Vehicle remote starting system shutoff

• US 6,791,202 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: McCullough, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elkassabgi, Heba
• Application Number:
  US10/001,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/34, 290/36.A, 290/38.C, 290/37.R, 290/38.R, 290/54, 74/6, 74/7.R, 180/60, 180/65.1, 180/167, 123/179.B, 123/179.BG, 123/179.R, 123/179.2, 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 290/38.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/068 for warming-up
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement

Abstract

A remote starting system shutoff system and method for a vehicle includes a vehicle power plant and a remote starting system that is connected to the vehicle power plant. A transmitter actuates the remote starting system to start the vehicle power plant. A vehicle hazard switch in the passenger compartment of the vehicle has first and second positions. When the hazard switch is in the first position, the vehicle power plant can be started using the transmitter. After the vehicle power plant is started, the remote starting system turns the vehicle power plant off if the hazard switch transitions from the first position to the second position. Remote starting is disabled anytime that the switch is in the second position. The transmitter is preferably a radio frequency transmitter. The vehicle power plant is selected from the group of internal combustion engines, diesel engines, hybrids and fuel cells.

Claims

1. A remote starting system shutoff for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power plant;

a remote starting system connected to said vehicle power plant;

a transmitter that actuates said remote starting system to start said vehicle power plant; and

a vehicle hazard switch that is located in a passenger compartment of said vehicle and has first and second positions,

wherein when said hazard switch is in said first position, said vehicle power plant can be started using said transmitter and when said hazard switch is in said second position, said vehicle power plant cannot be started using said transmitter.

2. The remote starting system shutoff of claim 1 wherein after said vehicle power plant is started, said remote starting system turns said power plant off if said hazard switch transitions from said first position to said second position.

3. The remote starting system shutoff of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

4. The remote starting system shutoff of claim 1 wherein said vehicle power plant is selected from the group of internal combustion engines, diesel engines, hybrids and fuel cells.

5. A remote starting system shutoff for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power plant;

a remote starting system connected to said vehicle power plant;

a transmitter that actuates said remote starting system to start said vehicle power plant; and

a vehicle hazard switch that is located in a passenger compartment of said vehicle and has first and second positions,

wherein after said vehicle power plant is started, said remote starting system turns said power plant off if said switch transitions from said first position to said second position.

6. The remote starting system shutoff of claim 5 wherein when said hazard switch is in said second position, said vehicle power plant cannot be started using said transmitter and when said hazard switch is in said first position, said vehicle power plant can be started using said transmitter.

7. The remote starting system shutoff of claim 5 wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

8. The remote starting system shutoff of claim 5 wherein said vehicle power plant is selected from the group of internal combustion engines, diesel engines, hybrids and fuel cells.

9. A method for remotely starting and shutting off a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

connecting a remote starting system to a vehicle power plant;

actuating said remote starting system using a transmitter to start said vehicle power plant;

coupling a vehicle hazard switch that is located in a passenger compartment of said vehicle and has first and second positions to said remote starting system;

enabling starting of said vehicle power plant using said remote starting system if said hazard switch is in said first position; and

disabling starting of said vehicle power plant using said remote starting system if said hazard switch is in said second position.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of turning said power plant off if said hazard switch transitions from said first position to said second position after said vehicle power plant is started using said remote starting system.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of selecting said vehicle power plant from the group of internal combustion engines, diesel engines, hybrids and fuel cells.

13. A method for shutting off a remotely started vehicle, comprising the steps of:

connecting a remote starting system to a vehicle power plant;

actuating said remote starting system using a transmitter to start said vehicle power plant;

coupling a vehicle hazard switch having first and second positions to said remote starting system, wherein said hazard switch is located in a vehicle passenger compartment; and

turning said power plant off if said hazard switch transitions from said first position to said second position after said vehicle power plant is started using said remote starting system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

enabling starting of said vehicle power plant using said remote starting system if said hazard switch is in said first position; and

disabling starting of said vehicle power plant using said remote starting system if said hazard switch is in said second position.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of selecting said vehicle power plant from the group of internal combustion engines, diesel engines, hybrids and fuel cells.

17. A remote starting system shutoff for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle power plant;

a remote starting system connected to said vehicle power plant;

a transmitter that actuates said remote starting system to start said vehicle power plant; and

a manual switch that is located in a passenger compartment of said vehicle and has first and second positions,

wherein when said hazard switch is in said first position, said vehicle power plant can be started using said transmitter and when said hazard switch is in said second position, said vehicle power plant cannot be started using said transmitter.

18. The remote starting system of claim 17 wherein the manual switch is mounted on a steering wheel.