Abstract:
The subject of the present invention is a method for remote starting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a wireless remote start signal; after detecting the wireless remote start signal, activating a parking aid system to detect the presence or absence of a garage door; and if no garage door is detected by the parking aid system, remote starting the internal combustion engine. A carbon monoxide detector or an automatic garage door opener may also be employed in the remote start process.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to vehicles having remote start (remote engine start) capabilities, and more particularly to vehicles having remote start capabilities with an ability to detect being parked in an enclosed space. 
         [0002]    Vehicle technologies exist that allow for remote starting of vehicles. For example, a key fob may include a button that, when pushed, transmits a signal to the vehicle causing the internal combustion engine to start. Vehicle operators find this feature handy because a heater or air conditioner can be activated with the engine in order to heat or cool the vehicle before the operator enters the vehicle. 
         [0003]    One concern with remote start, however, is that the vehicle may be parked in a garage with the garage door closed or other enclosed space when the remote start signal is sent. Moreover, since the remote start button is on a key fob with the vehicle operator, the operator may not realize that the vehicle is in the enclosed space (such as a garage with the door closed) when activating the remote start function. Because internal combustion engines produce exhaust gasses that are undesirable for humans to breathe, it is undesirable for vehicle engines to run while the vehicle is parked in a closed garage or other space where exhaust gasses can build up rather than escape to atmosphere. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An embodiment contemplates a method for remote starting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a wireless remote start signal; after detecting the wireless remote start signal, activating a parking aid system to detect the presence or absence of a garage door; and if no garage door is detected by the parking aid system, remote starting the internal combustion engine. 
         [0005]    An embodiment contemplates a method for remote starting an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a wireless remote start signal; after detecting the wireless remote start signal, activating a parking aid system, including activating a plurality of reverse sensors mounted on a rear of the vehicle, to detect the presence or absence of a garage door; after detecting the wireless remote start signal, detecting a level of carbon monoxide adjacent to the vehicle; and if no garage door is detected by the parking aid system and the detected level of carbon monoxide is below a predetermined level, remote starting the internal combustion engine. 
         [0006]    An advantage of an embodiment is the reduced chance that exhaust gasses will build up in an enclosed space due to exhaust emanating from a remotely started vehicle. Moreover, the enclosed space detection can be accomplished by employing sensors that are already mounted on vehicles and used for other purposes, thus minimizing the cost. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic, plan view of a vehicle parked in an enclosed structure, such as a garage. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic, side elevation view of the vehicle and enclosure of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method of remote starting a vehicle that may be parked in an enclosed structure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 1 , but illustrating a second embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 2 , but illustrating a third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a vehicle  20  that is parked in an enclosed structure, such as a garage  22 , which includes a garage door  24  that is movable between a closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and an open position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) that allows the vehicle  20  to enter/exit the garage  22 . The garage  22  may also include a garage door opener  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) that that can receive a signal and cause the garage door  24  to open and close. 
         [0013]    The vehicle  20  includes a controller  28 , which is sometimes called an engine control unit or a powertrain control unit. The controller  28  may made up of various combinations of hardware and software as is known to those skilled in the art. The controller  28  may be in communication with a remote engine start receiver  30  (or transceiver) that receives wireless signals  36  from a key fob  32  having a remote start button  34 . The controller  28  may also be in communication with a garage door opener transmitter  38  that can transmit wireless signals  40  to the garage door opener  26  to cause the garage door  24  to open and close. The controller  28  also controls the starting and stopping of an internal combustion engine  48 . 
         [0014]    The vehicle  20  may also include a parking aid system  42  having reverse sensors  44  mounted at the rear  46  of the vehicle  20  (often in a rear bumper). The reverse sensors  44  detect objects located behind the vehicle  20  (the phantom lines indicating signals  50  from the sensors  44  used to detect objects). The parking aid system  42  is in communication with the controller  28 , thus, the detection of objects can be communicated to the controller  28 . 
         [0015]    The operation of the vehicle of  FIGS. 1 and 2  will now be described with respect to the flow chart of  FIG. 3 . Upon actuation of the remote start button  34  on the key fob  32 , block  100 , the remote start signal  36  is transmitted from the fob  32  and, if within range, received by the remote engine start receiver  30  in the vehicle  20 . The engine start receiver  30  alerts the controller  28 , block  102 . 
         [0016]    Upon receiving the remote start signal  36 , the parking aid system  42  is also activated in a garage door detect mode, block  104 . The reverse sensors  44  detect if an object, such as the garage door  24 , is behind the vehicle  20  (indicating a closed garage door  24 ). In order to minimize false detections of a garage door, the parking aid system  42  may recognize the presence of a garage door only if more than one sensor  44  detects an object, or only the information from the middle two sensors  44  may be employed to detect the garage door in order to avoid the side sensors  44  detecting the side of the garage door opening rather than the garage door itself. Alternatively, the parking aid system  42  may employ all four sensors  44 , with an object detection by any of them indicating a garage door closed condition. 
         [0017]    If the sensors  44  of the parking aid system  42  do not recognize the presence of a garage door, block  106 , then the controller  28  will proceed with the remote engine start, block  108 . If the presence of a garage door  24  is recognized, block  106 , then the controller  28  will alter the remote engine start routine accordingly, block  110 . This altering of the remote engine start may take the form of disabling remote engine start. This altering of the remote engine start may also take the form of sending a garage door open signal  40  from the garage door opener transmitter  38  and then remotely starting the engine  48 , or sending the garage door open signal  40 , employing the parking aid system  42  to re-check for the presence of the garage door  24  and then remotely starting the engine if the presence of the garage door is no longer recognized. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. Since this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, like reference characters designate corresponding elements in the drawings and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the parking aid system  42  includes forward sensors  60  mounted at the front  62  of the vehicle  20  in addition to the reverse sensors  44 . 
         [0019]    When a remote start signal  36  is received from the key fob  32 , the parking aid system  42  will receive input from both the reverse sensors  44  and the forward sensors  60 . If either set of sensors  44 ,  60  detect that there is no garage door  24  (i.e., there is no object detected at at least one end of the vehicle), then the remote engine start can proceed. If, on the other hand, the reverse and forward sensors  44 ,  60  both detect structure, such as a garage door  24  and a wall of the enclosed structure  22 , then the remote engine start routine is altered. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. Since this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, like reference characters designate corresponding elements in the drawings and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector  70  is mounted on the vehicle  20  and in communication with the controller  28 . 
         [0021]    When a remote start signal  36  is received from the key fob  32 , not only is the parking aid system  42  employed to determine if the garage door  24  is opened, but a CO level is determined. The controller  28  proceeds with the remote engine start if both conditions are met. Otherwise the remote engine start routine is altered. If the garage door  24  is detected, the alteration may include, for example, sending a garage door open signal  40  to the garage door opener  26  and then re-checking for the presence of the door  24  and the CO level before determining if remote engine start will be allowed. 
         [0022]    In addition, the added features of the second and third embodiments can both be employed on the same vehicle for remote engine start and enclosed space detection. 
         [0023]    While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.