Patent ID: 7411481
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: B60R,F02D,F02N

Abstract:
1. An electronic control apparatus mounted in a vehicle for controlling equipment of said vehicle, said vehicle comprising a user validation apparatus adapted to become activated to perform a user validation operation when a specific key switch of said vehicle becomes closed and to become deactivated when said specific key switch becomes open, said electronic control apparatus adapted to become selectively activated and deactivated in accordance with said specific key switch becoming respectively closed and open, and upon becoming activated, to perform communication with said user validation apparatus for obtaining a validation result derived from said validation operation and to begin a first predetermined control operation when said validation result is positive, said electronic control apparatus being further adapted to become activated upon acquiring an activation request from a source that is internal or external thereto, while said specific key switch is open, and said electronic control apparatus and said user validation apparatus comprising respective separately installed apparatus units in said vehicle; wherein said electronic control apparatus comprises: activation purpose judgement means responsive to activation of said electronic control apparatus for judging whether or not said activation results from said specific key switch becoming closed for the purpose of starting of an internal combustion engine of said vehicle, with said judgment being based upon detecting whether or not said user validation apparatus is currently activated, and control means responsive to a decision of said activation purpose judgement means that said activation of said electronic control apparatus has a purpose other than starting said engine for beginning a second predetermined control operation, without communicating with said user validation apparatus.