Vehicle Door Lock Changeover Control for Immediate Re-Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door lock systems face challenges in preventing unintended door openings due to careless handle operations, leading to issues with child safety and theft deterrence, as the predetermined time periods for automatic re-locking can be too short or too long, resulting in either locked doors or unintended openings.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door lock device with a mechanical changeover mechanism and an actuator controlled by a controller that switches between lock and unlock modes, allowing for immediate re-locking based on various conditions such as child lock settings, user authentication, vehicle posture, and elapsed time, ensuring doors remain locked when not intended to be opened.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a predetermined time period is set for automatic changeover mechanism activation, then the door can return from unlocked to locked state, but a too short time prevents intentional opening while a too long time allows careless operations to succeed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time period dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the time period based on vehicle state (e.g., engine on/off, gear position, brake status). When the vehicle is in motion or engine is running, a shorter time period is used for security. When stationary with engine off, a longer time period allows convenient opening. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between security and convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of time period based on different operating conditions. Multiple time periods are defined (first time period for secure states, second time period for stationary states). The control unit selects appropriate time periods based on sensor inputs regarding vehicle state, thereby adapting the lock behavior to current context and resolving the fixed-time contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If immediate re-locking is activated upon meeting re-locking conditions, then theft deterrence and child safety are enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple re-locking conditions (engine start, gear shift, brake application, door closure) and pre-programming the immediate re-locking response. When any predetermined condition is detected by sensors, the control unit immediately activates the actuator to re-lock the door. This preparedness approach enhances safety without requiring complex real-time decision logic during critical moments.
3Ease of operation
If the mechanical changeover mechanism switches from lock to unlock mode, then door opening is enabled, but unintended openings occur due to careless operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle state through sensors (engine status, gear position, brake status, door position) and using this feedback to control the lock/unlock behavior. The control unit receives feedback signals and adjusts the time period or triggers immediate re-locking based on current conditions, creating a closed-loop system that prevents unintended openings while allowing legitimate access.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door lock device for a door of a vehicle includes: a mechanical changeover mechanism switchable between a mechanical lock mode in which a motion of a door handle lever is not transmitted to a latch and a mechanical unlock mode in which the motion of the door handle lever is transmitted to the latch; an actuator capable of causing the mechanical changeover mechanism to switch from the mechanical unlock mode to the mechanical lock mode; and a controller configured to control the actuator. The controller is configured to, when the controller has determined that any one of a plurality of conditions for re-locking is met and the mechanical changeover mechanism has switched from the mechanical lock mode to the mechanical unlock mode, immediately activate the actuator to cause the mechanical changeover mechanism to switch from the mechanical unlock mode to the mechanical lock mode.