Abstract:
A vehicle system includes a switch that is movable between first and second positions in a linear direction and moveable between third and fourth positions in a rotational direction. The system also comprises a control module that responds to the switch when the switch is in both the second position and the fourth position. The control module does not respond to the switch being moved from the third position to the fourth position unless the switch is also moved from the first position to the second position.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to vehicle ignition and more particularly to vehicle ignition switches. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A keyless ignition system for a motor vehicle, such as a keyless-go ignition system, utilizes a start/stop button instead of the commonly used ignition key lock mechanism. An engine control module within the vehicle receives an identification signal from a remote signaling device such as a key fob or a passive signaling device. The engine control module recognizes the identification signal and allows operation of the start/stop button in response to detecting an authorized identification signal. An operator then pushes the start/stop button to activate the vehicle engine. The operator also presses the button to deactivate the vehicle engine. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vehicle system comprises a switch that is movable between first and second positions in a linear direction and moveable between third and fourth positions in a rotational direction. The system also comprises a control module that responds to the switch when the switch is in both the second position and the fourth position. The control module does not respond to the switch being moved from the third position to the fourth position unless the switch is also moved from the first position to the second position. 
     The switch comprises a button that comprises a push-button portion that depresses from the first to the second position and a rotary portion that rotates from the third position to the fourth position prior to depression of the push-button. The push-button portion does not rotate when the rotary portion rotates. The rotary portion rotates from the fourth position to the third position to deactivate operation of a vehicle subsystem. The push-button portion is not pushed to deactivate operation of the vehicle subsystem. The control module comprises an ignition control module that starts an engine of the vehicle in response to the switch. 
     The vehicle system further comprises an engine control module and an indicator that indicates authorization to use the switch. The ignition control module does not respond to the switch unless the authorization is received by one of the ignition control module and the engine control module. The switch is moveable between third and fifth positions in the rotational direction. The fifth position is between the third and fourth positions. The fifth position corresponds to control operations of vehicle accessories. The fourth position corresponds to engine activation. 
     The vehicle system further comprises a first resistance, a second resistance and a third resistance. The first resistance is connected in parallel with the second resistance and not the third resistance when the switch moves from the first position to the second position and from the third position to the fifth position. The first resistance is connected in parallel with the second and third resistances when the switch moves from the first position to the second position and from the third position to the fourth position. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a vehicle system, according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a switch, according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the switch, according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  and  5  are schematic diagrams of the switch, according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a logic flow diagram that illustrates a method for operating the switch, according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term module refers to components, devices and systems that are electric and/or mechanical that provide signals, instructions, and/or activate other vehicle components and systems. Modules can include all those functions listed above. Further, a module may be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle ignition switch system  10  is illustrated. The vehicle system  10  includes a start/stop switch  12  and an identification device  14 . The switch  12  may include a button, a knob, and or other similar switching device. The identification device  14  may be a key fob or a passive signaling device. 
     The identification device  14  may emit an identification signal  16  that is received by an engine control module  18 . The engine control module  18  verifies the identification signal  16  and enables an ignition control module  20 . The start/stop switch  12  is configured to enable operation of one or more subsystems of the vehicle system  10  and then stop operation of the one or more subsystems of the vehicle system  10 . The vehicle subsystems include one or more of the following: ignition control, engine control, climate control, windshield wiper control, infotainment, navigation systems control, and dashboard display control. Dashboard display control includes providing odometer indications, fuel indications, and the like. Various other vehicle subsystems are also contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure. The switch  12  may be located on the dashboard  22  of the vehicle system  10 . However, this is simply one embodiment of the application and various other locations for the switch  12  may also be used. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the switch  12  is further illustrated. In one embodiment of the application, the face  50  of the switch includes instructions and/or other indications of operation of the switch  12 . For example, the switch  12  includes a term such as “push” located in a center push portion  52  of the switch  12 . This indicates to a vehicle operator that a region of the switch  12  is to move along a linear direction. Further indications are provided to indicate rotational operations of the switch  12 . For example, the terms “OFF”, “accessory” (shown in  FIG. 2  as “ACC”), and “RUN” may be located in the vicinity of the face  50  of the switch  12  to indicate that a portion of the switch (e.g. an outer rim rotary portion  53 ) of the face  50  is to be rotated. 
     In one embodiment, the switch  12  also includes an indicator  54  that illustrates the position of the rotary portion  53  relative to the terms “OFF”, “accessory” (“ACC”) and “RUN”. When the switch is at one of the following positions: “OFF” indicates that one or more components or systems of the vehicle is non-operational, “ACC” indicates that one or more accessories of the vehicle such as the radio or various other vehicle subsystems are enabled, and “RUN” indicates that the vehicle ignition is enabled. Directional line  56 , shown in  FIG. 2 , illustrates rotational movement of the switch  12 . Directional line  56  may be imprinted on the switch  12 . Directional line  58 , shown in  FIG. 3 , illustrates linear movement of the switch  12 . 
