Electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking apparatus

• US 6,548,915 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tsing-Hua Capital, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Mazzini, Adrian, Ohle, Joeren-Marten, Geber, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/551,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.2-10.6
• US Class Current: 307/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02142 comprising externally controlled safety devices for preventing locking during vehicle running condition

Abstract

An electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking apparatus for a motor vehicle which includes a steering wheel locking unit for locking and unlocking a vehicle steering element, an ignition starter switch unit for switching an engine ignition on and off and for starting the vehicle engine, and a coupling device. The apparatus ensures that the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state during starting of the engine. The coupling device contain state interrogation and starting blocking circuits, which interrogate the locking state of the steering wheel locking unit and allow the engine to be started only when the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state.

Claims

1. An electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel locking unit for locking and unlocking a vehicle steering wheel of said vehicle, said steering wheel locking unit including a locking control unit,

an ignition starter switch unit including a switching device for switching vehicle engine ignition on and off, and for starting an engine of said vehicle; and

wherein said locking control unit is directly coupled to said ignition starter switch unit for unlocking the steering wheel during starting of said engine by said switching device, said locking control unit controlling the operation of said switching device as a function of a state of said steering wheel locking unit;

wherein the vehicle engine is started by said switching device only when the steering wheel locking unit is in an unlocked state.

2. The electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said steering wheel locking unit includes an actuating unit;

the ignition starter switch unit includes an ignition starter control unit connected to said locking control unit by an interrogation line for interrogating the locking state of the steering wheel locking unit, whereby the engine is started only when the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state.

3. The electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking apparatus according to claim 2, further including a supply line for supplying power to the steering wheel locking unit wherein said supply line has a first operating power level for supplying both the locking control unit and the actuating unit, when the ignition starter switch is in the state with the ignition switched off, and wherein said supply line has a second operating power level, which is less than the first operating power level for supplying the locking control unit when the ignition starter switch unit is on.

4. The electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said supply line is fed to the ignition starter switch unit; and

said supply line functions as the interrogation line by which the ignition starter control unit interrogates the locking state of the steering wheel locking unit.

5. The electronic ignition starter switch and steering wheel locking mechanism according to claim 1, further including a data line connection between said steering wheel locking unit and said ignition starter switch in order to provide data communication.

6. An electronic ignition starter control mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel lock for locking and unlocking a steering element;

an ignition starter switch unit having first switching positions for switching vehicle engine ignition on and off and a second switching position for starting the engine; and

means, connected between said steering wheel lock and said ignition starter switch unit, for enabling starting of the vehicle engine only when the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state, enabling starting includes an interrogation unit which interrogates the locked state of the steering wheel lock and a blocking unit which blocks starting of the engine when the steering wheel lock is in its locked state wherein;

the steering wheel lock has a locking control unit and an actuating unit;

the blocking unit includes an ignition starter control unit connected directly to the locking control unit through an interrogation line for interrogating the locking state of the steering wheel locking unit, whereby engine starting is enabled only when the steering wheel locking unit is in its unlocked state.

7. The electronic ignition starter control mechanism according to claim 6 further including a supply line for supplying power to the steering wheel lock, and wherein:

said supply line has a first operating power level for supplying both the lock and the actuating unit when the ignition starter switch unit is off; and

said supply line supplies a second operating power level lower than first operating power level to said locking control unit when the ignition starter switch is on.

8. The electronic ignition starter control mechanism according to claim 7, wherein:

the supply line is routed to the ignition starter switch unit; and

said supply line forms the interrogation unit whereby the ignition starter control unit interrogates the locking state of the steering wheel lock.

9. The electronic ignition starter control mechanism according to claim 6, further including a data line connection between said ignition starter switch unit and said steering wheel lock.