Patent ID: 8111145

Claim:
A single-button ignition control and starting system for a vehicle having an engine, an ignition system, a starter motor and a manually-operated clutch pedal, the system comprising: an onboard computer operatively connected to the ignition system for selectively energizing the ignition system and operatively connected to the starter motor for selectively energizing the starter motor; a start button operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to produce signals indicative of whether the button is depressed; a light source operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to selectively illuminate the start button in a first, a second and a third illumination color; a clutch sensor operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to produce signals indicative of whether the clutch pedal is depressed; an engine sensor operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to produce signals indicative of whether the engine is running; an identity sensor adapted to receive identity indicia and operatively connected to the onboard computer for producing signals indicative of the identity indicia received; and wherein, when the onboard computer receives signals from the identity sensor indicative of a predetermined identity indicia being received, receives signals from the engine sensor indicative of the engine not running, and receives signals from the clutch sensor indicative of the clutch pedal not being depressed, then the onboard computer energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the first illumination color and does not energize the starter motor if the start button is depressed.