MOTOR VEHICLE LOCK

Abstract

A motor vehicle lock for a movable part of a vehicle, comprising a locking mechanism consisting of at least one pawl and one rotary latch, and comprising a sensor arrangement that is assigned to the locking mechanism and has a fixed sensor and a sensing element that is disposed on the rotary latch, or vice versa, wherein the sensor generates at least two different output signals associated with the presence and absence of the sensing element in the region of influence of the sensor.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock for a movable part of a vehicle, the motor vehicle lock comprising: a locking mechanism having at least one pawl and a rotary latch; and a sensor arrangement assigned to the locking mechanism, the sensor arrangement having a fixed sensor and a first sensing element disposed on the rotary latch, wherein the fixed sensor generates at least two different output signals associated with a presence and an absence of the first sensing element in a region of influence of the fixed sensor, wherein the sensing arrangement includes at least one second sensing element disposed on the at least one pawl, the first sensing element and the second sensing element being detectable by the fixed sensor, such that a position of the rotary latch and the at least one pawl are detectable by the fixed sensor, such that at least one pre-locking position, one primary locking position, and one open position of the motor vehicle lock are detectable, the sensor arrangement being formed as a Hall sensor, and the at least two different output signals of the fixed sensor are generated as a function of an angle of rotation of the rotary latch and/or an angle of rotation of the at least one pawl.

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to act capacitively, inductively, optically or magnetically.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing element and/or the second sensing element is formed as a magnet.

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 3, wherein the magnet is a plastic-bonded magnet.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing element and/or the second sensing element is formed as an insert part.

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing element and/or the second sensing element is arranged on a switching cam of the at least one pawl and/or the rotary latch.

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 6, wherein the switching cam is configured to convert rotational movement of the at least one pawl and/or the rotary latch into a linear movement of the first sensing element and/or the second sensing element.

8. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing elements and the second sensing element are each arranged on a side of the at least one pawl and/or the rotary latch which is oriented towards the fixed sensor.

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein an output voltage of the fixed sensor is changed as a function of the angle of rotation of the rotary latch and/or the at least one pawl.

10. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein an output signal of the at least two different output signals is greatest when the first sensing element of the rotary latch and the second sensing element of the at least one pawl are simultaneously positioned in the region of influence of the fixed sensor.

11. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, wherein the sensor arrangement acts capacitively.

12. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, wherein the sensor arrangement acts inductively.

13. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, wherein the sensor arrangement acts optically.

14. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 4, wherein a sheathing of the rotary latch and/or the at least one pawl is at least partially formed as a plastic-bonded magnet.

15. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the insert part, and in particular is arranged in a sheathing of the rotary latch and/or the at least one pawl.

16. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the absence of the first sensing element and the second sensing element in the region of influence occurs when the motor vehicle lock is in the open position, and wherein the presence of at least one of the first sensing element and the second sensing element occurs in the region of influence when the motor vehicle lock is in the at least one pre-locking position and in the one primary locking position.

17. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 16, wherein the absence of one of the first sensing element and the second sensing element and the presence of another one of the first sensing element and the second sensing element occurs when the motor vehicle lock is in the at least one pre-locking position.

18. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein a thickness or width of the first sensing element changes between a pre-locking contour and a primary locking contour of the rotary latch.

19. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 18, wherein the thickness or width of the first sensing element in a region of the primary locking contour is larger than in a region of the pre-locking contour.

Description

[0035] Further measures improving the invention emerge from the following description of some embodiments of the invention, which are shown schematically in the figures. It should be noted that the figures are only of a descriptive character and are not intended to restrict the invention in any way. As such, embodiments which are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which emerge and can be produced from the explained embodiments by means of separate combinations of features, should also be regarded as comprised and disclosed by the invention. In the figures, the same reference symbols denote the same or functionally identical components, unless stated otherwise:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a possible embodiment of a motor vehicle lock according to the invention in the open position,

[0037] FIG. 2 is the possible embodiment from FIG. 1 in the pre-locking position,

[0038] FIG. 3 is the possible embodiment from FIGS. 1 and 2 in the primary locking position, and

