Patent Publication Number: US-2005134052-A1

Title: Pulsed electromagnetic application in vehicle door latch

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      Embodiments are generally related to door latch assemblies, including door latching mechanisms utilized in automobiles and other vehicles. Embodiments are also related to pulsed electromagnets and controller devices.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Latching mechanisms are utilized in a variety of commercial and industrial applications, such as automobiles, airplanes, trucks, and the like. For example, an automotive closure, such as a door for an automobile passenger compartment, is typically hinged to swing between open and closed positions and conventionally includes a door latch that is housed between inner and outer panels of the door. The door latch functions in a well-known manner to latch the door when it is closed and to lock the door in the closed position or to unlock and unlatch the door so that the door can be opened manually.  
      The door latch can be operated remotely from inside the passenger compartment by two distinct operators—a button or an electric switch that controls the locking function and a handle that controls the latching function. The door latch is also operated remotely from the exterior of the automobile by a handle or push button that controls the latching function. A second distinct exterior operator, such as a key lock cylinder, may also be provided to control the locking function, particularly in the case of a front vehicle door. Each operator is accessible outside the door structure and extends into the door structure where it is operatively connected to the door latch mechanism by a cable actuator assembly or linkage system located inside the door structure.  
      Vehicles, such as passenger cars, are therefore commonly equipped with individual door latch assemblies which secure respective passenger and driver side doors to the vehicle. Each door latch assembly is typically provided with manual release mechanisms or lever for unlatching the door latch from the inside and outside of the vehicle, e.g. respective inner and outer door handles. In addition, many vehicles also include an electrically controlled actuator for remotely locking and unlocking the door latches.  
      One of the problems inherent with conventional latching mechanisms is that it is difficult, but necessary, to provide accurate and efficient locking and unlocking mechanisms, which are particularly responsive to electrical signals. Current solutions to date encumbered with the burden of relying upon rotating motors to move a latching mechanism to the required condition (e.g., open, closed, locked, unlocked, etc.). This requires a complex control method and expensive motor switching devices. A much more efficient and simplified solution is thus necessary to overcome the difficulties inherent with conventional latching mechanisms.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The following summary of the invention is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.  
      It is, therefore, one aspect of the present invention to provide for an improved latch mechanism.  
      It is another aspect of the present invention to provide for improved latching methods and systems for use in automobiles and other vehicles.  
      It is yet a further aspect of the present invention to provide for a latch mechanism of a latching assembly which is responsive to one or more electromagnetic pulses generated by an electromagnet.  
      The aforementioned aspects of the invention and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. Methods and systems for magnetically actuating latch components are disclosed herein. A door latch assembly comprising at least one latching mechanism can be provided for maintaining a door in a locked condition or an unlocked condition. One or more electromagnets can be integrated with the door latch assembly, such that the electromagnet generates one or more pulses in the form of mechanical energy that can actuate the latching mechanism from a locked condition to an unlocked condition and vice versa.  
      A pulsed electromagnet is therefore utilized such each pulse of energy applied actuates the latching mechanism a known amount. Such a configuration permits the latching mechanism to be accurately indexed from a known position to another, thereby providing a vehicle door latch designer with the ability to design and construct door latches with powered closures, unlatching, locking, and super-locking components having a minimal size and a simplified control means. A controller can be provided, which communicates with both the latching mechanism and the electromagnet.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle door mounted to a passenger vehicle in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be implemented;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a system, which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle latch assembly, which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle latch assembly, which can be implemented in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic diagram of a system, which can be implemented in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of a system, which can be implemented in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a vehicle door  12  mounted to a passenger vehicle in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be implemented. A vehicle, such as an automobile can be equipped with one or more individual door latch assemblies  10 , which secure respective passenger and driver side doors to the vehicle  14 . Each door latch assembly  10  is typically provided with manual release mechanisms or lever for unlatching the door latch from the inside and outside of the vehicle, e.g. respective inner and outer door handles.  
      In addition, many vehicles can also be equipped with electrically controlled actuators for remotely locking and unlocking the door latches. As indicated in  FIG. 1 , a door latch assembly  10  can be mounted to a driver&#39;s side vehicle door  12  of a passenger vehicle  14 . The door latch assembly  10  may be mounted to front and rear passenger side doors thereof and may be incorporated into a sliding side door, rear door, a rear hatch or a lift gate thereof, depending upon design constraints.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a system  200 , which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. System  200  includes a pulsed electromagnet  202  wherein each pulse of electric energy generated by electromagnet  202  can actuate a latch a known amount, thereby permitting latch  204  to be accurately indexed from one known position to another.  FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle latch assembly  300 , which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Latch assembly  300  of  FIG. 3  is generally analogous to latch assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 . Note that in  FIGS. 1-3 , similar or identical parts are indicated by identical reference numerals. Latch  204  represents one or more latches or levers or other locking/unlocking mechanisms that can be integrated with or form part of a latch assembly, such as, for example, latch assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle latch assembly  400 , which can be implemented in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Latch assembly  400  of  FIG. 4  is analogous to latch assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 . Latch assembly  400 , however, includes a plurality of electromagnets  202 ,  402 , and  404 , which collectively comprise a group  406  of electromagnets that generate one or more pulses for actuating latch  204  or another locking or unlocking component of vehicle latch assembly  400 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates components of a system  500  that includes a latch assembly  510 , which can be implemented in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. System  500  also includes a group  204  of electromagnets  406  which provide one or more pulses for actuating various components of latch assembly  510 . Latch assembly  510  is not considered a limiting feature of the present invention, but is illustrated and described herein for general illustrative and edification purposes only, and to describe one possible context in which an alternative embodiment of the present invention can be implemented.  
