Remote starting control apparatus and starting control apparatus

• US 20050073197A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• 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 7,091,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine

Abstract

A remote starting control apparatus is installed in a vehicle incorporating an immobilizer section for inputting a key code output based on insertion of an ignition key into a key cylinder, and when determining that the input key code is a predetermined key code, enabling an engine to be started. The remote starting control apparatus performs starting control of the engine in response to an instruction from a portable transmitter. It includes comparing two or more key codes output from an immobi amplifier in response to two or more key code output requests, thereby determining the key code to be stored in EEPROM from among the key codes, storing the determined key code in the EEPROM, and supplying the key code stored in the EEPROM to the immobilizer section upon reception or a start command of the engine by remote operation.

Claims

1. A remote starting control apparatus being installed in a vehicle incorporating a starting control apparatus for sending a key code output request to a key code output unit that can output a key code based on predetermined operation, inputting a key code output in response to the request, determining whether or not the input key code matches a predetermined key code, and if the key codes match, enabling an engine, etc., to be started, the remote starting control apparatus for performing starting control of the engine by remote operation, the remote starting control apparatus comprising:

a first storage unit for storing a key code;

a supply unit for supplying the key code stored in the first storage unit to the starting control apparatus upon reception of a starting command of the engine by remote operation;

a first acquisition unit for acquiring the key code output from the key code output unit in response to a key code output request;

a first determination unit for comparing two or more key codes output from the key code output unit in response to two or more key code output requests, acquired by the first acquisition unit, thereby determining the key code to be stored in the first storage unit from among the key codes; and

a first storage control unit for storing the key code determined by the first determination unit in the first storage unit.

2. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first determination unit uses any of the key codes acquired by the first acquisition unit as the reference and determines whether or not the reference key code matches a different key code acquired by the first acquisition unit and if the reference key code matches the different key code, determines that either of the key codes is the key code to be stored in the first storage unit.

3. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first request unit for sending a key code output request to the key code output unit, wherein

the key code output from the key code output unit in response to the key code output request made by the first request unit and acquired by the first acquisition unit is contained in the key code to be compared.

4. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a requirement determination unit for determining whether or not the (n₁+1) st key code to be compared needs to be acquired after the n₁ (≧

2)th key code to be compared is acquired by the first acquisition unit; and

a first execution control unit for causing a first request unit to make a key code output request if the requirement determination unit determines that the (n₁+1)st key code to be compared needs to be acquired.

5. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an input determination unit for determining whether or not the key code matching the predetermined key code is input in the starting control apparatus, wherein

the key code output from the key code output unit in response to the key code output request made by the starting control apparatus based on the predetermined operation and acquired by the first acquisition unit is contained in the key code to be compared.

6. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second execution control unit for causing a first request unit to make a key code output request if the input determination unit determines that the key code matching the predetermined key code is input in the starting control apparatus.

7. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pseudo state producing unit for artificially producing a state in which the predetermined operation is performed, wherein

as the pseudo state producing unit artificially produces the state in which the predetermined operation is performed and the starting control apparatus sends a key code output request to the key code output unit, the key code output from the key code output unit and acquired by the first acquisition unit is contained in the key code to be compared.

8. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a requirement determination unit for determining whether or not the (n₁+1)st key code to be compared needs to be acquired after the n₁ (≧

2)th key code to be compared is acquired by the first acquisition unit; and

a third execution control unit for causing the pseudo state producing unit to perform processing if the requirement determination unit determines that the (n₁+1)st key code to be compared needs to be acquired.

9. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an input determination unit for determining whether or not the key code matching the predetermined key code is input in the starting control apparatus, wherein

the key code output from the key code output unit in response to the key code output request made by the starting control apparatus based on the predetermined operation and acquired by the first acquisition unit is contained in the key code to be compared.

10. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a fourth execution control unit for causing the pseudo state producing unit to perform processing if the input determination unit determines that the key code matching the predetermined key code is input in the starting control apparatus.

11. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an informing unit, upon completion of storing the key code determined by the first determination unit in the first storage unit, for informing the user that the key code has been stored in the first storage unit.

