Secure access to storage devices within vehicle cargo compartments
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSteven T. Skikun, Robert S. Kern, Arie Groeneveld, Frank J. Desjarlais, Jon Ohland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for secure access to storage devices within vehicle cargo compartments. An example vehicle includes a rear gate including a gate lock, a cargo compartment accessible via the rear gate, a storage device positioned within the cargo compartment and including a storage lock, and a body control module (BCM) communicatively coupled to the gate lock and the storage lock. The BCM is to simultaneously unlock the rear gate and the storage device for a predefined period-of-time responsive to receiving a storage-access request.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a rear gate including a gate lock;
- a cargo compartment accessible via the rear gate;
- a storage device positioned within the cargo compartment and including a storage lock;
- a position sensor configured to detect whether the rear gate is open or closed;
- and
- a body control module (BCM) communicatively coupled to the gate lock and the storage lock, wherein the BCM is configured to simultaneously unlock the rear gate and the storage device for a predefined period-of-time responsive to receiving a storage-access request, and wherein the BCM is configured to simultaneously relock the rear gate and the storage lock in response to determining, via the position sensor, that the rear gate has been opened and subsequently closed during the predefined period-of-time.
A method comprising:
- receiving a storage-access request via a body control module (BCM) of a vehicle;
- and
- unlocking a gate and a storage device for a predefined period-of-time responsive to receiving the storage-access request, wherein the storage device is positioned within a cargo compartment and includes a storage lock, the cargo compartment is accessible via the gate, and the gate includes a gate lock,
- wherein the BCM receives the storage-access request when a storage switch is toggled to an unlock position while an ignition sensor detects that an ignition switch is in a start position or a run position.
A method comprising:
- receiving a storage-access request via a body control module (BCM) of a vehicle;
- and
- unlocking a gate and a storage device for a predefined period-of-time responsive to receiving the storage-access request, wherein the storage device is positioned within a cargo compartment and includes a storage lock, the cargo compartment is accessible via the gate, and the gate includes a gate lock;
- and
- relocking the gate and the storage lock via the BCM, wherein the BCM relocks the gate and the storage lock in response to identifying that a door switch is toggled to a lock position.
A vehicle comprising:
- an ignition switch and an ignition sensor;
- a rear gate including a gate lock;
- a cargo compartment accessible via the rear gate;
- a cabin adjacent to the cargo compartment and a storage switch located within the cabin;
- a storage device positioned within the cargo compartment and including a storage lock;
- and
- a body control module (BCM) communicatively coupled to the gate lock and the storage lock, wherein the BCM is configured to simultaneously unlock the rear gate and the storage device for a predefined period-of-time responsive to receiving a storage-access request, and wherein the BCM is configured to receive the storage-access request when the storage switch is toggled to an unlock position while the ignition sensor detects that the ignition switch is in a start position or a run position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.