Claims:
1. A door lock system (100) in a vehicle for occupant’s safety, the door lock system (100) comprises:
a key switch circuit (102) configured to generate a key switch signal;
a seat belt circuit (104) configured to generate a seat belt signal;
a crash detection circuit (110) configured to generate a crash signal; and
a body control module (112) coupled to the key switch circuit (102), the seat belt circuit (104), and the crash detection circuit (110), wherein the body control module (112) is configured to
generate an instruction signal based on the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal; and
implements the instruction signal for occupant’s safety in a vehicle
2. The door lock system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instruction signal comprises one of to unlock the door (108) of the vehicle, and disable cranking of the engine (106) in the vehicle.
3. The door lock system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the instruction signal to unlock the door (108) of the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is on, and the seat belt signal is off.

4. The door lock system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the instruction signal to disable cranking of the engine (106) in the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is on, and the seat belt signal is off.

5. The door lock system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the instruction signal to unlock the door (108) of the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is on, the seat belt signal is off, and the crash signal is on.

6. A method for operating a door lock in a vehicle for occupant’s safety, the method of door lock comprises:
generating, by a key switch circuit (102), a key switch signal;
generating, by a seat belt circuit (104), a seat belt signal;
generating, by a crash detection circuit (110), a crash signal;
generating, by a body control module (112), an instruction signal based on the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal; and
implementing, by the body control module (112), the instruction signal, wherein the instruction signal is one of to unlock a door (108) of a vehicle, and disable cranking of an engine (106) in the vehicle.

7. The method for door lock as claimed in claim 6, wherein the instruction signal to unlock the door (108) of the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is on, and the seat belt signal is off.

8. The method for door lock as claimed in claim 6, wherein the instruction signal to disable cranking of the engine (106) in the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is on, and the seat belt signal is off.

9. The method for door lock as claimed in claim 6, wherein the instruction signal to unlock the door (108) of the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is on, the seat belt signal is off, and the crash signal is on.
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A DOOR LOCK SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE FOR OCCUPANT’S SAFETY

Applicant:
Tata Motors Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001,
Maharashtra, India

