초록 ▼

A method of controlling a vehicle engine involves determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle, and that is not exclusively performed for starting the vehicle engine, verifying a code with a portable device after determin

A method of controlling a vehicle engine involves determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle, and that is not exclusively performed for starting the vehicle engine, verifying a code with a portable device after determining the predetermined start operation, and starting an engine automatically after successfully verifying the code. An engine control device has a start determining mechanism for determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle, and that is not exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine, a verifying mechanism for verifying a code with a portable device after determining the predetermined start operation, and a starting mechanism for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the code.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of controlling a vehicle having an automatic transmission, the method comprising:detecting a depression of a brake pedal, the depression of the brake pedal being usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle and not being exclusively performed for starting a vehic

1. A method of controlling a vehicle having an automatic transmission, the method comprising:detecting a depression of a brake pedal, the depression of the brake pedal being usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle and not being exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine;transmitting a radio signal upon the detection of the depression of the brake pedal;receiving a signal having an ID code transmitted from a portable electronic key upon the portable electronic key's receipt of the radio signal;verifying the ID code; andcontrolling an automatic engine start upon the successful verification of the ID code. 2. A method of controlling a vehicle having a manual transmission, the method comprising:detecting a depression of a clutch pedal, the depression of the clutch pedal being usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle and not being exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine;transmitting a radio signal upon the detection of the depression of the clutch pedal;receiving a signal having an ID code transmitted from a portable electronic key upon the portable electronic key's receipt of the radio signal;verifying the ID code; andcontrolling an automatic engine start upon successful verification of the ID code. 3. An engine control device for a vehicle, the engine control device comprising:a start determining means for determining a predetermined start operation that is usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle and that is not exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine;a verifying means for verifying a code with a portable device after determining the predetermined start operation;a starting means for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the code;an engine stop accepting means for accepting an engine stop command from a driver who decides to stop the engine that is automatically started by the starting means;a force stopping means for controlling a forced engine stop after accepting the engine stop command by the engine stop accepting means; anda stop release accepting means for accepting a stop release command by which the driver permits the automatic engine start by the starting means after the forcible engine stop by the force stopping means,wherein the force stopping means permits the automatic engine start by the starting means only when the stop release accepting means accepts the stop release command after the forcible engine stop by the force stopping means. 4. An engine control device for a vehicle having a manual transmission, the engine control device comprising:a start determining means for determining a predetermined start operation involving depression of a clutch pedal, the predetermined start operation involving the depression of the clutch pedal being usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle and not being exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine;a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal when the start determining means determines that depression of the clutch pedal has occurred;a receiver for receiving an ID code transmitted from a portable electronic key upon the portable electronic key's receipt of the radio signal;a verifying means for verifying the ID code after determining the predetermined start operation; anda starting means for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the ID code. 5. An engine control device for a vehicle having an automatic transmission, the engine control device comprising:a start determining means for determining a predetermined start operation involving depression of a brake pedal, the predetermined start operation involving the depression of the brake pedal being usually performed by a driver when the driver starts a parked vehicle and not being exclusively performed for starting a vehicle engine;a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal when the start determining means determin es that depression of the brake pedal has occurred;a receiver for receiving a signal having an ID code transmitted from a portable electronic key upon the portable electronic key's receipt of the radio signal;a verifying means for verifying the ID code after determining the predetermined start operation; anda starting means for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the ID code. 6. The engine control device of claim 5, further comprising:an engine stop accepting means for accepting an engine stop command from a driver who decides to stop the engine that is automatically started by the starting means; anda force stopping means for controlling a forced engine stop after accepting the engine stop command by the engine stop accepting means. 7. The engine control device for a vehicle according to claim 5, the device further comprising:a stop determining means for determining a predetermined stop operation, which is usually performed by the driver when the driver exits a parked vehicle along with stopping of the engine of the vehicle, and that is not exclusively operated as an engine stop of the vehicle; anda stopping means for controlling an automatic engine stop after determining the predetermined stop operation. 8. An ignition switching device for a vehicle, the device comprising:a rotary switch capable of invoking one of a first, second, third and fourth settings; anda manipulating knob which is used by an operator to directly manipulate to choose one of the settings of the rotary switch,wherein, at the first setting, power is not supplied from a vehicle battery,wherein, at the second setting, power is supplied from the vehicle battery,wherein, at the third setting, engine starting occurs,wherein, at the fourth setting, automatic engine starting occurs by successful verification of a code with a portable device after determination of a predetermined start operation which is conducted by a driver until the driver starts to operate a parked vehicle and which is not exclusively operated for starting the engine of the vehicle, andwherein the second setting is positioned next to the first setting in a first rotative direction, the third setting is positioned next to the second setting in the first rotative direction, and the fourth setting is positioned next to the first setting in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. 9. An ignition switching device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein at the fourth setting, an automatic engine stop is commanded by successful verification of a code with a portable device after determination of a predetermined stop operation, which is usually performed by a driver when the driver exits a parked vehicle along with stopping the engine of the vehicle, and which is not exclusively operated for an engine stop of the vehicle. 10. A portable device, along with an engine control device, included in an engine control system for a vehicle, wherein the system includes:a start determining means for determining a predetermined start operation, which is usually performed by a user when the user starts a parked vehicle and which is not exclusively performed to start an engine of the vehicle;a verifying means for verifying a code between the engine control device and the portable device after determining the predetermined start operation;a starting means for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the code; anda mode accepting means for accepting, from the user, a mode state of setting to or releasing from an automatic mode which allows automatic engine starting by the starting means, wherein only during setting to the automatic mode, the starting means executes control of the automatic engine start,wherein the start determining, verifying and starting means are installed in the engine control device, andwherein the mode accepting means is installed in at least one of the engine control device and the portable device, the portable de vice further comprising:an informing means for informing the user of the mode state accepted by the mode accepting means. 11. An engine control system for a vehicle, wherein the system includes an engine control device for a vehicle and a portable device, the system comprising:a start determining means for determining a predetermined start operation which is usually performed by a user when the user begins to operate a parked vehicle and which is not exclusively performed for starting an engine of the vehicle;a verifying means for verifying a code between the engine control device and the portable device after determining the predetermined start operation;a starting means for controlling an automatic engine start after successfully verifying the code;a mode accepting means for accepting, from the user, a mode state of setting to, or releasing from, an automatic mode which allows automatic engine starting by the starting means, wherein, only during setting to the automatic mode, the starting means executes to control the automatic engine start; andan informing means for informing the user of the mode state accepted by the mode accepting means,wherein the start determining, verifying and starting means are installed in the engine control device,wherein the mode accepting means is installed in at least one of the engine control device and the portable device, andwherein the informing means is installed in at least one of the engine control device and the portable device. 12. An engine control system for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the mode accepting means is installed in the portable device,wherein the informing means is installed in both of the engine control device and the portable device,wherein the informing means installed in the portable device continuously visually informs the user of the mode state, andwherein the informing means installed in the engine control device informs the user of the mode state after receiving a signal indicating the mode state from the portable device. 13. An engine control system for a vehicle according to claim 11, whereinthe mode accepting means is installed in the engine control device,the informing means is installed in the engine control device and the portable device,the informing means installed in the portable device informs the user of the mode state after receiving a signal indicating the mode state from the engine control device, andthe informing means installed in the engine control device informs the user of the mode state after transmitting a signal indicating the mode state to the portable device.