Vehicle control system

• US 8,712,601 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsubara, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ROBERT T
• Application Number:
  US13/226,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00

Abstract

A starting apparatus starts an engine of a vehicle in response to a wireless signal transmitted from a remote control and keeps the engine running when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine of the vehicle has been started. Moreover, a function controller included in the starting apparatus disables a function of a powered window apparatus and a sunroof apparatus of the vehicle in response to start of the engine of the vehicle and enables the functions of the powered window apparatus and the sunroof apparatus when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine of the vehicle has been started.

Claims

1. A control method for a vehicle, including a vehicle control system comprising a starter and a controller, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) the vehicle control system remotely starting an engine of the vehicle in response to a first wireless signal transmitted from a remote control;

(b) the vehicle control system disabling both a function of first electrical equipment for a non-driving system that is not related to driving of the vehicle and a function of second electrical equipment for a driving system that is related to the driving, when the engine has been remotely started;

(c) the vehicle control system keeping the engine running when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine has been remotely started;

(d) the vehicle control system enabling the function of the first electrical equipment when the door is opened after the engine has been remotely started; and

(e) the vehicle control system enabling the function of the second electrical equipment when an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on with an engine key.

2. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) the vehicle control system receiving a second wireless signal transmitted from a wireless key and determining, based on the second wireless signal received, whether or not the wireless key is authentic; and

(g) the vehicle control system unlocking a lock mechanism of the door when the wireless key is determined to be authentic.

3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the first electrical equipment is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of doors of the vehicle, and

the step (d) enables the function of only the first electrical equipment corresponding to the door which is opened, out of the plurality of doors.

4. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the function of the first electrical equipment enabled in the step (d) is limited.

5. A control method for a vehicle, vehicle including a vehicle control system comprising a starter and a controller, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) the vehicle control system remotely starting an engine of the vehicle in response to a first wireless signal transmitted from a remote control;

(b) the vehicle control system disabling a function of a window apparatus of opening and closing a window provided on the vehicle, when the engine has been remotely started;

(c) the vehicle control system keeping the engine running when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine has been remotely started; and

(d) the vehicle control system enabling the function of the window apparatus of opening and closing the window provided on the vehicle, when the door is opened after the engine has been remotely started.

6. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

(e) the vehicle control system receiving a second wireless signal transmitted from a wireless key and determining, based on the second wireless signal received, whether or not the wireless key is authentic; and

(f) the vehicle control system unlocking a lock mechanism of the door when the wireless key is determined to be authentic.

7. The control method according to claim 5, wherein

the window apparatus is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of doors of the vehicle, and

the step (d) enables the function of only the window apparatus corresponding to the door which is opened, out of the plurality of doors.

8. The control method according to claim 5, wherein

the function of the window apparatus enabled in the step (d) is limited.

9. A vehicle control system used for a vehicle, the vehicle control system comprising:

an engine starter that starts an engine of the vehicle in response to a first wireless signal transmitted from a remote control and that keeps the engine running when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine starts; and

a function controller that

(i) disables both a function of first electrical equipment for a non-driving system that is not related to driving of the vehicle and a function of second electrical equipment for a driving system that is related to the driving of the vehicle, in response to start of the engine by the engine starter,

(ii) enables the function of the first electrical equipment when the door is opened after the engine has been started by the engine starter, and

(iii) enables the function of the second electrical equipment when an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on with an engine key.

10. The vehicle control system according to claim 9, further comprising:

an antenna that receives a second wireless signal transmitted from a wireless key;

an authentication part that determines, based on the second wireless signal received, whether or not the wireless key is authentic; and

a lock controller that unlocks a lock mechanism of the door when the wireless key is determined to be authentic.

11. The vehicle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the first electrical equipment is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of doors of the vehicle, and

the function controller enables the function of only the first electrical equipment corresponding to the door which is opened, out of the plurality of doors.

12. The vehicle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the function of the first electrical equipment enabled by the function controller is limited.

13. A vehicle control system used for a vehicle, the vehicle control system comprising:

an engine starter that starts an engine of the vehicle in response to a first wireless signal transmitted from a remote control and that keeps the engine running when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine starts; and

a function controller that

(i) disables a function of a window apparatus of opening and closing a window provided on the vehicle, in response to start of the engine by the engine starter, and

(ii) enables the function of the window apparatus of opening and closing the window provided on the vehicle, when the door is opened after the engine has been started by the engine starter.

14. The vehicle control system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an antenna that receives a second wireless signal transmitted from a wireless key;

an authentication part that determines, based on the second wireless signal received, whether or not the wireless key is authentic; and

a lock controller that unlocks a lock mechanism of the door when the wireless key is determined to be authentic.

15. The vehicle control system according to claim 13, wherein

the window apparatus is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of doors of the vehicle, and

the function controller enables the function of only the window apparatus corresponding to the door which is opened, out of the plurality of doors.

16. The vehicle control system according to claim 13, wherein

the function of the window apparatus enabled by the function controller is limited.