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Safety switch for a vehicle starting system

  • US 6,591,803 B2
  • Filed: 11/09/2001
  • Issued: 07/15/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A safety switch adapted to be coupled to a control line of a starting system of a vehicle, the starting system being operable so as to detect a voltage signal present at the control line upon receipt of a remote control signal for remote-controlled activation of the vehicle from a remote controller, the voltage signal indicating position state of an engine hood of the vehicle, said safety switch being adapted to inhibit the starting system so as to prevent the remote-controlled activation of the vehicle when the position state of the engine hood corresponds to an opened state, and being adapted to enable the starting system so as to permit the remote-controlled activation of the vehicle when the position state of the engine hood corresponds to a closed state, the control line having an end portion formed with first and second branches, said safety switch comprising:

  • a first electrical connector adapted to terminate the second branch of the control line;

    a first resistor adapted to connect the first branch of the control line to a first voltage source that has a first voltage output;

    a switch element having a first end adapted to be connected to a second voltage source that has a second voltage output lower than the first voltage output, and an opposite second end, said switch element being adapted to detect the position state of the engine hood, and making electrical connection between said first and second ends when the position state of the engine hood corresponds to the opened state, and breaking the electrical connection between said first and second ends when the position state of the engine hood corresponds to the closed state;

    a second electrical connector for terminating said second end of said switch element, said second electrical connector complementing said first electrical connector so as to be adapted to connect said switch element to the second branch when said second electrical connector engages said first electrical connector; and

    a second resistor connected in parallel with said switch element between said first and second ends;

    wherein, when said first and second electrical connectors are properly connected, and the position state of the engine hood corresponds to the opened state, the voltage signal at the control line corresponds to the second voltage output in view of the connection between the second branch and the second voltage source via said first and second electrical connectors and said switch element, thereby inhibiting the starting system so as to prevent the remote-controlled activation of the vehicle;

    wherein, when said first and second electrical connectors are properly connected, and the position state of the engine hood corresponds to the closed state, the voltage signal at the control line corresponds to a voltage drop that is less than the first voltage output and greater than the second voltage output in view of the connection between the second branch and the second voltage source via said first and second electrical connectors and said second resistor, thereby enabling the starting system so as to permit the remote-controlled activation of the vehicle; and

    wherein, when said first and second electrical connectors are improperly connected such that said switch element is disconnected from the second branch, the voltage signal at the control line corresponds to the first voltage output, thereby inhibiting the starting system so as to prevent the remote-controlled activation of the vehicle.

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