Abstract:
Methods and system are provided for an adaptive vehicle locking system. The system includes a plurality of vehicle door locks, each configured to lock and unlock in response to a first signal, a plurality of sensors each configured to sense opening and closing of an associated vehicle door and to send second signals in response to opening and closing of the associated vehicle door, and a lock requester configured to send a third signal. A control module that includes a memory for storing a history of the second signals and a timer adaptively settable in response to the history of the second signals is configured to receive the second signals from the plurality of sensors and the third signal from the lock requester. The control module is also configured to send a first signal to the plurality of vehicle door locks causing the vehicle door locks to lock in response to timing out of the timer following receipt of the third signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a locking system and method for a motor vehicle, and more particularly relates to a motor vehicle adaptive actuation locking system and to a method for its use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In traditional vehicular power door locks, door locking is limited to two different approaches when a lock request is made and a door or doors are open. The locking system either immediately locks all doors upon receipt of the operator lock request, or it locks all the doors following a time delay after the open door or doors are closed. Immediately locking all doors upon operator request is often an inconvenience if the driver or passenger of the vehicle needs to retrieve something (such as a child, a briefcase, etc.) from the vehicle and must open a closed door to do so. In this situation, a time delay between the closing of the door or doors and lock activation is much more advantageous than immediately activating the door locks 
     In a lock delay system, the length of the time delay following door closure, but prior to lock activation, may be preset to any duration. A long time delay is more convenient than a short time delay, giving passengers adequate time to open and close the vehicle&#39;s doors and retrieve objects before lock activation. On the other hand, a short time delay is more secure than a long time delay, making the vehicle less likely to be entered by an unauthorized user. The length of the time delay, which may be set at the factory, is not otherwise easily adjusted, however, and it currently cannot adapt to different users or uses. One driver of the vehicle may typically require no time delay, while another driver may typically need a very long delay. Additionally, in those situations in which the driver or passenger opens several doors, the current system does not change the delay between different door openings; the time delay (if any) is the same for each opening and closing. Even if the driver or passenger requires less time to open a second door than to open the first door, the preset locking system provides the same delay for each door opening. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a vehicle locking system with adaptive actuation that tailors the time delay between door or doors closing and vehicle locking to individual drivers and situations. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus is provided for an adaptive vehicle locking system. The system includes a plurality of vehicle door locks, each configured to lock and unlock in response to a first signal, a plurality of sensors each configured to sense opening and closing of an associated vehicle door and to send second signals in response to opening and closing of the associated vehicle door, and a lock requester configured to send a third signal. A control module that includes a memory for storing a history of the second signals and a timer adaptively settable in response to the history of the second signals is configured to receive the second signals from the plurality of sensors and the third signal from the lock requester. The control module is also configured to send a first signal to the plurality of vehicle door locks causing the vehicle door locks to lock in response to timing out of the timer following receipt of the third signal. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method for adaptively actuating a vehicle locking system for locking the doors of a vehicle comprises setting a timer to an adaptive door lock delay time in response to a history of vehicle door openings and closings. After initiating a door lock request, the timer is started and the doors of the vehicle are locked at the expiration of the delay time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates, in overhead view, a four door vehicle in which the vehicle locking system with adaptive actuation is employed; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a vehicle locking system with adaptive actuation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates, in a flow chart format, a process in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates, in a flow chart format, a process in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention. 
     A vehicle locking system with adaptive actuation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, utilizes a central body control module with adaptive logic to adapt the time between lock request and lock activation in response to door opening/door closing patterns of a particular driver. The body control module acts to shorten or lengthen the time delay between when a door or doors are closed (following a lock request) and the locking of the vehicle (lock activation), depending on current and historical input conditions. This adaptive system intervenes in vehicle locking only when a lock request is made when a door or doors are open. The vehicle locking system, the various embodiments of which are explained more fully below, generally works as follows: a door (this will generally but not necessarily be the driver&#39;s door) is opened and a lock request is made. After that door is closed, the body control module implements an adaptive delay that delays activation of the vehicle door locks. Following the delay, the locks are activated and the doors are locked. 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an overhead view of a four-door vehicle  10  employing an embodiment of the invention. Vehicle  10  has a front left door  12  with front left door lock  22 , front right door  16  with front right door lock  26 , rear left door  14  with rear left door lock  24 , and rear right door  18  with rear right door lock  28 . Although the invention is described herein in application to a four-door vehicle, the invention is applicable to vehicles with more or less than four doors. 
       FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a vehicle locking system  19  with adaptive actuation in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A body control module  20  is configured to send command signals to front left door lock  22 , front right door lock  26 , rear left door lock  24 , and rear right door lock  28 . The body control module may be, for example, a computer chip, a portion of the vehicle&#39;s system computer, or the like. The body control module includes, in addition to a processing unit, a plurality of timers and a memory. The memory can be, for example, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory, (EEPROM), FLASH memory, or the like. The timers can be any well known timer circuits or algorithms, and preferably include a lock delay timer, a door unlock timer, and a door open timer. At least one of the timers, the lock delay timer, is configured, as will be explained below, to be adaptive in response to input from the memory. The four door locks are each configured to be locked or unlocked in response to the command signals received from body control module  20 . The body control module is also configured to receive signals from power door lock switches  32  and  38  located in the front left door and front right door, respectively, key door lock switches  30  and  36 , also located in the front left door and the front right door, respectively, or wireless transmitter  34 . Although wireless transmitter  34  will typically be a remote keyless entry fob, it can also be other wireless devices such as, for example, a cellular phone. Key  40  is used to activate either key door lock switch  30  or  36 . A command from any of the door lock switches or the wireless transmitter constitutes a lock request. Body control module  20  is further configured to receive signals regarding whether doors are open or closed from front left door sensor  42 , front right door sensor  46 , rear left door sensor  44 , and rear right door sensor  48 . The signals the body control module sends and receives from the door locks, the door sensors, and the door lock switches may be sent, for example, through a local area network (LAN), a wireless system network, or the like. 
     The adaptive vehicle locking system, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, can be understood by reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 3  and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In accordance with these embodiments, adaptive lock actuation is initiated by initialization of the control module (step  50 ). Adaptive lock actuation in the body control module is activated when a lock request is made (step  51 ). Upon receiving a lock request, the body control module determines, in response to signal(s) received from one or more of the sensors, whether all of doors  12 ,  14 ,  16 , or  18  are closed (step  59 ). If all of the doors are closed, the control module sends a signal commanding all doors to lock and starting a door unlock timer (step  64 ). If one or more doors is open, the control module starts a door open timer (step  162 ) and continues to monitor the door open status (step  52 ). As will be explained more fully below, there may be other intervening steps, in accordance with further embodiment of the invention, between steps  59  and  52 . As soon as the body control module senses, again in response to signal(s) received from one or more of the sensors, that the last open door is closed (step  60 ), the door open timer is stopped and a lock delay timer in the body control module begins counting down from an adaptive lock delay time limit T, which is originally set at a predetermined lock delay time T 1  (for example, five seconds) (step  62 ). The body control module continues to monitor the status of the vehicle doors (step  160 ) and the status of the lock delay timer (step  164 ). If no doors are opened before time T elapses and the body control module timer times out (e.g., reaches zero) (step  63 ), body control module  20  sends a signal causing door locks  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  to lock and causes the resetting to zero and starting of a door unlock timer (step  64 ). If, however, a door or doors are opened before time T elapses (step  66 ), the body control module receives a signal from the sensor associated with that door or doors, notes which door is opened, and adds additional amounts of time Z to the initial lock delay time limit T 1  set on the lock delay timer. These additional amounts of time, Z, may be positive or negative in sign. Both the sign and magnitude of these additional amounts of time vary depending on conditions discussed in detail below. Each time these additional amounts of time are added to or subtracted from the time limit, T, the new lock delay time limit for the open door becomes the sum of these amounts of time, plus the previous time limit, T old ; T=T old +Z. When a door is closed, the body control module stores this new lock delay time limit for that specific door in its memory, resets the lock delay timer, and starts counting down from this new lock delay time limit or from a lock delay time limit already saved in its memory. 
     Each time the adaptive vehicle locking system is activated, the body control module saves both the order of doors being opened and the lock delay time limit calculated for each individual door in its memory. Each time different doors are opened (or the doors are opened in a different order) the body control module saves a new record for the door opening order and the lock delay time limits T calculated for each door. If the adaptive actuation system is being used for the first time, or if the pattern of door opening does not match that in an already saved record, the procedure outlined below is followed and a new saved record is created. If the door opening matches a pattern in a pre-existing record, however, the system uses the saved lock delay time limits and modifies each saved, individual door lock delay time limit according to the procedure also outlined below. 
