Apparatus, system and method for controlling ignition of a vehicle
AssigneeStoneridge Electronics AB
InventorMartin Wennerblom
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Abstract
An ignition control apparatus (10) for controlling ignition of a vehicle (270) equipped with a vehicle unit (1) comprising a display (3) and at least one port (5, 5′) adapted to receive a user data device (7, 7′), wherein the ignition control apparatus (10) is adapted to be connected to the vehicle unit (1) and to an ignition circuit (20) of the vehicle (270), wherein the ignition control apparatus (10) comprises means (11) for activating and deactivating the ignition circuit (20), depending on insertion of a user data device (7, 7′) into the port (5, 5′) and/or reception of an override signal (O). Further, a corresponding method, system and use thereof to control ignition of a vehicle (270) is disclosed.
Claims17
An ignition control apparatus, comprising:
- a microprocessor arranged to read data signals from a vehicle unit installed in a vehicle in order to control activating and deactivating an ignition circuit of the vehicle,
- wherein the ignition control apparatus is configured to be retrofitted into the vehicle to control ignition thereof,
- wherein the vehicle unit is capable of recording, digitally collecting, and storing vehicle data and activities of a user during operation of the vehicle, the vehicle unit comprising a display and at least one card slot adapted to receive a user data device as a card including stored user data associated with the user,
- wherein the ignition control apparatus is adapted to be connected between the vehicle unit and the ignition circuit of the vehicle,
- wherein the ignition control apparatus is arranged to receive a data signal from the vehicle unit including information about activities being detected by the vehicle unit and indicating whether the user data device is inserted into the port card slot,
- wherein the ignition control apparatus is arranged to activate the ignition circuit to allow ignition of the vehicle if the data signal indicates that the user data device is inserted into the card slot and to deactivate the ignition circuit to prevent ignition of the vehicle if the data signal indicates that the user data device is not inserted into the card slot, and
- wherein if the data signal indicates that the user data device is not inserted into the card slot, the ignition control apparatus is further arranged to receive an override signal and to activate the ignition circuit to allow ignition of the vehicle in response to receiving the override signal.
A method performed by an ignition control apparatus for controlling ignition of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle unit, the method comprising the steps:
- receiving a data signal from the vehicle unit comprising information about the activities being detected by the vehicle unit and indicating whether the user data device is inserted into a card slot included in the vehicle unit and adapted to receive a user data device;
- if the data signal indicates that the user data device is inserted into the card slot of the vehicle unit, activating an ignition circuit of the vehicle to allow ignition of the vehicle);
- or if the data signal indicates that the user data device is not inserted into the card slot of the vehicle unit, deactivating an ignition circuit of the vehicle to prevent ignition of the vehicle;
- and
- if the data signal indicates that the user data device is not inserted into the card slot of the vehicle unit, in response to receiving an override signal, activating an ignition circuit of the vehicle to allow ignition of the vehicle, wherein
- the vehicle unit is capable of recording, digitally collecting, and storing vehicle data and activities of a user during operation of the vehicle, the vehicle unit further including a display,
- the ignition control apparatus is configured to be retrofitted into a vehicle,
- the ignition control apparatus comprises a microprocessor arranged to read data signals from the vehicle unit installed in the vehicle in order to control activating and deactivating an ignition circuit of the vehicle, and
- the ignition control apparatus is connected between the vehicle unit and the ignition circuit of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.