The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] The present application does not claim priority from any patent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a door lock system in a vehicle. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to the door lock system that is controlled automatically in an event of vehicular crash.
BACKGROUND
[003] A door lock system is an important safety functionality in a vehicle. The door lock system provides locking and unlocking functionalities to improve occupant’s safety. A few years ago, the door lock systems available in the vehicles were manual. For locking or unlocking the doors, the occupants had to push or pull individual doorknobs, which were operated mechanically. Further, the mechanically operated manual door lock systems were replaced by electronic door lock systems, which could be operated by locking or unlocking only a driver side door. In recent years, the door lock systems were incorporated into the vehicles, wherein the door locking operation was made dependent on the vehicle speed. As the vehicle attains a certain speed, the doors are locked automatically to ensure safety of the occupants.
[004] However, the currently available door lock systems still do not ensure safety of the occupants in unfortunate events of crash. In cases of the crash, the occupants have to unlock the doors manually to come out of the vehicle. At present, there is no mechanism available that unlocks the doors automatically in the event of crash. This may lead to the situation wherein the occupants are trapped inside the vehicle because of the locked condition of the doors. This may prove fatal in critical health situations.
SUMMARY
[005] Before the present systems and methods are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments, which are not expressly illustrated, in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a system and a method for door lock in a vehicle for occupant’s safety, and the concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[006] In one embodiment, a door lock system is illustrated. In one implementation, the system may comprise a key switch circuit, a seat belt circuit, a crash detection circuit, and a body control module. The key switch circuit generates a key switch signal. Further, the seat belt circuit generates a seat belt signal. The crash detection circuit generates a crash signal. Furthermore, the body control module is coupled to the key switch circuit, the seat belt circuit, and the crash detection circuit. The body control module generates an instruction signal based on the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal. The body control module then implements the instruction signal for occupant’s safety in a vehicle.
[007] In another embodiment, a method for door lock is illustrated. In one aspect, a key switch circuit may generate a key switch signal. A seat belt circuit may generate a seat belt signal. A crash detection circuit may generate a crash signal. In another aspect, a body control module may generate an instruction signal based on the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal. In one another aspect, the body control module implements the instruction signal in order to provide safety for occupants or passengers. In one more aspect, the instruction signal is one of to unlock a door of a vehicle, and disable cranking of an engine in the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[008] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example constructions of the disclosure are shown in the present document; however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed in the document and the drawings.
[009] The detailed description is given with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.
[0010] Figure 1 illustrates a door lock system in a vehicle for occupant’s safety, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0011] Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart describing a method for door lock in the vehicle for occupant’s safety, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “locking”, “operating”, “cranking” and other forms thereof, are intended to be open ended. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although a system and a method for door lock in a vehicle for occupant’s safety is described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
[0013] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments of the system and the method of door lock in a vehicle for occupant’s safety.. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure of the system and method for door lock in a vehicle for occupant’s safety is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0014] As described above, there are limitations in the conventional door locking systems. In conventional door locking system, the door locking system is manual. In one example, the occupants had to push or pull individual doorknobs, which were operated mechanically. The door lock systems were incorporated into the vehicles, wherein the door locking operation was made dependent on the vehicle speed. As the vehicle attains a certain speed, the doors are locked automatically to ensure safety of the occupants. However, it is to be noted that, in case of an accident, conventionally, the doors may remain in a locked condition, due to a force or an impact of the accident. Thus, the occupants have to unlock the doors manually to come out of the vehicle. This may compromise the safety of occupants or passengers in the vehicle during an emergency like an accident, as the passenger may not be able to get out of the vehicle. Thus there is a need overcome the limitation of the conventional door locking system in the vehicle in order to provide safety for occupants.
[0015] In one embodiment, a system and a method for door lock is illustrated. In one implementation, the system and the method may comprise a key switch circuit, a seat belt circuit, a crash detection circuit, and a body control module. The key switch circuit generates a key switch signal. Further, the seat belt circuit generates a seat belt signal. The crash detection circuit generates a crash signal. Furthermore, the body control module is coupled to the key switch circuit, the seat belt circuit, and the crash detection circuit. In another implementation, the body control module generates an instruction signal based on the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal. In one another implementation, the body control module implements the instruction signal for occupant’s safety in a vehicle. In one aspect, the instruction signal is one of to unlock a door of a vehicle, and disable cranking of an engine in the vehicle.
[0016] In one embodiment there may include an advantage, this may include the door of the vehicle is locked/unlocked automatically based on the instruction signal.
[0017] Referring now to Figure 1, a door lock system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter is illustrated. In one embodiment, the door lock system 100 comprises a key switch circuit 102, a seat belt circuit 104, a crash detection circuit 110, and a body control module 112. The crash detection circuit may comprise a crash sensor 114.. In another implementation, the body control module 112 is coupled to the key switch circuit 102, the seat belt circuit 104, and the crash detection circuit 110. Further, the body control module 112 may be coupled to an engine 106 via an ignition circuit (not shown) by a wired or a wireless means. In another implementation, the body control module may be further coupled to a door 108 or a doorknob via an actuator (not shown). In one implementation, the key switch circuit 102 generates a key switch signal. The seat belt circuit 104 generates a seat belt signal. The crash detection circuit 110 generates a crash signal Further, the body control module 112 generates an instruction signal based on the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal. Furthermore, the body control module 112 implements the instruction signal for occupant’s safety in a vehicle. In one aspect, the instruction signal may be one of to unlock a door 108 of the vehicle, and disable cranking of an engine 106 in the vehicle.
[0018] In subsequent embodiments, multiple conditions are explained in order to implement the instruction signal. The instruction signal may be generated based on the status of the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal.
[0019] In one embodiment, “ON” status of the key position signal indicates that the occupant has turned on the engine 106 by using a key in order to crank the engine 106. In one more embodiment, “OFF” status of the key position signal indicates the ignition circuit is in “OFF” condition. Further, the “ON” status of a seat belt signal indicates that the occupant may have worn the seat belt that means the seat belt circuit is in “ON” condition. In another embodiment, “OFF” status of the seat belt signal indicates that the occupant may not have worn the seat belt due to which the seat belt circuit 104 may be in “OFF” condition. In one another embodiment, “ON” status of the crash signal indicates that the vehicle may have crashed or undergone an accident. In yet another embodiment, “OFF” status of the crash signal indicates the vehicle may not have undergone an accident or may not have crashed. Further, the conditions to implement the instruction signal are explained based on the status.
[0020] Condition 1: In one example, the instruction signal to unlock the door 108 of the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is ‘ON’, and the seat belt signal is ’OFF’. Further, the crash signal may be “OFF”.
[0021] Condition 2: In another example, the instruction signal to disable cranking of the engine 106 in the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is ”ON”, and the seat belt signal is ’OFF’. Further, the crash signal may be “OFF”.
[0022] Condition 3: In one another example, the instruction signal to unlock the door 108 of the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is ‘ON’, the seat belt signal is ’OFF’, and the crash signal is ‘ON’
[0023] Condition 4: In another embodiment, the instruction signal to unlock the door 108 of the vehicle is generated, when the key position signal is ‘OFF’, the seat belt signal is ‘OFF’, and the crash signal is ‘OFF’
[0024] Condition 5: In one implementation, the instruction signal to lock the door 108 is generated, when the key position signal is “OFF”, the seat belt signal is “ON”, and the crash signal is “OFF”.
[0025] Condition 6: In another implementation, the instruction signal to unlock the door 108 is generated, when the key position signal is ‘OFF’, the seat belt signal is “ON”, and the crash signal is “ON”.
[0026] Condition 7: In yet another implementation, the instruction signal to lock the door 108 is generated, when the key position signal is “ON”, the seat belt signal is “ON”, and the crash signal is “OFF”.
[0027] Condition 8: In yet another implementation, the instruction signal to unlock the door 108 is generated, when the key position signal is ‘ON’, the seat belt signal is “ON”, and the crash signal is ‘ON’.
[0028] In one example, the locking or unlocking operation of the door may be done by a doorknob via the actuator. In another example, activating or deactivating the cranking of the engine may be done by the body control module via an engine control unit.
[0029] In another implementation, the above mentioned conditions are elaborated in the table below:
Key Position signal Seat belt signal Crash detection signal Instruction signal
ON OFF OFF Doors are unlocked
ON OFF ON Doors are unlocked
ON OFF OFF Disable cranking of the engine
OFF OFF OFF Doors are unlocked
OFF ON OFF Doors are locked
OFF ON ON Doors are unlocked
ON ON OFF Doors are locked
ON ON ON Doors are unlocked

