Abstract:
A vehicle door automatic locking apparatus and method utilizes an electronic control unit, an occupant sensor or a seat with an occupant sensor, a vehicle door, and a vehicle door lock, wherein when the vehicle door is closed and the sensor does not sense seat occupation, the vehicle door lock locks the vehicle door. Additionally, a timer may be employed to lock the door locks after a timeout period. Furthermore, an electronic key fob and an antenna in communication with the electronic control unit and the key fob may be utilized such that when the electronic control unit via the antenna verifies that the key fob is outside of the vehicle, vehicle door locking occurs. Alternatively, if the electronic control unit via the antenna verifies that any key fob is within the vehicle, then automatic locking will not occur and user notification occurs.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method of automatically locking a vehicle door while utilizing a seat occupant sensor.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Present passive entry vehicle systems require the exiting user to pause to lock a door, such as the driver&#39;s door, upon exiting a vehicle. This pause may consist of a user having to look for a button on the vehicle door handle on the exterior of the vehicle door. This pause is an inconvenience to the vehicle user and wastes his or her time. Additionally, when mechanical means, such as a button, are used to lock a door, additional mechanical parts within the door are required. These component parts add cost to the overall price of a vehicle. Additionally, these parts contribute to assembly times, costs and the complexity of the interior of the door.  
         [0003]     Although locking a vehicle door by pressing a button ensures that the vehicle will be locked, if a user forgets to turn around and press a door handle button upon exiting, the vehicle will normally remain unlocked. This puts the vehicle, vehicle components, and vehicle interior contents at the risk of being stolen.  
         [0004]     What is needed then is an apparatus and method of effortlessly and transparently locking a vehicle door upon a user exiting the vehicle, such as through non-contact locking methods.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     In accordance with teachings of the invention, a vehicle door lock control apparatus utilizes an electronic control unit, an occupant seat, a sensor to sense occupation and non-occupation of the seat, the sensor being in communication with the electronic control unit regarding the occupation and the non-occupation of the seat. Additionally, a vehicle door and a vehicle door lock work in conjunction with the electronic control unit such that when the vehicle door is closed and the sensor does not sense occupation of the seat, the vehicle door lock may lock the vehicle door, such as after a timeout period.  
         [0006]     The vehicle door lock control apparatus may utilize an electronic key fob, as a transceiver, and at least one antenna in communication with the electronic control unit and the key fob, wherein the antenna verifies that the key fob is physically outside of the vehicle before locking the vehicle door lock, also possibly after a timeout period or immediately upon verification. Alternatively, if the antenna verifies that a valid key fob is inside of the vehicle, the electronic control unit may maintain the vehicle door in an unlocked state. Although one door is being used to describe operations of the system, more than one door may be used and such locking functions may be simultaneously performed on more than one door.  
         [0007]     A time period and timer have been described that may be used in conjunction with automatically locking the vehicle door. Such a timer may be used such that upon expiration of an amount of time of the timer, the vehicle door locks will automatically lock. This may be performed after the electronic control unit verifies that no key is inside the vehicle.  
         [0008]     The seat sensor within the seat may function based on the weight of an occupant such that the sensor is normally activated when an occupant sits on the seat. Alternatively the occupant sensor may be outside of the seat and sense an occupant by infra-red technology or optical technology, such as with a light sensitive sensor.  
         [0009]     A method of controlling a door lock of a vehicle may entail determining that the vehicle ignition is off and that a vehicle door is not closed (e.g. open), determining that the vehicle door is closed and not locked, and verifying that an occupant sensor does not sense an occupant, and then locking the vehicle door lock. Again, although one vehicle door and door lock is described, more than one door and door lock may be controlled. Furthermore, after verifying that a seat sensor corresponding to a door is not active, such method may entail starting a timing of a fixed timeout period, inquiring whether the fixed timeout period has been reached, scanning an area exterior to the vehicle for a first electronic key fob, scanning an area interior to the vehicle for a second electronic key fob and ultimately locking the vehicle door lock. Upon locking any vehicle doors, an audible and/or visual signal may be delivered from the vehicle or fob to the user.  
