effect the switching on in a time-controlled manner after a predetermined lock delay Δt1 has elapsed, and that the lock timer 14 is reset during normal operation via the query by the system control unit 6.

[0038] Here, and preferably, the lock timer 14 waits for the lock delay Δt1 to elapse from a predetermined reference time, such as the start of operation of the lock control 7 or the termination of the previous connection of the control element supply voltage UB, before (re)connection occurs. The reference time is reset via the reset when a query of the control element 9 is made by the system control unit 6. With the query, the waiting for the lock delay Δt1 to elapse begins again. By selecting the lock delay Δt1 accordingly, the connection can be reduced or completely avoided during normal operation, for example when a query is regularly made by the system control unit 6.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the system control unit 6 has a control unit timer 15, by means of which the detection of the operating event is queried in time segments during normal operation, preferably that the query is effected in a time-controlled manner by means of the control unit timer 15 after the expiration of a predetermined control unit delay Δt2.

[0040] The control unit timer 15 effects a time-controlled query of the operating event based on the vehicle electrical system. In particular, the control element 9 is continuously supplied with the control element supply voltage UB via the vehicle electrical system, and a query is performed intermittently by the system control unit 6. It is also conceivable for the control unit timer 15 to cause the control element supply voltage UB to be switched on based on the vehicle electrical system. The query is performed in the manner of a polling of the control element 9 by the system control unit 6, which is preferably performed cyclically.

[0041] Preferably, the control unit delay Δt2 is shorter than the lock delay Δt1. Fig. 2b) shows an example of the query by the system control unit 6. After the control unit delay Δt2 has expired, the control element 9 is polled by the system control unit 6 for a predetermined cycle duration. After the cycle duration has elapsed, the waiting period for the control unit delay Δt2 begins again, so that a repeating query is implemented.

[0042] At the same time, the lock timer 14 waits for the lock delay At1, which is longer than the control unit delay At2, to elapse. However, the query by the system control unit 6 resets the lock delay At1, so that the repeated query suppresses the provision of the control element supply voltage UB based on the energy storage voltage 13 (Fig. 2c). For example, the lock timer 14 monitors a signal path between the system control unit 6 and the control element 9, as shown in Fig. 2a.

[0043] In Fig. 2b), c), emergency operation begins at time tN, where, for example, the system control unit 6 no longer receives power from the vehicle electrical system. Therefore, the system control unit 6 does not query the control element 9, which means that the lock delay Δt1 is not reset. Accordingly, in emergency operation, the provision of the control element supply voltage UB is implemented based on the energy storage voltage 13, and preferably the lock control unit 7 is supplied with power from the drive control unit 8, and the drive unit 2 is supplied via the energy storage unit 13.

[0044] In a further embodiment, not shown in detail, it is provided that at least two operating modes with different lock delays Δt1 are implemented by means of the system control unit 6, and that the control unit delays Δt2 of the operating modes are each shorter than the lock delay Δt1. For example, a normal mode and an energy-saving mode are provided for the system control unit 6, wherein the lock delay Δt1 in the energy-saving mode is selected to be longer and / or the cycle duration is selected to be shorter than in the normal mode. If the control unit delays Δt2 are selected to be shorter than the lock delay Δt1, the above-explained suppression of the provision of the control element supply voltage UB based on the energy storage voltage 13 can be implemented for the operating modes.

[0045] Preferred cycle times for the control unit timer 15 (the time between the start of one activation and the start of the next activation, or the sum of the control unit delay Δt2 and the cycle duration) are between 500 ps and 100 ms. Activation by means of the control unit timer 15 can preferably be performed for a cycle duration of 100 ps to 200 ps.

[0046] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the energy storage device 13 has at least one capacitor 16. As shown, the energy storage device 13 can have exactly one capacitor 16. In a further embodiment, a plurality of capacitors 16 are provided, which are generally electrically connected in parallel and / or in series. Preferably, the plurality of capacitors 16 are at least partially connected in series to provide the capacitor voltage.

[0047] Preferably, at least one double-layer capacitor is provided. A double-layer capacitor is an electrochemical energy storage device. Energy is stored in an electrochemical double layer, also known as a "Helmholtz layer." Such a double-layer capacitor is also referred to as a "supercapacitor," "supercap," "ultracap," or similar.

