# US 11,905,744 B2 · Method for operating a motor vehicle locking system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,905,744 B2 - Document ID: US11905744B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/420,223 - Filed: 2020-01-10 - Published: 2022-03-24 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-11 - Assignees: Kiekert AG - Applicants: Kiekert AG - Inventors: Manuel Reusch; Michael Scholz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905744B2 ## CPC - E05B 81/06: using rotary motors - E05B 81/21: {with means preventing or detecting pinching of objects or body parts} - E05B 81/14: operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt - E05B 81/58: including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors - E05B 81/66: the bolt position, i.e. the latching status - E05B 81/70: the wing position - E05B 81/72: the lock status, i.e. locked or unlocked condition - E05B 85/045: {for bifurcated bolts} - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS ## Abstract A method for operating a motor vehicle locking system, particularly for acting upon a motor vehicle cover and preferably a motor vehicle door for the purpose of locking it. A drive for the cover is acted upon depending on a pre-locked position and a fully latched position of the cover determined by a sensor. According to the invention, a sensor detects the over-travel beyond the fully latched position, resulting in the motor being driven in a reverse direction irrespective of the previously assumed fully latched position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a motor vehicle locking system for acting upon a motor vehicle cover, the method comprising: acting on a drive for a motor vehicle lock of the cover to drive the motor vehicle lock from a starting point depending on a pre-locked position and a fully latched position of the motor vehicle lock detected by a sensor; detecting an over-travel position which is beyond the fully latched position of the motor vehicle lock via the sensor; and driving a motor in a reverse direction irrespective of a previously assumed fully latched position; the method further comprising detecting via the sensor a normal locking process including a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the fully latched position and a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the over-travel position, wherein when there is a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the fully latched position and a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the over-travel position the motor is driven in reverse to move the motor vehicle lock to the fully latched position; and the method further comprising detecting via the sensor a cancelled normal locking process including a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the over-travel position in absence of a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the fully latched position, wherein when there is a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the over-travel position in absence of a detection that the motor vehicle lock has reached the fully latched position the motor is driven in reverse to move the motor vehicle lock to the starting point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting a first locked position between the pre-locked position and the fully latched position via the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising: detecting an assumption of the pre-locked position via the sensor; and starting the drive if the sensor detects the pre-locked position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting a position of a locking mechanism of the motor vehicle lock, wherein the locking mechanism includes a rotary latch and a pawl. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising using an additional sensor provided near or in a region of the motor vehicle cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 further comprising using at least one Hall sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein using the at least one Hall sensor includes using a stationary sensor and a sensing element which influences a signal from the stationary sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7 further comprising generating a varying magnetic flux in the stationary sensor via the sensing element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein using the sensing element includes using a magnet and magnetizing the magnet, and moving the magnet within a sensor range so that first a north pole reaches the sensor range and, near an end of movement of the magnet, a south pole reaches the sensor range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A motor vehicle locking system on a motor vehicle cover configured for performing the method according to claim 1, having the motor vehicle lock and the drive for the motor vehicle lock, wherein the drive is acted upon depending on the pre-locked position and the fully latched position of the motor vehicle lock determined by the sensor, wherein the sensor detects the over-travel position beyond the fully latched position, resulting in the motor being driven in a reverse direction irrespective of the previously assumed fully latched position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2 further comprising continuing operation of the drive to move the motor vehicle lock to the fully latched position when the first locked position is detected by the sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11 further comprising driving the motor in the reverse direction if the first locked position is not reached. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7 further comprising operating the sensing element without contact on the sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein detecting the position of the locking mechanism includes using a movable sensing element attached to the rotary latch and a stationary sensor that detects movements of the movable sensing element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein using the additional sensor includes using a first additional sensor arranged in a motor vehicle door and/or a second additional sensor arranged on a lock holder.