         [0010]     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a vehicle depicting locations of antennas, a sensor, and an ECU;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is flowchart of a method of locking a vehicle door;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a vehicle depicting a user approaching the vehicle;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a vehicle depicting a user walking away from the vehicle;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a vehicle depicting a user outside of a communication range of a vehicle system;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a vehicle depicting a driver approaching the vehicle while a passenger walks away from the vehicle; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a vehicle depicting a user who is at a specific distance from the vehicle at which distance specific vehicular functions occur.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a vehicle  10  depicting various locations of antennas, sensors, and a Smart ECU. More specifically, a vehicle  10 , such as an automobile, may employ a Smart ECU  12 , which is used in conjunction with various antennas, such as a driver side front door antenna  14 , a driver side rear door antenna  16 , a passenger side front door antenna  18 , a passenger side rear door antenna  20 , a trunk area antenna  22 , and interior antenna  45 . The Smart ECU  12  is used in conjunction with the antennas  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  to place particular vehicle doors into an unlock standby mode prior to unlocking by a user  52 , as explained below. The interior antenna  45  is used to check for any key fobs that may be left in the interior of the vehicle during a locking routine, to be described later. The Smart ECU is referred to as “smart” because of its intelligent function of knowing when to unlock vehicle doors without the use of a traditional, physical metal key.  
         [0021]     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , one type of “smart key” entry system, such as a polling system for example, permits a vehicle user to approach a vehicle  10  with a key fob  24  which, based upon proximity of the key fob  24  to an antenna  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 , places a respective door, such as a driver side front door  28 , a driver side rear door  30 , a passenger side front door  32 , or a passenger side rear door  34 , or other vehicle access point, such as a trunk  36  utilizing antenna  22 , respectively, into an unlock standby mode. The door unlock standby mode is achieved without human manipulation of any buttons on the key fob  24 . To accomplish automatic door unlocking, the user must simply possess a “smart key” fob  24 , also known as a transponder or electronic key. The electronic key emits a frequency response  26  to at least one of antennas  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  when the user walks within a specific radio frequency communication range of such antennas of the vehicle  10 . Subsequent to such communication, when the user then, for example, touches a sensor  41  of a door handle  39  of a door  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , that respective door lock  29  will unlock. The user may then pull on the specific door handle to complete opening of the door  28  to gain access.  
         [0022]     More specifically, with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the vehicle  10  possesses a variety of electronic control units, (“ECUs”), one of which is a Smart ECU  12  that communicates with the key fob  24  to place the door locks in an unlock standby mode. Unlocking of the vehicle door locks is accomplished in a subsequent process. In a traditional smart key system, before a user approaches the vehicle  10 , that is, when a user is outside of the communication range of the smart ECU  12 , the smart ECU  12  causes a specific radio frequency signal  13  to be emitted in a polling fashion from the various antennas  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  located within and about the vehicle  10 . The signal is pulsed at a specific time interval and may be pulsed in a polling fashion taking into consideration all of the on-board antennas. The communication radius may be three or four feet (about 1-1.5 meters) as an example, but may be determined by the manufacturer.  
         [0023]     Next, when the transponder  24  is within the communication radius of an antenna  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , the fob  24  may transmit a unique security code to the smart ECU  12 , and when the smart ECU  12  recognizes the unique security code, the door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37  of the vehicle  10  are placed into unlock standby mode. In the case of  FIG. 1 , the front driver side lock  29  will be placed into a condition of unlock standby when the transponder  24  is within the communication zone radius of door antenna  14 . When in unlock standby mode, the door handle  39  may be touched on a rear side to activate a contact sensor  41 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  also depicts a driver seat  36 , which possesses a driver seat sensor  38 , and a front passenger seat  40 , which possesses a front passenger seat sensor  42 . The vehicle interior  44  also possesses an interior antenna  45 . The operative workings of the sensors and antennas will now be explained by referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 - 7 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 1 and 3 - 5  depict a first scenario for locking the door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  37  of a vehicle  10 .  FIG. 3  depicts a user  52 , holding a smart key type of key fob  24 , who has just exited the vehicle  10  and who has closed all vehicle doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 . As depicted, although the user  52  has exited the vehicle  10 , the user  52  remains standing within the transmitting range of antenna  14 , which may be located within door  28 . This means that the key fob  24  of the user  52  is communicating with the polling signal  13  of the antenna  14 , which is governed by the Smart ECU  12 . With the user  52  in this position, because the key fob  24  and Smart ECU  12  are able to communicate, the doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  have not locked.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  depicts the user walking away from the vehicle  10  according to direction arrow  53  such that the user  52  becomes out of the range  15  or zone of the polling signal  13  transmitted by antenna  14  of door  28 . When the user  52  walks out of the range  15 , the locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  of the vehicle doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  lock.  FIG. 5  denotes the locking event, which will now be described.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  depicts the user  52  with key fob  24  outside of the zone  15 . Immediately after the user  52  with key fob  24  is outside of the zone  15 , the Smart ECU  12  verifies that the user  52  is not in the driver seat  36  by verifying that the driver seat sensor  38  is not activated. The driver seat sensor  38  may be any of various kinds of sensors, such as a weight sensor or contact sensor. When weight is placed on the driver seat  36 , the seat sensor  38  is activated, which means that, for example, electrical switch contacts become closed. Upon both of these events, that is, the key fob  24  being outside of the zone  15 , and the driver seat sensor  38  being not activated, the door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  of the doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  will lock. Although the seat sensor  38  has been described as a weight sensor, the invention is not limited to such and a non-contact sensor such as an infra-red sensor or light-sensing optical sensor may be used. Such an infra-red sensor may be dash or ceiling mounted and directed to where an occupant might sit. An optical sensor may be flush-mounted in the seatback or seat bottom and sense light from an occupant.  
