The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 27, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 21, 2000
Donald Paul Jakel, Rochester, MN (US);
Eric John Nelson, Rochester, MN (US);
Steven Thomas Will, Rochester, MN (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A sensor detects a possible attempt to open a vehicle door latch by mechanical means, and temporarily disables an electronic unlocking signal until the mechanical activation means are absent. Preferably, all functions are performed by an on-board microprocessor controller, which checks the state of the door sensor(s) upon occurrence of an unlock event. If the sensor(s) indicate that a person is or may be attempting to open the door mechanically, no unlock signal is transmitted immediately to the door latch. Preferably, the controller continues to check the state of the door sensor(s), and activates the unlock mechanism after the sensor is clear. However, if the sensor is not clear within some timeout period, the controller may simply abort the unlock operation. This is done to avoid confusing the user with an unlocking action some time after pressing the unlock switch.