[0048] The energy storage device 13 can have a booster arrangement 17 connected downstream of the at least one capacitor 16, by means of which, in emergency operation, the capacitor voltage of the at least one capacitor 16 is boosted to the emergency supply voltage. The emergency supply voltage can therefore be higher than the capacitor voltage and, in particular, can be selected to correspond to the normal supply voltage. In emergency operation, the capacitor voltage is preferably applied to an input of the booster arrangement 17, which is boosted to the emergency supply voltage at an output of the booster arrangement 17.

[0049] The lock timer 14 can connect the capacitor voltage to the control element 9 as the control element supply voltage UB. Activation of the booster circuit 17 is therefore not absolutely necessary to supply voltage to the control element 9 and can be omitted.

[0050] It is also conceivable to dispense with a boost arrangement 17 of the energy storage device 13, preferably in conjunction with a series connection of several capacitors 16 whose capacitor voltage is sufficient to supply the control element 9. In principle, the control element 9 can also have a boost converter to boost the capacitor voltage connected as the control element supply voltage UB.

[0051] When using the booster arrangement 17, a further preferred embodiment provides that the lock control 7, upon detecting the operating event, activates the booster arrangement 17 to provide the emergency supply voltage. The booster arrangement 17 is thus activated as needed when the drive 2 is to be controlled. A self-holding feature for the booster arrangement 17 can be provided, which keeps the booster arrangement 17 active at least for the duration of the control of the drive 2. For example, with the activation of the booster arrangement 17, a microcontroller of the lock control 7 is also supplied with the emergency supply voltage.

[0052] Preferably, the booster arrangement 17 is activated in time intervals by means of the lock timer, and the booster arrangement 17, upon activation, provides the control element supply voltage UB to the control element 9. Consequently, a higher control element supply voltage UB than the capacitor voltage can also be provided to the control element 9, with the booster arrangement 17 performing a dual function.Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the boost arrangement 17 has a secondary boost stage 18 and a main boost stage 19, that the secondary boost stage 18 can be connected upstream of the main boost stage 19 in such a way that the secondary boost stage 18 increases the capacitor voltage to at least one threshold voltage of the main boost stage 19 provided for starting up the main boost stage 19, and that the main boost stage 19 increases the capacitor voltage to the emergency supply voltage. The threshold voltage provided for starting up is understood to be a minimum electrical voltage required for the operation of the main boost stage 19. The threshold voltage provided for starting up the main boost stage 19 is provided in particular for the operation of a switching element (not shown), for example a MOSFET, of the main boost stage 19.

[0053] The auxiliary boost stage 18, which can be connected upstream of the main boost stage 19, can be used additionally and specifically when the main boost stage 19 starts up to ensure the operation of the main boost stage 19. However, the actual boosting of the energy storage voltage 13 to the emergency supply voltage takes place here, preferably exclusively, via the main boost stage 19.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the secondary boost stage 18 is activated intermittently by means of the lock timer 14, and the secondary boost stage 18, upon activation, provides the control element supply voltage UB to the control element 9. Consequently, the secondary boost stage 18, in addition to providing the threshold voltage of the main boost stage 19, also serves to supply emergency power to the control element 9. It is particularly advantageous here that the main boost stage 19 can initially remain deactivated to supply the control element 9.

[0055] In preferred embodiments, the lock timer 14 and / or the control unit timer 15 comprises a clock generator and a switching element, in particular a logic gate, time-controlled by the clock generator and connecting the control element supply voltage UB for time intervals. The clock generator can be designed as an integrated and / or discrete circuit, in particular with a flip-flop, flip-flop, comparator, operational amplifier, and / or an integrated component with at least one, in particular discrete, RC circuit.

[0056] In principle, the clock generator can be constructed as an integrated and / or discrete circuit. The timing circuit can be designed with a flip-flop, particularly an astable one, to implement the aforementioned timing control. A flip-flop can also be provided, for example, an RC circuit connected to a Schmitt trigger. The output signal of the Schmitt trigger can be fed to the switching element, particularly the logic gate. Furthermore, an RC circuit can be combined with a comparator or an operational amplifier in the timing circuit. An integrated component such as the NE555 can also be used as the clock generator.