[0039] FIG. 4 is the possible embodiment from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in any intermediate position.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the motor vehicle lock 1 according to the invention. The motor vehicle lock 1 comprises a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a pawl 3 and a rotary latch 4, as well as a sensor arrangement 5, 6, 7 with a fixed sensor 6, a sensing element 5 disposed on the rotary latch 4, and a sensing element 7 disposed on the pawl 3. The pawl 3 and the rotary latch 4 are not in a locking operative connection in FIG. 1, with the result that the lock 1 is unlocked and is thus positioned in the open position I. The sensor 6 has a region of influence E. In this region of influence E, the sensor 6 can detect the presence or absence of the sensing elements 5, 7 and generate a corresponding output signal. In the open position I shown, neither the sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 nor the sensing element 7 of the pawl 3 is in the region of influence E of the sensor 6. The sensor 6 thus detects the absence of the sensing elements 5, 7 and generates an output signal which corresponds to the open position I. A control unit 11 of the lock 1 or of a vehicle can then further process or evaluate the signal and, for example, control and/or regulate a lock drive 12, in particular a closing drive 12, door drive or the like.

[0041] The sensing element 7 of the pawl 3 and the sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 can each be arranged in a sheathing 9 of the pawl 3 or rotary latch 4. The sheathing 9 is preferably a sleeve comprising a plastics material at least in sections and sheathing the pawl 3 or rotary latch 4. The sheathing 9 is used, inter alia, to reduce noise. The sensing elements 5 and 7 can, for example, be inserted or injected into the sheath 9 comprising a plastics material, or they can be formed in the sheath 9 as a plastic-bonded magnet.

[0042] The rotary latch 4 has a catch arm 4.1 and a load arm 4.2, the sensing element 5 being arranged in the load arm 4.2 of the rotary latch 4. As shown in the embodiment, it is preferred if the sensing element 5 is located on the load arm 4.2 in the region of the pre-locking contour 4.3 and the primary locking contour 4.4. By way of example, the sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 is elongated and extends substantially in an arc shape from the primary locking position contour 4.4 to the pre-locking contour 4.3. The sensing element 7 of the pawl 3 is arranged on a locking contour 3.1 of the pawl 3. Here, too, the sensing element 7 is designed, for example, in an arcuate manner and extends along the locking contour 3.1.

[0043] If the rotary latch 4 rotates around the rotary latch axis 4.5 and/or the pawl 3 around the pawl axis 3.2, the positions of the sensing elements 5, 7 also change accordingly. During the rotation or when a locking position is reached, none, one or both sensing elements 5, 7 can be located in the region of influence E of the sensor 6. In FIG. 2, the pawl 3 is pivoted about the pawl axis 3.2 in the direction of the rotary latch 4, and the rotary latch 4 is pivoted about the rotary latch axis 4.5 at the same time, such that the pawl 3 with the locking contour 3.1 is in a locking operative connection with the pre-locking position contour 4.3 of the rotary latch 4. The sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 is located in the shown pre-locking position II in sections in the region of influence E of the sensor 6. The sensing element 7 of the pawl 3 is arranged outside the region of influence E in the pre-locking position according to the embodiment shown. The sensor 6 thus only detects the sensing element 5, in particular only a partial section of the sensing element 5, which is located in the region of influence E. From this, the sensor 6 generates an output signal which corresponds to the pre-locking position II.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a possible embodiment of the motor vehicle lock 1 according to the invention, the locking mechanism 2 being in the primary locking position III. The locking contour 3.1 of the pawl 3 has dropped into the primary locking contour 4.4 and is supported on the primary locking contour 4.4 of the rotary latch 4, such that a locking bolt of a lock holder is fixed by the rotary latch 4, and the movable part of a vehicle is held in the closed position.

[0045] In the primary locking position III, the sensing element 7 of the pawl 3 arranged in the region of the locking contour 3.1 and the sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 are both positioned at least in sections in the region of influence E of the fixed sensor 6. The sensor 6 is particularly preferably designed as a Hall sensor, and the sensing elements 5 and 7 as magnets. In the embodiment, the output signal of the sensor 6 is greatest in the primary locking position III shown. The output signal is therefore greatest/strongest when both sensing elements 5 and 7 are located at least in sections in the region of influence E of the sensor 6. The sensing element 5 and/or 7 is preferably integrated as a magnet into the sheathing 9 of the pawl or rotary latch, for example as an insert, or overmolded by the sheathing 9 comprising a plastics material.

