VEHICLE LOCK AND METHOD FOR ACCESS-CONTROLLED LOADING AND/OR UNLOADING

Abstract

A vehicle lock includes a locking mechanism with a rotary latch and a pawl for latching the rotary latch when the vehicle lock is in a closed state, a receiver for receiving a reference code, a code transfer interface for obtaining an access code and a control unit which is configured such that the vehicle lock assumes an unlocked state when the obtained access code matches the reference code. The locking mechanism is used in a method for access-controlled loading and/or unloading of a vehicle. A high degree of automation of an access-controlled process for loading and/or unloading a vehicle can thus be achieved substantially with the aid of the vehicle lock.

Claims

1. A vehicle lock comprising: a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and a pawl for latching the rotary latch when the vehicle lock is in a closed state; a receiver for receiving a reference code for a loading and/or unloading process; a code transfer interface for obtaining an access code; and a control unit which is configured to control the vehicle lock, wherein the vehicle lock assumes an unlocked state when the obtained access code matches the reference code.

2. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is surrounded by a housing of the vehicle lock.

3. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a SIM card slot for a SIM card or eSIM and/or a mobile telephone unit.

4. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the code transfer interface is configured for transmitting the access code to the code transfer interface via contactless transmission.

5. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the code transfer interface is configured to transmit the access code within a distance from the vehicle lock that is less than 100 m to the code transfer interface.

6. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the code transfer interface is an NFC interface, an RFID interface, a Bluetooth interface and/or a WLAN interface.

7. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to send a signal to unlock a loading area or trunk when the obtained access code matches the reference code.

8. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to send a signal to an opening device for an automatic opening of a vehicle door or flap when the obtained access code matches the reference code.

9. The vehicle lock according to claim 8, wherein when the loading process has been completed, the control unit is configured to send a signal to a locking device for an automatic locking of the vehicle door or flap.

10. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein after the vehicle lock assumes the unlocked state, the control unit is configured to move the vehicle lock to an open state and then to the closed state, in which the vehicle lock assumes a locked state.

11. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to reset the reference code after a predefined period of time and/or after the vehicle lock has assumed the unlocked state if the obtained access code matches the reference code.

12. The vehicle lock according to claim 1 further comprising a load receiving checking device.

13. The vehicle lock according to claim 1 further comprising an indicator device.

14. A method for access-controlled loading of a vehicle using the vehicle lock according to claim 1, the method comprising: receiving the reference code using the receiver of the vehicle lock; obtaining the access code from the code transfer interface of the vehicle lock; and switching the vehicle lock to the unlocked state when the obtained access code matches the reference code using the control unit.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising: sending the reference code to the receiver using a load issuing station; transferring the access code that is identical to the reference code to a loading carrier using the load issuing station; transferring a load to the loading carrier that is designated for loading into a specific vehicle; transporting the load to the vehicle using the loading carrier; transferring the access code is transferred to the code transfer interface upon reaching the vehicle and if the received access code matches the reference code; and unlocking a vehicle door or vehicle flap of the vehicle to open the vehicle door or vehicle flap so that the load can be loaded.

16. The vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is directly connected to a housing of the vehicle lock.

17. The vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the code transfer interface is configured to transmit the access code within a distance from the vehicle lock that is less than less than 10 m to the code transfer interface.

18. The vehicle lock according to claim 17, wherein the code transfer interface is configured to transmit the access code within a distance from the vehicle lock that is less than less than 1 m to the code transfer interface.

19. The vehicle lock according to claim 12, wherein the load receiving checking device includes at least one of a load ID scanner and a camera.

20. The vehicle lock according to claim 13, wherein the indicator device is a LED, and/or a loudspeaker, that is preferably integrated in a frame box of the vehicle lock.

Description

[0080] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in further detail hereinafter on the basis of figures. Features of the execution examples can be combined individually or multiply with the stressed object.

[0081] The following are shown:

[0082] FIG. 1: Example of a vehicle lock according to the invention.

[0083] FIG. 2: Diagrammatic representation of a control unit of an exemplary vehicle lock according to the invention and the connected equipment.

