IP Library Granted Patent US 12,503,886
Granted Patent B2
US 12,503,886 · App. 18/321,361 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Systems and methods to enable a vehicle to exit double-lock mode

Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch (Novi, MI); Simon John William Hurr (Grays, GB)
E05B77/287B60R25/102B60R25/23B60R25/243
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 12,503,886
App. No.
18/321,361
Granted
Dec 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle including a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a processor is disclosed. The first detection unit may be configured to detect presence of an occupant inside the vehicle. The second detection unit may be configured to detect that the vehicle may be in a double-lock mode. The processor may be configured to obtain inputs from the first detection unit and the second detection unit. Responsive to obtaining the inputs, the processor may determine that a predetermined condition is met. The predetermined condition may be met when the occupant may be present inside the vehicle and the vehicle may be in the double-lock mode. The processor may be further configured to output a notification comprising instructions for the occupant to perform a predetermined action responsive to a determination that the predetermined condition is met to enable the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode.

Claims (37)

1 . A method to enable a vehicle to exit a double-lock mode, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a processor, inputs from a first detection unit and a second detection unit, wherein the first detection unit is configured to detect presence of an occupant inside the vehicle, and wherein the second detection unit is configured to detect that the vehicle is in the double-lock mode;

determining, by the processor, that a predetermined condition is met based on the inputs, wherein the predetermined condition is met when the occupant is present inside the vehicle and the vehicle is in the double-lock mode; and

outputting, by the processor, a notification comprising instructions for the occupant to perform a predetermined action responsive to a determination that the predetermined condition is met to enable the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode,

wherein the notification comprises the instructions to input a passcode in a vehicle human machine interface (HMI) to enable the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode, and wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining the passcode from the vehicle HMI when the occupant inputs the passcode in the vehicle HMI;

comparing the passcode with a pre-stored passcode; and

causing the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode when the passcode matches with the pre-stored passcode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first detection unit comprises a vehicle interior camera or a vehicle occupant detection sensor disposed inside the vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second detection unit comprises a vehicle door lock sensor disposed inside the vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the inputs comprises obtaining inputs from the first detection unit when the second detection unit detects that the vehicle is in the double-lock mode.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the notification comprises outputting the notification via a vehicle speaker or a vehicle HMI.

6 . A method to enable a vehicle to exit a double-lock mode, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a processor, inputs from a first detection unit and a second detection unit, wherein the first detection unit is configured to detect presence of an occupant inside the vehicle, and wherein the second detection unit is configured to detect that the vehicle is in the double-lock mode;

determining, by the processor, that a predetermined condition is met based on the inputs, wherein the predetermined condition is met when the occupant is present inside the vehicle and the vehicle is in the double-lock mode; and

outputting, by the processor, a notification comprising instructions for the occupant to perform a predetermined action responsive to a determination that the predetermined condition is met to enable the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode,

wherein the notification comprises the instructions to input responses to a plurality of questions on a vehicle HMI, and wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining the responses from the vehicle HMI when the occupant inputs the responses on the vehicle HMI;

comparing the responses with pre-stored responses; and

causing the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode when the responses match with the pre-stored responses.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first detection unit comprises a vehicle interior camera or a vehicle occupant detection sensor disposed inside the vehicle.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second detection unit comprises a vehicle door lock sensor disposed inside the vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein obtaining the inputs comprises obtaining inputs from the first detection unit when the second detection unit detects that the vehicle is in the double-lock mode.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein outputting the notification comprises outputting the notification via a vehicle speaker or a vehicle HMI.

11 . A method to enable a vehicle to exit a double-lock mode, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a processor, inputs from a first detection unit and a second detection unit, wherein the first detection unit is configured to detect presence of an occupant inside the vehicle, and wherein the second detection unit is configured to detect that the vehicle is in the double-lock mode;

determining, by the processor, that a predetermined condition is met based on the inputs, wherein the predetermined condition is met when the occupant is present inside the vehicle and the vehicle is in the double-lock mode; and

outputting, by the processor, a notification comprising instructions for the occupant to perform a predetermined action responsive to a determination that the predetermined condition is met to enable the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode,

wherein the notification comprises the instructions to provide a consent to a vehicle HMI to capture an image or video and transmit the image or video to a vehicle owner device, and wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining the consent from the vehicle HMI when the occupant provides the consent;

transmitting the image or video to the vehicle owner device;

receiving owner response from the vehicle owner device to exit the double-lock mode responsive to transmitting the image or video; and

causing the vehicle to exit the double-lock mode responsive to receiving the owner response.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first detection unit comprises a vehicle interior camera or a vehicle occupant detection sensor disposed inside the vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second detection unit comprises a vehicle door lock sensor disposed inside the vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein obtaining the inputs comprises obtaining inputs from the first detection unit when the second detection unit detects that the vehicle is in the double-lock mode.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein outputting the notification comprises outputting the notification via a vehicle speaker or a vehicle HMI.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2023
From: VAN WIEMEERSCH, JOHN ROBERT; HURR, SIMON JOHN WILLIAM
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 063793/0777 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240392612A1 · Nov 28, 2024
References Cited (8)
US 7768380B2 · Breed et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 10351102B2 · Park · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 11345415B2 · Funyak et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20110248844A1 · Elias · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20180025604A1 · Protopsaltis et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190390485A1 · Konchan · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20220089123A1 · DeLong et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Lincoln, How Do I Use My Lincoln's Phone as a Key™* Backup Start Passcode?, pp. 1-2. [cited by applicant]