Abstract:
An engine start system for use with a ground engaging vehicle, the system including an input device, a processing circuit, a display and an engine controller unit. The input device produces a signal when depressed, the signal initiates the application of electrical power to the engine start system. The processing circuit is activated by the application of electrical power thereto. The display is communicatively coupled with the processing circuit. The input device produces another signal when depressed. The other signal is detected by the processing circuit and the processing circuit, in response to the other signal, sends either a PIN request notice to the display or a start signal to the engine controller unit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a keyless ignition system, and, more particularly, to a keyless ignition system for a ground engaging vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Starting systems for internal combustion engines have existed for over one hundred years. Some internal combustion engines are started by simply hand rotation of the rotating component. Early automobiles had a mechanical starting system including a starting crank that was rotated by the operator of the car in order to start the engine. Electrical starting systems have included a physical engaging lever or pedal in which the act of engaging the starting gear also activated an electrical circuit to supply power to rotate the electrical motor thereby rotating the engine at sufficient speed to start the internal combustion engine. 
     In order to improve the security of the vehicle and prevent theft a key system was developed requiring the operator to have a key that would match the lock prior to the use of the system that would start the internal combustion engine. 
     In a typical starting system the key is placed into an ignition position, which causes battery voltage to be supplied to an ignition relay coil from the key switch, which energizes the coil to provide battery voltage to the ignition system. As the key is turned to the start position, battery voltage is supplied to the starter relay coil, which energizes the coil and provides battery voltage to the engine starter. The key switch is a single point failure for turning on ignition power, cranking over the engine and for continued supply of ignition power to the machine. The circuit provides no system diagnostics or feedback when it fails, which can create excessive downtime for the machine. If the machine is running and the key switch fails, ignition power is removed and the machine will be shut down. 
     What is needed in the art is a starting system that reduces down time and is more efficient and less expensive to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention, in one form thereof, is directed to an engine start system for use with a ground engaging vehicle, the system including an input device, a processing circuit, a display and an engine controller unit. The input device produces a signal when depressed, the signal initiates the application of electrical power to the engine start system. The processing circuit is activated by the application of electrical power thereto. The display is communicatively coupled with the processing circuit. The input device produces another signal when depressed. The other signal is detected by the processing circuit and the processing circuit, in response to the other signal, sends either a PIN request notice to the display or a start signal to the engine controller unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematicized side view of a loader utilizing an embodiment of the keyless ignition system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematicized block diagram of the keyless ignition system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an example of a control panel utilized in the keyless ignition system of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a method utilizing a sequence of steps of one embodiment of the ignition system used in  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
         FIGS. 5-7  are displays used in the management of the keyless ignition system of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a ground engaging vehicle  10 , which may be in the form of a loader  10 . Loader  10  includes a bucket  12 , wheels  14  that engage the ground that are connected to a frame  16  with an engine  18 . Engine  18  provides motive force for the movement of loader  10  and generates electricity for the use of control system  20 . Control system  20  may be distributed across different portions of loader  10  with portions in the cab of loader  10  so that an operator may access the controls for the control of loader  10 . 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 2-3  there is shown a control system  20  including an engine start system  22  that may integral with system  20 . Control system  20  includes a control panel  24  having a start button  26  and other controls  28 . Control system  20  additionally includes a processor  30 , an electrical power supply circuit  32 , a display  34 , an engine controller  36  and a flex load controller  38 . While the various elements of control system  20  are shown as all being connected to processor  30 , it is also known that these components can be connected by way of a control line and address buses and  FIG. 2  is utilized just for the purposes of illustrating a part of the connectivity of the various portions of control system  20 . Engine start system  22  operates utilizing a method described herein after. Control panel  24  includes start button  26 , which is directly connected to electrical power supply circuit  32 . Start button  26  activates power circuit  32  causing the application of electrical power from power circuit  32  to the rest of control system  20 . Start button  26  is also operatively connected to processor  30  and sends a signal to processor  30  when start button  26  is depressed. Processor  30  is activated when power circuit  32  supplies power thereto. Alternatively, processor  30  may be powered even before other portions of control system  20  and may have a sleep mode from which it is awakened by either application of electrical power from power circuit  32  or by way of a signal from start button  26 . Display  34  is located in the operator cab of loader  10 . Display  34  provides information to the operator including requests from the system for input upon control panel  24  by the operator. 