[0084] FIG. 3: Diagrammatic representation of the method for access-controlled loading and/or unloading of a vehicle using the vehicle lock according to the invention.

[0085] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary vehicle lock according to the invention, where the rotary latch 1 and the pawl 2, that is covered by the frame box 15 in FIG. 1 and is therefore only depicted by dot-dashed lines, in particular together with a release lever that is not depicted, is pivotably attached to a frame plate or frame box 15 comprising the frame plate. The frame box 15 is preferably made from metal and is usually secured to the motor vehicle chassis with screws.

[0086] The frame box 15 has an inlet slot 21 to accommodate a locking bolt 14. A locking mechanism comprises the rotary latch 1 to accommodate the locking bolt 14 and the pawl 2 to latch the rotary latch 1.

[0087] The rotary latch 1 normally has a fork-shaped inlet slot formed by a load arm and a catching arm in which the locking bolt 14 of a vehicle door or flap 8, in particular a trunk flap, goes when the vehicle door or flap 8 is closed.

[0088] With the aid of the catching arm, the locking bolt 14 then rotates the rotary latch 1 from an open position to a closed position. If the rotary latch 1 has reached the closed position, it is latched via the pawl 2 in this position and the vehicle lock assumes a closed state. The locking bolt 14 can no longer leave the inlet slot of the rotary latch 1 as this is prevented by the load arm. This latching position is known as the main latching position.

[0089] There is a vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle lock, with a second latching position, namely the so-called pre-latching position. The aim of the pre-latching position is to catch the relevant vehicle door or flap 8 if it does not reach the main latching position during closure.

[0090] In the pre-latching position the rotary latch 1 is consequently not completely closed. However, an opening movement of the rotary latch 1 is already prevented by a pawl 2. The area of the rotary latch 1 which accommodates the pawl 2 in this position is described as a pre-latch.

[0091] Finally, in the main latching position the rotary latch 1 is completely closed. The pre-latch is therefore a transitional state between the open state and the main latch and is envisaged for safety reasons.

[0092] In one embodiment, a blockade lever can also be used to hold the pawl in the main latching position and/or an ejector lever to swivel the pawl out of the latch with the rotary latch.

[0093] The vehicle lock in FIG. 1 has a housing 22 and a SIM card slot 6 that is covered by the housing 22, for a SIM card 7 or eSIM. With the aid of the SIM card slot 6 and the SIM card 7 and a mobile telephone unit, the receiver can communicate, in other words, exchange data, with the load issuing station 16.

[0094] The load issuing station 16 thus sends the reference code 10 to the vehicle lock and the simultaneous monitoring of the loading process and/or unloading process in real-time is facilitated by means of the camera 12. Recordings from the camera 12 during the monitoring of the loading and/or unloading process can be saved as video footage for later viewing. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible that the recordings from the camera 12 are sent for example via a data stream to an external unit, for example a Smartphone of a vehicle owner or a screen at the head office of a delivery service.

[0095] The vehicle lock 1 comprises a code transfer device 4 and a control unit 5. These are not shown in FIG. 1 as these electronic components are inside the housing 22.

[0096] A load ID scanner 11 for scanning a barcode 33 of a load 17, LEDs 13 as display equipment and the camera 12 are all visibly affixed to the vehicle lock. Exactly three LEDs 13 should be used, preferably in the colors green, yellow and red. Alternatively, at least 1 or two, but less than 5 LEDs 13 can also be used.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle lock is affixed to a vehicle flap 8 on the tailgate side of the vehicle 19 and is only externally visible and accessible when the vehicle flap 8 is in an open state.

[0098] The locking bolt 14 is affixed to the vehicle chassis and engages with the vehicle lock when the vehicle flap 8 is closed.

[0099] FIG. 2 shows the control unit 5 that comprises a processor 23 and memory 24, onto which are stored above all for example the reference code 10 and/or instructions that can be executed by the processor, i.e. loadable software code.

[0100] A vehicle control interface 25 creates a data connection between the control unit and external control equipment 27 such as for example the central locking system, the DCU (Door Control Unit) and/or the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of the vehicle. Access to a multitude of vehicle data and status information and/or the triggering to switch the vehicle lock to a locked or unlocked state by the control unit 5 and/or the actuation of the automatic opening and/or locking device by the control unit 5, can hereby be facilitated.

