US 8,522,740 B2 · Engine starting system in response to manual trigger operation

Abstract

In a system, a setting unit sets historical information in response to a manual transient operation. The manual transient operation triggers automatic start of the engine. The historical information represents that the manual transient operation has existed. A validation unit has a first identifier uniquely identifying the vehicle. The validation unit carries out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle. The communication device is used by a user of the vehicle. The validation communications use the first and second identifiers. The validation unit validates whether the user is certificated based on the validation communication result. An engine starting unit automatically starts the engine when the historical information has been set by the setting unit and when it is determined that the user of the vehicle is certificated.

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Drawings

Claims33

Dependent claims

A system for automatically starting an engine installed in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a storing unit configured to store historical information in response to when a starter switch is manually performed exclusively by a user to transiently trigger automatic start of the engine, the historical information representing that the user's manual momentary operation of the starter switch has occurred;
a validation unit having a first identifier uniquely identifying the vehicle and configured to:
carry out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle, the communication device being used by a user of the vehicle, the validation communications using the first identifier and the second identifier;
and
validate whether the user of the vehicle is certificated based on the validation communication result;
and
an engine starting unit configured to:
monitor whether the starter switch is turned on by the user in parallel to the operation of the validation communications,
disable start of the engine after the user's momentary operation of the starter switch when the starter switch is off and the historical information has not been stored by the storing unit, and
automatically start the engine when the historical information has been stored by the storing unit even if the manual performance of the starter switch is turned off before completion of the validation communications, simultaneously with when it is determined that the user of the vehicle is certificated.

7 more elements

A program product embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable storage media accessible by a computer for automatically starting an engine installed in a vehicle, the computer storing a first identifier uniquely identifying the vehicle, the program product comprising:

first means for instructing the computer to store historical information in response to when a starter switch is manually performed exclusively by a user to transiently trigger automatic start of the engine, the historical information representing that the user's manual momentary operation of the starter switch has occurred;
second means for instructing the computer to:
carry out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle, the communication device being used by a user of the vehicle, the validation communications using the first identifier and the second identifier;
and
validate whether the user of the vehicle is certificated based on the validation communication result;
and
third means for instructing the computer to:
monitor whether the starter switch is turned on by the user in parallel to the operation of the validation communications,
disable start of the engine after the user's momentary operation of the starter switch when the starter switch is off and the historical information has not been stored by the storing unit, and
carry out an automatic starting operation of the engine when the historical information has been stored even if the manual performance of the starter switch is turned off before completion of the validation communications, simultaneously with when it is determined that the user of the vehicle is certificated.

7 more elements

A program product embedded in a non-transitory computer-readable media accessible by a computer for automatically starting an engine installed in a vehicle, the computer storing a first identifier uniquely identifying the vehicle, the program product comprising:

first means for instructing the computer to monitor an operation of a starter switch installed in the vehicle, the starter switch is configured to be manually performed by a user to transiently trigger automatic start of the engine;
second means for instructing the computer to:
carry out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle, the communication device being configured to be attached to the user, the validation communications using the first identifier and the second identifier;
and
validate whether the user is certificated based on the validation communication result;
third means for instructing the computer to carry out an automatic starting operation of the engine;
and
fourth means for instructing the computer to store historical data based on outputs of the first means, the historical data representing that the starter switch was performed, the historical data having been kept even after stop of the user's performance of the starter switch,
wherein,
the first means instructs the computer to monitor whether the starter switch is turned on by the user in parallel to the operation of the validation communications,
the third means does not instruct the computer to carry out the automatic starting operation after the user's momentary operation of the starter switch when the historical information has not been stored and the starter switch is off, and
the third means instructs the computer to carry out the automatic starting operation when the historical information has been stored and simultaneously with when it is determined that the user is certificated by the second means.