     Engine controller  36  may be located approximate to engine  18  and is communicatively connected to processor  30  for the receipt of instructions and for the passing of information therebetween. Engine controller  36  not only implements the instructions of engine start system  22  but also monitors engine  18  and reports to processor  30  information about engine  18  including any faults or operational data thereof. 
     Flex load controller  38  is shown as a separate entity from processor  30  but may be primarily a memory and may be completely integrated with processor  30 . Load controller  38  processes control information relative to the operation of loader  10  apart from engine  18 , which is under the control of and is monitored by engine controller  36 . 
     Control panel  24  includes not only a start button  26  and controls  28 , but also includes stop button  40 , indicators  42  on start button  26  as well as other indicators  44  and other buttons  36 . Some of buttons  46  include numeric values  48  thereon allowing at least some of buttons  46  to have multiple purposes. 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a method  100  that is carried out by engine start system  22 . At step  102  start button  26  is pressed and released to initiate method  100 . Electrical power is supplied at step  104  by power circuit  32 , thereby supplying electrical power to processor  30  and to other portions of electrical start system  22 . The application of electrical power to the various components of engine starting system  22  allows engine starting system  22  to come to life to process the commands for the initiation of a starting sequence of engine  18  and for the control of loader  10 . 
     At step  106 , information is received from the engine controller unit. In a similar fashion information is received at step  108  from the flex load controller. Obviously steps  106  and  108  can be preformed in either order or even in parallel. At step  110 , processor  30  compares the information from engine controller unit  36  with information from flex load controller  38  to ensure that components of loader  10  have not been compromised or tampered with. For example, if someone wishing to steal loader  10  tries to place a new engine controller unit with a personal identification number (PIN) known to the thief, loader  10  due to the comparison of information from both engine controller unit  36  and flex load controller  38  will cause the method  100  to proceed directly to requiring a PIN number at step  114  or can even inactivate the machine and cause it to not function unless the information is compatible. It is not required by the present method that the information be identical but rather that the information in controller unit  36  and controller  38  would validate the information in each other, thereby determining if either controller has been tampered with or replaced. 
     If the information from controller units  36  and  38  indicate a lack of tampering, then method  100  proceeds to step  112 , where processor  30  determines whether the security feature has been enabled. The security feature will be discussed later in greater detail. If no security level has been enabled then method  100  proceeds to step  118  to ensure that start button  26  is again pressed before the starting of engine  18  at step  122 . This two step pressing of start button  26  effectively powers up the starting system with the first press and the starting of the engine occurs upon the second pressing of start button  26 . 