12. A remote starting control apparatus being installed in a vehicle incorporating a starting control apparatus for sending a key code output request to a key code output unit that can output a key code based on predetermined operation, inputting a key code output in response to the request, determining whether or not the input key code matches a predetermined key code, and if the key codes match, enabling an engine, etc., to be started, the remote starting control apparatus for performing starting control of the engine by remote operation, the remote starting control apparatus comprising:

a first storage unit for storing a key code;

a supply unit for supplying the key code stored in the first storage unit to the starting control apparatus upon reception of a starting command of the engine by remote operation;

a second determination unit for determining the key code to be stored in the first storage unit from among the key codes provided by the key code output unit; and

a check unit for supplying the key code determined by the second determination unit to the starting control apparatus, thereby checking whether or not the key code is the key code to be stored in the first storage unit.

13. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the check unit supplies the key code determined by the second determination unit to the starting control apparatus and also issues a command to the engine, thereby checking whether or not the key code is the key code to be stored in the first storage unit.

14. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the check unit checks whether or not the key code is the key code to be stored in the first storage unit based on the presence or absence of a key code output request from the starting control apparatus after supplying the key code determined by the second determination unit to the starting control apparatus.

15. The remote starting control apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second storage control unit for storing the key code in the first storage unit if the check unit determines that the key code determined by the second determination unit is the key code to be stored in the first storage unit.

16. A starting control apparatus comprising:

a second storage unit for storing a key code;

a second request unit for sending a key code output request to a key code output unit when a program mode to register a program mode in the second storage unit is set;

a second acquisition unit for acquiring the key code output from the key code output unit in response to the request made by the second request unit;

a third determination unit for comparing two or more key codes output from the key code output unit in response to two or more requests, acquired by the second acquisition unit, thereby determining the key code to be stored in the second storage unit from among the key codes; and

a third storage control unit for storing the key code determined by the third determination unit in the second storage unit, wherein;

the key code output request is sent to the key code output unit for outputting the key code based on predetermined operation;

the key code output is input in response to the request;

whether or not the input key code matches the key code stored in the second storage unit is determined; and

if the key codes match, an engine to be started is enabled.

17. The starting control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the third determination unit uses any of the key codes acquired by the second acquisition unit as the reference and determines whether or not the reference key code matches a different key code acquired by the second acquisition unit and if the reference key code matches the different key code, determines that either of the key codes is the key code to be stored in the second storage unit.

18. A remote starting control apparatus being installed in a vehicle incorporating a starting control apparatus for performing starting control of an engine by remote operation, comprising:

a first storage unit for storing a key code;

a key code output unit;

a supply unit for supplying the key code stored in the first storage unit to the starting control apparatus upon reception of a starting command of the engine by remote operation;

a first acquisition unit for acquiring the key code output from the key code output unit in response to a key code output request;

a first determination unit for comparing two or more key codes output from the key code output unit in response to two or more key code output requests, acquired by the first acquisition unit, thereby determining the key code to be stored in the first storage unit from among the key codes; and

a first storage control unit for storing the key code determined by the first determination unit in the first storage unit, wherein;

the key code output request is sent to the key code output unit for outputting the key code based on predetermined operation;

the key code output is input in response to the request;

whether or not the input key code matches a predetermined key code is determined; and

if the key codes match, the engine to be started is enabled.

19. A remote starting control apparatus being installed in a vehicle incorporating a starting control apparatus for performing starting control of an engine by remote operation, comprising:

a first storage unit for storing a key code;

a key code output unit;

a supply unit for supplying the key code stored in the first storage unit to the starting control apparatus upon reception of a starting command of the engine by remote operation;

a second determination unit for determining the key code to be stored in the first storage unit from among the key codes provided by the key code output unit; and

a check unit for supplying the key code determined by the second determination unit to the starting control apparatus, thereby checking whether or not the key code is the key code to be stored in the first storage unit, wherein

a key code output request is sent to the key code output unit for outputting the key code based on predetermined operation;

the key code output is input in response to the request;

whether or not the input key code matches a predetermined key code is determined; and

if the key codes match, the engine to be started is enabled.