Engine start control apparatus

• US 5,912,512 A
• Filed: 09/08/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyofuku, Naoki, Masutani, Takayoshi, Hayashi, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/925,389
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.6, 123/179.1, 123/179.2, 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/428, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 701/1, 701/2, 701/29, 701/32, 701/36, 701/49, 180/287, 290/38 R, 290/36 R, 290/38 C
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

An engine start control apparatus, includes a code storing device which stores a plurality of normal codes which indicate a normal vehicle key belonging to a vehicle and a key corresponding to the normal vehicle key, and an immobilizer which determines as to whether an inherent code input form one of a signal input device and an inherent code input device is included in the normal codes stored in the code storing device, and on the basis of the results of determination, the immobilizer controls permitting/prohibiting the starting of the engine. Therefore, when the normal code of the plurality of normal codes and the input inherent code match, the immobilizer permits the starting of the engine.

Claims

1. An engine start control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

inherent code input means for inputting an inherent code recorded in and output from key means, the inherent code indicating that the key means is a vehicle key corresponding to the vehicle;

signal input means for inputting a key code corresponding to the inherent code and for inputting a request signal for starting the engine of the vehicle, the signal input means being responsive to an engine starting command remote from the vehicle;

code storing means for storing a plurality of codes corresponding to the vehicle, the key code and the inherent code corresponding to the vehicle being stored in said code storing means; and

engine start controlling means for determining one of whether the key code input from said signal input means corresponds to the vehicle and to codes stored in said code storing means and whether the inherent code input from said inherent code input means corresponds to the vehicle and to codes stored in said code storing means, and for starting the engine based on the results of the determination.

2. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal input means includes operating means remote from the vehicle for commanding starting of the engine, and engine start requesting means disposed on the vehicle, the engine start requesting means outputting, as an inherent code, a key code corresponding to an inherent code recorded onto a vehicle key corresponding to the vehicle, and requesting starting of the engine as commanded by said remote operating means.

3. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said signal input means includes key code storing means, disposed on the vehicle, for storing a key code corresponding to an inherent code recorded onto a vehicle key corresponding to the vehicle, said signal input means outputting the key code stored in said key code storing means.

4. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

means for prohibiting the operation of said inherent code input means when the inherent code means indicates a key that does not correspond to the vehicle.

5. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for prohibiting the operation of said inherent code input means when the inherent code means indicates a key that does not correspond to the vehicle.

6. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said remote operating means is a wireless starting device and said engine start requesting means is a remote engine starting device.

7. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal input means includes key code storing means, disposed on the vehicle, for storing a key code corresponding to an inherent code recorded onto a vehicle key corresponding to the vehicle, said signal input means outputting the key code stored in said key code storing means.

8. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for prohibiting the operation of said inherent code input means when the inherent code means indicates a key that does not correspond to the vehicle.

9. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for prohibiting the operation of said inherent code input means when the inherent code means indicates a key that does not correspond to the vehicle.

10. An engine start control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of codes corresponding to the vehicle can be updated and stored.