A door latch device includes a latch mechanism, an inner lever having a connection lever and an actuation lever, and a lock mechanism switching between unlocked and locked state. The lock mechanism includes a connection member capable of transmitting operation of the connection lever to the actuation lever, a first rotating lever rotated by a motor to first and second working positions, a second rotating lever rotatable to a first rotation position where the connection member is moved to an unlock position and a second rotation position where the connection member is moved to a lock position, a connection spring connecting the first rotating lever and the second rotating lever while allowing relative rotation of them, and a holding spring having a biasing force stronger than a biasing force of the connection spring and holds the first rotating lever at the first and second working positions.

A vehicle door latch apparatus is provided that shortens the time to switch the locking lever between the locked position and the unlocked position. A vehicle door latch apparatus according to the present invention comprises a latch that is engaged with a striker in order to keep a vehicle door in a half-latched state or a full-latched state; a ratchet that is engaged with the latch in order to keep the latch engaged with the striker; an opening link 27 that abuts against the ratchet in order to release the ratchet from the latch when the opening link is moved in a door opening direction in an door opening operation of an outer door opening handle; a locking lever 28 that can be switched between a locked position that prevents the ratchet from being released by the opening link and an unlocked position that allows the ratchet to be released; and a locking actuator 39 that switches the locking lever between the locked position and the unlocked position. The locking actuator includes a motor 40 and an output wheel 42 that is driven by the motor, and the output wheel has a protruding or recessed first connecting part 45 and the locking lever has a recessed or protruding second connecting part 46 that is connected to the first connecting part.

A vehicle door latch apparatus is provided that shortens the time to switch the locking lever between the locked position and the unlocked position. A vehicle door latch apparatus according to the present invention comprises a latch that is engaged with a striker in order to keep a vehicle door in a half-latched state or a full-latched state; a ratchet that is engaged with the latch in order to keep the latch engaged with the striker; an opening link 27 that abuts against the ratchet in order to release the ratchet from the latch when the opening link is moved in a door opening direction in an door opening operation of an outer door opening handle; a locking lever 28 that can be switched between a locked position that prevents the ratchet from being released by the opening link and an unlocked position that allows the ratchet to be released; and a locking actuator 39 that switches the locking lever between the locked position and the unlocked position. The locking actuator includes a motor 40 and an output wheel 42 that is driven by the motor, and the output wheel has a protruding or recessed first connecting part 45 and the locking lever has a recessed or protruding second connecting part 46 that is connected to the first connecting part.

A motor vehicle door lock apparatus includes a meshing mechanism configured to mesh with a striker, an outside operation switch, an inside handle, a locking and unlocking mechanism configured to be selectively switched to an unlocking state and a locking state that cannot be released based on a door opening operation of the inside handle, a control unit configured to authenticate a transmitter signal and, when the transmitter is situated outside a vehicle, to enable operation of the outside operation switch when authenticated and to disable operation of the outside operation switch when not authenticated and an electric releasing mechanism to release a meshing of the meshing mechanism by the control unit driving a releasing motor to activate operation of the outside operation switch when the control unit authenticates the transmitter outside the vehicle, regardless of the locking and unlocking mechanism staying in the unlocking or the locking state.

A motor vehicle door lock apparatus includes a meshing mechanism configured to mesh with a striker, an outside operation switch, an inside handle, a locking and unlocking mechanism configured to be selectively switched to an unlocking state and a locking state that cannot be released based on a door opening operation of the inside handle, a control unit configured to authenticate a transmitter signal and, when the transmitter is situated outside a vehicle, to enable operation of the outside operation switch when authenticated and to disable operation of the outside operation switch when not authenticated and an electric releasing mechanism to release a meshing of the meshing mechanism by the control unit driving a releasing motor to activate operation of the outside operation switch when the control unit authenticates the transmitter outside the vehicle, regardless of the locking and unlocking mechanism staying in the unlocking or the locking state.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock (1) which comprises a locking mechanism having: a rotary latch and at least one pawl; a release lever (12); a locking device (21), the release lever (12) cooperating with the locking device (21) via a coupling lever (13); and an actuating lever (8), the locking mechanism being at least indirectly unlockable by means of the actuating lever (8). An additional motor vehicle door lock (2) is provided, and said vehicle door lock (2) can be actuated via a second coupling lever (14) and by means of the actuating lever (8), the first and the second coupling lever (13, 14) having a common pivot axis (15).

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock (1) which comprises a locking mechanism having: a rotary latch and at least one pawl; a release lever (12); a locking device (21), the release lever (12) cooperating with the locking device (21) via a coupling lever (13); and an actuating lever (8), the locking mechanism being at least indirectly unlockable by means of the actuating lever (8). An additional motor vehicle door lock (2) is provided, and said vehicle door lock (2) can be actuated via a second coupling lever (14) and by means of the actuating lever (8), the first and the second coupling lever (13, 14) having a common pivot axis (15).

A motor vehicle door lock device comprises a locking mechanism, a locking motor, an electric release mechanism, an opening lever, and an outside handle. An ECU includes an authenticating portion. When the authenticating portion authenticates a signal from a transmitter and the locking mechanism starts switching from a locking state to an unlocking state by the locking motor, ECU controls a releasing motor so that the electric release mechanism is actuated because a switch detects door-opening action of the outside handle. The locking mechanism is switched to the unlocking state without contacting the opening lever from a direction where the opening lever cannot be actuated. A locked door can be opened with the outside handle at a single action and prevents a panic.

A motor vehicle door lock device comprises a locking mechanism, a locking motor, an electric release mechanism, an opening lever, and an outside handle. An ECU includes an authenticating portion. When the authenticating portion authenticates a signal from a transmitter and the locking mechanism starts switching from a locking state to an unlocking state by the locking motor, ECU controls a releasing motor so that the electric release mechanism is actuated because a switch detects door-opening action of the outside handle. The locking mechanism is switched to the unlocking state without contacting the opening lever from a direction where the opening lever cannot be actuated. A locked door can be opened with the outside handle at a single action and prevents a panic.

A method of deactivating a secondary lock feature of a vehicle includes sensing a movement of an interior door handle, and determining a status of the secondary lock feature to ascertain whether the secondary lock feature is active. The method includes starting a timer to measure an elapsed time since sensing the movement of the interior door handle, sensing an environmental condition of an interior passenger compartment of the vehicle with a sensor, and setting an unlock delay time based on the environmental condition. When the secondary lock feature is disposed in an active state and the elapsed time period is greater than or equal to the unlock delay time, the method includes automatically generating a control signal to thereby deactivate the secondary lock feature.