IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,442,226
Granted Patent B2
US 12,442,226 · App. 17/772,431 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Door latch device

Inventors: Yasuyuki Watanabe (Yokohama, JP); Shintaro Okawa (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
E05B81/66E05B81/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,442,226
App. No.
17/772,431
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A door latch device includes a latch mechanism, a motor, an electric release mechanism, a manual release mechanism, a lock mechanism, a courtesy switch, and a door lock ECU and the door lock ECU is communicably connected to a vehicle body ECU provided on a main body side of a vehicle. The door lock ECU includes a printed wiring board and each terminal of the courtesy switch is connected to the printed wiring board.

Claims (18)

1. A door latch device in which a door lock ECU is communicably connected to a vehicle body ECU provided on a main body side of a vehicle, the door latch device comprising:

a latch mechanism which is provided on a door of the vehicle and holds the door in a closed state by latching a striker provided on the main body side of the vehicle;

a motor;

an electric release mechanism configured to release the latch mechanism by power of the motor;

a manual release mechanism configured to release the latch mechanism by manual operation force;

a lock mechanism which switches between a locked state which disables an operation of the manual release mechanism and an unlocked state which enables the operation of the manual release mechanism;

a courtesy switch configured such that the latch mechanism is switched between a half latch position and a full latch position; and

the door lock ECU which is configured to control the motor and which receives a signal from the courtesy switch,

wherein a first accommodation space and a second accommodation space are formed inside the door latch device,

wherein the first accommodation space is divided into a first area and a second area, in which the latch mechanism, the electric release mechanism, the manual release mechanism, the lock mechanism, and the courtesy switch are placed at a side of the first area, and in which the motor and the door lock ECU are placed at a side of the second area,

wherein the second accommodation space is formed in an area corresponding to a back side of the second area,

wherein the door lock ECU comprises a printed wiring board accommodated in the second accommodation space,

wherein each terminal of the courtesy switch is connected to the printed wiring board via a bus bar disposed between the first accommodation space and the second accommodation space, and a lighting device provided on at least one of a vehicle body and the door is connected to the printed wiring board, and

wherein the courtesy switch is connected to the lighting device via the printed wiring board.

2. The door latch device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the courtesy switch is independent of a lock position switch, which is configured to detect a state of the lock mechanism, and is grounded via the printed wiring board.

3. The door latch device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the door lock ECU is communicably connected to the vehicle body ECU by Clock Extension Peripheral Interface (CXPI) communication that is a communication protocol of a vehicle LAN standard.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 22, 2026
From: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
To: HI-LEX ACT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 075447/0103 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2022
From: WATANABE, YASUYUKI; OKAWA, SHINTARO
To: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059743/0697 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-236972 · Dec 26, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220372800A1 · Nov 24, 2022
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