Electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking apparatus
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsMichael Geber, Adrian Mazzini, Joeren-Marten Ohle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking apparatus for a motor vehicle which includes a steering wheel locking unit for locking and unlocking a vehicle steering element, an ignition starter switch unit for switching an engine ignition on and off and for starting the vehicle engine, and a coupling device. The apparatus ensures that the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state during starting of the engine. The coupling device contain state interrogation and starting blocking circuits, which interrogate the locking state of the steering wheel locking unit and allow the engine to be started only when the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state.
Claims9
An electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a steering wheel locking unit for locking and unlocking a vehicle steering wheel of said vehicle, said steering wheel locking unit including a locking control unit,
- an ignition starter switch unit including a switching device for switching vehicle engine ignition on and off, and for starting an engine of said vehicle;
- and
- wherein said locking control unit is directly coupled to said ignition starter switch unit for unlocking the steering wheel during starting of said engine by said switching device, said locking control unit controlling the operation of said switching device as a function of a state of said steering wheel locking unit;
- wherein the vehicle engine is started by said switching device only when the steering wheel locking unit is in an unlocked state.
An electronic ignition starter control mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a steering wheel lock for locking and unlocking a steering element;
- an ignition starter switch unit having first switching positions for switching vehicle engine ignition on and off and a second switching position for starting the engine;
- and
- means, connected between said steering wheel lock and said ignition starter switch unit, for enabling starting of the vehicle engine only when the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state, enabling starting includes an interrogation unit which interrogates the locked state of the steering wheel lock and a blocking unit which blocks starting of the engine when the steering wheel lock is in its locked state wherein:
- the steering wheel lock has a locking control unit and an actuating unit;
- the blocking unit includes an ignition starter control unit connected directly to the locking control unit through an interrogation line for interrogating the locking state of the steering wheel locking unit, whereby engine starting is enabled only when the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.