Starting control apparatus and tuner device

• US 8,294,558 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsuruta, Norio, Takee, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/984,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 340/426.25, 340/425.36, 340/825.72, 340/5.61, 340/426.16, 340/426.3, 340/426.36, 340/5.72, 340/7.1, 340/7.23, 340/13.2, 340/13.24, 307/10.1, 307/10.5, 307/9.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.6, 324/754, 324/380
• US Class Current: 340/426.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means

Abstract

A remote starting ECU includes a command recognizing unit and a tuner connecting unit. The remote starting ECU starts an engine of a vehicle when the command recognizing unit receives an engine start command from a remote key or when the tuner connecting unit receives an engine start request from a remote controller.

Claims

1. A starting control apparatus that controls starting of an engine of a vehicle, the starting control apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a first signal indicative of an engine start request from a remote key via wireless communication while the remote key is outside the vehicle;

a tuner connecting unit connectable to an external tuner that receives a second signal indicative of an engine start request from a remote controller via wireless communication, wherein the tuner connecting unit receives the second signal from the external tuner; and

a starting control unit that starts the engine in each of the following conditions;

(i) when the receiving unit receives the first signal while the external tuner is not connected to the tuner connecting unit so as to disable communication between the external tuner and the tuner connecting unit,

(ii) when the receiving unit receives the first signal while the remote key is not inserted into a key cylinder and the external tuner is connected to the tuner connecting unit, and

(iii) when the tuner connecting unit receives the second signal while the remote key is not inserted into the key cylinder and the external tuner is connected to the tuner connecting unit.

2. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller has a wider communication range than a communication range of the remote key.

3. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first signal indicates a predetermined combination of control requests, and

the receiving unit comprises a recognizing unit that recognizes the predetermined combination as one of the engine start requests.

4. The starting control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a communication unit that communicates with a vehicle body control apparatus that controls a vehicle body in response to the first signal.

5. The starting control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the receiving unit receives the first signal from the remote key via the vehicle body control apparatus.

6. The starting control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control requests comprise one of a request for locking a door of a vehicle, a request for unlocking a door of a vehicle, and a request for sounding an alarm to people around the vehicle.

7. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller transmits a third signal indicative of a control request other than the engine start requests, and

the starting control apparatus further comprises a vehicle control unit that receives the third signal from the external tuner through the tuner connecting unit, and controls a device installed in the vehicle based on the control request.

8. The starting control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control request other than the engine start requests comprises one of a request for locking a door of a vehicle, a request for unlocking a door of a vehicle, and a request for sounding an alarm to people around the vehicle.

9. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein communication between the external tuner and the remote controller is bi-directional, and

the starting control apparatus further comprises a notifying unit that notifies the remote controller of information through the external tuner.

10. The starting control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notifying unit notifies the remote controller of vehicle information for the vehicle.

11. The starting control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notifying unit notifies the remote controller of a result of control based on a signal indicative of a request from the remote controller.

17. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tuner connecting unit is connectable to the external tuner via a transmission cable.

18. The starting control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication range of the remote controller is wider than the communication range of the remote key.

12. A starting control apparatus that controls starting of an engine of a vehicle, the starting control apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive a first signal indicative of an engine start request from a remote key via wireless communication while the remote key is outside the vehicle;

a tuner connecting unit connectable to an external tuner that receives a second signal indicative of an engine start request from a remote controller via wireless communication, wherein the tuner connecting unit receives the second signal from the external tuner;

a starting control unit that starts the engine in each of the following conditions;

(i) when the receiving unit receives the first signal while the remote key is not inserted into a key cylinder and (ii) when the tuner connecting unit receives the second signal while the remote key is not inserted into the key cylinder; and

a tuner device configured to be connected to the tuner connecting unit, the tuner device including;

a first communication unit configured to be externally connected to the tuner connecting unit so as to communicate with the tuner connecting unit; and

a second communication unit that receives a signal from the remote controller via wireless communication, the first communication unit being physically distinct from the second communication unit, wherein

the first communication unit feeds a signal indicative of the engine start request from the remote controller to the tuner connecting unit when the second communication unit receives a signal indicative of the engine start request from the remote controller.

13. The in-vehicle system according to claim 12, wherein the tuner device further comprises an authenticating unit that performs authentication of the remote controller when the second communication unit receives the signal indicative of the engine start request from the remote controller, wherein

the first communication unit feeds the engine start request from the remote controller to the tuner connecting unit when the remote controller is determined to be authentic by the authenticating unit.

14. The in-vehicle system according to claim 12, wherein communication between the second communication unit and the remote controller is bi-directional.

15. The in-vehicle system according to claim 14, wherein

the first communication unit acquires information on the vehicle from the tuner connecting unit, and

the second communication unit notifies the remote controller of the information acquired by the first communication unit.

16. The in-vehicle system according to claim 15, wherein the information acquired from the tuner connecting unit comprises a result of control by the starting control apparatus based on a signal indicative of a request from the remote controller.