Vehicular starting control device using an ID code to control ignition switch rotation and steering lock operation

• US 5,656,867 A
• Filed: 04/11/1996
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kokubu, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/630,474
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1-10.6, 200/61.54, 200/43.03, 200/43.04, 200/43.06, 200/43.08, 200/42.02, 70/252, 361/171, 361/172, 180/287, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.3-825.32, 340/825.34, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 123/179.2-179.4
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/021 restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2063 Ignition switch geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5956 Steering mechanism with switch

Abstract

A vehicle starting control apparatus is provided that both inhibits and allows rotation of a steering shaft, and controls starting of an engine in accordance with the operation performed when the correct electronic code has been inputted to the apparatus, making the apparatus easier to use. The apparatus includes an operation selecting unit and a operation position detecting unit that rotate in accordance with the rotation of an operational unit. An identifying unit drives a drive if an electronic code provided to the identifying unit is the correct one. The drive normally inhibits the operation selecting unit from rotating. The drive releases the operation selecting unit from the rotation inhibited state in accordance with the driving by the identifying unit, so as to allow the operational device to be operated. A steering lock unit removes the steering locked state in accordance with rotation of the operational unit.

Claims

1. A vehicular starting control apparatus, comprising:

an operational unit operable between a running inhibiting position and a running allowing position that includes an engine starting position;

an identifying unit that, when an externally provided electronic code agrees with a predetermined code that has been registered in the device, allows said operational unit to be operated;

an operation selecting unit that is connected to and moves in accordance with operational positions of said operational unit;

a drive that normally inhibits movement of said operation selecting unit so as to inhibit the operational unit from being operated from the running inhibiting position to the running allowing position, said drive being driven to release said operation selecting unit from a movement inhibited state in accordance with instruction from the identifying unit;

an operational position detecting unit that outputs a signal that is able to indicate states where said operational unit has been operated to the running inhibiting position and to the running allowing position; and

a steering lock unit that inhibits rotation of a steering shaft under a condition where the operational unit has been operated to the running inhibiting position.

2. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driven position detecting unit that detects a position to which said drive is driven, said drive being driven in accordance with the position detected by the driven position detecting unit.

3. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said identifying unit, said drive, said operational position detecting unit and said driven position detecting unit are provided in a closed casing.

4. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive inhibits said operational unit from being operated from the running allowing position to the running inhibiting position while an engine is running.

5. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive includes an electromagnetic solenoid for moving an actuator in accordance with energization control, said drive inhibits said operational unit from being operated, in accordance with the position of the actuator.

6. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive includes a motor for moving an actuator in accordance with energization control, said drive inhibiting said operational unit from being operated in accordance with the position of the actuator.

7. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operational position detecting unit encodes an operation signal and outputs an encoded signal.

8. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connection unit that can be changed over between a disconnecting state and a connecting state, said connection unit connecting said operational unit and said operation selecting unit when said connection unit is in the connecting state, wherein said drive normally inhibits movement of said operation selecting unit while maintaining said connection unit in the disconnecting state, said drive being driven to release said operation selecting unit from a movement inhibited state while switching said connection unit from the disconnecting state to the connecting state in accordance with instruction from said identifying unit.

9. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, while an engine is running, said drive inhibits movement of said operation selecting unit so as to inhibit said operational unit from being operated from the running allowing position to the running inhibiting position.

10. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said operational position detecting unit encodes an operation signal and outputs an encoded signal.

11. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said identifying unit, said operation selecting unit, said connection unit and said operational position detecting unit are provided in a closed casing.

12. The vehicular starting control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a connection unit for connecting said operational unit and said operation selecting unit with a predetermined connecting force, and for undoing the connection therebetween if said operational unit is operated with a force equal to or greater than said connecting force while said operational unit is inhibited from moving;

a disconnection detecting unit that detects a connection undoing state of said connection unit; and

a notifying unit for outputting a notice signal to an outside of the apparatus in accordance with a detecting state of said disconnection detecting unit.

13. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, while an engine is running, said drive inhibits movement of the operation selecting unit so as to inhibit said operational unit from being operated from the running allowing position to the running inhibiting position.

14. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said notifying unit outputs the notice signal if said disconnection detecting unit is in the detecting state under a condition where said drive is inhibiting movement of said operation selecting unit.

15. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said notifying unit outputs the notice signal if said disconnection detecting unit is in the detecting state under a condition where said drive has released said operation selecting unit from the movement inhibited sate.

16. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said operational position detecting unit encodes an operation signal and outputs an encoded signal.

17. The vehicular starting control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said identifying unit, said operation selecting unit, said drive, said operational position detecting unit, said disconnection detecting unit and said notifying unit are provided in a closed casing.

18. A vehicular starting control apparatus, comprising:

operational means operable for allowing selection between a running inhibiting position and a running allowing position that includes an engine starting position;

identifying means for, when an externally provided electronic code agrees with a predetermined code that has been registered in the device, allowing said operational unit to be operated;

operation selecting means for selecting between a running inhibiting position and a running allowing position that includes an engine starting position by moving in accordance with operational positions of said operational means to which the operation selecting means is connected;

drive means for inhibiting or allowing movement of said operation selecting means, said drive normally inhibiting movement of said operation selecting means so as to inhibit the operational means from being operated from the running inhibiting position to the running allowing position and said drive being driven to release said operation selecting means from a movement inhibited state in accordance with instruction from said identifying means;

operational position detecting means for outputting a signal that is able to indicate states where said operational means has been operated to the running inhibiting position and to the running allowing position; and

steering lock means for inhibiting rotation of a steering shaft under a condition where the operational means has been operated to the running inhibiting position.

19. A vehicular starting control apparatus, comprising:

operational means operable for allowing selection between a running inhibiting position and a running allowing position that includes an engine starting position, said operational means normally being held in an operation inhibited position;

identifying means for, when an externally provided electronic code agrees with a predetermined code that has been registered, allowing said operational means to be operated;

operation selecting means for selecting between a running inhibiting position and a running allowing position that includes an engine starting position by moving in accordance with operational positions of said operational means to which said operation selecting means is connected;

connecting means for connecting said operational means and the operation selecting means when said connecting means is in a connecting state, the connecting means being such that it can be changed over between a disconnecting state and the connecting state;

drive means for normally inhibiting movement of the operation selecting means while maintaining the connecting means in the disconnecting state, said drive means being driven to release said operation selecting means from a movement inhibited state while switching said connecting means from the disconnecting state to the connecting state in accordance with instruction from said identifying means;

an operational position detecting means for outputting a signal that is able to indicate states where said operational means connected to said operation selecting means by said connecting means has been operated to the running inhibiting position and to the running allowing position; and

steering lock means for inhibiting rotation of the steering shaft under a condition where the operational means has been operated to the running inhibiting position.

20. A vehicular starting control apparatus comprising:

operational means operable for allowing selection between a running inhibiting position and a running allowing position that includes an engine starting position;

identifying means for, when an externally provided electronic code agrees with a predetermined code that has been registered, allowing said operational means to be operated;

operation selecting means for selecting between a running inhibiting position and a running allowing position that includes an engine starting position by moving in accordance with operational positions of said operational means to which said operation selecting means is connected;

connection means for connecting said operational means and said operation selecting means with a predetermined connecting force, and for undoing the connection therebetween if said operational means is operated with a force equal to or greater than said connecting force while the said operational means is inhibited from moving;

drive means for normally inhibiting movement of said operation selecting means, said drive being driven to release said operation selecting means from a movement inhibited state in accordance with instruction from the identifying means;

an operational position detecting means for outputting a signal that is able to indicate states where said operational means has been operated to the running inhibiting position and to the running allowing position;

disconnection detecting means for detecting a connection undoing state of the connection means;

notifying means for outputting a notice signal to an outside of the apparatus in accordance with a detecting state of said disconnection detecting means; and

steering lock means for inhibiting rotation of a steering shaft under a condition where the operational means has been operated to the running inhibiting position.