[0057] In a further embodiment, the lock timer 14 and / or control unit timer 15 comprises a voltage monitoring circuit with a delay circuit, and the voltage monitoring circuit is connected for periodically connecting the control element supply voltage UB. In this case, the functionality of a delay circuit provided in voltage monitoring components is used as a timer.

[0058] In particular, for a largely or completely discrete design of the timer, the lock timer 14 and / or control unit timer 15 can have a delay circuit that causes the control element supply voltage UB to be switched on intermittently. The delay circuit here has at least one RC element and, in particular, a switching element.

[0059] The delay circuit can be used to control the self-holding function mentioned above. In a preferred embodiment, the delay circuit has a delay element for activating the self-holding function of the boost circuit 17 and a further delay element for deactivating the self-holding function. The first delay element for activation can be used to define the cycle time. If the self-holding function is activated and the control element supply voltage UB is connected, a cycle duration is defined via the further delay element, after which the self-holding function is deactivated again, thus ending the voltage supply to the control element 9. The first delay element for activation can then again become effective.

[0060] According to a further teaching, a motor vehicle locking system 1 is proposed, wherein the motor vehicle locking system 1 comprises a drive 2 with an electric drive motor 3 for providing a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element 4 of the motor vehicle 5, as well as a control arrangement with a system control unit 6 and a lock control 7, wherein the motor vehicle locking system 1 is configured to implement the proposed method. Reference may be made to all explanations of the proposed method.

[0061] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that a motor vehicle lock 20 is provided for the locking element 4 of the motor vehicle 5. The motor vehicle lock 20 is shown in Fig. 1 in a partially disassembled side view and is equipped with a lock latch 22 pivotable about a lock latch axis 21 for the holding engagement with a locking part 23 and a locking pawl 25 assigned to the lock latch 22 and pivotable about a pawl axis 24. The locking part 23 can be a striker, a locking bolt, or the like. For example, the motor vehicle lock 20 is arranged on a locking element 4, while the locking part 23 is arranged fixedly to the body of the motor vehicle 5.

[0062] The pawl 25 can be moved into a retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1, in which it holds the lock latch 22 in the closed position shown. Furthermore, the pawl 25 can be raised by a motor using the electric drive 2. For this purpose, the drive motor 3 is preferably connected to the pawl 25 by a drive cable 26. The motorized lifting of the pawl 25 in Fig. 1 is a pivoting of the pawl 25 clockwise about the pawl axis 24. In principle, the pawl 25 can also be part of a pawl system consisting of two or more sequentially arranged pawls 25 assigned to the lock latch 22. The motorized lifting of the pawl 25 is triggered by the operating event, such as a manual actuation of the operating element 9 in conjunction with the electronic key query. Preferably, the lock control 7 is integrated in the motor vehicle lock 20.The energy storage device 13 can be integrated into the motor vehicle lock 20 and, in particular, arranged together with the mechanical lock components in a common housing. The connection between the motor vehicle lock 20 and the control element 9 can be configured not only for signal transmission but also for supplying power to the control element 9.

[0063] In addition to or instead of the locking function of the motor vehicle lock 20 explained in more detail here, the motor vehicle locking system 1 can also have a drive arrangement for motor-driven adjustment of an aforementioned locking element 4 of the motor vehicle 5, wherein the drive arrangement serves for motor-driven adjustment, in particular opening and / or closing, of the locking element 4. Further examples of locking functions include motor-driven adjustment of operating elements 9 as well as interior and exterior elements of the motor vehicle 5, such as fan elements, interior mirrors, side mirrors, lighting, or the like.

[0064] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the operating element 9 is provided for detecting the operating event and forms part of the motor vehicle locking system 1.