[0101] A receiver interface 26 presents a data connection between the control unit 5 and the receiver 3. The control unit 5 can hereby receive the reference code 10 from the receiver 3 and for example exchange data and/or communicate with a load issuing station 16 via the receiver 3, preferably by means of a cellular connection that also facilitates the exchange of data and not just an acoustic signal exchange, e.g. via GPRS, UMTS, 3G, 4G etc. Data about the delivery can also be exchanged with the load issuing station 16 via the receiver 3.

[0102] For example, the control unit 5 can be set up in such a way that a notification is sent to the load issuing station 16 through the reception of the reference code 10, thus through a lock opening and finally through the completed closure of the motor vehicle lock after loading and/or unloading. Recordings from the camera 12 can also be sent to the load issuing station 16. Additional data such as loading status, vehicle load capacity or the like can also be exchanged with an external site via the receiving unit 3. A data exchange can also take place via the receiving unit 3 for the access-controlled loading and/or unloading with a vehicle owner, for instance via an App on a Smartphone of the vehicle owner.

[0103] A code transfer interface connection 29 facilitates the data exchange in particular via a data line between the control unit 5 and the code transfer interface 4.

[0104] The code transfer interface 4 can hereby forward the obtained access code 30 to the control unit 5. Above all, the control unit 5 can in turn for example transfer data that represents a receipt, to the code transfer interface 4 so that the code transfer interface 4 can transfer the receipt to the access code unit 28 of the loading carrier 18.

[0105] A functional device interface 31 creates a data connection between the control unit 5 and at least one functional device 32, e.g. a load receiving checking device, in particular a load ID scanner 11, a loading monitoring device, notably camera 12, an indicator device, notably LED 13, a loudspeaker and/or a lighting device.

[0106] At least one functional device 32 can therefore be run and controlled by the control unit 5 through a very simple structure.

[0107] FIG. 3 depicts an example of the method for the access-controlled loading according to the abovementioned aspect of the invention.

[0108] A reference code 10 and an access code 20 that is identical to the reference code is generated at a load issuing station 16 or by a load issuing station 16 that is depicted for example and for purely illustrative purposes, as “1234”.

[0109] The reference code 10 is sent at the load issuing station 16 or by the load issuing station 16 to the receiver 3 of the vehicle lock of the vehicle 19 that then sends the reference code 10 to the control unit 5.

[0110] Furthermore, the access code 20 is transmitted at the load issuing station 16 or by the load issuing station 16 to the access code unit 28 of the loading carrier 18 and a load 17 that is to be loaded into the vehicle 19, is transferred to a loading carrier 18.

[0111] The loading carrier 18 then transports the load 17 to the vehicle 19. As soon as the loading carrier 18 and with it its access code unit 28 are within a predefined range of the vehicle lock, in other words less than a certain distance away from vehicle, the loading carrier 18 transfers, preferably automatically, the access code by means of the access code unit 28 to the code transfer interface 4 that sends the received access code 30 to the control unit 5.

[0112] With the aid of a comparison module, the control unit 5 then compares whether the reference code 10 matches the obtained access code 30, which for instance is the case in the example shown in FIG. 3.

[0113] If it is not a match, the vehicle lock remains in a locked state. If however it does match, as shown in the example in FIG. 3, then the control unit 5 sends a signal to a locking control device, e.g. to the central locking system, DCU and/or ECU, to unlock the vehicle lock.

[0114] The vehicle flap 8 can now be opened so that the loading carrier 18 can load the vehicle 19 with the load 17.

[0115] A barcode 33 as shown in FIG. 3 for example acts as a load ID for the purposes of incoming goods control, preferably with a scanner or camera that can be integrated in the vehicle lock.

[0116] Access-controlled unloading follows the same process, the only difference is that the loading carrier 18 removes the load 17 previously stored in the vehicle 19.

[0117] With a combined loading and unloading process, at least part of the load 17 previously stored in the vehicle 19 is unloaded by the loading carrier 18 and a new load 17 is loaded into the vehicle 19.