Neutral safety switch
First Claim
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1. A neutral safety switch comprising:
- an electrical circuit having control logic, having at least one sensor input connectable to a sensor chosen from the group consisting of a door-open sensor, an engine-on sensor and an emergency brake sensor, and having a remote starter controller output having an enable state and a disable state, and which is connectable to a remote starter motor controller; and
wherein the control logic is configured to sense the state of the at least one sensor input, and, based upon the sensing, set the state of the remote starter controller output to one of said enable and disable states.
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Abstract
A neutral safety switch (NSS) is described for use with a remote engine starting system. The NSS may be attached to each of an emergency brake on, door open, engine running and motion sensor. By sensing the state of the sensor inputs, the NSS determines that the emergency brake has been set, that the vehicle transmission is in neutral and that the driver and passengers have left the vehicle, and if these conditions are not met, disables the remote starting system. The NSS may be used with automatic or manual transmission vehicles.
27 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A neutral safety switch comprising:
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an electrical circuit having control logic, having at least one sensor input connectable to a sensor chosen from the group consisting of a door-open sensor, an engine-on sensor and an emergency brake sensor, and having a remote starter controller output having an enable state and a disable state, and which is connectable to a remote starter motor controller; and
wherein the control logic is configured to sense the state of the at least one sensor input, and, based upon the sensing, set the state of the remote starter controller output to one of said enable and disable states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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providing a neutral safety switch having at least a door-open sensor input, an emergency brake sensor input and an engine-on sensor input, the neutral safety switch further comprising an ignition control output having an enable state and a disable state and which is connectable to a motor vehicle ignition controller, the neutral safety switch further comprising a remote starter motor controller output having an enable state and a disable state, and which is connectable to a remote starter motor controller;
sensing the emergency brake sensor input;
sensing the door open sensor input a first time;
sensing the door-open sensor input a second time;
sensing the engine-on sensor input a first time, and, based upon the sensing, changing the ignition control output state;
sensing the engine-on sensor input a second time;
based upon the sensing, setting the state of the remote starter motor controller output. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification