METHOD AND START ASSISTING SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING START ACTIVITIES OF A VEHICLE

• US 20140236461A1
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: EDGREN, Claes
• Application Number:
  US14/173,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20140236461A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/113
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/246 characterised by the challenge triggering
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/00 Other power-operated starting apparatus; Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from groups F02N5/00 - F02N13/00

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a start assisting system and a method performed by a start assisting system for facilitating start activities preceding start of an engine of a vehicle. The start assisting system determines whether predetermined pre-start conditions are fulfilled, which pre-start conditions comprise a condition associated with a wireless electronic key related to the vehicle being identified to be present. The start assisting system furthermore detects a start intention activity of a user of the vehicle by means of a detecting device adapted to be comprised in a user driving manoeuvring device of the vehicle, which detecting device is adapted to detect a body part of the user being situated at the driving manoeuvring device thus indicating the start intention activity. Additionally, the start assisting system initiates start of the engine, should the pre-start conditions be determined to be fulfilled while the start intention activity is detected.

Claims

1. A method performed by a start assisting system for facilitating start activities preceding start of an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether predetermined pre-start conditions are fulfilled, the pre-start conditions comprising a condition associated with a wireless electronic key related to the vehicle being identified to be present;

detecting a start intention activity of a user of the vehicle by means of a detecting device adapted to be comprised in a user driving manoeuvring device of the vehicle, the detecting device being adapted to detect a body part of the user being situated at the user driving manoeuvring device thus indicating the start intention activity; and

initiating start of the engine, should the pre-start conditions be determined to be fulfilled while the start intention activity is detected.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the detecting device comprises a touch sensitive area adapted to detect presence of the body part.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the detecting device is adapted to be comprised in a hand-operated transmission control lever of the vehicle, the detecting device being adapted to detect at least a part of a hand of the user being situated on the transmission control lever.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the detecting device is adapted to be comprised in a top section of the transmission control lever.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein initiating start of the engine comprises starting the engine.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pre-start conditions further comprise a condition associated with an immobilizer of the vehicle being in a disabled state and/or a condition associated with a steering device lock of a steering device of the vehicle being in an unlocked state following the wireless electronic key being identified to be present.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pre-start conditions further comprise a condition associated with at least one door of the vehicle being in a closed position, a condition associated with a driver seat belt arrangement of the vehicle being in a buckled position, and/or a condition associated with a braking device of the vehicle being in an affected position.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pre-start conditions further comprise a condition associated with an automatic, semi-automatic or continuously variable transmission control lever of the vehicle being in a non-propelling position in which the vehicle is restricted from being propelled by the engine, for instance a parking state or a neutral state.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pre-start conditions further comprise a condition associated with a clutch device of the vehicle being in an affected position, or a condition associated with a manual transmission control lever of the vehicle being in a non-propelling position in which the vehicle is restricted from being propelled by the engine, for instance a neutral state.

10. A start assisting system for facilitating start activities preceding start of an engine of a vehicle, the start assisting system comprising:

a condition fulfilment determining unit adapted to determine whether predetermined pre-start conditions are fulfilled, the pre-start conditions comprising a condition associated with a wireless electronic key related to the vehicle being identified to be present;

a detecting device adapted to detect a start intention activity of a user of the vehicle, the detecting device being adapted to be comprised in a user driving manoeuvring device of the vehicle, and the detecting device being adapted to detect a body part of the user being situated at the user driving manoeuvring device thus indicating the start intention activity; and

a start initiating unit adapted to initiate start of the engine, should the pre-start conditions be determined to be fulfilled while the start intention activity is detected.

11. The start assisting system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the detecting device comprises a touch sensitive area adapted to detect presence of the body part.

12. The start assisting system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the detecting device is adapted to be comprised in a hand-operated transmission control lever of the vehicle, the detecting device being adapted to detect at least a part of a hand of the user being situated on the transmission control lever.

13. The start assisting system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the detecting device is adapted to be comprised in a top section of the transmission control lever.

14. A vehicle comprising the start assisting system in accordance with claim 10, the vehicle further comprising the engine.

15. The vehicle in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a hand-operated transmission control lever, wherein the detecting device of the start assisting system is comprised in the transmission control lever, and the detecting device is adapted to detect at least a part of a hand of the user being situated on the transmission control lever.

16. The vehicle in accordance with claim 15 wherein the detecting device is comprised in a top section of the transmission control lever.