Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are provided for notifying an operator that a door of a vehicle is locked. The method can include receiving a request to lock a lock associated with the door, and determining an ambient lighting condition associated with the vehicle. Based upon the ambient lighting condition, outputting audible data, visual data or both audible data and visual data to indicate that the door is locked.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to vehicles and more particularly relates to systems and methods for notification that one or more doors associated with the vehicle are locked. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typically, a vehicle can include a cabin, which can have one or more doors to gain entry to the cabin. Generally, each of the doors can have a door lock, which can be actuated to secure the cabin of the vehicle. In certain instances, the door locks can be actuated by a remote device. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods to notify the operator that the doors have been locked when using a remote device. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus is provided for a lock notification system for a vehicle having a cabin. The apparatus can include a door coupled to the cabin and including a lock that is actuatable to secure the door to the cabin. The apparatus can also include an ambient conditions sensor that generates a first signal that indicates an amount of light surrounding the vehicle, and a control module that receives the first signal and a request to actuate the lock. The control module can output audible data or audible data and visual data to indicate that the lock is locked when the vehicle in daylight, and output only visual data to indicate that the lock is locked when the vehicle in darkness. 
     A method is provided for notifying that a door of a vehicle is secured to a cabin of the vehicle. The method can include receiving a request to lock a lock associated with the door, and determining an ambient lighting condition associated with the vehicle. Based upon the ambient lighting condition, outputting audible data, visual data or both audible data and visual data to indicate that the door is locked. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a vehicle that includes a lock notification system in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a dataflow diagram illustrating a control system of the lock notification system in accordance with various embodiments; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the lock notification system in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and/or processor device, individually or in any combination, including without limitation: application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  is shown. The vehicle  10  can include a powertrain  12 , a steering system  14 , a door lock system  16 , a lock notification system  18 , an ambient conditions sensor  20  and a control module  22 . As will be discussed in greater detail herein, the control module  22  can receive inputs from the ambient conditions sensor  20  and the door lock system  16  to control the operation of the lock notification system  18 . The lock notification system  18  can notify the operator that one or more of the doors  24  of the vehicle  10  are locked. 
     Generally, the vehicle  10  can include the powertrain  12  for propulsion. The powertrain  12  can include, for example, a propulsion device, including, but not limited to, an internal combustion engine, electric engine or hybrid thereof (not shown). The propulsion device can supply power through a transmission (not shown) to a suitable driveline coupled to one or more wheels (and tires)  26  of the vehicle  10  to enable the vehicle  10  to move. 
     The steering system  14  can include a hand wheel  28  coupled to a steering shaft  30 , which can cooperate with the powertrain  12  to steer the vehicle  10 . It should be noted that the use of a hand wheel is merely exemplary, as the steering system  14  can include any suitable device for steering the vehicle  10 , including, but not limited to, a joystick, the hand wheel  28 , etc. In this example, the hand wheel  28  can include one or more user input devices  32 , which can provide an input to the control module  22 . The powertrain  12  and steering system  14  are shown only in block form and without further detailed description, as embodiments of these mechanisms are varied and well known to those skilled in the art. 
     The door lock system  16  can include the doors  24 , a remote keyless entry (RKE) system  34  and a display  36 . The doors  24  can be coupled to a body  38  of the vehicle  10 , and can permit ingress and egress from a cabin defined by the body  38  of the vehicle  10  as well known to those skilled in the art. The doors  24  can include, but are not limited to, entry doors, cargo doors and lift gates. Each of the doors  24  can include a lock  40  and one or more of the doors  24  can include a manual lock actuator  42 . The lock  40  can be any suitable mechanism, including, but not limited to, a mechanical device or an electrical device, suitable for securing the door  24  to the body  38  to prevent access to the cabin of the vehicle  10 . 
     The manual lock actuator  42  can comprise any suitable user input device, which can be in communication with the control module  22 . In one example, the manual lock actuator  42  can comprise a mechanical knob or post coupled to one or more of the doors  24  that can be manipulated to enable an operator to send a signal to the control module  22  to lock or unlock the doors  24 . In another example, the manual lock actuator  42  can comprise an electric switch coupled to one or more of the doors  24  that can be actuated to enable an operator to send a signal to the control module  22  to lock or unlock the doors  24 . As a further example, one or more of the doors  24  can include both a mechanical knob or post and an electric switch, and thus, multiple lock actuators  42  can be employed on one or more of the doors  24 . Further, the manual lock actuator  42  need not be coupled directly to one or more of the doors  24 , but could be coupled to a console associated with the vehicle  10 . It should be noted that the manual lock actuator  42  is optional, as other techniques can be used to send a signal to the control module  22  to lock or unlock one or more of the doors  24 . 
