Remote automobile starter

• US 5,024,186 A
• Filed: 12/11/1989
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DEI Headquarters Inc (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DesignTech International Incorporated
• Inventors: Long, Robert, Gottlieb, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US07/448,289
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179 B, 123/179 BG, 123/179 K, 123/179 R, 123/179 A, 180/167, 307/10.6, 290/38 C, 290/38 R
• US Class Current: 123/179.4
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention pertains to features which are to be incorporated into remote automobile starter units. These features include a diagnostic system to aid in the installation of a remote automobile starter unit. Another aspect is a security feature which ensures that a vehicle is not driven away by an unauthorized driver after it has been remotely started. Another aspect is a feature which prevents a remote automobile starter unit from being functionally placed in automobiles with manual transmissions.

Claims

1. An automobile installation diagnostic test system comprising:

an add-on remote automobile starter said remote starter being connected to a starter motor of said automobile, and to to a plurality of pre-existing automobile electrical sensing circuits which electrically sense respective predetermined conditions of said automobile;

an indicating means for receiving a signal from each of said pre-existing automobile and electrical sensing circuits for indicating that each of said predetermined conditions is being sensed, thereby ensuring that said remote starter is installed correctly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicating means is a light-emitting diode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said received signals is comprised of input pulses which are generated with each revolution of an automobile engine, and further comprising:

frequency to voltage conversion means connected to receive said received signal and outputting a voltage signal which is proportional to the revolutions per minute of the automobile engine, wherein said output signal is supplied to said indicating means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said indicating means comprises a variable light-emitting diode, wherein said variable light-emitting diode does not begin glowing until the revolutions per minute of automobile engine exceed 1,000.

5. An apparatus for preventing a remotely started automobile from being driven unless an operator has turned the key actuator to the "RUN" position, comprising:

means for generating a voltage signal which causes a current to pass through a starter solenoid;

means for voltage dividing said voltage signal;

means for generating a reference voltage, wherein said reference voltage is greater than said voltage divided voltage when said automobile is in park and said reference voltage is less than said voltage divided voltage when said automobile is taken out of park;

means connected to receiving said voltage divided voltage signal and said reference voltage for comparing the reference voltage to said voltage divided voltage signal;

means, connected to receive the output of said comparing means, for disabling said remote starter when said automobile is taken out of park and said reference voltage is less than said voltage divided voltage signal.

6. An apparatus for disabling a remote automobile starter which is connected to an automobile with a manual transmission, comprising:

an automobile;

a remote starter connected to said automobile;

means for detecting a first condition that the engine of said automobile is operating at greater than a predetermined number of revolutions per minute for a predetermined period of time;

means for detecting a second condition that transmission of said automobile has not been taken out of park by an opening of a neutral safety switch;

means for disabling the remote automobile starter when both the first and second conditions are detected.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said disabling means comprising a fuse which blows when said first and second conditions are detected.

8. An improved remote automobile starter system connected to an automobile, wherein said remote automobile starter is connected to an automobile starter motor and to a plurality of preexisting automobile electrical circuits which electrically sense predetermined conditions of said automobile, comprising;

an indicating means for receiving a signal from each of said preexisting automobile electrical sensing circuits for indicating that each of said predetermined conditions is being sensed;

means for generating a voltage signal which causes a current to pass through a starter solenoid;

means for voltage dividing said voltage signal;

means for generating a reference voltage, wherein said reference voltage is greater than said voltage divided voltage when said automobile is in park and said reference voltage is less than said voltage divided voltage when said automobile is taken out of park;

means, connected to receive said voltage divided voltage signal and said reference voltage, for comparing said reference voltage to said voltage divided voltage signal;

means, connected to receive the output of said comparison means, for disabling said remote starter when said automobile is taken out of park and said reference voltage is less than said voltage divided voltage signal;

means for detecting a first condition that the engine of said automobile is operating at greater than a predetermined number of revolutions per minute for a predetermined period of time;

means for detecting a second condition that the transmission of said automobile has not been taken out of park by opening of a neutral safety switch;

means for disabling said remote automobile starter when both the first and second conditions are detected.

9. The apparatus for claim 8 wherein said indicating means is a light emitting diode.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein one of said received signal is comprised of input pulses which are generated with each revolution of an automobile engine, and further comprising:

frequency to voltage conversion means connected to receive said received signal and outputting a voltage signal which is proportional to the revolutions per minute of the automobile engine, wherein said output signal is supplied to said indicating means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said indicating means comprises a variable light-emitting diode, wherein said variable light-emitting diode does not begin glowing until the revolutions per minute of the automobile engine exceed 1,000.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said disabling means comprises a fuse which blows when said first and second conditions are detected.