Vehicle having remote start and carbon monoxide detection

• US 8,375,913 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kwiecinski, Robert, Bennie, Brian, McQuade, Thomas M., Bartz, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): VILAKAZI, SIZO BINDA
• Application Number:
  US12/535,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20110030639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.28, 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 123/179.2, 290/1.A, 290/1.B, 307/10.6, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/118, 307/326, 307/327, 307/328, 49/31, 602/76, 731/146.9, 731/147.1, 340/632, 701/109, 701/113
• US Class Current: 123/179.2
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a method for remote starting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle that may include: detecting a wireless remote start signal; after detecting the wireless remote start signal, activating a carbon monoxide detector to detect a level of carbon monoxide adjacent to the vehicle; remote starting the internal combustion engine if the detected level of carbon monoxide is less than a predetermined first CO limit; disabling remote start of the internal combustion engine if the level of carbon monoxide is not less than the predetermined first CO limit; and automatically transmitting an emergency aid signal if the level of carbon monoxide is not less than the predetermined first CO limit.

Claims

1. A method for remote starting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a wireless remote start signal;

(b) after detecting the wireless remote start signal, detecting a first level of carbon monoxide adjacent to the vehicle;

(c) remote starting the internal combustion engine if the detected first level of carbon monoxide is less than a predetermined first CO limit;

(d) disabling remote start of the internal combustion engine if the first level of carbon monoxide is not less than the predetermined first CO limit;

(e) transmitting a garage door open signal if the first level of carbon monoxide is not less than the predetermined first CO limit;

(f) if the first level of carbon monoxide is not less than the first CO limit, then after steps (d) and (e), detecting a second level of carbon monoxide adjacent to the vehicle, the first CO limit being less than the second level of carbon monoxide; and

(g) automatically transmitting an emergency aid signal if the second level of carbon monoxide is not less than a predetermined second CO limit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (g) is further defined by transmitting a wireless signal from an emergency aid transmitter located in the vehicle to a cellular telephone network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (f) is further defined by waiting a predetermined time after step (e) before detecting the second level of carbon monoxide.