     An operator will have a predetermined amount of time such as five minutes or 30 minutes to enter the PIN for validation of the operator. The information of the PIN is entered into control panel  24  by selecting buttons  46  that contain numeric values  48 , which correspond to the operators PIN. If a valid PIN has been detected at step  116  then within a predetermined amount of time, such as one minute, five minutes or thirty minutes, start button  26  must be depressed at step  118  in order for method  100  to proceed to step  122  in which engine  18  is started. If the PIN is not valid then after a predetermined amount of time such as five minutes, then electrical power is shut off at step  120 . In a like manner if start button  26  is not pressed, as determined by step  118 , within a predetermined time such as 30 minutes then electrical power is removed at step  120 . 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , there are illustrated menus that may be displayed on display  34 , which allows control of the security features of loader  10 . For example,  FIG. 5  illustrates a main menu that is displayed upon entering of a particular PIN at step  114  to allow access to various elements of control system  20 . For example, in  FIG. 5  if “security” is selected then the menu entitled security, such as shown in  FIG. 6  is then displayed on display  34 .  FIG. 6  indicates that security is “turned on” so that when method  100  is executing and it is to be determined whether security is enabled, then a memory element, in which it is stored, is queried to determine the operation of method  100 . Additionally, the PIN numbers can be changed by the owner of loader  10 , who has the access to peruse the menu as illustrated in  FIG. 5-7 . The owner may change his own PIN as well as manage multiple operator PINs and transport PINs. For example, when a manage operator PIN selection is made from the screen illustrated in  FIG. 6 , this leads to the screen shown in  FIG. 7  in which the owner can then alter the acceptable operator PINs which may be entered to operate loader  10 . Additionally, the functionality of loader  10  may be assigned by operator PINs. For example, if operator  3  is inexperienced the top speed of loader  10  may be degraded by a selection, not shown, in  FIG. 7 . In a similar matter, transport PINs can be assigned which in addition to having perhaps some performance degradation elements selected for loader  10 , can also limit the length of time in which loader  10  may be operated. For example, a default operation for a transport PIN may allow loader  10  to be only functional for thirty minutes or one hour or some other pre-selected time, thereby preventing someone that is transporting loader  10  from extended commercial use of loader  10 . A count down in the amount of time left for operation under the transport mode may be illustrated on display  34 . Alternatively, loader  10  may continue to operate after the predetermined time has expired but then any starting of loader  10  will be prevented by reutilization of that PIN. Control panel  24  incorporates processor  30  and provides a way for the operator to turn on the ignition power, request engine cranking, turn off the engine, turn off ignition power and provide diagnostics if the ignition relay does not energize. The ignition relay, which is a part of power circuit  32 , is energized by battery voltage supplied by the depressing of power button  26 . 
     A controller area network (CAN) may consist of two wires and a shield that provides communications of control panel  24  and the other control elements of the system. Control system  20  controls the illumination of indicators  42  and  44  for feedback to the operator. Indicators  42  and  44  may be lighted in a solid on, or off condition as well as a blinking condition that may indicate a need for attention relative to the various elements represented by the icons on buttons  46 . 
     Although not illustrated a brake pedal sensor may indicate by way of a transmission controller the position of the brake pedal. The transmission controller can broadcast the position of the brake pedal, as sensed by the brake pedal sensor, by way of the CAN to control system  20  to be utilized in the start sequence. Alternatively, a particular sequence of operations, which may include input on control panel  24  that are read by processor  30 , can be used to allow access to various functions of control system  20 . For example, the engine may not start unless both the start button  26  and the brake pedal are depressed within a predetermined time. In order to stop the functioning of engine  18  stop button  40  may be depressed to command the shutdown of the engine as well as a de-energizing of control system  20 . Control system  20  includes diagnostics to determine a failure of the ignition relay. For example an indicator  42  may blink indicating problem with the relay. 
     The present invention has various advantages in that not only the diagnostics of the relay circuit is undertaken but diagnostics of why the machine has failed to crank. The system has the flexibility to turn off the engine without turning off ignition power. Other advantages are that no key switch warranty is needed since no keys are required for the operation of loader  10 . Levels of security and numerous different pass codes in the form of PINs can be programmed into this system for controlled access for loader  10 . Diagnostics from engine controller  36  can be utilized in control system  20  to inform the operator of the condition of loader  10 . Since shutting down of the engine is under the control of control system  20  the engine can be shut down in a controlled manner, which can include going through a speed reduction sequence prior to eliminating the ignition power or supply of fuel to engine  18 . The system additionally allows the flexibility to require an operator to test various controls, such as a brake pedal, the horn, to make sure that the compartment door is closed, lights are turned on or off before the machine will crank, this helps to assure the machine is in a safe state prior to starting. Alternatively, the system can be programmed to have no security feature allowing a mere pressing of the button to start the system. 
     Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.