Vehicle passive keyless entry and passive engine starting system
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle comprising, in combination:
- an engine;
an electric engine power circuit;
a start motor;
a vehicle body having a seating space therein associated with a driver seat;
detector means for detecting the presence of a valid radio frequency transmitter only within the seating space by receiving a coded radio frequency signal therefrom, deriving a code from the radio frequency signal and validating the derived code in a predetermined validation process;
a RUN signal generator;
a steering column lock;
an engine speed signal generator; and
start control means responsive to activation of the RUN signal generator, provided that the detector means has detected the presence of a valid radio frequency transmitter within the seating space, to (1) unlock the steering column lock, (2) activate the engine electric power circuit and the start motor, (3) repeatedly receive an engine speed signal from the engine speed signal generator and compare the received engine speed signal to a predetermined speed reference indicating engine starting, (4) deactivate the start motor when the engine speed signal exceeds the speed reference or alternatively deactivate the engine electric power circuit and the start motor and lock the column lock if the engine speed signal does not exceed the speed reference within a first predetermined time.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motor vehicle has a detector for detecting the presence of a valid radio frequency transmitter only within a seating space inside the vehicle. Start control circuitry is responsive to a RUN signal, provided that the detector has detected the presence of a valid radio frequency transmitter within the seating space, to unlock a steering column lock, activate an engine electric power circuit and a start motor, repeatedly receive an engine speed signal from the engine speed signal generator and compare the received engine speed signal to a predetermined speed reference indicating engine starting. The start motor is deactivated and a park lock solenoid is activated when the engine speed signal exceeds the speed reference. Alternatively, the engine electric power circuit and start motor are deactivated and the column lock is locked if the engine speed signal does not exceed the speed reference within a first predetermined time. Engine deactivation occurs responsive to an OFF signal during engine operation to deactivate the engine electric power circuit and activate the detector; and an accessory control is responsive to engine deactivation, if a valid transmitter is detected, to activate the accessory circuit for a predetermined time or until the driver door is opened, whichever occurs first, and suspend activation of the detector for the duration of the activation of the accessory circuit. A vehicle access control may be responsive to the same transmitter by way of a first antenna mounted on the vehicle body for communication with the transmitter outside the body while the detector has a second antenna associated with the driver seat for communication with the transmitter only within the seating space.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle comprising, in combination:
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an engine; an electric engine power circuit; a start motor; a vehicle body having a seating space therein associated with a driver seat; detector means for detecting the presence of a valid radio frequency transmitter only within the seating space by receiving a coded radio frequency signal therefrom, deriving a code from the radio frequency signal and validating the derived code in a predetermined validation process; a RUN signal generator; a steering column lock; an engine speed signal generator; and start control means responsive to activation of the RUN signal generator, provided that the detector means has detected the presence of a valid radio frequency transmitter within the seating space, to (1) unlock the steering column lock, (2) activate the engine electric power circuit and the start motor, (3) repeatedly receive an engine speed signal from the engine speed signal generator and compare the received engine speed signal to a predetermined speed reference indicating engine starting, (4) deactivate the start motor when the engine speed signal exceeds the speed reference or alternatively deactivate the engine electric power circuit and the start motor and lock the column lock if the engine speed signal does not exceed the speed reference within a first predetermined time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification