Device for indicating multiple conditions

SWEDEN (12) PATENT (13) C2 <11) 516 487 (19) SE (51)

International class ⁷

E05B 41/00, 65/20, G08B 5/30

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PATENT AND REGISTRATION (45) (41) (22) (24) (62) (66) (66) (83)

Patent issued 2002-01-22

Application widely available 2000-06-18 18 The patent application was filed on 12/12/1998

Running day 1998-12-17

Tribal application number

International filing day

Filing date for European patent application

Deposit of microorganism (21) Patent Application Number 9804381-3

Application received as:

Swedish patent application completed international patent application with number □ converted European patent application with number (30) Priority information (74) OMBUD (54) NAME (73) PATENT OWNER Volvo Car Corp, 405 31 Gothenburg SE (72) INVENTOR Mohammad Moradnia, Gothenburg SE, Anders Hallen, Kullavik SE Albihns Göteborg AB

Apparatus for indicating a two-position condition for a vehicle lock (56) PUBLICATIONS QUOTED:

<td>US</td><td> 3</td><td> 573</td><td> 812,</td><td>CH</td><td>No. 597,604, U.S. 4</td><td>156 872, US 3</td><td> 872</td><td> 469,</td>

<td>US</td><td> 3</td><td> 634</td><td> 857,</td><td>US</td><td>No. 4,912,442, EP</td><td>0 649 959, CH</td><td> 620</td><td> 014,</td>

<td>US</td><td> 5</td><td> 698</td><td> 906</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

(57) SUMMARY:

An apparatus for indicating a two-position state comprising one or more sensors (100), one or more bistable magnetic flip-flops (110), and a control unit (130). The flip-flops (110) comprise an electromagnet (115) arranged adjacent to each individual flip-flop (110) so that the flip-flops (110) are switched between two indicating positions by transmitting an electrical pulse through the electromagnet (115). The sensors (100) are connected to the control unit (130) and the control unit (130) is connected to the flip-flops (110). The sensors (100) measure which of two positions is the current state of a measurement object and sends a signal to (130) sends a signal electromagnet (115) for the state of the flip-flop (110) to the current update of

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<td>B</td><td>pamphlet *</td><td>TI</td><td>translation of the requirements of European patent application</td>

<td>B5</td><td>corrected layout letter *</td><td>T2</td><td>correction of translation of the requirements of European patent application</td>

<td>C</td><td>patent *</td><td>T3</td><td>translation of European patent</td>

<td>Cl</td><td>patent *</td><td>T4</td><td>translation of European patent in amended form</td>

<td>C2</td><td>patent</td><td>T5</td><td>corrected translation of European patent</td>

<td>C3</td><td>corrected patent</td><td>T8</td><td>corrected translation of European patent</td>

<td>C5</td><td>corrected patent *</td><td>T9</td><td>corrected translation of European patent</td>

<td>C8</td><td>corrected front page to patent</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>E</td><td>patent in amended version</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>E8</td><td>corrected front page to patent in amended version</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>E9</td><td>corrected patent in amended version</td><td colspan="2">* Published under older legislation</td>

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516 487

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to a device for indicating the soap position, for example the indication of a locked or open door lock in a vehicle door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Normally, the lock position, ie locked or open position, is indicated by establishing a mechanical connection between the door lock mechanism and a door lock knob. The door lock knob is usually arranged on the top of the door and in close proximity to the locking mechanism, so that the mechanical connection does not have to be unnecessarily complicated. When the door lock is locked, the door lock knob is in a lower position and when the door lock is open, the door lock knob is in an upper position. In addition, the door lock knob is used to control the lock between open and closed position and vice versa.

An alternative device for indicating door lock condition is disclosed in DE-C1-44 40 717, which is hereby included for reference. A pneumatic central locking system is used, whereby a locking pin is operated with a pneumatic servomotor. A pneumatic control hose supplies the servomotor with compressed air. Pressure lift source is either the vehicle engine or a separate engine, e.g. an electric motor. When the pressure is high in the control tube, the door lock is unlocked and at a certain low pressure in the control tube the door lock is unlocked. The sleep mode is thus locked door, ie when no compressed air is present in the control hose. A flexible, pneumatic hose is connected to the actuator longitudinally at a first end and connected to a pneumatic indicating device at a second end.

516 487

The indicating device can occupy at least two positions, a first position at low pressure in the flexible hose (locked door lock) and a second position at high pressure in the flexible hose (open door lock). The indicating device may be a ball which can be pushed up from a resting position (first position) to a working position (second position) of the compressed air in the flexible hose. Alternatively, the display device may be a flexible diaphragm, which in the resting position (first position) abuts the lower part of the indicating device and in the working position (second position) is filled with compressed air so that the diaphragm is pushed out from the indicating device.

The described device has the apparent disadvantage that the locking function is disengaged when leaks in the pneumatic system, since compressed air must be supplied continuously to keep the door lock in the open position. Thus, if a leak occurs while the door lock is desired to be kept open, then the door lock will be locked. Mechanical operation of the door lock, both from within the vehicle as well as from the outside, must thus be known as a back-up. A further possible disadvantage of the known device is that, in order to keep the door lock in the open position when the compressed air source is not running, some form of pressure tank must be present in the system. If this pressure tank is out of order, the pneumatic lock opening will not work, but the mechanical actuation must be resorted to. In addition, elastic parts, made of, for example, rubber or soft plastic, have a tendency to become inelastic in strong cold. This means that all constructions that use a flexible element for the indication, for example a diaphragm that can take two positions, which can cause the risk of malfunctioning in the cold.

