Method and apparatus for remotely operating a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for remotely placing a vehicle into an operative state, comprising:
- accepting a remotely-transmitted command to transition a vehicle from a non-operative state to an operative state;
detecting whether there is an occupant in at least one seat of the vehicle;
placing the vehicle into the operative state in response the remotely-transmitted command, when an no occupant is detected in the at least one seat; and
preventing the vehicle from entering the operative state when at least one occupant is detected in the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for remote starting of a vehicle. The system includes a transmitter adapted to transmit a command signal and a vehicle. Onboard the vehicle is an engine, a receiver, adapted to accepting the command signal, and an occupant detection system. The occupant detection system may be part of an airbag occupant detection system, for example. The occupant detection system generates a signal indicating whether at least one occupant is in the vehicle. A processor generates a start request signal in response to the command signal and occupant signal if the occupant signal indicates that no occupants are in the vehicle. Occupant detection can be by means of detecting pressure, weight or capacitance on a seat or other suitable means.
54 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for remotely placing a vehicle into an operative state, comprising:
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accepting a remotely-transmitted command to transition a vehicle from a non-operative state to an operative state; detecting whether there is an occupant in at least one seat of the vehicle; placing the vehicle into the operative state in response the remotely-transmitted command, when an no occupant is detected in the at least one seat; and preventing the vehicle from entering the operative state when at least one occupant is detected in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for controlling a vehicle in response to a remotely-transmitted signal, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver that accepts a remotely-transmitted command to transition a vehicle from a non-operative state to an operative state; an occupant detection sensor associated with at least one seat that detects the presence of an occupant in the at least one seat; a controller operatively coupled to the receiver and the occupant detection sensor and adapted to generate a request signal in response to the remotely-transmitted command if no occupant is detected in the at least one seat by the vehicle by the occupant detection sensor; and a vehicle controller responsive to the request signal to transition the vehicle from a non-operative state to an operative state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus adapted for remote starting of a vehicle, comprising:
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a transmitter adapted to transmit a command signal; a vehicle including; an engine; a receiver adapted to accept the command signal; an occupant detection sensor that generates an empty-vehicle signal if no occupant is detected in the vehicle; a controller operatively coupled to the receiver and the occupant detection sensor and adapted to generate a start request signal in response to the command signal and the empty-vehicle signal; and an engine controller responsive to the request signal to start the engine.
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19. They system of claim 19, wherein the occupant detection sensor is operatively coupled to at least one seat in the vehicle to detect whether an occupant is occupying in the seat.
Specification