Automatic vehicle starting apparatus

• US 4,227,588 A
• Filed: 12/06/1978
• Issued: 10/14/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Biancardi
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Biancardi
• Inventors: Biancardi, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Underwood, D. W.
• Application Number:
  US05/966,800
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287, 180/289, 180/271, 180/167, 290/DIG. 3, 290/38 E, 290/38 C, 307/10 AT, 307/10 LS, 70/268, 70/269, 70/290, 340/63, 340/64
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means

Abstract

An apparatus which can automatically start and warm up a vehicle by means of a remote control signal. A remote control transmitter sends a signal of a predetermined frequency which is detected by a receiver located in the vehicle. The receiver produces an output signal in response to receiving the remote control signal which starts the operation of a starting circuit to provide an electrical energizing signal for operating the vehicle starter as well as a gas flow signal for sending a supply of gas to the vehicle carburetor. An operating circuit also starts which provides an electrical operating signal to the vehicle ignition system to continue the running of the vehicle once it is started. The operating circuit continues for a predetermined amount of time whereupon the car stops operating after it is sufficiently warmed up.

The apparatus also includes appropriate circuits for automatically operating various accessory electrical equipment in the vehicle such as the headlights, heater, air conditioner, defroster, etc. A protective circuit is included which automatically terminates the operation of the vehicle should the vehicle door be opened thereby preventing an unauthorized user to drive away.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatically starting and operating a vehicle comprising:

receiving means for receiving a remote signal and in response thereto producing an output signal for a first duration of time;

starting means receiving said output signal from said receiving means and during the duration of said output signal providing an electrical energizing signal for operating the vehicle starter and a gas flow signal for sending a supply of gas to the vehicle carburetor to thereby start the vehicle, and operating means responsive to said starting means for providing an electrical operating signal to the vehicle ignition system for a second duration of time for running the vehicle, wherein said operating means comprises a timing circuit triggered by said starting means and operative thereafter for a preset time period forming said second duration of time, an operating relay coil coupled to the output of said timing circuit for energization thereby from the vehicle battery during said second duration of time, at least three contact switches operated by said operating relay coil, one contact of one contact switch being adapted for connection to the vehicle battery, the other contact of said one contact switch being coupled to one contact of a second contact switch, and the other contact of the second contact switch being adapted for connection to the vehicle ignition coil, whereby upon triggering of said timing circuit, the vehicle ignition coil is interconnected to the vehicle battery for energization thereby during said second duration of time during which the vehicle will continue to operate.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises a receiver responsive to a transmitted signal of a preset frequency, said first duration of time corresponding to the presence of said transmitted signal.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said starting means comprises a starting relay coil having three contact switches operated thereby, each contact switch having one contact thereof adapted for connection to the vehicle battery, the other contact of a first one of said contact switches being adapted for connection to the starter solenoid, the other contact of a second one of said contact switches being adapted for connection to a gas solenoid, the other contact of a third one of said contact switches being coupled to said operating means, and wherein said output signal from said receiving means energizes said starting relay coil from the vehicle battery to thereby close said three contact switches.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein one end of said operating relay coil is coupled to a door interlock circuit, whereby upon opening of a vehicle door said operating relay coil is de-energized thereby terminating operation of the vehicle.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said door interlock circuit comprises a first relay coil having one end adapted for connection to the vehicle battery and the other end thereof available for connection to the door lighting button of vehicles which ground such button, a second relay coil having one end adapted for connection to the vehicle ground and the other end thereof available for connection to the door lighting button of vehicles which connect such button to the vehicle battery, first and second serially interconnected contact switches adapted for connection to the vehicle ground, said first and second contact switches being respectively operated by said first and second relay coils, said one end of said operating relay coil being coupled to said serially interconnected switches whereby energization of one of said first and second relay coils disconnects operating relay coil from ground to thereby de-energize it.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1 and further comprising means for connecting said electrical operating signal to the vehicle regulator to provide a positive voltage for operating the regulator.

14. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises relay coil means and a plurality of contact switch means operated by said relay coil means for activating parts of the vehicle, at least some of said contact switch means being connected in parallel with each other to thereby accommodate higher operating current with lower rated relay coil means.

21. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises a receiver responsive to a transmitted signal of a preset frequency, said first duration of time corresponding to the presence of said transmitted signal.

