System for remote starting of vehicle with manual transmission

Abstract

A remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission with improved safeguards for preventing the vehicles from being remotely started while the manual transmission is in gear. The remote vehicle starter system for vehicles with manual transmission may also include additional safeguards to prevent the vehicles from being remotely started when there is a risk that the vehicle may move upon being remotely started, such as when the door has been opened after the vehicle has been placed in state safe for remote start.

Claims

1. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission comprising: a remote control transceiver for transmitting and receiving a first signal; a control module transceiver of receiving and transmitting said first signal; a sensor and accelerometer attached to a gear shifter of a vehicle with manual transmission and capable to determining the neutral position of said gear shifter; a control module for controlling a vehicle control system in accordance with said first signal from said remote control transceiver; said control module connected to a vehicle's computer system to allow said control module to send and receive a second signal relating to the status of the vehicle; said sensor and accelerometer connected to said control module and capable of transmitting a third signal relating to the position and movement of the gear shifter; wherein, upon receiving said first signal from said remote control, said control module is capable of remote starting an engine of said vehicle after said vehicle has been placed in a condition safe for remote starting a vehicle with manual transmission prior to the last shutdown of the vehicle (Reservation Mode) and said control module confirms that said vehicle has remained in said condition safe for remote starting from said second signal from said vehicle computer system and said third signal from said sensor and accelerometer; and said control module continually monitoring said second signal from said vehicle computer system and capable of shutting down said engine of said vehicle upon detecting movement of said vehicle via said second signal from said vehicle computer system; and said control module capable of determining whether a user has taken control of said vehicle after remote start and shutting down said engine of said vehicle after a specified time when said control module fails to detect a user taking control of said vehicle.

2. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said sensor and accelerometer attached to said gear shifter is capable of learning said neutral position of said gear shifter every time a user places the vehicle in Reservation Mode.

3. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said sensor and accelerometer attached to said gear shifter is capable of recording and storing information concerning any change in the position of said gear shifter after said vehicle is set in Reservation Mode.

4. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module's detection of a user taking control of said vehicle comprise: detecting the door being unlocked, opened, and closed by receiving said second signal from the vehicle's computer system; detecting the key being inserted and turned to the ON position by receiving said second signal from the vehicle's computer system; and detecting the pressing of the brake pedal by receiving said second signal from the vehicle's computer system.

5. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module's detection of a user taking control of said vehicle comprise: detecting the door being unlocked, opened, and closed by receiving said second signal from the vehicle's computer system; detecting a valid key in the vehicle by receiving said second signal from the vehicle's computer system; and detecting the pressing of the brake pedal by receiving said second signal from the vehicle's computer system.

6. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module is capable of disabling remote start upon failing to receive said second signal from vehicle's computer system.

7. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module is capable of detecting sufficient charge in said vehicle's battery and disabling remote start when said control module detects insufficient charge.

8. A remote starter system for vehicles with manual transmission of claim 1 wherein said control module is capable of shutting down the engine of said vehicle after remote start upon detecting movement of said vehicle through said second signal from said vehicle's computer system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of the remote starter system.

(2) FIG. 2 is a view of the manual transmission gear shifter where the sensor and accelerometer components of the remote starter system would be located.

(3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a protocol for placing a vehicle with manual transmission into the Reservation Mode to enable remote start of the vehicle.

(4) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a protocol for remote start of the vehicle.

(5) FIG. 5A is a block diagram of a protocol for a user takeover procedure for cars with standard key ignition system.

(6) FIG. 5B is a block diagram of a protocol for a user takeover procedure for cars with push to start ignition system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Referring to FIG. 1, a remote starter system (1) according to the present invention is comprised of a remote control (10), a control module transceiver (20), and a control module (30). The remote starter system's (1) control module (30) further includes a connection to the vehicle's computer system (40) for detecting the status of the vehicle's parameters, and a sensor and accelerometer (50) attached to the gear shifter for detecting the location of the gear shifter.

(8) In an embodiment of the invention, the remote starter system (1), which communicates with a vehicle control system (not shown), has a remote control (10) that is a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal. The control module transceiver (20) is also a transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting a signal. The remote starter (30) controls the vehicle control system in accordance with the signal from the remote control (10). More particularly, the remote starter system (1) is adapted to operate in a vehicle with manual transmission, in which the control module (30) receives a signal from the remote control (10) via the control module transceiver (20) and allows the remote start of a vehicle with manual transmission provided that the control module can confirm that the vehicle is in a safe condition to be remote started by analyzing the signals from the vehicle's computer system (4) and the sensor and accelerometer (50). The control module transceiver (20) may be connected to the remote starter (30) through a decoder (22) for decoding the signal from the remote control (10).

(9) Referring to FIG. 2, the sensor and accelerometer (50) is affixed to the base of the gear shifter (60). The sensor and accelerometer, along with the lower portion of the gear shifter (60) would be under the gear shifter boot cover (not shown). The sensor and accelerometer (50) can detect the movement of the gear shifter (60) from neutral. The sensor and accelerometer is configured of the movement of gear shifter from neutral, even if the car is not parked on a flat surface, such as when it is parked on an incline while facing uphill or downhill. Thus, the detection of the movement of the gear shifter (60) from neutral is not limited to when the car is only parked on a flat surface.

(10) For vehicles with manual transmission, it is unsafe to remote start a vehicle when the vehicle is left in gear because remote starting the vehicle will likely cause the vehicle to move, posing a risk of property damage and risk of injury to persons. Thus, prior to remote starting a vehicle, a user must place a vehicle with manual transmission in a safe state for remote starting a vehicle, referred herein as Reservation Mode.