     For example, the RKE system  34  can be used to send a signal to the control module  22  to actuate one or more of the locks  40 . In one example, the RKE system  34  can include a fob  44  and a receiver  46  as known to one skilled in the art. In one example, the fob  44  can include one or more user input devices  48  and a transmitter  50 . In the case of an “active” RKE system  34 , the user input devices  48  can be actuated by an operator to generate a signal to lock or unlock one or more of the doors  24  of the vehicle  10 . The signals generated by the actuation of the user input devices  48  can be transmitted by the transmitter  50  over a suitable wireless link to the receiver  46 . Alternatively, in the case of a “passive” RKE system  34 , the transmitter  50  can transmit a signal to the receiver  46  when the fob  44  has left a predetermined zone associated with the vehicle  10 . For example, the transmitter  50  can transmit a signal when the fob  44  is about 15 feet away from the vehicle  10 . The receiver  46  can receive the signals from the transmitter  50  of the fob  44 . The receiver  46  can be in communication with the control module  22  to provide the signals received from the transmitter  50  to the control module  22 . 
     The display  36  can be in communication with the control module  22  and can provide visual information to the driver and/or other users of the vehicle  10 . In one example, the display  36  can be implemented as a flat panel display in an instrument panel or console of the vehicle  10 . Those skilled in the art realize other techniques to implement the display  36  in the vehicle  10 . The display  36  can include a user input device  52 , which can receive inputs from the user to adjust a setting of the lock notification system  18 . The user input device  52  may be implemented as a keyboard (not separately shown), a microphone (not separately shown), a touchscreen layer associated with the display  36 , or other suitable device to receive data and/or commands from the user. Of course, multiple input devices  52  can also be utilized. 
     The lock notification system  18  can notify the operator that the doors  24  have been locked or unlocked. The lock notification system  18  can include one or more visual indicators  54  and an audible device  56 . The visual indicators  54  can visually indicate that one or more of the doors  24  are locked or unlocked. In one example, the visual indicators  54  can include, but are not limited to, the headlights and taillights of the vehicle  10 , however, the visual indicators  54  could comprise separate visual indicators located on the exterior or within the interior of the vehicle  10  that can indicate that one or more of the doors  24  are locked or unlocked. The audible device  56  can provide an audible indication that one or more of the doors  24  are locked or unlocked. In one example, the audible device  56  can include, but is not limited to, a horn associated with the vehicle  10 . 
     The ambient conditions sensor  20  can be coupled to the vehicle  10  so as to observe the ambient lighting conditions surrounding the vehicle  10 . In one example, the ambient conditions sensor  20  can include a light sensor, which can measure the amount of light surrounding the vehicle  10  and can generate signals based thereon. For example, the ambient conditions sensor  20  can measure the amount of daylight the vehicle  10  is exposed to and can generate signals that indicate if the vehicle  10  is in daylight conditions and/or reduced lighting conditions (twilight or darkness). In certain implementations, the ambient conditions sensor  20  can also generate signals that the vehicle  10  is in daylight conditions, twilight conditions or nighttime conditions (darkness). 
     The control module  22  can control the lock notification system  18  based on signals received from the user input devices  32 ,  52 , the RKE system  34 , the manual lock actuator  42  and/or ambient conditions sensor  20  to vary the notification to the operator that one or more of the doors  24  are locked. In one example, the control module  22  can control the output of one or more of the visual indicators  54  and the audible device  56  based on signals received from the user input devices  32 ,  52 , the RKE system  34 , the manual lock actuator  42  and/or ambient conditions sensor  20 . It should be noted that the control module  22  can be in communication with the one or more visual indicators  54 , audible device  56 , user input devices  32 ,  52 , RKE system  34 , manual lock actuator  42  and ambient conditions sensor  20  over a communication bus, such as a data bus, associated with the vehicle  10 . The control module  22  can receive inputs from the user input devices  32 ,  52 , RKE system  34 , manual lock actuator  42  and ambient conditions sensor  20  and can set outputs for the one or more visual indicators  54  and audible device  56  over the communication bus. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a dataflow diagram illustrates various embodiments of a door lock notification control system  100  for the lock notification system  18  ( FIG. 1 ) that may be embedded within the control module  22 . Various embodiments of door lock notification control system according to the present disclosure can include any number of sub-modules embedded within the control module  22 . As can be appreciated, the sub-modules shown in  FIG. 2  can be combined and/or further partitioned to similarly adjust the output of the lock notification system  18  ( FIG. 1 ). Inputs to the system may be sensed from the vehicle  10  ( FIG. 1 ), received from other control modules (not shown), and/or determined/modeled by other sub-modules (not shown) within the control module  22 . In various embodiments, the control module  22  can include a lock notification control module  102  and a user interface (UI) control module  104 . 
     The lock notification control module  102  can receive as input ambient data  106 , default data  108 , lock data  110 , time data  112  and user input data  114 . The ambient data  106  can comprise an amount of daylight measured or determined by the ambient conditions sensor  20 . The default data  108  can comprise a default setting for the control of the lock notification system  18 , which can be stored in a memory associated with the control module  22 , or received from other modules associated with the vehicle  10 . The lock data  110  can comprise data that indicates that the lock  40  of one or more doors  24  has been locked, based on a request or input received from at least one of the manual lock actuator  42  or the fob  44 . The time data  112  can comprise a predetermined time of day value, which can be received from other modules of the vehicle  10 . The user input data  114  can comprise input received through the user input devices  32 ,  52 , which can comprise a setting for the control of the lock notification system  18 . 