An electronic system for locking car doors is disclosed in US-A-4,744,021. A lock pin in the door is controlled between two

516 487 end positions of a drive motor, whereby the position of the lock pin (open / closed) is indicated by the first LED (LED) being lit when the lock pin is in the open position and a second LED being lit when the lock pin is in the closed position. The first LED is off when the second LED is on, and vice versa.

Visible disadvantages of this solution are that LEDs appear worse during daytime than at night, ie when ambient light is strong. At the same time, a supply voltage is required throughout the indication time, which helps to discharge the vehicle's battery. This can cause problems when the vehicle is not used for an extended period of time.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION:

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a device for indicating a soap position condition which does not require a continuous supply voltage or compressed air supply for indication and is readily visible both during daytime and night time.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by a device for indicating a soap dispensing condition according to claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

The invention will be further illustrated below by means of descriptive embodiments and with reference to the accompanying figure, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a device for indicating a soap position according to the invention;

516 487

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a part of a vehicle with a door provided with a device for indicating a soap position according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of yet another embodiment of a device for indicating a soap position according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a device for indicating a soap position according to the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of yet another embodiment of a device for indicating a soap position according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

In Fig. 1 there is shown a device 10 for indicating a soap position condition according to the present invention. The device consists of one or more sensors 100, one or more bistable magnetic flip-flops 110, and a control unit 130. The flip-flops 110 comprise an electromagnet 115 arranged adjacent to each individual flip-flop 110 so that the flip-flops 110 can be switched between two indicating positions. pulse is transmitted through the electromagnet 115. Typical values ​​of the electrical pulse may be 350 mA and at least 7.5 V. The sensors 100 are electrically connected to the control unit 130 and the control unit 130 is electrically connected to the electromagnets 115 of the flip-flops 110. The sensors 100 are arranged to measure which of two positions is the the current state of a measurement object (not shown). The sensors 100 send a signal to the control unit 130 corresponding to the measurement object position, after which the control unit 130 sends a signal to the current tilt 110 electromagnet 115 for updating

516 487 of the indication state of the rocker 110.

The flip-flops 110 further comprise a magnetic element 140 having a first side 144 and a second side 146. The first side 144 is provided with a first indicating means 150 and the second side 146 is provided with a second indicating means 160.

The first indicating means 150 and the second indicating means 160 have different appearance so that a viewer can easily and safely determine which position is indicated. For example, the two indicating means may be different in color and preferably then fluorescent in color. Alternatively or in combination with different colors, the two indicating means may be different symbols. Examples of symbols are the international stop symbol, a palm or an x. Advantageously, a lighting device (not shown) can also be lit if needed, for example in the dark and when the lock is to be opened or locked. The lighting device shines on the indicated indicator so that it is easily visible even in the dark. The lighting device may be manual or automatic, for example connected to a central computer unit in the vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first indicating means 150 is advantageously constituted by a first flat circular element 153 and the second indicating means 160 is advantageously a second flat circular element 163.

The indicating device may advantageously be placed in a different location than the usual position along the rear of the upper side of a vehicle door 15. This is shown in Fig. 2. The figure shows two alternative indicating devices, a first indicating device 10a placed in a traditional location and a second indicating device 10b located in the middle of the door.

516 487 so that it is easily visible even to a seated driver or passenger. Thus, only one indicator device is used, although two have been drawn in Fig. 2 for the indicator device can be placed freely, for example on the door and / or on the instrument panel, since there is no mechanical connection between the indicator device and the door locking mechanism.

on the door, comparison.

According to a further invention, shown in the indicating device 10, FIGS. 3 embodiments of and 4, have a magnetic element 140 'having a first side 144' and a second side 146 '. The first side 144 'is provided with a first indicating means 150' and the second side 146 'is provided with a second indicating means 160'. The first indicating means 150 'advantageously comprises a first semispherical element and the second indicating means 160' advantageously comprises a second semispherical element. Other reference numerals show similar elements as in Fig. 1.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the indicating device 10 has a magnetic element 140 having a first side 144 and a second side 146. The first side 144 is provided with a first indicating means 150 and the second side 146 is provided with a second indicating means 160. The first indicating means 150 is advantageously constituted by a first semi-cylindrical element and the second indicating means 160 is advantageously a second semi-cylindrical element. Other reference numerals show similar elements as in Fig. 1.

A general safety requirement for an indicator device for indicating this type is that it must be visible both from within as well as from the vehicle. This requirement can

516 487 is provided with an indication device according to the invention.

The indicating device according to the invention is not mechanically connected to the vehicle locking mechanism, which means that the locking mechanism cannot be unlocked by manipulation of the indicating device. An indication can be arranged separately for all lock functions in the vehicle and / or an assembly indication can be provided for all lock functions. Different indications can be used for different doors, ie the first indicating means and the second indicating means can be chosen freely for different types of indication.

Furthermore, the display device can be connected to a data bus common to the vehicle's electronic system or arranged with separate wires, depending on the current requirements of the individual installation.

Further advantages of the display device according to the invention is that it only draws power when the device changes the display position, the display is better seen in daylight than ordinary LEDs, on the first and second indicator means a symbol or text can be combined with one or more colors for optimal contrast and information. while the weight is lower for the display device compared to traditional metal bar locking knobs.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figure and described above, but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

516 487