Patent ID: 7171293

Claim:
A controller of a vehicle having an engine for use with an authorized key having a communication function, the vehicle including a passenger compartment, a door, and a key receiver arranged in the passenger compartment to receive the authorized key, the controller comprising: a microcomputer for controlling the engine, the microcomputer being capable of communicating wit the authorized key; a recognizer activated when predetermined conditions, including establishment of communication between the microcomputer and the authorized key, are satisfied to verify whether a vehicle occupant is an authorized user, the microcomputer enabling the starting of the engine when communication is established with the authorized key and the recognizer verifies the vehicle occupant as being the authorized user; wherein the microcomputer transmits a request signal to a predetermined first area defined around the vehicle, and the authorized key outputs a response signal in response to the request signal, the microcomputer unlocking the door when receiving the response signal and entering a regular mode to activate the recognizer when the door is opened, the microcomputer entering an irregular mode to keep the recognizer inactivated when the door is unlocked even though the response signal is not received, and the microcomputer activates the recognizer in the irregular mode when communication is established with the authorized key received in the key receiver.