     Based on the ambient data  106 , default data  108 , lock data  110 , time data  112  and user input data  114 , the lock notification control module  102  can access a look-up table or a calibration table, for example, and based on the received inputs, set setting data  117  for the UI control module  104 , and can output visual data  116  and audible data  118 . The setting data  117  can comprise a current setting for the lock notification system  18  based on the user input data  114  or the default data  108 . The visual data  116  can comprise a signal to activate the visual indicators  54  to indicate that at least one of the doors  24  is locked. The audible data  118  can comprise a signal to activate the audible device  56  to indicate that at least one of the doors  24  is locked. 
     The UI control module  104  can receive as input the user input data  114  and the setting data  117 . Based on the user input data  114  and setting data  117 , the UI control module  104  can access a look-up table or a calibration table, for example, and can output a UI  120 . The UI  120  can display one or more available settings for the lock notification system  18 , which can be displayed in a textual format, graphical format or combinations thereof. For example, the UI  120  could comprise a list of the available settings, such as “Horn Sound on Door Lock,” “Horn Sound and Lights Flash on Door Lock,” “Lights Flash on Door Lock,” “No Notification of Door Lock,” “Horn Sound or Lights Flash Based on Ambient Conditions,” or “Horn Sound and Lights Flash or Lights Flash Only Based on Ambient Conditions.” The user can then select, using the user input device  32  and/or user input device  52  a desired setting for the operation of the lock notification system  18 . The selected setting can be displayed on the UI  120  and/or the default data  108  can be displayed on the UI  120  to enable the operator to observe the selected setting for the lock notification system  18 . It should be noted that the UI  120  is merely exemplary, as the setting for the lock notification system  18  could comprise a default setting that is not adjustable through user input. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a flowchart illustrates a control method that can be performed by the control module  22  of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present disclosure. As can be appreciated in light of the disclosure, the order of operation within the method is not limited to the sequential execution as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , but may be performed in one or more varying orders as applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     In various embodiments, the method can be scheduled to run based on predetermined events, and/or can run continually during operation of the vehicle  10 . 
     The method can begin at  200 . At  202 , the method can determine if a request has been received to notify the operator that at least one of the doors  24  is locked based on ambient conditions as received from the user input data  114  or default data  108 . If a request has been received to notify the operator based on ambient conditions, the method can go to  204 . Otherwise, the method can loop. 
     At  204 , the method can determine if a lock request has been received from the fob  44  or the manual lock actuator  42 , and if one or more of the doors  24  has been locked. If the lock  40  of one or more of the doors  24  has been locked, the method goes to  206 . Otherwise, the method loops at  204 . At  206 , the method can determine the ambient conditions based on the ambient data  106  received from the ambient conditions sensor  20 . At  208 , the method can determine if the vehicle  10  is in daylight, such that the visual indicators  54  would be substantially inefficient or unable to notify the operator that one or more of the doors  24  are locked. If the vehicle  10  is in daylight, then at  210 , the method outputs audible data  118  to the audible device  56  to audibly indicate that one or more of the doors  24  are locked, or the method outputs audible data  118  to the audible device  56  and visual data  116  to at least one of the visual indicators  54  to both audibly and visibly indicate that one or more of the doors  24  are locked based on the user input data  114 . Then, the method can end at  218 . 
     Otherwise, at  212 , the method determines if the vehicle  10  is in reduced ambient light, such as at dusk, night or within an enclosed parking structure. If the method determines that the vehicle  10  is in reduced ambient light, then the method can go to  214 . Otherwise, the method can flag an error with the ambient conditions sensor  20  at  216  and can end at  218 . 
     At  214 , the method can determine if the vehicle  10  is in twilight based on ambient data  106  and/or the time data  112 . If based on the ambient data  106  and/or the time data  112  the method determines the vehicle  10  is in twilight, such that the visual indicators  54  may not be substantially effective to notify the operator that one or more of the doors  24  are locked, the method can go to  220 . At  220 , the method can output visual data  116  and audible data  118 , so that the operator is notified that one or more of the doors  24  are locked through both output by the audible device  56  and at least one of the visual indicators  54 . It should be noted that alternatively, the method could output only the audible data  118 , if desired. As a further alternative, based on the ambient data  106 , the method could employ a time delay to ensure that the visual data  116  is sufficient to notify the operator that one or more of the doors  24  are locked. Thus, if the ambient data  106  indicates that the vehicle  10  is in reduced lighting conditions, such as twilight, both audible data  118  and visual data  116  can be output for a specified period of time after the ambient conditions sensor  20  observes that the vehicle  10  is twilight, such as about 30 minutes. Then, the method can end. 
     If at  214 , the method determines that the vehicle  10  is not in twilight, but rather is in low or no ambient lighting, such as at night, wherein the visual indicators  54  would be substantially effective to notify the operator that one or more of the doors  24  are locked, the method can go to  222 . At  222 , the method can output visual data  116  such that the operator is notified that one or more of the doors  24  are locked with at least one of the visual indicators  54 . This can enable the operator to be notified that one or more of the doors  24  are locked without disturbing those in the proximity of the vehicle  10 . Then, the method can end. 
     While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.