     The switch  12  connects via a connector  60  to vehicle systems, such as the ignition control module  20  and the engine control module  18 . The switch  12  includes a housing  62  that may hold mechanical and/or electrical components of the switch  12 . For example, the switch  12  may include a spring within the housing  62  (not shown) so that, at one switch position, when a push portion  52  of the face  50  of the switch  12  is depressed, the push portion  52  will return to its former position. The housing  62  may also enclose gears and or other such mechanisms (not shown) such that the rotary or other functions of the switch  12  may be implemented. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A through 4C , the switch  12  is illustrated in further detail. The switch  12  includes both a rotary portion and a push-button portion. In one exemplary embodiment, the rotary portion  53  moves independently of the push portion  52 . In other words, rotating the rotary portion  53  does not rotate the push portion  52 , and depression of the push portion  52  does not depress the rotary portion  53 . In an alternative exemplary embodiment, movement of the rotary portion  53  enables depression of the push portion  52 . In this embodiment, the push portion  52  cannot be depressed unless the rotary portion  53  has been rotated. In another alternative exemplary embodiment, rotation of the rotary portion  53  rotates but does not depress (and thus does not implement operation of) the push portion  52 . In another alternative exemplary embodiment, the push portion may be depressed before or simultaneously with rotation of the rotary portion  53 . In an alternative exemplary embodiment, depression of the push portion  52  depresses the rotary portion  53  but does not rotate (and thus does not implement operation of) the push portion  52 . 
     In one operational embodiment, an operator rotates the rotary portion  53  first and then pushes the push portion  52  to activate subsystems of the system  10 . Examples of subsystems include: ignition control, engine control, climate control, windshield wiper control, radio control, navigation systems control, and dashboard display control.  FIG. 4A  illustrates an example of the electrical components  70  of the push portion  52  of the switch  12  and also illustrates an example of the electrical components  72  of the rotary portion  53  of the switch  12 . In  FIG. 4A  the push portion  52  has not been pushed. In  FIGS. 4B and 4C , the push portion  52  has been pushed to engage corresponding contacts. When pushed, a connector  73  engages two contacts  74 ,  76  within the switch  12 . 
     In one embodiment, when the contacts  74 ,  76  are connected, the ignition control module  20  reads the resistance of the circuits to determine if conditions are correct to activate the ignition. The ignition control module  20  reads the resistance via connections  77 ,  79 ,  81 . If the rotary portion  53  has been positioned in the “RUN” position, and the push portion  52  is pushed, the vehicle ignition can be activated. If the push-button  52  is pushed and the rotary portion  53  is in any other position, such as “OFF”, the ignition control module  20  will not activate the ignition. 
     After the rotary portion  53  is rotated, the push portion  52  is operated. This sequence of push and rotary functions causes the switch  12  to send a signal that activates one or more vehicle subsystems, such as ignition control, as stated above. In one embodiment, to turn only the engine off but leave the vehicle accessories active, the rotary portion  53  is rotated so the indicator  54  points to the accessory (ACC) position. In an alternative embodiment, to turn the vehicle engine off, the rotary portion  53  is rotated back to the OFF position, which also turns of the one or more vehicle subsystems. The push portion  52  is not pushed again to turn the vehicle off. In an alternative embodiment, the rotary portion  53  is rotated back to the OFF position, and the push portion  52  is pushed again to turn the vehicle off. In an alternative embodiment, if the ignition has already been activated and the vehicle is running, pressing the push portion  52  again shuts the engine off, but the rotary portion  53  of the switch  12  remains in a run state; and the indicator  54  points to the RUN position. To restart the engine, for this embodiment, only the push portion  52  need then be pushed. 
     In  FIG. 4A  the switch  12  has not been rotated and is in the OFF position, which corresponds to contact  86 . In  FIG. 4B  the switch  12  has been rotated to the accessory position, which corresponds to contact  88 . In  FIG. 4C  the switch  12  has been rotated to the RUN position, which corresponds to contact  90 . Each of the contacts  88 ,  90  include respective resistances  95 ,  96  that may be different so that different signals can be sent to the ignition control module  20 . In one embodiment, the push portion  52  and the rotary portion  53  connect a first resistance  97  of the push portion  52  in parallel with respective second and third resistances  95 ,  96  of the rotary portion  53 . In one embodiment, resistance values for  95 ,  96 , and  97  are different values. Essentially, changes in resistance indicate to the ignition control module  20  changes in position of the rotary portion  53  and/or the push portion  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of the switch  12  is illustrated. In  FIG. 5 , a connector  60  includes two connections  98 ,  99  instead of the three connections  77 ,  79 ,  81  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C . Further, the push portion  52  of the switch  12  is arranged connected to the same connection  99  as the rotary portion  53 , unlike in  FIGS. 4A-4C . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a logic flow diagram illustrates a method for operating the switch  12 . In step  100  the engine control module  18  receives an indication that the identification device  14  is present. In step  104  the operator rotates rotary portion  53  of the switch to a first position from an OFF position, thereby enabling one or more of the vehicle accessories. In step  106  the operator rotates the switch  12  to a second position or RUN position, thereby enabling vehicle engine ignition. In step  107  an operator depresses the push portion  52  of the switch  12 , thereby directing a signal to activate vehicle engine operation. In step  108  the vehicle is operational. When the vehicle is operational, various vehicle subsystems are activated. For example, vehicle subsystems include one or more of the following: ignition control, engine control, climate control, windshield wiper control, radio control, navigation systems control, and dashboard display control. In step  110 , the operator rotates the rotary portion  53  back to the OFF position, thereby sending a signal to disable the various vehicle subsystems, such as the engine control subsystem, and thereby turn the subsystems off. Alternatively, the operator presses the push portion  52  without rotating the rotary portion, thereby turning the vehicle off. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.