6. Apparatus for automatically starting and operating a vehicle, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a remote signal and in response thereto producing an output signal for a first duration of time;

starting means receiving said output signal from said receiving means and during the duration of said output signal providing an electrical energizing signal for operating the vehicle starter and a gas flow signal for sending a supply of gas to the vehicle carburetor to thereby start the vehicle;

operating means responsive to said starting means for providing an electrical operating signal to the vehicle ignition system for a second duration of time for running the vehicle, and

equipment activating means responsive to the electrical operating signal from the operating means for activating at least some of the vehicle accessory electrical equipment, wherein said electrical activating means comprises an activating relay coil adapted for coupling to the vehicle regulator stator and being energized by said operating means, a plurality of contact switches operated by said activating relay coil, one contact of each of said contact switches being adapted for connection to the vehicle battery, the other contact of each of said contact switches being adapted for connection to a respective one of the vehicle accessory electrical equipment, including the heater, air conditioner, defroster, and the like.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein one of said contact switches is for activating the vehicle lighting system, and further comprising an ambient light detection circuit connected to said one contact switch and adapted for connection to the vehicle lighting system, said detection circuit operating to permit activation of the vehicle lighting system only in a dark ambient environment.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said detection circuit comprises a photodetection device, a lighting relay coil having one end coupled to said one contact switch, transistor circuit means having its main circuit path interconnected between the other end of said lighting relay coil and the vehicle ground, and its control path coupled to said photodetection device, whereby a light ambient environment is detected by said photodetection device to thereby de-energize the lighting relay coil and a dark ambient environment is detected by said photodetection device to energize the lighting relay coil, and at least one lighting contact switch operated by said lighting relay coil, one contact thereof being adapted for connection to the vehicle light and the other contact thereof being adapted for connection to the vehicle battery.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 and further comprising a manually operated override switch serially connected in said main circuit path for overriding operation of said ambient light detection circuit and deactivating the vehicle lighting system.

10. Apparatus as in claim 7 and further comprising a lighting timing circuit coupled to said ambient light detection circuit for manually activating the vehicle lighting system for a third duration of time.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said lighting timing circuit comprises a timing circuit producing a voltage output for a prefixed period of time, constituting said third duration of time, upon initial receiving of a voltage input, the output of said timing circuit coupled to said ambient light detection circuit, the input of said timing circuit being adapted for connection to the vehicle battery, and a normally closed momentary operating switch serially connected to the input of said timing circuit.

12. Apparatus as in claim 6 and further comprising a protective contact switch operated by said activating relay coil and interconnected to said starting means to terminate the flow of said electrical energizing signal to the vehicle starter after the vehicle is running.

15. Apparatus for automatically starting and operating a vehicle comprising:

a remote transmitter for transmitting a signal of a predetermined frequency;

a receiver located within the vehicle for receiving the signal transmitted and in response thereto producing an output;

circuit means located within the vehicle, coupled to the vehicle battery and responsive to said output for starting and running the vehicle for a predetermined period of time, said circuit means further comprising starting means receiving said output signal from said receiving means and providing an electrical energizing signal for operating the vehicle starter and a gas flow signal for sending a supply of gas to the vehicle carburetor to thereby start the vehicle, and operating means responsive to said starting means for providing an electrical operating signal to the vehicle ignition system for a predetermined duration of time for running of the vehicle, and wherein said operating means comprises a timing circuit triggered by said starting means and operative thereafter for said predetermined period of time, an operating relay coil coupled to the output of said timing circuit for energization thereby from the vehicle battery during said predetermined period of time, at least two contact switches operated by said operating relay coil, one contact of one contact switch being connected to the vehicle battery, the other contact of said one contact switch being coupled to one contact of a second contact switch and the other of the second contact switch being connected to the vehicle ignition coil, whereby upon triggering of said timing circuit the vehicle ignition coil is interconnected to the vehicle battery for energization thereby during said predetermined period of time during which the vehicle will continue to operate.

16. Apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said starting means comprises a starting relay coil having three contact switches operated thereby, each contact switch having one contact thereof connected to the vehicle battery, the other contact of a first one of said contact switches being connected to the starter solenoid, the other contact of a second one of said contact switches being connected to a gas solenoid, the other contact of a third one said contact switches being coupled to said operating means, and wherein said output signal from said receiving means energizes said starting relay coil from the vehicle battery to thereby close said three contact switches.

17. Apparatus as in claim 15 wherein one end of said operating relay coil is coupled to a door interlock circuit whereby upon opening of a vehicle door said operating relay coil is de-energized thereby terminating operation of the vehicle.

18. Apparatus as in claim 15 and further comprising equipment activating means responsive to the electrical operating signal from the operating means for activing at least some of the vehicle accessory electrical equipment.

19. Apparatus as in claim 18 and further comprising light detection circuit means coupled to said equipment activating means for restricting activation of the vehicle lighting system to only a dark environment.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19 and further comprising a lighting timing circuit coupled to said light detection circuit means for manually activating the vehicle lighting system for a preset duration of time.