Remote Ignition System for a Vehicle and Method for Securing a Remote Ignition Function

• US 20110148566A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Ledendecker, Ingo
• Granted Patent: US 8,710,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• 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: F02N 11/0811 using a timer

Abstract

The invention relates to a remote ignition system for a vehicle with a remote ignition control device for activating a remote ignition by providing a release signal, means for detecting a driver'"'"'s intention to start driving, and an engine control device which comprises the following: a first evaluation unit for evaluating a signal which has been received from the remote ignition control device, a unit coupled to the first evaluation unit for starting of the engine in response to a release signal and for stopping the engine in response to a blocking signal, and a second evaluation unit for evaluating signals which have been received from the means for detecting the intention to start driving. The engine control device furthermore comprises a storage unit for storing the last signal evaluated by the first evaluation unit, and a test unit which is coupled to the second evaluation unit, to the storage unit, and to the unit for starting and stopping the engine and which is designed to read out the signal stored in the storage unit when the second evaluation unit has ascertained the intention to start driving and, if it is a release signal, to send a blocking signal to the unit for starting and stopping the engine and to modify the contents of the storage unit. The invention furthermore relates to a method for securing a remote ignition function.

Claims

1. A remote ignition system for a vehicle with

a remote ignition control device (20)

for receiving a signal for activating a remote ignition,

for checking of at least one remote ignition prerequisite which comprises the locking of the doors,

for locking the doors when the signal for activating a remote ignition has been received and the doors are not locked, and

for providing a release signal when the doors are locked;

means (40) for detecting the intention of a driver to start driving; and

an engine control device (30), which comprises the following;

i. a first evaluation unit (32) for evaluating a signal which has been received from the remote ignition control device (20);

ii. a unit (33) coupled to the first evaluation unit (32) for starting the engine in response to a release signal and for stopping the engine in response to a blocking signal; and

iii. a second evaluation unit (35) for evaluating signals which have been received from the means (40) for detecting the intention to start driving;

the engine control device (30) furthermore comprises a storage unit (37) for storing the last signal evaluated by the evaluation unit (32), and a test unit (36) which is coupled to the second evaluation unit (35), to the storage unit (37), and to the unit (33) for starting and stopping the engine and which is designed to read out the signal stored in the storage unit (37) when the second evaluation unit (35) has ascertained the intention to start driving and, if it is a release signal, to send a blocking signal to the unit (33) for starting and stopping the engine and to modify the contents of the storage unit (37).

2. The remote ignition system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (40) for detecting the intention to start driving comprise a pedal value sensor of an electronic gas pedal.

3. The remote ignition system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (40) for detecting the intention to start driving comprise a sensor for detecting engine speed.

4. The remote ignition system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (40) for detecting the intention to start driving are designed to ascertain a torque demand on the engine.

5. The remote ignition system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system furthermore comprises means (50) for detecting the occurrence of at least one of the following conditions:

a) unlocking of the vehicle;

b) opening of at least one vehicle door; and

c) presence of an individual in the vehicle.

6. The remote ignition system according to claim 5, characterized in that the means (50) for detecting the occurrence of at least one of the conditions a), b), or c) comprise at least one of the following groups:

a contact switch of a door lock cylinder of one vehicle door;

a central vehicle locking system;

a door contact switch of a vehicle door, especially the driver'"'"'s door;

a door handle sensor;

a seat occupancy recognition unit; and

an interior sensor of an antitheft alarm system.

7. The remote ignition system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the test unit (36) of the engine control device (30) is coupled to the means (50) for detecting the occurrence of at least one of conditions a), b), or c) and is designed to likewise read out the signal stored in the storage unit (37) when the occurrence of at least one of conditions a), b), or c) is ascertained, and, if it is a release signal, to send a blocking signal to the unit for starting and stopping the engine, and to modify the contents of the storage unit (37).

8. The remote ignition system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the remote ignition control device (20) is coupled to the means for detecting the occurrence of at least one of conditions a), b), or c) and is designed to provide a blocking signal if there is a remote ignition when the occurrence of at least one of conditions a), b), or c) is ascertained.

9. The remote ignition system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the remote ignition control device (20) is designed to activate a remote ignition in response to a signal from a remote control and/or at a preset time.

10. The remote ignition system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the remote ignition control device (20) and the engine control device (30) are connected via a CAN bus (60).

11. A method for securing a remote ignition function, characterized by the following steps:

receiving a signal by a remote ignition control device (20) for activating a remote ignition;

checking of at least one remote ignition prerequisite by the remote ignition control device (20), where one of the at least one remote ignition prerequisites involves locking of the doors;

locking of the doors by a signal of the remote ignition control device (20) when the signal for activating the remote ignition has been received and the doors are not locked;

providing a release signal by the remote ignition control device (20) for activating a remote ignition when the doors are locked;

receiving the release signal from the remote ignition control device (20) by an engine control device (30);

starting of an engine in response to the received release signal by the engine control device (30);

detecting a driver'"'"'s intention to start driving and providing a driver'"'"'s intention signal;

receiving the driver'"'"'s intention signal by the engine control device (30);

evaluating the driver'"'"'s intention signal by the engine control device (30);

shutting off the engine by the engine control device (30) as soon as a driver'"'"'s intention to start driving is ascertained after a remote ignition.

12. The method for securing a remote ignition function according to claim 11, characterized in that the detection of a driver'"'"'s intention to start driving takes place by means of a pedal value sensor (40).

13. The method for securing a remote ignition function according to claim 11, characterized in that the detection of a driver'"'"'s intention to start driving takes place by means of a sensor (40) for detecting engine speed.

14. The method for securing a remote ignition function according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the detection of a driver'"'"'s intention to start driving comprises ascertaining a torque demand on the engine.

15. The method for securing a remote ignition function according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized by the following additional step:

shutting off the engine by the engine control device (30) when at least one of the following conditions occurs after a remote ignition;

a) unlocking of the vehicle;

b) opening of at least one vehicle door; and

c) presence of an individual in the vehicle.