Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Patent
1997-05-28
1998-09-01
Swarthout, Brent A.
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
340426, 34082531, 307 102, 307 104, B60R 100
Patent
active
058016147
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for controlling the starting of a vehicle by making use of a storing medium such as an IC memory card (which involves a concept of including an IC card memory without a CPU installed therein) or the like in which an ID code is stored.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
In recent years, an idea has been thought of in which an IC card, in which an identification code is stored, is used as a driver's license. Namely, personal data about the owner of the IC card and/or a history of traffic violations by the owner is stored beforehand in the IC card so that issue and/or renewal of the driver's license and traffic violations can be managed readily by reading data from the IC card as needed.
Another idea has focused on using the above-described IC card as an ignition key, and the card is structured such that an ID code is stored beforehand in the IC card, and when the IC card is inserted into an IC card reader installed in a vehicle, the ID code which has been stored in the IC card is read by an IC card reader. Further, when the read ID code corresponds to a register code which has been preset, in response to an ON state of a switch, the starting of the engine of the vehicle is permitted.
In this case, because the ID code which has been stored in the IC card has excellent confidentiality, more reliable safety can be obtained as compared to an ordinary ignition key.
However, when an ordinary ignition key has been set to a LOCK position which is a run-inhibiting position for a vehicle, the ordinary ignition key mechanically inhibits the rotation of a steering shaft. Meanwhile, when the ordinary ignition key has been set to a run-enabling position for a vehicle (for example, ACC position or ON position) other than LOCK position, the ordinary ignition key cancels the state inhibiting the rotation of the steering shaft. Therefore, a drawback arises in that it is impossible to use the IC card instead of an ignition key which also functions as steering lock means by merely structuring the vehicle starting control device in such a manner that the starting of the engine is enabled in response to a switching operation at the time when the stored ID code in the IC card corresponds to the registered code.
Further, in the related art, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 5-65052, a relationship between the orientation of a steering lock means which inhibits the rotation of a steering shaft, and operation means (a frame) which transmits a "lock" or an "unlock" mechanism to steering lock means due to a rotational force thereof has been permitted within a certain tilt angle, but not within angles in all directions (for example, at the angles of 90.degree. and 360.degree.). Therefore, there is a problem in that the orientation of the operation means is restricted to the position of the steering lock means or the steering shaft.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle starting control device which can inhibit/enable the rotation of the steering shaft in a case in which a storing medium such as an IC card or the like is used as an ignition key.
The present invention comprises a storing medium which stores a specific identification code; media accommodating means which is provided at a vehicle and can accommodate the storing medium thereinto; communication means which can communicate with the storing medium in a state in which the storing medium has been accommodated in the media accommodating means; operation means which is operable between a run-inhibiting position inhibiting the running of the vehicle and a run-enabling position including an engine starting position; steering lock means which inhibits the rotation of a steering shaft in a state in which the operation means has been set to the run-inhibiting position; steering lock cancellation means which cancels an inhibiting state of the rotation of the steering shaft due to the steering lock means in a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3755777 (1973-08-01), Lee
patent: 4761645 (1988-08-01), Mochida
patent: 4763121 (1988-08-01), Tomoda et al.
patent: 4777377 (1988-10-01), Jeter
patent: 4827744 (1989-05-01), Namazue et al.
patent: 4873530 (1989-10-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 4973958 (1990-11-01), Hirano et al.
patent: 5157389 (1992-10-01), Kurozu et al.
patent: 5433096 (1995-07-01), Janssen et al.
patent: 5434395 (1995-07-01), Storck et al.
patent: 5656867 (1997-08-01), Kokubu
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
Swarthout Brent A.
Trieu Van T.
LandOfFree
Vehicle starting control device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle starting control device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle starting control device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-273798