Apparatus, system and method for controlling ignition of a vehicle
AssigneeStoneridge Electronics AB
InventorMartin WENNERBLOM
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims25
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),
- wherein the ignition control apparatus (10) is arranged to receive a data signal (S) from the vehicle unit comprising information about activities being detected by the vehicle unit and indicating whether a user data device is inserted into the port (5, 5′),
- wherein the ignition control apparatus (10) is arranged to activate the ignition circuit (20) to allow ignition of the vehicle (270) if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device (7, 7′) is inserted into the port (5, 5′) and to deactivate the ignition circuit (20) to prevent ignition of the vehicle (270) if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device (7, 7′) is not inserted into the port (5, 5′),
- wherein if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device (7, 7′) is not inserted into the port (5, 5′), the ignition control apparatus (10) is further arranged to receive an override signal (O) and to activate the ignition circuit (20) to allow ignition of the vehicle (270) in response to receiving the override signal (O).
A method performed by a vehicle ignition control system for controlling ignition of a vehicle (270) equipped with a vehicle unit (1) comprising a display (3) and a port (5, 5′) adapted to receive a user data device (7, 7′), comprising the steps:
- receiving (S100) a data signal (S) from the vehicle unit comprising information about activities being detected by the vehicle unit (1) and indicating whether a user data device is inserted into the port (5, 5′);
- if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device is inserted into the port of the vehicle unit, activating (S110) an ignition circuit (20) of the vehicle (270) to allow ignition of the vehicle (270);
- or
- if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device is not inserted into the port of the vehicle unit, deactivating (S140) an ignition circuit (20) of the vehicle (270) to prevent ignition of the vehicle (270),
- wherein the method further comprises the step:
- if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device is not inserted into the port of the vehicle unit, in response to receiving (S120) an override signal (O), activating (S130) an ignition circuit (20) of the vehicle (270) to allow ignition of the vehicle (270).
A vehicle (270) ignition control system for controlling ignition of a vehicle (270) equipped with a vehicle unit comprising a display and a port adapted to receive a user data device, the system being arranged to:
- receive a data signal (S) from the vehicle unit comprising information about activities being detected by the vehicle unit and indicating whether a user data device is inserted into the port by means of a communication unit;
- if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device is inserted into the port of the vehicle unit, activate an ignition circuit (20) of the vehicle (270) to allow ignition of the vehicle (270) by means of an electronic switch;
- or
- if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device is not inserted into the port of the vehicle unit, deactivate an ignition circuit (20) of the vehicle (270) to prevent ignition of the vehicle (270) by means of an electronic switch,
- wherein the system is further arranged to:
- if the data signal (S) indicates that a user data device is not inserted into the port of the vehicle unit, receive an override signal (O), and in response to activate an ignition circuit (20) of the vehicle (270) to allow ignition of the vehicle (270) by means of an electronic switch.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.