Vehicle and Vehicle Tailgate Locking Device

A vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body;
• a tailgate connected to the vehicle body;
• an external door handle connected to the tailgate;
• an external door handle switch configured to be turned on and off in response to operation of the external door handle;
• a striker fixed to the vehicle body;
• a latch member configured to engage or disengage the striker by rotation;
• a pawl member configured to restrain or release the latch member;
• a latch motor configured to rotate the pawl member to release the latch member;
• and
• a controller configured to control a power supply to the latch motor in response to the external door handle switch being turned on, to stop the power supply to the latch motor in response to either the external door handle switch being turned off after the external door handle switch is turned on or an elapse of a preset time.

A method of controlling a vehicle tailgate locking device comprising an external door handle switch, a latch member, a pawl member, and a latch motor, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of electrical signals generated by the external door handle switch in response to operation of an external door handle on a tailgate of a vehicle;
• generating a control command for supplying power to the latch motor in response to the plurality of electrical signals;
• determining whether the external door handle switch is turned off;
• when it is determined that the external door handle switch is turned off, stopping supplying the power to the latch motor;
• when it is determined that the external door handle switch is not turned off, determining whether a preset time has elapsed;
• and
• when it is determined that the preset time has elapsed, stopping supplying the power to the latch motor.