The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1994
Applicant:
Inventors:
Assignee:
Astroflex, Inc., Quebec, CA;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60Q / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
340458 ; 340686 ; 340687 ; 340531 ; 200 6128 ; 200 6188 ; 307 101 ; 307 106 ; 361171 ; 361172 ; 2504911 ; 180287 ;
Abstract
An automotive opto-electric starter interlock for use in a motor vehicle for the purpose of preventing the engine from being remotely started unless the transmission is in neutral. The starter interlock includes an optical sensors array mounted to the transmission shift linkage. The output of the sensors is dependent upon the position of the shift linkage, hence allowing to determine if the transmission is in neutral. A microprocessor stimulates the sensors and observes their response to determine the position of the shift linkage. The information supplied by the sensors is also used to detect system malfunctions.