IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,781,616
Granted Patent B2
US 10,781,616 · App. 16/148,611 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Key-operated unlocking of automotive power-operated key-cylinder-less door locks

Inventors: Bogdan Stoenescu (Turin, IT); Luigi Laera (Turin, IT); Gianfranco Del Nero (Turin, IT)
Assignee: FCA Italy S.p.A.
E05B81/64B60R25/24E05B81/00E05B83/16E05B85/06G07C9/00182G07C2009/0019
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,781,616
App. No.
16/148,611
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motor vehicle comprising side doors, a bonnet and a boot lid, power-operated key-cylinder-less locks associated with all the side doors, a power-operated lock associated with the boot lid, a key-cylinder lock associated with the bonnet, and an electronic control system configured to sense operation of the key-cylinder lock by means of a mechanical key and, upon determining a specific operation of the key-cylinder lock by means of a mechanical key, responsively unlock one or more of the power-operated key-cylinder-less locks.

Claims (22)

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

side doors;

power-operated locks associated with one or more of the side doors;

at least one of a hood or a trunk lid separate from the side doors; and

an electronic control system to centrally lock and unlock one or more of the power-operated locks in response to a command imparted by means of a mechanical key or an electronic key;

wherein power-operated key-cylinder-less locks are associated with all the side doors of the motor vehicle;

further comprising a key-cylinder hood or trunk lid lock associated with at least one of the hood or trunk lid and wherein the key-cylinder lock is a non-power-operated lock;

wherein each of the side doors do not include a key-cylinder lock;

wherein the electronic control system is further configured to sense operation of the key-cylinder lock associated with at least one of the hood or trunk lid by means of a mechanical key, and, upon determining a specific operation of the key-cylinder lock by means of the mechanical key, responsively, to unlock one or more of the power-operated key-cylinder-less locks associated with the side doors.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising only a single key-cylinder lock.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the hood or the trunk lid is arranged to close a compartment in which an electric energy source of the motor vehicle is housed.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the key-cylinder lock is associated with the hood, and a power-operated lock is associated with the trunk lid.

5. A motor vehicle comprising:

side doors;

at least one of a hood or a trunk lid separate from the side doors;

power-operated key-cylinder-less locks associated with all the side doors;

a key-cylinder hood or trunk lid lock associated with at least one of the hood or trunk lid and wherein the key-cylinder lock is a non-power-operated lock; and

an electronic control system to centrally lock and unlock one or more of the power-operated locks in response to a command imparted by means of a mechanical key or an electronic key;

wherein the electronic control system is further configured to sense operation of the key-cylinder lock associated with at least one of the hood or trunk lid by means of a mechanical key, and, upon determining a specific operation of the key-cylinder lock by means of the mechanical key, responsively, to unlock one or more of the power-operated key-cylinder-less locks associated with the side doors.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 5 , comprising only a single key-cylinder lock.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the hood or the trunk lid is arranged to close a compartment in which an electric energy source of the motor vehicle is housed.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the key-cylinder lock is associated with the hood, and a power-operated lock is associated with the trunk lid.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2018
From: STOENESCU, BOGDAN; LAERA, LUIGI; DEL NERO, GIANFRANCO
To: FCA ITALY S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 047032/0451 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 16167828 · Apr 29, 2016 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15581579 · Apr 28, 2017
Related Publication 20190100946A1 · Apr 4, 2019