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US 4,537,049 AGranted
Control circuit for locking mechanism of vehicle door
AssigneeSun Chemical Corporation
InventorPeter J. Lupoli
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSun Chemical Corporation
InventorPeter J. Lupoli
Estimating the term…
A power door lock control for vehicles includes a manually operable member which may be the conventional lock-unlock button. One door contains an electrically powered mechanism which operates a locking bolt. Connected to the mechanism is a contact which is cooperable with a second contact on the vehicle body when the door is closed. A pulse circuit in the vehicle is actuated when the driver presses the lock button toward its "locking" position, and supplies spaced pulses to the body contact. The pulses continue at a very low duty cycle, so as to draw minimal current, until the door is closed at which time the door contact and body contact engage one another, thereby completing a circuit from the pulse generator to the powered mechanism. This in turn operates the locking bolt to secure the door. At the same time, a current sensing circuit in the vehicle detects that a pulse of current has flowed through the powered mechanism. Once the pulse of current is sensed, the pulsing circuit is completely shut off, drawing virtually no additional power. With this device the driver, in leaving, can operate the "lock" button, and at any later time merely close the door. This latter will then be automatically locked by the pulse generator, which will then be disabled, all automatically and with minimal use of power.
An electric-powered door lock system for a door movable between open and closed positions in a van or other vehicle, comprising in combination:
An electric-powered door lock system for automobiles which have a driver-compartment door equipped with an electric latch and a second door equipped with a locking bolt, comprising in combination:
An electric-powered door lock system for a door movable between open and closed positions in a van or other vehicle, comprising in combination:
The method of locking the door of an automotive vehicle after the door has been first closed, said door being of the type having an electric actuator which operates a lock mechanism, and having an electrical contact which, when the door is closed, is engageable with a cooperable contact on the vehicle body, said method comprising the steps of:
An electric-powered door lock system for a vehicle having an electrical system capable of supplying power, and having a first door and a second door, comprising in combination:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.