Vehicle Door Lock Switch with Integrated LED State Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle door locking systems lack a clear and intuitive way to indicate the lock state to users, potentially leading to confusion and increased risk of unauthorized access or accidental locking/unlocking.
Innovation Solution
A door locking system with a control switch and integrated indicator light, such as an LED, that communicates with a vehicle controller to visually signal the lock/unlock state of the latch mechanism, allowing users to easily select and confirm the lock state through a user-friendly interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If no indicator light is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of information about lock state increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator light uses color changes to communicate the lock state of the door. When the door is locked, the indicator light displays a first color (e.g., red); when unlocked, it displays a second color (e.g., green). This visual color-coded system provides immediate, intuitive feedback to users about the door's security state without requiring complex displays or interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator light serves as an intermediary element between the latch mechanism and the user. It translates the mechanical state of the latch (locked/unlocked) into a visual signal that is easily perceived and understood, bridging the gap between the mechanical locking system and human awareness without adding significant complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a control switch is added, then the ease of operation for selecting lock state is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control switch and indicator light are integrated into a single assembly mounted on the door. This merging of components reduces the overall system complexity by consolidating controls and feedback elements into one unified unit, while still providing easy operation for selecting lock states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic feedback through the indicator light that immediately reflects the current lock state after the user operates the control switch. This self-service feedback mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually check or interpret system state, making the operation intuitive and reducing cognitive load.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user awareness of the door's lock state, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or accidental operation while providing a convenient and intuitive method for selecting lock/unlock modes, including automatic state changes based on vehicle modes like key-on or key-off.
Implementation Method 1
The indicator light may be configured as a light emitting diode (LED). The LED may be configured to emit light having a first color when the latch mechanism is in the first state and light having a second color when the latch mechanism is in the second state.
Data Source
AI summary
A door for a vehicle having a body controller includes a vehicle interior-facing surface. The door locking system includes a latch mechanism configured to alternately attain a first state that locks and a second state that unlocks operation of the latch mechanism. The door locking system also includes a control switch on the interior-facing surface for generating a signal to alternatively select one of the first and second latch mechanism states. The door locking system additionally includes an indicator light integrally mounted on the control switch and configured to provide a visual signal indicative of the selected latch mechanism state. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the control switch, command the latch mechanism to attain one of the first and second states in response to the signal, and trigger the indicator light when the latch mechanism has attained one of the first and second states.