     Again with reference to the flow chart in  FIG. 3  and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , if a door is opened before a lock delay time limit T has expired (step  66 ), the body control module notes which door is opened and an additional amount of time Z (either positive or negative) is added to the lock delay time limit, T. If the amount of time left on the body control module lock delay timer T remaining  is less than a certain percentage K (for example, twenty percent) of the time limit T, but before time T expires (step  68 ), an additional positive amount of time Z 1  (for example, 0.5 seconds) is added to the lock delay time limit T (step  70 ). The new lock delay time limit T is the sum of the previous lock delay time limit T old  plus Z 1 . Conversely, if T remaining  is greater than that certain percentage K of T (step  72 ), an additional negative amount of time Z 2  (for example, −0.5 seconds) is added to the lock delay time limit T (step  74 ). The new lock delay time limit T is the sum of the previous lock delay time limit T old  plus Z 2 . When the door is closed (step  60 ), the body control module stores this new calculated lock delay time limit, and the identity of the door that was opened, in its memory. The body control module lock delay timer then begins counting down again from the new time limit, T=T old +Z 1  or T=T old +Z 2  (step  62 ) if no lock delay time limit is saved in the body control module memory for that door opening or for that order of door openings. If a saved lock delay time limit is present, then the timer begins counting down from that saved lock delay time limit. If the lock delay timer reaches zero (step  63 ), the body control module sends a signal causing the door locks to lock and causing an unlock timer to reset to zero and start (step  64 ). If a door is opened before the lock delay timer reaches zero, however, the process just described is repeated. 
     If the body control module lock delay timer reaches zero and the vehicle&#39;s doors are locked (step  64 ), the control module monitors the status of the unlock timer (step  166 ). If an unlock request is made before the unlock timer times out, for example, six seconds after the doors lock, the body control module notes which door is subsequently opened (step  76 ). An additional positive amount of time Z 3  (for example, 0.6 seconds) is then added to the lock delay time limit T (step  78 ). When the door is closed (step  60 ), the body control module timer begins counting down from the new time limit, T=T old +Z 3  (step  62 ). 
     In accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention, the body control module tracks the number of door transitions (door openings and closings) after controller initiation but prior to a lock request being made when a door is open. If the number of door transitions exceeds a predetermined number W (for example, two) (step  80 ), then an additional amount of time Z 4  (for example, 0.5 seconds) is added to the lock delay time limit T (step  82 ). When a lock request is subsequently made with a door open, the lock delay time limit that the lock delay timer of the body control module counts down from after the door is closed is T=T old +Z 4  (step  62 ), where T old  is the time limit that would have applied absent the multiple door transitions. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the body control module tracks the number of door transitions (step  180 ) between the lock request (step  51 ) when a door is open and lock activation (step  64 ). If more than a predetermined number of door openings or openings and closings occur between the lock request (made when a door is open) and the lock activation, an additional amount of time is added to the lock delay time limit (step  182 ). If the number of door openings or door openings and closings D (for example, three) is exceeded, then an additional amount of time Z 5  (for example, 0.4 seconds) is added to the lock delay time limit T. When the last open door is closed, the body control module lock delay timer begins counting down from the new lock delay time limit, T=T old +Z 5 . 
     In accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention, additional amounts of time are added to the lock delay time limit T if a door, opened between the lock request and lock activation, is open for an extended length of time. A door open timer in the body control module is reset to zero and started (step  162 ) when the lock request is received. The body control module tracks status of the open doors (step  52 ) and the length of time a door is open (step  152 ), and if the door is open longer than a predetermined ‘door open’ time limit X (for example, ten seconds) (step  84 ), an additional amount of time Z 6  (for example, 0.8 seconds) (step  86 ), is added to the lock delay time limit T. The additional amount of time, Z 6 , is added to the lock delay time limit in addition to either Z 1  or Z 2 . When the door is closed (step  60 ), the body control module lock delay timer begins counting down from the new lock delay time limit, T=T old +Z 6  (+Z 1  or+Z 2 ) (step  62 ). If the time the opened door is open does not exceed X, then no additional amount of time is added to the lock delay time limit T (step  88 ). 
       FIG. 4  illustrates, again in flow chart format and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , an adaptive locking process, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, when records indicative of prior door opening/closing history have been saved in the memory of the body control module. When the adaptive actuation locking system is activated (step  100 ), the body control module checks for the presence of saved records (step  101 ). If there are no saved records, the process described above and illustrated in  FIG. 3  is utilized (step  102 ). If, however, a record or records have been saved, the body control module reviews the door opening order and lock delay time limit calculated for each door (step  104 ) in these saved records. The lock delay time limit, T, is selected from the newest (most recent) record, and the body control module lock delay timer begins counting down from this stored lock delay time limit (step  105 ) as soon as the last open door is closed following a lock request. The body control module monitors the opening of any of the vehicle doors (step  111 ). As soon as a door opens (step  107 ), the body control module determines whether that door opening matches a stored record (step  112 ), and again selects the newest record (if there are multiple records) that begins with the opening of that particular door (step  106 ). If no records exist with that particular door opening first, the body control module reverts to using the process illustrated in  FIG. 3  (step  102 ). As soon as the door closes, the lock delay time limit is modified for that particular door according to the process described above and illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the time limit and door opening/closing history is saved to that record. The body control module continues to monitor the opening of any doors of the vehicle (step  114 ). When the last door is closed, the lock delay timer is reset and begins counting down from the next, preset time limit for whatever door is next in the order listed in the same saved record that the body control module had previously selected (step  108 ). Thus, the new lock delay time that the lock delay timer counts down from is not the modified time limit that was just saved to the body control module memory (as is the case when a new record is created), but rather is the preset, already saved lock delay time that was previously determined. If another door is opened, the body control module recalls the most recent record corresponding to the door opening and order that has taken place (step  106 ). If the door opening and order exactly matches that in a saved record, the body control uses the saved time limits for the various doors and modifies the individual times according to the process illustrated in  FIG. 3 . If, however, a door is opened that is not in any saved record, or is opened in a different order than listed in any saved record, the body control module reverts back to the process illustrated in  FIG. 3  and creates a new record (step  102 ). If no new doors are opened, and the lock delay timer reaches zero (step  116 ), all the doors of the vehicle are locked (step  10 ). 
     The following non-limiting example illustrates operation of the adaptive vehicle locking system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Consider a driver who exits the vehicle and implements a lock request either by pushing the power door lock switch, keying the door lock or by depressing the appropriate button on a remote transmitter. After closing the vehicle door, the adaptive locking system is activated. If there is no history of door opening/closing stored in the memory of the body control module, the locking system defaults to the preset delayed locking time T (say, 5 seconds) before the doors of the vehicle are locked. If there is a stored record, however, the body control module searches memory for the most recent saved record. For example, suppose the most recent saved record in the memory of the body control module provided a lock delay time limit of 5.5 seconds from the time door  12  was closed until door  14  was opened and a lock delay time limit of 4.5 seconds from the time door  14  was closed and door  18  was opened. Given that historical record, the first lock delay time limit the lock delay timer counts down from is 5.5 seconds after the last open door is closed following lock request. If door  14  is opened within 5.5 seconds, the body control module continues using the lock delay times from this saved record although the stored time limit of 5.5 seconds associated with the opening of door  14  may be modified in accordance with the conditions illustrated in  FIG. 3 . After door  14  is closed, the body control module lock delay timer begins counting down from 4.5 seconds (the next saved lock delay time on that record). If door  18  is opened within 4.5 seconds, the body control module continues using this saved record, although the stored lock delay time limit of 4.5 seconds associated with the opening of door  14  may be modified in accordance with the conditions illustrated in  FIG. 3 . After door  18  is closed, the body control module lock delay timer again counts down from 4.5 seconds (the last saved time on that record). If a door is not opened before the lock delay timer times out, all the doors are locked. If, however, another door is opened before the passage of 4.5 seconds (or if an unlock request is made within the predetermined time period following the lock activation), the process illustrated in  FIG. 3  is followed and a new saved record is created. During this process, if any door is opened out of order, or a door not in the saved record is opened (for example, door  16 ), then the process illustrated in  FIG. 3  is followed and a historical record is created and saved. 
     In accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention, multiple keys  40  or wireless transmitters  34  that are personalized to a particular individual may be used with adaptive actuation vehicle locking system  19 . Each of the keys or transmitters may be distinguishable by body control module  20  such that the control module associates the individual keys or transmitters with individual system users. In accordance with this embodiment, the body control module saves historical records of door openings/closings associated with a particular key or transmitter and matches those records to a particular user. Only the saved records pertaining to a specific user are accessed when the key or transmitter associated with that individual is used in locking the vehicle. Accordingly, the body control module can tailor the time limit between lock request and lock activation to specific users. 
     While exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It is understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.