(11) Referring to FIG. 3, to place the vehicle in Reservation Mode, while the vehicle is running, the user presses the brake pedal. The user then moves the gear shifter (60) left to right and sets the gear to neutral. The user then sets the emergency brake by pulling on the handbrake. After setting the emergency brake, the user releases the brake pedal. The user then activates the remote starter. The user would then remove the key from the vehicle ignition. The engine of the vehicle should still be running even after the removal of the key from the vehicle ignition. The user would exit the vehicle with the engine still running, and close all doors. In one embodiment of the invention, the remote starter system will automatically shutdown the vehicle and lock all doors ten seconds after the last door is closed. In another embodiment of the invention, after exiting the vehicle and closing the doors, the user would use the Remote Control (10) to lock the doors. The Remote starter system will then shutdown the engine. At this point, the vehicle has been placed in Reservation Mode and is safe to be remote started.

(12) After the vehicle has been placed in Reservation Mode using the procedure in FIG. 3, the vehicle was placed in a condition deemed to be in a safe condition to be remote started. However, referring to FIG. 4, if any of the listed events occur before a user attempts to remote start a vehicle using the Remote Control (10), the user will have to complete the Reservation Mode procedure outlined in FIG. 3 before the user can successfully remote start a vehicle.

(13) For example, if a door of the vehicle is opened after the vehicle has been placed in Reservation Mode, the remote start will be disabled and the user will have to place the vehicle in Reservation Mode using the procedure outlined in FIG. 3 before the vehicle can be remote started. Similarly, if the hood of the vehicle is opened, the brake pedal is pressed, the emergency brake is released using the hand brake, or the shifter has been moved after the vehicle has been placed in Reservation Mode but before the user attempts to remote start the vehicle, remote start will be disabled and the user will have to place the vehicle in Reservation Mode using the procedure if FIG. 3 before the vehicle can be remote started. Likewise, if the vehicle's ignition system has been placed to on, remote start will be disabled and the user will have to follow the steps in FIG. 3 to place the vehicle in Reservation Mode to remote start the vehicle.

(14) Similarly, if the user starts the vehicle normally, the user will have to place the vehicle in Reservation Mode again before the vehicle can be remote started because several of the events would have occurred, such as the door being opened and the ignition being placed to the on setting.

(15) If none of the events occurred, when the user wants to remote start the vehicle after the vehicle has been placed in Reservation Mode, the user will send a signal to the Remote Starter (30) using the Remote Control (10) to remote start the vehicle. The Remote Starter (30) will then confirm the status of the vehicle from the vehicle's computer system (40) and the sensor and accelerometer. The Remote Starter (30) will need to confirm a connection to the vehicle's network to determine that the vehicle is still in a safe condition to remote start the vehicle. Thus, if the Remote Starter (30) does not detect the vehicle network, remote start will be disabled and the user will have to complete the Reservation Mode procedure to be able to remote start the vehicle.

(16) Once the network is confirmed, the Remote Starter (30) will confirm that the door is closed, the handbrake is engaged, and confirm that the vehicle is stationary as confirmed by the Remote Starter receiving information from the VSS through the vehicle's computer. If the Remote Starter cannot confirm those conditions, remote start will be disabled and the user will have to complete the Reservation Mode procedure again to be able to remote start the vehicle.

(17) Even after it confirms the status of the vehicle, the Remote Starter (30) will confirm that the checksum values of the sensor and accelerometer matches the values expected after the vehicle has been placed in Reservation Mode. If the checksum values do not match, the vehicle cannot be remote started. For example, the checksum values may not match if the system was reset, or there is a memory corruption. Even though the other status checks confirm that the vehicle is in a safe condition, remote start will still be disabled when the checksum do not match because the system cannot confirm that vehicle has remained in safe condition to remote start the vehicle for the duration of time since the vehicle has been placed in Reservation Mode.

(18) If the status has been properly confirmed the vehicle will be remote started. Even after the engine is successfully started by the Remote Starter (30), if the reading of the VSS shows that there is vehicle movement, the Remote Starter (30) will shut down the engine, and the user must set the vehicle to Reservation Mode to be able to remote start the vehicle.

(19) After the vehicle has been successfully remote started and no vehicle movement is detected, the user must complete the vehicle takeover procedure within a specified time period. If the user does not complete the vehicle takeover procedure, the remote starter system will shut down the vehicle's engine and the user must complete the Reservation Mode to be able to remote start the vehicle.

(20) The vehicle takeover procedure will depend on the type of ignition system on the manual transmission vehicle. Referring to FIG. 5A, for a standard key ignition system, after the vehicle has been successfully remote started, the user must unlock the vehicle doors. The user would open the driver's side door and enter the vehicle. The user would close the door, insert the key into the ignition and turn the key to the ON position. The user would press the brake pedal, whereupon the vehicle can be safely operated by the user.

(21) Referring to FIG. 5B, for the push to start ignition system, to complete the vehicle takeover procedure, the user would unlock and open the driver side door. The user would then enter the vehicle with a valid key and close the door. The user would press the brake pedal, whereupon the vehicle can be safely operated by the user. If the user fails to enter the vehicle with the valid key, the engine will stop because the user has failed to complete the vehicle takeover procedure and the user will then have to repeat the Reservation Mode procedure to be able remote start the vehicle.