Vehicle engine starting apparatus

• US 6,982,632 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Nakamura, Toru, Kishida, Shinji, Nagasaka, Chikao, Isogai, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/422,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/426.1, 340/426.3, 340/5.2, 340/5.32, 340/5.33, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/426.13, 307/10.1, 307/10.5, 307/10.2, 701/36
• US Class Current: 340/426.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02 operating on the steering mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2063 Ignition switch geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

A vehicle engine starting apparatus has an engine start switch, a display device and a microcomputer. The display device shows the location of the start switch. The microcomputer identifies a specific signal, and controls the display device in accordance with the result of the identification executed by the microcomputer.

Claims

1. A vehicle engine starting apparatus comprising:

a start switch for starting the engine of the vehicle, the start switch being a momentary push switch;

a display device for showing the location of the start switch, the display device having a plurality of display images;

a remote device for outputting a specific remotely broadcast signal representing that the start switch will be operated by an authorized operator;

an identify device for identifying the specific remotely broadcast signal; and

a control device for controlling the display device to emit light in accordance with the identification executed by the identify device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device includes an emitter, the emitter being located in the vicinity of the start switch.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the specific remotely broadcast signal is acknowledged by the identify device, the control device enables the start switch so that the operation of the start switch is valid, and causes the display device to show information representing that the specific signal has been acknowledged.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the specific remotely broadcast signal is acknowledged by the identify device, the control device enables the start switch so that the operation of the start switch is valid, and wherein the control device causes a displaying state of the display device to be different according to whether the display device is enabled or not.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the control device receives a predetermined switching signal, the control device causes the start switch to function as a power switch of on-vehicle electrical devices, and causes the display device to show information representing whether the power switch is ON or OFF.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the switching signal is a signal representing that the brake of the vehicle is not applied.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the specific remotely broadcast signal is acknowledged by the identify device, the control device causes the display device to show an image of a key.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific remotely broadcast signal is one of a plurality of specific remotely broadcast signals, wherein the identify device is capable of acknowledging the specific remotely broadcast signals, and wherein the control device causes the display device to show which one of the specific remotely broadcast signals has been acknowledged by the identify device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific remotely broadcast signal is one of a plurality of specific remotely broadcast signals, wherein the identify device is capable of simultaneously acknowledging the specific remotely broadcast signals, and wherein, when the identify device simultaneously acknowledges the specific remotely broadcast signals, the control device causes the display device to show independent images each representing that one of the specific remotely broadcast signals has been acknowledged.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when the identify device simultaneously acknowledges the specific remotely broadcast signals, the control device determines whether each of the specific remotely broadcast signals is valid, and causes the display device to show information regarding a valid specific remotely broadcast signal and information regarding an invalid specific remotely broadcast signal in different forms.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identify device identifies the specific remotely broadcast signal through an outside verification and an inside verification, and wherein the control device causes the display device to show in different forms information representing that the specific remotely broadcast signal has been acknowledged through the outside verification and information representing that the specific remotely broadcast signal has been acknowledged through the inside verification.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is capable of displaying a first display image and a second display image, wherein the first display image has a predetermined shape, wherein the second display image has a shape different from the shape of the first display image, wherein, when the engine is not running, the display device displays the first display image at a position away from the second display image, and wherein, when the engine is running, the display device displays the first display image contacting the second display image.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is capable of displaying a first display image and a second display image, wherein the first display image has a predetermined shape, wherein the second display image has a shape which is different from the shape of the first display image, and wherein, when the engine is running, the display device displays the first display image surrounded by the second display image.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if the start switch is manipulated while the vehicle is running, the control device causes the display device to show a warning.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a manipulation member for operating the start switch, and wherein the display device is covered with the manipulation member.

16. An arrangement of a vehicle engine start apparatus comprising:

an engine start switch located on a center cluster of an instrument panel, wherein a recess is formed in the center cluster, and wherein a manipulation member for operating the engine start switch is attached to a mount surface that defines a part of the recess, and wherein the manipulation member does not project form the recess;

a display device for showing the location of the start switch;

a remote device for outputting a specific remotely broadcast signal representing that the start switch will be operated by an authorized operator;

an identify device for identifying the specific remotely broadcast signal; and

a control device for causing the display device to emit light in accordance with the identification executed by the identify device so as to enable the operator to view the start switch.

17. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the mount surface extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle and in the traveling direction of the vehicle.

18. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the mount surface is a lower one of a plurality of wall surfaces defining the recess.

19. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the mount surface extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle and in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

20. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the recess opens rearward in relation to the traveling direction of the vehicle, and wherein dimensions of the recess along the lateral and vertical directions of the vehicle decrease frontward in relation to the traveling direction of the vehicle.

21. A vehicle engine starting apparatus comprising:

a start switch for starting the engine of the vehicle, the start switch being a momentary push switch;

a display device for showing the location of the start switch, the display device being disposed over the start switch or adjacent to the start switch;

a remote device for outputting a specific remotely broadcast signal representing that the start switch will be operated by an authorized operator;

an identify device for identifying the specific remotely broadcast signal; and

a control device for controlling the display device in accordance with the result of the identification executed by the identify device, wherein, when the control device receives a predetermined switching signal, the control device causes the start switch to function as a power switch of on-vehicle electrical devices, and causes the display device to show information representing whether the power switch is ON or OFF.