Engine start control system for vehicle

• US 20060076834A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kamiya, Hodaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,498,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02153 comprising a locking member radially and linearly moved towards the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition

Abstract

An engine start control system includes a key transponder, a steering lock, a driver authorizer, an engine starting switch, a pre-driving operation detector, a first and second steering lock controllers and an engine start controller. The key transponder stores a slave ID code and transmits the slave ID code at a request. The driver authorizer stores a master ID code and determines whether the slave ID code corresponds to the master user ID code. The pre-driving operation detector detects a driver'"'"'s preparatory operation to start the engine. The first steering lock controller permits the steering lock to be unlocked when the driver authorizer determines that the slave ID code corresponds to the master ID code. The second steering lock controller unlocks the steering lock when the pre-driving operation detector detects the driver'"'"'s preparatory operation. The engine start controller permits the engine to be started when the steering lock is unlocked.

Claims

1. An engine start control system for a vehicle comprising:

a key transponder separately formed from the vehicle, storing a slave user ID code therein and for transmitting the slave user ID code at a request;

a steering lock for locking and unlocking a steering shaft of the vehicle;

a driver authorizer storing a master user ID code therein, for transmitting the request to the key transponder, for receiving the slave user ID code, and for determining whether the slave user ID code corresponds to the master user ID code or not;

an engine starting switch for starting an engine of the vehicle;

a pre-driving operation detector for detecting at least one driver'"'"'s preparatory operation to start the engine before an operation of the engine starting switch;

a first steering lock controller which permits the steering lock to unlock the steering shaft when the driver authorizer determines that the slave user ID code corresponds to the master user ID code;

a second steering lock controller which lets the steering lock to unlock the steering shaft when the pre-driving operation detector detects the driver'"'"'s preparatory operation before the driver turns on the engine starting switch; and

an engine start controller which permits the engine to be started when the steering lock is unlocked and prohibits the engine from being started when the steering lock is locked.

2. The engine start control system according to claim 1, wherein the engine start controller is provided with:

a first engine start control unit which generates any one of an immobilizer released state signal and an immobilizer set state signal;

a second engine start control unit which switches the first engine control unit from generating the immobilizer set state signal to generating the immobilizer released state signal when the steering lock is unlocked; and

a third engine start control unit which starts the engine when the engine starting switch is operated while the first engine control unit generates the immobilizer released state signal.

3. The engine start control system according to claim 1, wherein the driver authorizer determines that the slave user ID code corresponds to the master user ID code on a condition that the pre-driving operation detector detects the driver'"'"'s preparatory operation.

4. The engine start control system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-driving operation detector is a brake pedal switch which detects a step operation of a brake pedal of the vehicle.

5. The engine start control system according to claim 4, wherein the engine start controller permits the engine to be started when the engine starting switch is operated while the brake pedal switch detects the step operation.