Vehicle remote start prevention alert

• US 10,421,359 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanagaraj, Padmanaban, Freund, Katherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Paige, Tyler D
• Application Number:
  US15/797,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20180126849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/12 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/306 with external senders or receivers, e.g. receiving signals from traffic lights, other vehicles or base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes at least one camera capturing images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle. A proximity sensor detects an object disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. An electronic processor receives the images captured by the at least one camera, and receives a proximity signal from the proximity sensor. The proximity signal is indicative of whether an object is disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. The electronic processor determines, based upon the images captured by the at least one camera and the proximity signal, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure. The electronic processor receives an engine start request signal that has been wirelessly transmitted by a user. In response to receiving the engine start request signal, the electronic processor causes the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one camera configured to capture images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle;

a proximity sensor configured to detect an object disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle;

an engine start system; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the at least one camera, the proximity sensor, and the engine start system, the electronic processor being configured to;

receive the images captured by the at least one camera;

receive a proximity signal from the proximity sensor, the proximity signal being indicative of whether an object is disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle;

determine, based upon the images captured by the at least one camera and the proximity signal, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receive an engine start request signal wirelessly transmitted by a user;

in response to receiving the engine start request signal;

cause the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure; and

inform the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started, the informing occurring when the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receive an override signal from the user after informing the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started; and

in response to receiving the override signal from the user, cause the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is configured to capture images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle while an ignition of the motor vehicle is OFF.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect an object disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle while an ignition of the motor vehicle is OFF.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to, in response to receiving the engine start request signal when the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure, inform the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started by causing a wireless signal to be transmitted to an electronic device that did not cause the engine start request signal to be wirelessly transmitted.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system communicatively coupled to the electronic processor, the electronic processor being configured to determine, based upon geographical coordinates provided by the global positioning system, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a memory device storing a database of geographical coordinates corresponding to enclosed spaces, the electronic processor being configured to determine whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure based upon data retrieved from the database.

7. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system;

an engine start system; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the global positioning system, the electronic processor being configured to;

receive geographical coordinates from the global positioning system;

determine, based upon the geographical coordinates, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receive an engine start request signal wirelessly transmitted by a user;

in response to receiving the engine start request signal;

cause the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure; and

inform the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started, the informing occurring when the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receive an override signal from the user after informing the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started; and

in response to receiving the override signal from the user, cause the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle.

8. A method of operating a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle;

detecting whether an object is disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle;

determining, based upon the images captured by the at least one camera and the detecting step, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receiving an engine start request signal wirelessly transmitted by a user;

in response to receiving the engine start request signal;

causing an engine of the motor vehicle to start if the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure; and

informing the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started, the informing occurring if the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receiving an override signal from the user after informing the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started; and

in response to receiving the override signal from the user, causing the engine of the motor vehicle to start.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the capturing step comprises capturing images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle while an ignition of the motor vehicle is OFF.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting an object disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle while an ignition of the motor vehicle is OFF.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein, in response to receiving the engine start request signal when the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure, the user is informed that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started, the informing including causing a wireless signal to be transmitted to an electronic device that did not cause the engine start request signal to be wirelessly transmitted.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining step is further based upon geographical coordinates provided by a global positioning system disposed within the motor vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining step is further based upon data retrieved from a database of geographical coordinates stored in correspondence with garages.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a global positioning system;

an engine start system; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the global positioning system, the electronic processor being configured to;

receive geographical coordinates from the global positioning system;

determine, based upon the geographical coordinates, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receive an engine start request signal wirelessly transmitted by a user;

in response to receiving the engine start request signal;

cause the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure; and

inform the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started, the informing occurring when the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure;

receive an override signal from the user after informing the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started; and

in response to receiving the override signal from the user, cause the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 14, wherein the global positioning system is configured to produce geographical coordinates while an ignition of the motor vehicle is OFF.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 14, wherein the electronic processor is configured to, in response to receiving the engine start request signal when the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure, inform the user that the engine of the motor vehicle will not be started by causing a wireless signal to be transmitted to an electronic device that did not cause the engine start request signal to be wirelessly transmitted.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a memory device storing a database of geographical coordinates corresponding to enclosed spaces, the electronic processor being configured to determine whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure based upon data retrieved from the database.

18. The motor vehicle of claim 14, further comprising at least one camera configured to capture images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle, wherein the electronic processor is configured to determine whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure based further upon the captured images.