Remote starting control apparatus and starting control apparatus

• US 20040262068A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsubara, Manabu, Yoshimura, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means

Abstract

A remote start control apparatus, which is installed in a vehicle equipped with an immobilizer unit, which obtains a code output when an ignition key is inserted into a key cylinder and permits the starting of an engine when it is determined that the code is a unique vehicle code, and which controls engine start functions upon receiving an instruction from a portable transmitter, includes: an EEPROM for storing a unique vehicle code; a unit for, upon receiving an engine start instruction signal from the portable transmitter, transmitting the code in the EEPROM to the immobilizer; and a unit for, upon receiving a theft occurrence signal from a security unit, deleting the code stored in the EEPROM.

Claims

1. A remote start control apparatus, which is installed in a vehicle equipped with a start control apparatus, for fetching a predetermined code that is output based on a predetermined operation, for determining whether the predetermined code is a code unique to a vehicle and for, when the codes match, permitting the starting of machinery, such as an engine, and which starts the machinery in accordance with an instruction signal received from a transmitter, comprising:

a first storage unit for storing the code unique to the vehicle;

a first supply unit for, upon receiving from the transmitter a start instruction signal for the machinery, supplying the code stored in the first storage unit to the start control apparatus; and

a first memory control unit for, when a determination is made, based on a specific signal received from a theft detection unit for detecting a vehicle theft or another signal equivalent to the specific signal, that the vehicle has been stolen, either deleting the code stored in the first storage unit or rewriting the code.

5. A remote start control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth memory control unit for, when a second predetermined condition is established, storing in the first storage unit the predetermined code that is output through the predetermined operation.

6. A remote start control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a determination unit for determining whether the predetermined code output through the predetermined operation is an appropriate code for storage in the first storage unit,

wherein, when the determination unit determines that the predetermined code is an appropriate code for storage in the first storage unit, the fourth memory control unit stores the predetermined code in the first storage unit.

7. A remote start control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the determination unit employs the state of the machinery to perform a determination.

8. A remote start control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification unit for issuing a notification that the code stored in the first storage unit has been deleted or rewritten.

9. A remote start control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the notification unit issues a notification at a predetermined time, such as when the performance of the predetermined operation is detected.

2. A remote start control apparatus, which is installed in a vehicle equipped with a start control apparatus, for fetching a predetermined code that is output based on a predetermined operation, for determining whether the predetermined code is a code unique to a vehicle and for, when the codes match, permitting the starting of machinery, such as an engine, and which starts the machinery in accordance with an instruction signal received from a transmitter, comprising:

a first storage unit for storing the code unique to the vehicle;

a first supply unit for, upon receiving from the transmitter a start instruction signal for the machinery, supplying the code stored in the first storage unit to the start control apparatus; and

a second memory control unit for, when the disconnection of a battery mounted in the vehicle is detected, deleting or rewriting the code stored in the first storage unit.

3. A remote start control apparatus, which is installed in a vehicle equipped with a start control apparatus, for fetching a predetermined code that is output based on a predetermined operation, for determining whether the predetermined code is a code unique to a vehicle and for, when the codes match, permitting the starting of machinery, such as an engine, and which starts the machinery in accordance with an instruction signal received from a transmitter, comprising:

a first storage unit for storing the code unique to the vehicle;

a first supply unit for, upon receiving from the transmitter a start instruction signal for the machinery, supplying the code stored in the first storage unit to the start control apparatus;

a second storage unit for storing a remote control ID code used for a remote operation; and

a third memory control unit for, when it is determined that a remote control ID code has been registered in the second storage unit, deleting or rewriting the code stored in the first storage unit.

4. A remote start control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when for the remote start control apparatus of the third aspect it is determined that a code has been registered in the second storage unit, while a first predetermined condition, such as the theft of the vehicle, has been established, the third memory control unit deletes or rewrites the code stored in the first storage unit.

10. A remote start control apparatus, which is installed in a vehicle that is equipped with a start control apparatus, for fetching a predetermined code that is output based on a predetermined operation and determining whether the predetermined code matches one of a plurality of unique vehicle codes and for, when the predetermined code matches one of the unique vehicle codes, permitting machinery, such as an engine, to be started and starting the machinery in accordance with an instruction signal received from a transmitter, comprising:

a third storage unit for storing a specific code that matches one of the unique vehicle codes stored in the start control apparatus;

a second supply unit for, upon receiving a start instruction signal for the machinery from the transmitter, supplying to the start control apparatus the specific code stored in the third storage unit; and

a third supply unit for, when a determination is made, based on a detection signal, or another signal equivalent to the detection signal, received by a detection unit for detecting vehicle theft, that a vehicle theft has occurred, supplying a delete/rewrite instruction signal to the start control apparatus to initiate the deleting or rewriting of the unique vehicle code that is stored in the start control apparatus and that matches the specific code.

11. A remote start control apparatus, which is installed in a vehicle that is equipped with a start control apparatus, for fetching a predetermined code that is output based on a predetermined operation and determining whether the predetermined code matches one of a plurality of unique vehicle codes and for, when the predetermined code matches one of the unique vehicle codes, permitting machinery, such as an engine, to be started and starting the machinery in accordance with an instruction signal received from a transmitter, comprising:

a third storage unit for storing a specific code that matches one of the unique vehicle codes stored in the start control apparatus;

a second supply unit for, upon receiving a start instruction signal for the machinery from the transmitter, supplying to the start control apparatus the specific code stored in the third storage unit;

a second storage unit for storing a remote control ID code used for a remote operation; and

a fourth supply unit for, when it is determined that a code has been registered in the second storage unit, transmitting a delete/rewrite instruction signal to the start control apparatus to initiate the deleting or rewriting of a unique vehicle code that is stored in the start control apparatus and that matches the specific code.

12. A remote start control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, when it is determined that the registration of a code in the second storage unit has been performed, while a first predetermined condition, such as the occurrence of a vehicle theft, has been established, the fourth supply unit transmits the delete/rewrite instruction signal to the start control apparatus.

13. A start control apparatus, which permits the starting of machinery, such as an engine, when it is determined that one of a plurality of unique vehicle codes stored in a fourth storage unit matches a specific code that is supplied by a remote start control apparatus for starting the machinery in accordance with a predetermined code received through a predetermined operation, or an instruction signal received from a transmitter, comprising:

a fifth memory controller for, when a determination is made, based on a detection signal received by a theft detection unit for detecting a vehicle theft, or another signal equivalent to the detection signal, that a vehicle theft has occurred, deleting or rewriting one of the unique vehicle codes that is stored in the fourth storage unit and that matches the specific code.

14. A start control apparatus, which permits the starting of machinery, such as an engine, when it is determined that one of a plurality of unique vehicle codes stored in a fourth storage unit matches a specific code that is supplied by a remote start control apparatus for starting the machinery in accordance with a predetermined code received through a predetermined operation, or an instruction signal received from a transmitter, comprising:

a sixth memory control unit for, upon receiving a delete/rewrite instruction signal from the remote start control apparatus to delete or rewrite a unique vehicle code that matches the specific code, deleting or rewriting the unique vehicle code that is stored in the fourth storage unit and that matches the specific code.