         [0028]     Upon all door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  locking, notification to the user  52  of such locking may occur. Notification may take the form of a horn  54  that makes sound waves  56 , at least one turn signal  58  that flashes light  60 , at least one headlight  62  that flashes light  64 , or at least one taillight  66  that flashes light  68 , or any combination of such forms of locking notification.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict yet another scenario for automatically locking the doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 . When the user  52  exits the vehicle  10  and stands within the communication zone  15  of the antenna  14  of the front door  28 , thereby intercepting the pulsing signal from antenna  14 , the system checks to ensure that the driver seat sensor  38  within the driver seat  36  is no longer activated by the weight, for example, of the user  52 . When both of these conditions are met, then a timer begins. After a predetermined time period, such as  15 ,  30  or  60  seconds, as examples, the door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  will automatically lock. Such automatic door locking by the Smart ECU  12  occurs after a timeout period, even though the key fob  24  is within the communication zone of the antenna  14 . Automatic door locking after a timeout period may be invoked in order to conserve electricity or protect the contents of the vehicle  10 , even when a user  52  may be relatively close to the vehicle  10 . Electricity from the vehicle battery is normally used by the Smart ECU  12  and antennas while polling for the key fob  24 . Although the description above utilizes communication zone  15 , another zone, such as communication zone  19  may be used.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  depicts notification to the user  52 , who is standing within the polling zone  15 , that automatic door locking has occurred due to timeout. Again, notification may take the form of a horn  54  that makes sound waves  56 , at least one turn signal  58  that flashes light  60 , at least one headlight  62  that flashes light  64 , or at least one taillight  66  that flashes light  68 , or any combination of such forms of notification.  
         [0031]     In a related scenario, and with continued reference to  FIG. 6 , a front passenger  70  may cause the door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  to automatically lock. In effectuating such locking, the driver  52  may exit and walk away from the vehicle  10  in accordance with direction arrow  72 , while the front passenger  70  remains in the vehicle  10 . In this situation, although the Smart ECU  12  recognizes that the driver  52  has exited the driver seat  36  because the driver seat sensor  38  is no longer activated, and that the driver may or may have not left the polling area  15  of the front door antenna  14 , the doors will not yet lock because the front passenger  70  remains in the vehicle  10  and continues to activate the passenger seat sensor  42  within the passenger seat  40 . However, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , if the front passenger  70  chooses to exit the vehicle  10 , then as soon as the front passenger  70  stops activating the front passenger seat sensor  42  of the front passenger seat  40  and all doors are closed, a timer begins and the Smart ECU  12  will automatically lock the door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  of the doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  at the end of the timeout period.  
         [0032]     Another feature of the automatic locking system is that the Smart ECU  12 , in conjunction with interior antenna  45  located within the vehicle interior  44 , performs an interior check for key fobs before automatic vehicle door locking to determine if any additional key fobs are inside the vehicle  10 . For instance, in the event a user  52  exits and walks away from the vehicle  10  with key fob  24 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the Smart ECU  12  will then poll the vehicle interior  44  using interior antenna  45  to determine if any additional key fobs remain within the vehicle interior  44 . In the event that any additional key fobs are detected, the Smart ECU  12  will cause notification or an alarm to sound to alert the user  52  that at least one an additional key fob remains within the vehicle  10 . Such notification will occur before the user leaves the immediate area of the vehicle  10 . The alarm may consist of sound waves  56  from the vehicle horn  54  or from light being emitted from the headlights  62 , turn signals  58 , taillights  66  or a combination of such. Alternatively, the fob that the user is carrying may sound an alarm or vibrate to alert the user  52  of the additional key fob within the vehicle interior  44 .  
