Engine Immobilizer Control System with Non-Volatile Prenotification Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing engine starting control systems face challenges in ensuring smooth engine start-ups due to ID verification complexities and battery voltage fluctuations, which can lead to unauthorized resets and failed ID reverifications, especially in wireless communication-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a user ID verifying mechanism, device control, prenotification storage, and continuation control to store prenotifying information about engine operation prohibition releases, allowing the engine to continue running even if the operation prohibiting signal changes due to battery voltage drops, thereby preventing accidental engine stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ID verification complexity is increased to enhance security, then security is improved, but ID reverification time increases and engine restarting becomes delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing the prohibition releasing condition in non-volatile memory before engine starting. This allows the system to retain the authorized state information even when the immobilizer controller resets during cranking, eliminating the need for time-consuming ID reverification after reset.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a copy of the prohibition releasing condition information and stores it in non-volatile memory. This backup copy persists through controller resets, allowing the system to restore the authorized state without performing complete ID verification again, thus reducing reverification time while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If data backup is performed after releasing the prohibition setting condition, then the releasing state can be recognized after resetting, but the immobilizer controller may be reset before the backup is completed due to short period before engine starting
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the data backup action preliminarily by storing the prohibition releasing condition in non-volatile memory during the interval between lock releasing signal transmission and prohibition signal switching. This ensures the backup is completed before the controller might reset during cranking, allowing reliable recognition of the releasing state even with the short time window available.
3Reliability
If the immobilizer controller is reset due to battery voltage decrease during cranking, then the controller resets, but the prohibition setting signal may be reset to prohibition setting condition causing engine to stop
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by storing the prohibition releasing condition in non-volatile memory before controller reset can occur. This backup information acts as a protective measure that prevents the engine operation state from changing to prohibition setting condition after reset, ensuring continuous stable engine operation even when voltage fluctuations cause controller resets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the prohibition signal state and comparing it with the backed-up prohibition releasing condition information. When the controller resets, the feedback mechanism detects the state change and restores the engine operation to the authorized state based on the stored information, preventing unintended engine stopping.
Data Source
AI summary
Prenotification information of releasing prohibition of an engine operation is stored in an EEPROM in an interval. The interval is after that a lock controller commands a steering lock to be operable. The interval is before that an engine controller switches an engine operation prohibiting signal to be in a prohibition releasing condition. The engine operation prohibiting signal may change from the prohibition releasing condition to the prohibition setting condition after an engine starting controller starts an engine. In this condition, the engine is stopped, or is continuously operated in accordance with the prenotifying information stored in the EEPROM.