MOTOR VEHICLE LOCK

Abstract

A motor vehicle lock which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a catch and a pawl. Also provided is a sensor arrangement associated with the locking mechanism comprising a fixed sensor and a sensing element that influences signals of the sensor and follows the locking mechanism, or vice versa. The sensor generates at least two different signals associated with the presence and absence of the sensing element in the region of influence of the sensor. According to the invention, the single sensing element also produces at least one additional third signal of the single sensor in accordance with its position in relation to the sensor.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lock comprising: a locking mechanism having a catch and a pawl; and a sensor arrangement associated with the locking mechanism, the sensor arrangement including a fixed sensor and a movable sensing element that influences signals of the fixed sensor and follows the locking mechanism, the fixed sensor generating at least two different signals associated with presence and absence of the movable sensing element in a region of influence of the fixed sensor, wherein the movable sensing element produces at least one additional third signal of the fixed sensor in accordance with a position of the fixed sensor in relation to the movable sensing element.

2. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element is connected to the locking mechanism and the fixed sensor is fixed on a housing.

3. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element acts without contact on the fixed sensor.

4. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the at least one additional third signal includes a plurality of third, position-dependent and different signals.

5. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element generates a varying magnetic flux and/or a changing electrical resistance and/or a different optical light intensity in the fixed sensor.

6. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the fixed sensor is a Hall sensor and/or a resistance sensor and/or an optoelectronic sensor.

7. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element is arched.

8. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 7, wherein the arched shape of the movable sensing element is adapted to a pivoting movement of a locking mechanism component of the locking mechanism to be sensed.

9. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element generates a linear signal of the fixed sensor in accordance with an angle of rotation of the catch in accordance with a position of the catch in a measuring region.

10. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the fixed sensor is connected to a control unit that evaluates the signals of the fixed sensor to control an anti-jamming protection and/or an alarm system and/or safety devices.

11. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 5, wherein the movable sensing element is formed as a magnet and magnetized so that during the movement thereof within a sensor range of the fixed sensor, first a north pole of the magnet reaches the sensor range and, near an end of the movement, a south pole of the magnet reaches the sensor range.

12. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism has a pre-ratchet position, an intermediate position, a main ratchet position, and an over-travel position.

13. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element generates a magnetic flux in the fixed sensor which is a Hall sensor.

14. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein a catch axis of rotation is spaced from a pawl axis of rotation, and wherein the movable sensing element is arranged on the catch.

15. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element is arcuate, the movable sensing element and the catch having a same radius relative to a common axis of rotation.

16. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, wherein the movable sensing element is a permanent magnet or electromagnet.

17. The motor vehicle lock according to claim 1 further comprising flux guide pieces for the movable sensing element.

Description

[0027] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment in the drawings. In the drawings:

[0028] FIG. 1A shows the motor vehicle lock according to the invention reduced to the components essential for the invention, with the locking mechanism thereof in the pre-ratchet position,

[0029] FIG. 1B shows an intermediate position between the pre-ratchet position and the main ratchet position,

[0030] FIG. 1C shows the motor vehicle lock or its locking mechanism in the main ratchet position and

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the sensing element used, including the sensor, in a schematic perspective illustration and

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic characteristic curve of the sensor arrangement according to FIG. 2.

[0033] In the figures, a motor vehicle lock is shown, which is shown only with the components thereof essential for the invention. Firstly, a latch case 1 in which a locking mechanism 2, 3 is mounted can be seen. The locking mechanism 2, 3 is composed, as usual, of a pawl 2 and a catch 3, which are each rotatably mounted in the latch case 1 taking into account spaced axes of rotation, and which interact with one another in a known manner. In addition, a closing drive 4 may be provided, which, during the transition from the pre-ratchet position according to FIG. 1A, finally transfers the catch 3 to the main ratchet position according to FIG. 10 via the intermediate position in FIG. 1B by pivoting the catch 3 in the indicated counterclockwise direction about the axis of rotation thereof.

[0034] In addition, a sensor arrangement 5, 6 assigned to the locking mechanism 2, 3 is realized, the detailed structure of which can best be seen in FIG. 2. The sensor arrangement 5, 6 is composed of a fixed sensor 6 and a sensing element 5 that influences the signals from the sensor 6 and follows the locking mechanism 2, 3.

[0035] In the context of the exemplary embodiment, a single sensing element 5 is provided, which is designed to be movable and follows the movements of the locking mechanism 2, 3, in the present case connected to the catch 3. In contrast, the sensor 6 is designed to be fixed and attached in or on the latch case 1. The sensor 6 generates at least two different signals S.sub.1, S.sub.2 associated with the presence and absence of the sensing element 5 in the region of influence of the sensor 6. According to the invention, the single sensing element 5 additionally produces at least one further third signal S.sub.3 from the single sensor 6 in accordance with the position thereof relative to the sensor 6. According to the exemplary embodiment and as shown in FIG. 3, a further third signal or a fourth signal S.sub.4 is additionally generated with the aid of the sensing element 5 when the locking mechanism 2, 3 assumes a certain position in the sensor 6. All of the signals S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, S.sub.4 lie within a measuring region or working region A of the sensor 6.

