Neutral sensing switch for remote vehicle starter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensing switch for detecting the position of a vehicle transmission shift lever having a shift lever knob at an upper end thereof, comprising:
- a receiver having a predetermined target area;
a transmitter for transmitting a directed beam of trigger signals;
one of the receiver and transmitter being mounted to the shift lever knob and the other of the receiver and transmitter being mounted in the vehicle at a location spaced apart from the shift lever knob so that the transmitted trigger signals are directed towards the target area when the shift lever knob is in a predetermined position; and
a controller coupled to the receiver for determining, based on the trigger signals received by the receiver, if the shift lever knob is in the predetermined position and if so generating a predetermined signal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a neutral sensing switch for use with a remote vehicle starter to prevent the vehicle starter from starting a vehicle unless the shift lever for the transmission is in the neutral position. The neutral sensing switch includes a transmitter mounted on top of a shift lever which transmits a signal generally towards a receiver. The transmitter and receiver are both connected to a processing circuitry of a controller. Based on the signal detected by the receiver, the controller determines whether the shift lever is in the neutral position.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A sensing switch for detecting the position of a vehicle transmission shift lever having a shift lever knob at an upper end thereof, comprising:
-
a receiver having a predetermined target area;
a transmitter for transmitting a directed beam of trigger signals;
one of the receiver and transmitter being mounted to the shift lever knob and the other of the receiver and transmitter being mounted in the vehicle at a location spaced apart from the shift lever knob so that the transmitted trigger signals are directed towards the target area when the shift lever knob is in a predetermined position; and
a controller coupled to the receiver for determining, based on the trigger signals received by the receiver, if the shift lever knob is in the predetermined position and if so generating a predetermined signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A sensing switch for detecting the position of a transmission shift lever in a vehicle, comprising:
-
a receiver having a predetermined target area, the receiver being configured for mounting to a target area in the vehicle;
a shift knob handle having embedded therein a transmitter for transmitting a directed beam of trigger signals and having a lower end for engaging an upper end of a shift lever; and
a controller coupled to the receiver for determining, based on the trigger signals received by the receiver, if the shift lever is in the predetermined position and if so generating a predetermined signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A neutral sensing system for use with a remote vehicle starter in a manual transmission vehicle to detect of the vehicle is in neutral, comprising:
-
a sensing switch for determining, upon receiving an activating signal, if a transmission shift lever is in a predetermined physical location that is associated with neutral, and if so generating a “
start”
signal to signal the remote vehicle starter to commence starting the vehicle engine; and
a movement detection device for detecting, upon receiving an activating signal, if the vehicle is moving, and if so generating a “
kill engine”
signal to override the “
start”
signal and cause the vehicle starter to abort starting the vehicle engine. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification