System for remote starting of vehicle with manual transmission

• US 10,393,083 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Data Solutions Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Data Solutions Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boulais, Sebastien, Pilikian, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US15/989,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20180340502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/103 according to the vehicle transmission or clutch status
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0801 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0802 Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0803 Parking brake state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0814 Bonnet switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0815 Vehicle door sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/102 Brake pedal position

Abstract

A remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission with improved safeguards for preventing the vehicles from being remotely started while the manual transmission is in gear. The remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission may also include additional safeguards to prevent the vehicles from being remotely started when there is a risk that the vehicle may move upon being remotely started, such as when the door has been opened after the vehicle has been placed in state safe for remote start.

Claims

1. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission comprising:

a remote control transceiver for transmitting and receiving a first signal;

a control module transceiver of receiving and transmitting said first signal;

a sensor and accelerometer attached to a gear shifter of a vehicle with manual transmission and capable to determining the neutral position of said gear shifter;

a control module for controlling a vehicle control system in accordance with said first signal from said remote control transceiver;

said control module connected to a vehicle'"'"'s computer system to allow said control module to send and receive a second signal relating to the status of the vehicle;

said sensor and accelerometer connected to said control module and capable of transmitting a third signal relating to the position and movement of the gear shifter;

wherein, upon receiving said first signal from said remote control, said control module is capable of remote starting an engine of said vehicle after said vehicle has been placed in a condition safe for remote starting a vehicle with manual transmission prior to the last shutdown of the vehicle (“

Reservation Mode”

) and said control module confirms that said vehicle has remained in said condition safe for remote starting from said second signal from said vehicle computer system and said third signal from said sensor and accelerometer; and

said control module continually monitoring said second signal from said vehicle computer system and capable of shutting down said engine of said vehicle upon detecting movement of said vehicle via said second signal from said vehicle computer system; and

said control module capable of determining whether a user has taken control of said vehicle after remote start and shutting down said engine of said vehicle after a specified time when said control module fails to detect a user taking control of said vehicle.

2. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said sensor and accelerometer attached to said gear shifter is capable of learning said neutral position of said gear shifter every time a user places the vehicle in Reservation Mode.

3. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said sensor and accelerometer attached to said gear shifter is capable of recording and storing information concerning any change in the position of said gear shifter after said vehicle is set in Reservation Mode.

4. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module'"'"'s detection of a user taking control of said vehicle comprise:

detecting the door being unlocked, opened, and closed by receiving said second signal from the vehicle'"'"'s computer system;

detecting the key being inserted and turned to the ON position by receiving said second signal from the vehicle'"'"'s computer system; and

detecting the pressing of the brake pedal by receiving said second signal from the vehicle'"'"'s computer system.

5. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module'"'"'s detection of a user taking control of said vehicle comprise:

detecting the door being unlocked, opened, and closed by receiving said second signal from the vehicle'"'"'s computer system;

detecting a valid key in the vehicle by receiving said second signal from the vehicle'"'"'s computer system; and

detecting the pressing of the brake pedal by receiving said second signal from the vehicle'"'"'s computer system.

6. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module is capable of disabling remote start upon failing to receive said second signal from vehicle'"'"'s computer system.

7. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module is capable of detecting sufficient charge in said vehicle'"'"'s battery and disabling remote start when said control module detects insufficient charge.

8. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module is capable of shutting down the engine of said vehicle after remote start upon detecting movement of said vehicle through said second signal from said vehicle'"'"'s computer system.