[0046] As is particularly clear from FIG. 3, the invention enables the use of a sensor 6 with a sensing element 7 on a pawl 3 and a sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4, and the detection of numerous positions of the locking mechanism 2, i.e., of the rotary latch 4 and the pawl 3. A further sensor and/or additional lever is therefore not absolutely necessary in order to detect the positions of the locking mechanism, at least an open position I, a pre-locking position II and/or a primary locking position III. The preferably fixed sensor 6, as well as the sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 and the sensing element 7 of the pawl 3, are arranged according to the invention in the motor vehicle lock 1 in such a way that a plurality of positions can be detected with only one sensor 6.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows an intermediate position IV of the locking mechanism 2, which is located between the primary locking position III and the pre-locking position II. This arbitrarily selected intermediate position IV can also be reliably detected by the sensor arrangement 5, 6, 7 according to the invention. For example, the intermediate position IV can be defined as a case of an object being trapped. The sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 extends at least between the primary locking position contour 4.4 and the pre-locking contour 4.3 of the rotary latch, such that the sensing element 5 can be detected by the region of influence E of the sensor 6 on this piece/distance. If the sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 is located in the region of influence E of the sensor 6, as shown, an output signal is generated by the sensor 6 which reflects the presence of the sensing element 5 and thus the rotary latch 4 in the region of influence E of the sensor 6. At the same time, the sensing element 7 of the pawl 3 is located outside the region of influence E of the sensor 6. For example, a control unit 11, which can be connected to the sensor 6 in a manner allowing the exchange of signals, can evaluate the output signals and thus determine the position of the locking mechanism 2 and, in particular, activate or deactivate a lock drive 12, such as a closing aid. An object being trapped is thus recognized on the basis of the detected intermediate position IV, and the control unit 11 can deactivate the closing drive 12 and/or let it move back.

[0048] According to the invention, it can be provided that the direction of movement of the rotary latch 4 and/or the pawl 3 can also be detected by the sensor arrangement 5, 6, 7 according to the invention. This means that the movement from the primary locking position III in the direction of the pre-locking position II or the open position I, and vice versa from the open position I in the direction of the pre-locking position II or the primary locking position III, and the intermediate positions IV, can be detected. The sensor arrangement 5, 6, 7 is designed in such a way that the output signals provide a conclusion about the direction of movement as a result of the detection of the absence or presence of the sensing element 5 and 7. The output signals can be correspondingly different if the sensing element 5 of the rotary latch 4 is detected first in the region of influence E of the sensor 6, and only then the sensing element 7 of the pawl 3 is detected. Conversely, the sensor 6 can generate a corresponding output signal when the pawl 3 and thus the sensing element 7 is lifted off the rotary latch 4, i.e., the lock 2 is unlocked and the sensing element 7 disappears from the region of influence E of the sensor 6.

[0049] In addition, the strength of the output signal of the sensor 6 can be influenced via the geometry of the sensing element 5 and/or 7, so that, for example, the direction of movement can be recognized. It is thus conceivable that the thickness or width of the sensing element 5 changes in its course between the pre-locking contour and the primary locking contour of the rotary latch 4. For example, the width or thickness of the sensing element 5 in the region of the primary locking contour 4.4 could be greater than in the region of the pre-locking contour 4.3. The output signal would thus be amplified in the thicker/wider area of the sensing element 5 and thus in the region of the primary locking contour 4.4. The configuration is also conceivable, in addition or as an alternative, on the pawl 3. In particular in the case of a sensor 6 in the form of a Hall sensor, and a sensing element 5, 7 designed to be magnetic, an embodiment described above can be advantageous.

[0050] The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of explanation with reference to specific implementations. However, the above illustrative discussions are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The implementations have been selected to best explain the principles underlying the claims and their practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to use the implementations, particularly with various modifications as may be appropriate for the specific contemplated applications.

[0051] If an embodiment comprises an “and/or” link between a first feature and a second feature, this is to be read in such a way that the embodiment according to one embodiment has both the first feature and the second feature and, according to a further embodiment, either only the first feature or only the second feature.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0052] 1 motor vehicle lock

[0053] 2 locking mechanism

[0054] 3 pawl

[0055] 3.1 locking contour

[0056] 3.2 pawl axis

[0057] 4 rotary latch

[0058] 4.1 catch arm

[0059] 4.2 load arm

[0060] 4.3 pre-locking contour

[0061] 4.4 primary locking contour

[0062] 4.5 rotary latch axis

[0063] 5 sensing element of the rotary latch

[0064] 6 sensor

[0065] 7 sensing element of the pawl

[0066] 8 switch cams

[0067] 9 sheathing

[0068] 10 lock housing

[0069] 11 control unit

[0070] 12 lock drive, closing drive

[0071] E region of influence of the sensor

[0072] I open position

[0073] II pre-locking position

[0074] III primary locking position

[0075] IV intermediate position