[0065] According to a further teaching, a motor vehicle 5 with a proposed motor vehicle locking system 1 is proposed. Reference may be made to all statements relating to the proposed method and the proposed motor vehicle locking system 1.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for operating a motor vehicle locking system (1), wherein the motor vehicle locking system (1) comprises a drive (2) with an electric drive motor (3) for providing a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element (4) of the motor vehicle (5), and a control arrangement with a system control unit (6) and with a lock control (7), wherein in normal operation, the system control unit (6) queries the detection of an operating event via an operating element (9) using an operating element supply voltage (UB) on the basis of an on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle (5), wherein the control arrangement controls the drive (2) to provide the locking function upon detection of the operating event, wherein the lock control (7) comprises an electrical energy store (13), wherein in emergency operation, in particular in the event of a failure of the on-board electrical system,an energy storage voltage (13) is provided for providing an emergency supply voltage of the drive (2), characterized in that the control element supply voltage (UB) is provided to the control element (9) by means of the lock control (7) on the basis of the energy storage voltage (13) for detecting the operating event, wherein the provision of the control element supply voltage (UB) on the basis of the energy storage voltage (13) is suppressed in normal operation by querying the detection of the operating event by means of the system control unit (6).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the lock control (7) has a lock timer (14) by means of which the control element supply voltage (UB) is switched on to the control element (9) in time intervals and that the switching on is suppressed by the query by means of the system control unit (6) in normal operation.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that by means of the lock timer (14) the switching on is effected in a time-controlled manner after the expiry of a predetermined lock delay (At1 ), and that the lock The timer (14) is reset via the query using the system control unit (6) during normal operation.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system control unit (6) has a control unit timer (15) by means of which, in normal operation, the detection of the operating event is queried in time segments, preferably that the query is effected in a time-controlled manner by means of the control unit timer (15) after the expiry of a predetermined control unit delay (Δt2).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the control unit delay (At2) is shorter than the lock delay (At1), preferably in that at least two operating modes with different lock delays (At1) are implemented by means of the system control unit (6) and in that the control unit delays (At2) of the operating modes are each shorter than the lock delay (At1).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy store (13) has at least one capacitor (16), in particular at least one double-layer capacitor, and a step-up arrangement (17) connected downstream of the at least one capacitor (16), by means of which the capacitor voltage of the at least one capacitor (16) is stepped up to the emergency supply voltage in emergency operation, preferably that the step-up arrangement (17) is activated in time segments by means of the lock time circuit and that the control element supply voltage (UB) is made available to the control element (9) by means of the step-up arrangement (17) upon activation.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boosting arrangement (17) has a secondary boosting stage (18) and a main boosting stage (19), that the secondary boosting stage (18) can be connected upstream of the main boosting stage (19) in such a way that by means of the secondary boosting stage (18) the capacitor voltage is boosted to at least one threshold voltage of the main boosting stage (19) provided for starting the main boosting stage (19), and that the main boosting stage (19) boosts the capacitor voltage to the emergency supply voltage, preferably that by means of the lock time circuit the secondary boosting stage (18) is activated in time segments and that the control element supply voltage (UB) is made available to the control element (9) by means of the auxiliary boost stage (18) upon activation.

8. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the lock timer (14) and / or the control unit timer (15) has a clock generator and a switching element, in particular a logic gate, which is time-controlled by the clock generator and switches on the control element supply voltage (UB) for time segments, preferably that the clock generator is designed as an integrated and / or discrete circuit, in particular with a flip-flop, flip-flop, comparator, operational amplifier and / or integrated component with at least one, in particular discrete, RC circuit.

9. Motor vehicle locking system, wherein the motor vehicle locking system (1) has a drive (2) with an electric drive motor (3) for providing a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element (4) of the motor vehicle (5) and a control arrangement with a system control unit (6) and with a lock control (7), wherein the motor vehicle locking system (1) is set up to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle locking system according to claim 9, characterized in that a motor vehicle lock (20) is provided for the locking element (4) of the motor vehicle (5), that the motor vehicle lock (20) is equipped with a lock latch (22) for the holding engagement with a locking part (23) and a pawl (25) assigned to the lock latch (22), and that the electric drive (2) is provided for the motorized lifting of the pawl (25), preferably that the lock control (7) is integrated in the motor vehicle lock (20).

11. Motor vehicle locking system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that an operating element (9) is provided for detecting the operating event.

12. Motor vehicle with a motor vehicle locking system (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11.

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