[0030] Referring now to Figure 2, a method 200 for door lock operation is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The order in which the method 200 for door lock described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to implement the method or alternate methods. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the method without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. However, for ease of explanation, in the embodiments described below, the method 200 for door lock may be considered to be implemented as described in the door lock system 100.
[0031] At block 202, a key switch signal is generated. In one example, the key switch signal is generated by a key switch circuit 102. The key switch signal may be generated when the driver turns on the engine by rotating a key in the key switch circuit 102.
[0032] At block 204, a seat belt signal is generated. In one example, the seat belt signal is generated by a seat belt circuit 104. The seat belt signal may be generated when the occupant may have worn the seat belt.
[0033] At block 206, a crash signal is generated. In one example, the crash signal is generated by a crash detection circuit 110. The crash signal may be generated when the vehicle experiences a crash or an accident.
[0034] At block 208, an instruction signal is generated. In one example, the instruction signal is generated by a body control module 112 based on the key switch signal, the seat belt signal, and the crash signal.
[0035] At block 210, the instruction signal is implemented by the body control module 112. In one aspect, the instruction signal may be one of to unlock a door 108 of a vehicle, and disable cranking of an engine 106 in the vehicle.
[0036] In one example, the instruction signal to unlock the door 108 of the vehicle is generated by the body control module 112, when the key position signal is ”ON”, and the seat belt signal is “OFF”. Further, the crash signal may be “OFF”.
[0037] In yet another example, the instruction signal to disable cranking of the engine 106 in the vehicle is generated by the body control module 112, when the key position signal is “ON”, and the seat belt signal is “OFF”. Further, the crash signal may be “OFF”.
[0038] In one more example, the instruction signal to unlock the door 108 of the vehicle is generated by the body control module 112, when the key position signal is “ON”, the seat belt signal is ”OFF”, and the crash signal is “ON”.
[0039] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include the following.
[0040] Some embodiments of the door lock system 100 may provide human safety in case of an accident
[0041] Some embodiments of the door lock system 100 operates locking/unlocking operation of the door 108 automatically.
[0042] Some embodiments of the door lock system 100 provides comfort to the occupant while locking/unlocking operation of the door 108 by a doorknob.
[0043] Some embodiments of the door lock system 100 is cost effective.
[0044] Although implementations for method and system for door lock have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as examples of implementations for the door lock.