[0036] The signal S.sub.1 is associated with the pre-ratchet position according to FIG. 1A. The intermediate position according to FIG. 1B is represented by the signal S.sub.3. The signal S.sub.2 is the signal of the sensor 6 associated with the main ratchet position according to FIG. 10. The fourth signal S.sub.4 finally corresponds to an over-travel position (not shown) of the locking mechanism 2, 3, which occurs when the closing drive 4 acts on the catch, rotating counterclockwise about the axis of rotation thereof beyond the main ratchet position shown in FIG. 10.

[0037] As already explained, the movable sensing element 5 is connected to the locking mechanism 2, 3, in the present case to the catch 3. In addition, the sensing element 5 works without contact on the fixed sensor 6. According to the exemplary embodiment, the sensing element 5 generates a varying magnetic flux in the sensor 6. For this purpose, the sensor 6 in the exemplary embodiment is designed as a Hall sensor 6, as can best be seen from the illustration in FIG. 2.

[0038] The sensing element 5 has an arcuate design, as FIG. 2 clearly shows. The arcuate shape of the sensing element 5 is adapted to the pivoting movement of the catch 3 to be scanned. That is, according to the exemplary embodiment, the arcuate sensing element 5 and the catch 3 have the same radius as compared to a common axis of rotation 7 that can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0039] Rotations of the catch 3 and thus of the arcuate sensing element 5 connected thereto by an angle φ shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the common axis of rotation 7 now, in the case of the sensor or Hall sensor 6, cause the sensor 6 to generate a signal that is largely linear depending on the angle of rotation φ, which signal corresponds to a corresponding flux density B of the magnetic field lines in accordance with the diagram in FIG. 3. Because in the case of a Hall sensor 6 the flux density B, which changes in accordance with the angle of rotation φ of the catch 3 and consequently of the sensing element 5, influences the proportional output voltage ∪ generated at the sensor 6 in the same way and linearly, the different signals S.sub.1 to S.sub.4 can be distinguished from each other perfectly.

[0040] This is made clear by FIG. 3, which shows the linear dependence of the flux density B or the output voltage ∪ at the sensor 6 on the angle φ of the catch 3.

[0041] The overall design is such that the sensing element 5 causes a corresponding change in the magnetic flux only in the region of influence of the sensor or Hall sensor 6. The region of influence of the sensor or Hall sensor 6 is indicated in FIG. 3 as the working region A and extends from the signal S.sub.1 to the signal S.sub.4. It can be seen that in the working region A in question, the sensing element 5 generates a largely linear signal in the Hall sensor 6 in accordance with the angle of rotation φ of the catch 3.

[0042] In order to achieve this in detail and in accordance with the illustration in FIG. 2, the sensing element 5 is an arcuate permanent magnet. The magnetic flux of this arcuate permanent magnet or sensing element 5 is fed back via a so-called flux guide or two flux guides 8.sub.1 and 8.sub.2 having associated air gaps 9 as part of the latch case 1 and the likewise ferromagnetic axis of rotation 7. Depending on the angular position of the arcuate permanent magnet or sensing element 5 and, consequently, the catch 3, i.e. depending on the angle φ of the catch 3, the arcuate magnet 5 is guided via the two flux guide pieces 8.sub.1 and 8.sub.2, in the magnetic path of which the Hall sensor 6 is embedded in an air gap 9. In this way, the linear dependency shown schematically in FIG. 3 between the magnetic flux density B generated and varying in the Hall sensor 6 and, consequently, the output-side voltage ∪ at the Hall sensor 6 is generated in accordance with the angle or angle of rotation φ of the catch 3 with respect to the axis of rotation 7 thereof.

[0043] The sensor or Hall sensor 6 is in turn connected to a control unit 10. The control unit 10 can evaluate the signals from the sensor 6, for example, to control an anti-jamming protection and/or an alarm system and/or safety devices, as already described in the introduction.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0044] 1 latch case

[0045] 2 pawl

[0046] 2, 3 locking mechanism

[0047] 3 catch

[0048] 4 closing drive

[0049] 5 sensing element

[0050] 5, 6 sensor arrangement

[0051] 6 sensor/Hall sensor

[0052] 7 axis of rotation

[0053] 8.sub.1, 8.sub.2 flux guide pieces

[0054] 10 control unit

[0055] A working region

[0056] B flux density

[0057] S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, S.sub.4 signals

[0058] ∪ output voltage

[0059] φ angle/angle of rotation