         [0033]     A vehicle locking system has been described in which a user  52 , such as a vehicle driver, possesses a key fob  24  that is either within or outside of a polling zone  15  of antenna  14  of the front door  28 ; however, the key fob  24  and Smart ECU  12  may work in conjunction with every antenna polling zone. For instance, if the key fob  24  depicted in  FIG. 3  is within polling zone  21  of antenna  20  of passenger rear door  34 , and then passes outside of such polling zone, then the Smart ECU  12  will perform an autolock upon all locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  of doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 . Likewise, if the user  52  depicted in  FIG. 6  stands within polling zone  17  of the driver rear door  30  long enough for the Smart ECU  12  to experience a timeout period, then the Smart ECU  12  will perform automatic locking of all doors  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 .  
         [0034]     Although a seat sensor is depicted in each of the driver seat  36  and the front passenger seat  40 , the invention is not limited to such. For instance, each of the left rear seat  46 , center rear seat  48 , and right rear seat  50  may have a seat sensor. In such a case, the above-described operations involving the driver seat  36  and front passenger seat  40 , would operate in a similar fashion.  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a timeout locking routine  80  that depicts control of a timeout and locking routine of vehicle door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35 . In such a routine  80 , from start at step  81 , the flow proceeds to step  82 , where the logic routine determines if the ignition is off and if any vehicle door is open. When the ignition is off and any vehicle door is open, the Smart ECU  12  anticipates that a vehicle occupant is preparing to exit the vehicle  10  and the routine  80  continues. At any point, when the routine determines that a door is being opened and the vehicle ignition is “on,” the routine  80  returns to step  81  and immediately proceeds to step  82 .  
         [0036]     When the conditions of step  82  are met, then the flow logic proceeds to step  84 , where the Smart ECU  12  determines if all vehicle doors are closed, but not all doors are locked. When the conditions of step  84  are met, the flow logic proceeds to step  86  where a determination is made as to whether any seat sensors are active. The seat sensor include seat sensor  38  in the driver&#39;s seat, seat sensor  42  in the front passenger seat  40  and any seat sensor in any of the rear passenger seats  46 ,  48 , and  50 . If any seat sensors are active, then the flow logic proceeds to step  88 , end, where the flow logic ends. The routine may then begin again at start  81 . However, if no seat sensors are active, then the flow logic proceeds to step  90 , where a timer begins. The timer may be set for  15 ,  30 ,  60  or any period of time.  
         [0037]     After the timer begins, the flow logic proceeds to step  92  at which an inquiry is made as to whether the time has expired. If a timeout has occurred, then the flow logic proceeds to step  104  where a check for additional interior key fobs is conducted. If a timeout has not occurred, then the flow logic continues to step  94 , where a check for exterior key fobs is conducted. In checking for exterior key fobs, the Smart ECU  12  polls through the antennas  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 . As an example, signal  13  is emitted from antenna  14  toward fob  24  ( FIG. 1 ). Fob  24  responds with signal  26  if fob  24  is within range of signal  13 ; however, if fob  24  is out of range, then no communication is established between the fob  24  and Smart ECU  12 . At step  96 , the logic determines if the exterior key is valid. If the key fob is not valid, then the flow logic returns to step  92 . If the exterior key is valid, that is found or located, then the flow logic proceeds to step  98  where a check for an exterior key is performed.  
         [0038]     Upon checking for the exterior key, the flow logic proceeds to step  100 , where an inquiry is made as to whether the exterior key is valid (found). If the exterior key is valid, then the flow logic proceed to step  102 , where the smart ECU  12  determines if the timeout period has been reached. If the timeout period has not been reached, then the flow returns to step  98 . However, if the timeout period has been reached, then the flow proceed to step  104 , where a check for an interior key is performed.  
         [0039]     From step  100 , if the inquiry into the validity of the exterior key is negative, then the flow proceeds to step  104 , where inquiry is made as to the presence of an interior key. The flow logic proceeds to step  106  regardless of whether a key is detected at step  104 ; however, upon detecting an additional interior key at step  104 , the flow logic proceeds to step  106  where an inquiry is made as to whether the interior key is valid. If the interior key is found to be not valid, then the flow logic proceeds to step  108  where all vehicle door locks  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35  are locked. Upon locking of all vehicle door locks, a confirmation chirp occurs at step  110 . The confirmation chirp is an audible signal that indicates door locking to the driver. The flow will then proceed to step  88 , where the routine ends.  
         [0040]     At step  106 , if the interior key is found and validated, then the flow logic proceeds to step  112  and all doors are unlocked. The routine will not lock the doors with a valid key in the interior of the vehicle, as long as the interior key is detectable by the interior antenna. The flow logic then proceeds to step  114  where a warning chirp occurs. The routine  80  then ends at step  88 .  
         [0041]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.