Keyless engine controlling unit

• US 7,078,828 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chizuko Suzuki
• Original Assignee: Chizuko Suzuki
• Inventors: Suzuki, Chizuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROMAN, LUIS ENRIQUE
• Application Number:
  US10/348,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 307/9.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.3, 180/287
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A keyless engine controlling unit has a set switch for setting an engine in a running state, a selected state detecting mechanism for detecting the position of a select lever of an automatic transmission, and an engine drive controlling mechanism for bypassing a contact point of an ignition switch. During engine operation, the selected state detecting mechanism detects that the select lever is in park, the set switch is set, and the contact point of the ignition switch is bypassed. Thus, the engine is maintained in the running state even if the key is extracted from the ignition switch.

Claims

1. A keyless engine controlling unit for controlling an engine of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

an ignition switch for generating starting and stopping instructions of said engine by inserting and operating a key thereinto;

a door lock for locking an opening/closing mechanism such as a door; and

an automatic transmission;

said controlling unit further comprises;

a locked state detecting mechanism for detecting a state of a door lock switch for operating said door lock;

a selected state detecting mechanism for detecting a select lever state of said automatic transmission; and

an engine drive controlling mechanism for bypassing a contact point of said ignition switch,

wherein, when said engine is in a running state, said selected state detecting mechanism detects that said select lever is positioned in park, said door lock switch of a door on a driver'"'"'s seat side is turned on and off by a predetermined number of operations, said contact point of said ignition switch is bypassed, thus maintaining said running state of said engine even when said key is extracted from said ignition switch.

3. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said engine drive controlling mechanism is shifted to a state for maintaining a running state of said engine, said opening/closing mechanism is unlocked.

4. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a stolen state detecting mechanism for detecting said automotive vehicle in a stolen state by detecting an opened/closed state of said opening/closing mechanism, and a burglarproof mechanism having an alarm for notifying when said stolen state detecting mechanism detects that said automotive vehicle is in a stolen state,

wherein, under said running state of said engine where said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, said door lock is operated by using said key, so that said opening/closing mechanism is locked and said burglarproof mechanism is set in an alert state.

5. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a keyless entry unit having a transmitter for transmitting a predetermined peculiar signal and a receiver provided in said automotive vehicle for receiving said peculiar signal from said transmitter for locking and unlocking said opening/closing mechanism without said key; and

a burglarproof mechanism having a stolen state detecting mechanism for detecting said automotive vehicle in a stolen state by detecting an opened/closed state of said opening/closing mechanism, and an alarm for notifying when said stolen state detecting mechanism detects that said automotive vehicle is in a stolen state;

wherein, under said running state of said engine where said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, said keyless entry unit is used, so that said opening/closing mechanism is locked and said burglarproof mechanism is set in an alert state.

6. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said engine is in said running state and said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, and when said key is inserted into said ignition switch, said engine drive controlling mechanism opens said contact point of said ignition switch to stop said engine.

7. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said engine is in said running state and said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, and when said opening/closing mechanism is unlocked by operating said door lock, said engine drive controlling mechanism opens said contact point of said ignition switch to stop said engine.

8. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said engine is in said running state and said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, and when said opening/closing mechanism is unlocked by using said keyless entry unit, said engine drive controlling mechanism opens said contact point of said ignition switch to stop said engine.

9. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein when said engine is in said running state and said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, and when said opening/closing mechanism is unlocked by using said keyless entry unit, said alert state of said burglarproof mechanism is cancelled.

10. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein when said engine is in said running state and said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, and when said stolen state detecting mechanism detects that said automotive vehicle is in a stolen state, said engine drive controlling mechanism opens said contact point of said ignition switch to stop said engine.

11. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said engine is in said running state and said key has been extracted from said ignition switch, and when said selected state detecting mechanism detects that said select lever is shifted to a position other than park, said engine drive controlling mechanism opens said contact point of said ignition switch to stop said engine.

12. The keyless engine controlling unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said engine is in said running state and even when said key is extracted from said ignition switch, only when said key is inserted into said ignition switch and turned on, said select lever can be operated.

2. A keyless engine controlling unit for controlling an engine of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

an ignition switch for generating starting and stopping instructions of said engine by inserting and operating a key thereinto;

a door lock for locking an opening/closing mechanism such as a door; and

an automatic transmission;

said controlling unit further comprises;

a locked state detecting mechanism for detecting a state of a door lock switch for operating said door lock;

a selected state detecting mechanism for detecting a select lever state of said automatic transmission; and

an engine drive controlling mechanism for bypassing a contact point of said ignition switch,

wherein, when said engine is in a running state, said selected state detecting mechanism detects that said select lever is positioned in park, and said door lock switch is turned on while a door on a driver'"'"'s seat side is opened and said door is then closed, said contact point of said ignition switch is bypassed, thus maintaining said running state of said engine even when said key is extracted from said ignition switch.