REMOTE ENGINE START SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20200132033A1
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: ALBERS, Heiko
• Granted Patent: US 11,078,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation

Abstract

A remote engine start system, comprising an engine start unit and a control unit is disclosed. The engine start unit is arranged in a vehicle and configured to receive signals from a remote control. The vehicle comprises a drive motor. The engine start unit is configured to initiate the start of the drive motor upon receipt of a signal from the remote control. The control unit is configured to monitor the function of the engine start unit, and to detect errors in the function of the engine start unit. The remote engine start system is configured to prevent the starting of the drive motor once an error in the function of the engine start unit was detected, and to initiate the turning off of the drive motor, if the drive motor is turned on and an error in the function of the engine start unit was detected.

Claims

1. A remote engine starting system for a vehicle comprising a drive engine, comprising:

an on-vehicle engine starting unit configured to;

receive signals from a remote control, and

prompt the drive engine to be started up when a signal was received from the remote control; and

a checking unit configured to;

monitor operation of the engine starting unit, and

detect faults in the operation of the engine starting unit,

prevent the drive engine from being started if it detects a fault in the operation of the engine starting unit, and

prompt the drive engine to be switched off if the drive engine is switched on and a fault was detected in the operation of the engine starting unit.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engine starting unit comprises a microcontroller and the checking unit is configured to monitor the operation of the microcontroller.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the checking unit comprises a status unit configured to store a present state of the drive engine.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the status unit comprises a flipflop.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flipflop assumes a first state when the drive engine was started and prevents the first state from being reset if the drive engine of the vehicle is switched on and a fault was detected in the operation of the engine starting unit.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the remote engine starting system is configured to switch off the drive engine when a fault was detected in the operation of the engine starting unit and the flipflop has the first state.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the checking unit comprises a monitoring unit, and wherein the monitoring unit is configured to output a fault signal when a fault was detected in the operation of the engine starting unit.

8. A method for operating a remote engine starting system for a vehicle comprising a drive engine, an engine starting unit for starting up the drive engine in response to the reception of signals of a remote control, and a checking unit, comprising:

monitoring the operation of the engine starting unit,

detecting faults in the operation of the engine starting unit, and

preventing the drive engine from being started when a fault was detected in the operation of the engine starting unit;

or switching off the drive engine if the drive engine is switched on and a fault was detected in the operation of the engine starting unit.

9. A checking unit configured to perform the method as claimed in claim 8.