A start/stop engine button assembly includes a start/stop engine button, a button cover, displaceable between a closed position and an open position, and an actuator that functions to displace the button cover between the closed position and the opened position.

The present invention relates to a vehicle safe starting device which controls the starting of a vehicle according to a driver's state. One embodiment analyzes blood alcohol concentration by projecting infrared rays into the driver's skin and receiving a reflected signal, and thereafter controls so that the vehicle is not stared if the blood alcohol concentration is larger than a reference value. Since a general breathalyzer using a driver's exhalation is not used, but infrared rays and a method of skin contact touch using a finger, etc. are used, it is possible to accurately measure the blood alcohol level without giving a driver inconvenience, and it is possible to preempt vehicle accidents by blocking driving in an inappropriate state.

A control section is configured to perform a high-degree abnormal state control in which the control section terminates a specified shifting step for shifting a vehicle to an operable state and shifts the vehicle to an operation inhibiting state when an operation checking section determines that the vehicle is in a predetermined high-degree abnormal state, and the control section is configured to perform a low-degree abnormal state control different from a normal state control without terminating the specified shifting step, when the operation checking section determines that the vehicle is in a predetermined low-degree abnormal state different from the predetermined high-degree abnormal state, and perform the normal state control, when the operation checking section determines that the vehicle has been restored from the predetermined low-degree abnormal state to a state in which the vehicle is operable normally.

A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

A method of encouraging safe driving of a vehicle using a remote starter device installed at a vehicle is provided. The remote starter device determines whether it is in signal communication with a remote starter application operating at a mobile computing device separate from the remote starter device. When the remote starter device is in signal communication with the remote starter application, the remote starter device permits ignition of the vehicle. When the remote starter device is not in signal communication with the remote starter application, the remote starter device prevents ignition of the vehicle. The remote starter application may present to a driver of the vehicle an insurance rate for taking a trip in the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a vehicle safe starting device which controls the starting of a vehicle according to a driver's state. One embodiment analyzes blood alcohol concentration by projecting infrared rays into the driver's skin and receiving a reflected signal, and thereafter controls so that the vehicle is not stared if the blood alcohol concentration is larger than a reference value. Since a general breathalyzer using a driver's exhalation is not used, but infrared rays and a method of skin contact touch using a finger, etc. are used, it is possible to accurately measure the blood alcohol level without giving a driver inconvenience, and it is possible to preempt vehicle accidents by blocking driving in an inappropriate state.

A drunk driving prevention system for a vehicle includes an eye symptom detector adapted for supporting in the vehicle at a position to detect eye symptoms of a driver, a control module operatively linked to the eye symptom detector for determining and analyzing whether the eye symptoms of the driver match with alcohol influenced eye symptoms, and a signal module operatively linked control module for generating a drunk driving signal in response to the alcohol influenced eye symptoms that suspect an alcohol concentration of the driver is above a predetermined threshold.

A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

A system and method described herein detects the presence of an unconnected condition in high voltage component cables in an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle having a high voltage battery or energy storage system. The system includes a DC-DC converter which is capable of operating in either a step-down mode (e.g., as a buck converter) or a boost mode. The system uses the DC-DC converter operating in boost mode to create a sufficient, yet safe, measuring voltage on the main high voltage cabling of the vehicle before allowing the energy storage system to begin supplying high voltage power to the system components. The measurements are taken at various points near the individual components to determine if the cable has become disconnected.