9 more elements

first means for instructing the computer to monitor an operation of a starter switch installed in the vehicle, the starter switch is configured to be manually performed by a user to transiently trigger automatic start of the engine;
second means for instructing the computer to:
carry out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle, the communication device being configured to be attached to the user, the validation communications using the first identifier and the second identifier;
and
validate whether the user is certificated based on the validation communication result;
third means for instructing the computer to carry out an automatic starting operation of the engine;
and
fourth means for instructing the computer to store historical data based on outputs of the first means, the historical data representing that the starter switch was performed, the historical data having been kept even after stop of the user's performance of the starter switch,
wherein,
the first means instructs the computer to monitor whether the starter switch is turned on by the user in parallel to the operation of the validation communications, the validation communications being carried out regardless of whether operation of the starter switch is detected,
the third means does not instruct the computer to carry out the automatic starting operation when the historical information has not been stored and the starter switch is off, and
the third means instructs the computer to carry out the automatic starting operation when the historical information has been stored and simultaneously with when it is determined that the user is certificated by the second means.

9 more elements

first means for instructing the computer to monitor an operation of a starter switch installed in the vehicle, the starter switch is configured to be manually performed by a user to transiently trigger automatic start of the engine;
second means for instructing the computer to:
carry out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle, the communication device being configured to be attached to the user, the validation communications using the first identifier and the second identifier;
and
validate whether the user is certificated based on the validation communication result;
third means for instructing the computer to carry out an automatic starting operation of the engine;
and
fourth means for instructing the computer to store historical data based on outputs of the first means, the historical data representing that the starter switch was performed, the historical data having been kept even after stop of the user's performance of the starter switch,
wherein,
the first means instructs the computer to determine whether the starter switch is turned on by the user before and after the operation of the validation communications,
the third means does not instruct the computer to carry out the automatic starting operation when the historical information has not been stored and the starter switch is off, and
the third means instructs the computer to carry out the automatic starting operation when the historical information has been stored and simultaneously with when it is determined that the user is certificated by the second means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description9,398 words

Summary1,202 words

#This application is based on Japanese Patent Application 2006-91570 filed on Mar. 29, 2006. This application claims the benefit of priority from the Japanese Patent Application, so that the descriptions of which are all incorporated herein by reference.

#The present invention relates to engine starting systems for automatically starting an engine in response to a manual trigger operation.

#Recently, systems for automatically starting vehicle engines have been proposed and practically used, examples of which are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 2002-221132 and No. 2005-248859.

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the structure of a system including an engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and its peripheries according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2A is a flowchart schematically illustrating operations of an immobilizer ECU and an electronic key according to the first embodiment;

Detailed description7,913 words

#Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the individual embodiments, the present invention is applied to electronic control units (ECUs) serving as an engine starting system and installed in a vehicle in advance.

#Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts in several views, particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an ECU 1 and its peripheral devices. Note that the ECU 1 serves as an engine ECU for controlling an engine 2 of the vehicle as a control target, but, in the first embodiment, descriptions of the ECU 1 will be focused on some components and operations thereof, which are required to automatically start the engine in response to a manually single trigger operation.

#As illustrated in FIG. 1, a starter motor 3 for cranking has a pair of positive and negative terminals. The positive terminal of the starter motor 3 is continuously connected to a positive terminal of an in-vehicle battery 5. The negative terminal of the starter motor 3 is connected to a ground line via a contact 7a of a starter relay 7, and the ground line is connected to a negative terminal of the in-vehicle battery 5. A coil 9 of the starter relay 7 has one and the other ends that are connected to the ECU 1.

Facts

Application

11/730,002Filed 29 Mar 2007

Priority

JP 2006-09157029 Mar 2006

Published

US 2007/0227489 A14 Oct 2007

Granted

3 Sep 2013

Term ends

2 Nov 2027

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 218 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

F02N 11/0803
Circuits specially adapted for starting of engines: characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop
B60R 25/04
Operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens: operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
F02N 11/101
Safety devices: for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
F02N
Starting of combustion engines

Timeline

29 Mar 2006Priority claimedJP 2006-091570
29 Mar 2007Application filedUS 11/730,002
8 May 2007Assigned to Denso Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
4 Oct 2007PublishedUS 2007/0227489 A1
3 Sep 2013GrantedUS 8,522,740 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
2 Nov 2027Term endsEstimated, includes 218 days of adjustment

Engine starting system in response to manual trigger operation

Life of this patent

Engine starting system in response to manual trigger operation

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims33

Description9,398 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description9,398 words