Starting control apparatus and tuner device

• US 20080129473A1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Takee, Akira, Tsuruta, Norio
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.13
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means

Abstract

A remote starting ECU includes a command recognizing unit and a tuner connecting unit. The remote starting ECU starts an engine of a vehicle when the command recognizing unit receives an engine start command from a remote key or when the tuner connecting unit receives an engine start request from a remote controller.

Claims

1. A starting control apparatus that controls starting of an engine of a vehicle, the starting control apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a first signal indicative of an engine start request from a remote key via wireless communication;

a tuner connecting unit connectable to an external tuner that receives a second signal indicative of an engine start request from a remote controller via wireless communication, wherein the tuner connecting unit receives the second signal from the external tuner; and

a starting control unit that starts the engine any one of when the receiving unit receives the first signal and when the tuner connecting unit receives the second signal.

2. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller has wider communication range than the remote key.

3. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first signal indicates a predetermined combination of control requests, and

the receiving unit includes a recognizing unit that recognizes the combination as the engine start request.

4. The starting control apparatus according to claim 3, further includes a communication unit that communicates with a vehicle body control apparatus that controls a vehicle body in response to the first signal.

5. The starting control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the receiving unit receives the first signal from the vehicle body control apparatus.

6. The starting control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control request includes one of a request for locking a door of a vehicle, a request for unlocking a door of a vehicle, and a request for giving an alarm to people around the vehicle.

7. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller transmits a third signal indicative of a control request other than the engine start request, and

the starting control apparatus further includes a vehicle control unit that receives the third signal from the external tuner through the tuner connecting unit, and controls a device installed in the vehicle based on the control request.

8. The starting control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control request includes one of a request for locking a door of a vehicle, a request for unlocking a door of a vehicle, and a request for giving an alarm to people around the vehicle.

9. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein communication between the external tuner and the remote controller is bi-directional, and

the starting control apparatus further includes a notifying unit that notifies the remote controller of information through the external tuner.

10. The starting control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notifying unit notifies the remote controller of information on the vehicle.

11. The starting control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notifying unit notifies the remote controller of a result of control based on a signal indicative of a request from the remote controller.

12. A tuner device configured to be connected to a starting control apparatus that controls starting of an engine of a vehicle, the tuner device comprising:

a first communication unit configured to be externally connected to a tuner connecting unit in the starting control apparatus so that the first communication unit communicates with the starting control apparatus; and

a second communication unit that receives a signal from a remote controller via wireless communication, wherein

the first communication unit feeds a signal indicative of an engine start request to the starting control apparatus when the second communication unit receives a signal indicative of the engine start request from the remote controller.

13. The tuner device according to claim 12, further comprising an authenticating unit that performs authentication of the remote controller when the second communication unit receives the signal indicative of engine start request from the remote controller, wherein

the first communication unit feeds the engine start request to the starting control apparatus when the remote controller is determined to be authentic by the authenticating unit.

14. The tuner device according to claim 12, wherein communication between the second communication unit and the remote controller is bi-directional.

15. The tuner device according to claim 14, wherein

the first communication unit acquires information on the vehicle from the starting control apparatus, and

the second communication unit notifies the remote controller of the information acquired by the first communication unit.

16. The tuner device according to claim 15, wherein the information acquired from the starting control apparatus includes a result of control by the starting control apparatus based on a signal indicative of a request from the remote controller.