Remote starter for vehicle

• US 7,650,864 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: OSullivan, Michael J., Hassan, Hasib
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro; Arnold
• Application Number:
  US11/941,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20080117079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 340/425.5, 340/436.1, 340/426.24, 340/438, 340/5.65
• US Class Current: 123/179.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals

Abstract

A vehicle starting system for activating an ignition of a vehicle. The system includes a remote transmitting device operable to communicate a start signal in response to a user input, and a control at a vehicle that receives the start signal. The control processes images captured by at least one imaging device to determine if the images are indicative of the vehicle being parked in an enclosed environment. The control activates an ignition of the vehicle in response to the start signal and the image processing.

Claims

1. A vehicle starting system for activating an ignition of a vehicle, said vehicle starting system comprising:

a remote transmitting device operable to communicate a start signal in response to a user input; and

a control at a vehicle that receives said start signal, said control processing images captured by at least one imaging device to determine if said images are indicative of the vehicle being parked in an enclosed environment, said control being operable to activate an ignition of the vehicle in response to said start signal and said image processing.

2. The vehicle starting system of claim 1, wherein said control overrides said start signal when said image processing determines that said images are indicative of the vehicle being parked in an enclosed environment.

3. The vehicle starting system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to adjust a climate control system of the vehicle in response to said start signal and said image processing.

4. The vehicle starting system of claim 3, wherein said control is operable to control said climate control system in response to a sensed temperature at the vehicle.

5. The vehicle starting system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to control an engine control of the vehicle in response to said start signal.

6. The vehicle starting system of claim 5, wherein said control is operable to control said engine control in response to a sensed temperature at the vehicle.

7. The vehicle starting system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to limit movement of the vehicle when in a remote start mode.

8. The vehicle starting system of claim 1, wherein said remote transmitting device further comprises a receiver, said control being operable to communicate a signal to said receiver of said remote transmitting device to convey information to the user of said remote transmitting device.

9. The vehicle starting system of claim 8, wherein said remote transmitting device further comprises a display element operable to display information to the user of said remote transmitting device in response to said control.

10. A vehicle starting system for activating an ignition of a vehicle, said vehicle starting system comprising:

a remote transceiver device operable to communicate a start signal in response to a user input and to receive a status signal;

a control at a vehicle that receives said start signal and is operable to activate a vehicle ignition of the vehicle in response to said start signal, said control generating said status signal;

said remote transceiver device displaying information to a user of said remote transceiver device in response to said status signal; and

wherein said control determines an environment at which the vehicle is parked, said control being operable to activate the ignition of the vehicle in response to said start signal and said determination of the environment at which the vehicle is parked, and wherein said control overrides said start signal when said control determines that the vehicle is parked in an enclosed environment.

11. The vehicle starting system of claim 10, wherein said control processes images captured by at least one imaging device to determine if said images are indicative of the vehicle being parked in an enclosed environment, said control being operable to activate the ignition of the vehicle in response to said start signal and said image processing.

12. The vehicle starting system of claim 11, wherein said control overrides said start signal when said image processing determines that said images are indicative of the vehicle being parked in an enclosed environment.

13. The vehicle starting system of claim 10, wherein said control is operable to adjust a climate control system of the vehicle in response to said start signal.

14. The vehicle starting system of claim 13, wherein said control is operable to control said climate control system in response to a sensed temperature at the vehicle.

15. The vehicle starting system of claim 10, wherein said control is operable to control an engine control of the vehicle in response to said start signal.

16. The vehicle starting system of claim 15, wherein said control is operable to control said engine control in response to a sensed temperature at the vehicle.