Back to results
US 4,674,454 AGranted
Remote control engine starter
OwnerDonald Phairrinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote control automobile engine starting apparatus has a remote control unit with a transceiver for transmitting engine starting and automobile heater and air conditioner control signals to a remotely controlled starting circuit within the automobile. The starting circuit makes a first attempt at starting the automobile engine and, if the first attempt fails, a second attempt is automatically made. Safety features include a hood switch, automatic door locks, a remotely controlled engine kill switch, and a timer for stopping the engine after it has run for a predetermined period of time.
Claims9
A remote control automobile engine starting apparatus comprising:
- a remote control unit having means for generating a plurality of first encoded signals, the encoded signals including a start signal, a stop signal and a heater start signal,
- radio transmitting means in said remote control unit for transmitting the first encoded signals,
- radio receiving means in said remote control unit for receiving a plurality of second encoded signals, the second encoded signals including an engine running signal, a stall signal, a ready-to-enter signal, and a heater-on signal,
- means in said remote control unit for indicating the receipt of the second encoded signals, said indicating means including a plurality of light emitting elements, a first of said light emitting elements connected for illumination upon receipt of said engine running signal, a second of said light emitting elements connected for illumination upon receipt of said stall signal, a third of said light emitting elements connected for illumination upon receipt of said ready-to-enter signal and a fourth of said light emitting elements connected for illumination upon receipt of said heater-on signal,
- a remotely controlled starter system associated with an automobile engine including means for receiving the first encoded signals,
- means in said starter system for operating an automobile engine starter for a predetermined time upon the receipt of the start signal,
- means in said starter system for providing a predetermined delay following the operation of the automobile engine starter,
- means in said starter system for operating the automobile starter for a second predetermined time following said delay,
- means in said starter system for generating the engine running signal in response to starting of an automobile engine,
- means in said starter system for stopping the automobile engine upon receipt of said stop signal,
- means in said starter system for starting an automobile heater upon receipt of said heater start signal,
- means in said starter system for generating the stall signal upon the automobile engine stalling,
- means in said starter system for generating the ready-to-enter signal upon an interior compartment of an automobile reaching a predetermined temperature,
- means in said starter system for generating the heater-on signal upon the heater being started, and
- means in said starter system for transmitting the second encoded signals.
12 more elements
A remote control automobile engine starting apparatus comprising:
- a remote control unit,
- a first transmitter in said remote control unit,
- a first encoder connected to said first transmitter to provide first encoded signals thereto for transmittal by said first transmitter,
- means for selectively enabling said encoder to provide said first encoded signals to said first transmitter,
- said first encoded signals including a start signal and a stop signal,
- a first receiver in said remote control unit for receiving second encoded signals,
- a first decoder connected to said first receiver for decoding said second signals received by said first receiver,
- a plurality of indicators connected to said first decoder to generate indications in response to a receipt of said second signals by said first receiver,
- a remotely controlled starter system associated with an automobile engine,
- a second receiver in said remotely controlled starter system for receiving said first signals from said first transmitter,
- a second decoder connected to said second receiver to decode said first signals received by said second receiver,
- a second transmitter in said remotely controlled starter system for transmitting said second signals to said first receiver in said remote control unit,
- means connected to said second transmitter for sensing the condition of systems in an automobile to cause said second transmitter to transmit said second signals,
- said condition sensing means including means for sensing a stall condition of an automobile engine and means for sensing the temperature of an interior compartment of an automobile,
- wherein said second signals include a stall signal and a ready-to-enter signal, said ready-to-enter signal indicating a predetermined interior compartment temperature range,
- a first parallel circuit including a first timer controlled by said second decoder upon receipt of a start signal by said second receiver, said first timer connected to control the duration of a first engine starting attempt upon activation by said second decoder,
- a delay timer connected to said first timer to receive a delay initiating signal from said first timer,
- a second timer connected to said delay timer to receive a delayed signal therefrom, said second timer connected to control the duration of a second staring attempt upon activation by said delay timer;
- and
- a second parallel circuit connected to enable an automobile engine to run including means for stopping the automovile engine, said stopping means being controlled by said second decoder upon receipt of a stop signal by said second receiver,
- means for disconnecting said first parallel circuit and simultaneously connecting said second parallel circuit upon starting of the automobile engine,
- wherein said plurality of indicators includes
- a stall indicator connected for activation by said second decoder upon receipt of said stall signal by said first receiver, and
- a ready-to-enter indicator connected for activation by said second decoder upon receipt of said ready-to-enter signal by said receiver.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.