      Latch assembly  510  generally includes a release mechanism  32  that is mounted to a support housing  16 . Latch assembly  510  of  FIG. 6  can be adapted for use with the vehicle door latch assembly of  FIG. 1  and can be characterized as including a coupler, generally shown at  34 . The movement of the coupler  34  in relation to the release mechanism  32  is illustrated  FIGS. 5 . The coupler  34  has an engaged position aligned with the release mechanism  32 . This coupled position can create an unlocked condition, which is shown in  FIG. 5 . The coupler  34  can then move to a disengaged position spaced from the release mechanism.  
      The coupler  34  can move to a further disengaged position spaced farther from the release mechanism  32 . Preferably, the coupler  34  includes a slider  36  having a projecting pin  38  with the pin  38  sliding relative to the release mechanism  32  between an engaged position and a disengaged position thereof. As appreciated, the slider  36  and pin  38  may be of any suitable design or configuration. The coupler  34  can also include a locking mechanism  42  pivotally connected to the support housing  16  and engaging the slider  36  for providing the sliding movement of the slider  36  and the pin  38 . As appreciated, the coupler  34  may include the slider  36  with the pin  38  and the locking mechanism  42 .  
      An outside lock lever  58  can be pivotally connected to the locking mechanism  42  for rotating the locking mechanism  42  and moving the slider  36  into a locking position. The locking mechanism  42  further can include an integral slot  60  selectively engaged by the outside lock lever  58  to provide a lost motion connection between the locking mechanism  42  and the outside lock lever  58 . The outside lock lever  58  can engage one side of the slot  60  of the locking mechanism  42  to move the locking mechanism  42  to an unlocked condition. Then, the outside lock lever  58  can engage the other side of the slot  60  of the locking mechanism  42  to move the locking mechanism  42  to a first locked condition. The locking mechanism  42  can also be moved to the double locked condition wherein the outside lock lever  58  is disposed within the slot  60 .  
      The release mechanism  32  cam also include a coupling surface  44  for selectively engaging the pin  38  of the slider  36 . The release mechanism  32  also includes a first engaging surface  46  spaced from the coupling surface  44  and a second engaging surface  48  spaced from the first engaging surface  46 . An outside release lever  50  can be pivotally mounted to the support housing  16  and selectively engage the first engaging surface  46  of the release mechanism  32  for moving the release mechanism  32 .  
      An interior locking segment  64  can be pivotally mounted to the support housing  16  and interconnect the inside lock lever  62  to the locking mechanism  42 . The interior locking segment  64  can also be configured to include an integral catch  66  and the locking mechanism  42  includes an engagement finger  68  with the engagement finger  68  selectively engaging the catch  66  such that pivotal movement of the locking mechanism  42  pivots the locking segment  64  and actuates the inside lock lever  62 . Preferably the catch  66  has first  72  and second  74  legs with the finger  68  disposed between the legs  72 ,  74 . During actuation of an inner door handle, an inside release lever (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) can pivot toward the release mechanism  32  and engage a second engaging surface  48  of the release mechanism  32 . Preferably, the locking mechanism  42  includes an aperture  116 .  
      It can be appreciated that a variety of different types of latch assemblies can be implemented in accordance with varying embodiments of the present invention. One non-limiting example of a latch assembly that can be adapted for use with the present invention is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,107, “Electrically controlled actuator for a vehicle door latch assembly,” which issued to Barczynski et al on Jan. 28, 2003 and is incorporated herein by reference. It can be appreciated that U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,107 is referenced herein for general illustrative and edification purposes only and is not considered a limiting feature any embodiments of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of a system  600 , which can be implemented in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. System  600  provides a configuration for magnetically actuating latch components. System  600  can be implemented as a door latch assembly that includes at least one latching mechanism  204  for maintaining a door in a locked condition or an unlocked condition. At least one electromagnet  406  can be integrated with system  600  such electromagnet  406  generates at least one pulse in the form of electrical energy that actuates the at least one latching mechanism from a locked condition to an unlocked condition and vice versa. Controller  602  can communicate with the electromagnet  406  for the generation of one or more pulses for actuating the latching mechanism  204 . Controller  602  can also communicate with latching mechanism  204  to provide one or more electrical signals thereof for moving the latching mechanism from a first position to a second position. Each pulse generated by electromagnet(s)  406  can actuate latching mechanism  204  a known amount thereby permitting latching mechanism  204  to be indexed from one known position to another within a door latch assembly, such as door latch assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 .  
      The embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and utilize the invention. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and example only. Other variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and it is the intent of the appended claims that such variations and modifications be covered.  
      The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without departing from the scope of the following claims. It is contemplated that the use of the present invention can involve components having different characteristics. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.