Motor Vehicle Door Lock with Integrated Child Safety Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle latches with electrical opening mechanisms and child safety locks are complex and costly, requiring multiple components and mechanical connections, which complicates operation and safety functions.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle latch with a locking mechanism, electrical drive, child safety lock device, and locking mechanism sensor that allows the electrical drive to be activated or deactivated based on the sensor's position, reducing component count and enabling safer operation by directly determining the latch's position for activation or deactivation, thus simplifying construction and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical connections and multiple components are used in existing motor vehicle latches with electrical opening mechanisms and child safety locks, then safety functions are maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the child safety lock device and the electrical opening mechanism into a single integrated unit. The operating lever serves dual purposes: it can mechanically disengage the locking mechanism when the child safety lock is deactivated, or it can activate the electrical drive when the child safety lock is activated. This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanical deactivation mechanisms while maintaining both safety and opening functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating lever is designed with multi-functionality: it can directly mechanically disengage the locking mechanism, activate the electrical drive for opening, and interact with the child safety sensor. The electrical drive itself serves multiple purposes by canning operate the locking mechanism in reverse for emergency opening. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining comprehensive safety and operational capabilities.
2Reliability
If multiple components and mechanical connections are used in existing motor vehicle latches, then safety features are maintained, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the child safety lock and electrical opening mechanism into one integrated unit with shared components like the operating lever and locking mechanism, the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This integration directly lowers manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving all safety functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional design of the operating lever and electrical drive reduces component proliferation. Instead of manufacturing separate mechanisms for child safety lock deactivation and electrical opening activation, the patent uses the same components for both functions, thereby reducing manufacturing costs through economies of scale and simplified production processes.
3Reliability
If complex mechanical connections are used in existing motor vehicle latches, then safety functions are maintained, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the child safety lock and electrical opening mechanism into a single unit with a common operating lever simplifies the user interface. The occupant interacts with one lever regardless of which function is needed, and the system automatically determines the appropriate action based on the child safety sensor state, eliminating the need for users to understand or manually switch between different mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines whether to mechanically disengage the locking mechanism or activate the electrical drive based on the child safety sensor state, without requiring user input or understanding of the underlying mechanics. The operating lever self-adapts its function based on the system state, making operation intuitive and simple for the user while maintaining safety protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism (22), an electric drive (26) which allows the locking mechanism (22) to be unlocked, a child safety device (29) with a child safety sensor (31), the electric drive (26) can be activated or not activated depending on the switch position of the child safety sensor (31), and a closing drive (42) which transfers the locking mechanism (22) from a pre-locked position into a main locked position. A locking mechanism sensor (25) is associated with the locking mechanism (22) and depending on the switch position of the locking mechanism sensor (25), the drive (26) can be activated or not activated.