DE-102024210863-A1 - Control device for keyless starting and stopping of a motor vehicle's engine, as well as motor vehicle with a control device and method for starting and stopping a motor vehicle's engine.

DE102024210863A1DE 102024210863 A1DE102024210863 A1DE 102024210863A1DE-102024210863-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device (12) for keyless starting and stopping of an engine (14) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising a rotatable control element (16) that can be rotated between an engine start position and an engine stop position; a sensor device (18) designed to detect the different positions of the control element (16); and a control unit (20) configured to start the engine (14) when the control element (16) is rotated into the engine start position and to stop the started engine (14) when the control element (16) is subsequently rotated into the engine stop position. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle (10) with an operating device (12) and a method for starting and stopping an engine (14) of a motor vehicle (10).

Inventors

Cyril Noulette

Assignees

VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241112

Claims (10)

Operating device (12) for keyless starting and stopping of an engine (14) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising: - a rotatable control element (16) that can be rotated between an engine start position and an engine stop position; - a sensor device (18) designed to detect the different positions of the control element (16); - a control device (20) designed to start the engine (14) when the control element (16) is rotated into the engine start position and to stop the started engine (14) when the control element (16) is subsequently rotated into the engine stop position.
Operating device (12) according to Claim 1 , wherein the control element (16) is also rotatable into a neutral position arranged between the engine start position and the engine stop position, and a reset mechanism (22) is provided which exerts a reset force on the control element (16) directed towards the neutral position.
Operating device (12) according to Claim 2 , wherein the engine start position is 45 degrees in a first direction of rotation (36) from the neutral position, and the engine stop position is 45 degrees in a second, opposite direction of rotation (38) from the neutral position.
Operating device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating element (16) is designed such that it can be rotated clockwise from the motor stop position to the motor start position.
Operating device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating device (12) has a feedback device (24), and the control device (20) is configured to output the feedback device (24) depending on the detected position of the operating element (16) to output at least one feedback.
Operating device (12) according to Claim 5 , wherein the feedback device (24) is designed to provide haptically perceptible feedback at the control element (16), to provide visual feedback in the vehicle interior and/or to provide acoustic feedback in the vehicle interior.
Operating device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (20) is configured to effect the engine start only after the operating element (16) has been in the engine start position for a predetermined duration.
Motor vehicle (10) with an operating device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating element (16) is permanently arranged in the vehicle interior.
motor vehicle (10) according to Claim 8 , wherein the control element (16) is arranged on a steering column cover (26), on a center console (40) or on a dashboard (42) of the motor vehicle (10).
Method for keyless starting and stopping of an engine (14) of a motor vehicle (10) by means of an operating device (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 .

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for keyless starting and stopping of a motor vehicle's engine, and to a motor vehicle with such an operating device. The invention further relates to a method for keyless starting and stopping of a motor vehicle's engine. It is generally known that motor vehicles are equipped with a start-stop button to start and stop their engines. Such start-stop buttons have become particularly common in conjunction with keyless entry systems. Furthermore, electrically powered vehicles are becoming increasingly widespread. Thus, there has been a move away from conventional car keys used to start vehicles. However, this is sometimes perceived negatively by users, especially those who preferred using traditional car keys. The purpose of the invention is to provide a particularly simple and reliable solution for starting and stopping a motor vehicle. This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description, and the figures. Features, advantages, and possible embodiments set forth in the description for one of the subject matter of the independent claims are to be regarded, at least analogously, as features, advantages, and possible embodiments of the respective subject matter of the other independent claims, as well as of any possible combination of the subject matter of the independent claims, optionally in conjunction with one or more of the dependent claims. The invention relates to an operating device for keyless starting and stopping of a motor vehicle engine. The operating device comprises a rotatable control element that can be rotated between an engine start position and an engine stop position. Furthermore, the operating device includes a sensor device designed to detect the different positions of the control element. The operating device also includes a control unit configured to start the engine when the control element is rotated into the engine start position and to stop the started engine when the control element is subsequently rotated into the engine stop position. Keyless start means that no conventional ignition key is required to start the vehicle's engine. In other words, the operating device according to the invention can be part of a so-called "keyless go" system, in which, for example, the driver only needs to carry their car key but no longer needs to insert it into an ignition lock to start the vehicle. Instead, the driver simply needs to operate the rotary control element to start or stop the engine. The rotary control element can be turned to the aforementioned engine start position and the engine stop position. The rotating control element can be designed, for example, like a rotary knob, but other shapes are also possible. For instance, the rotating control element could be shaped to feel like a car key inserted into an ignition lock, giving the driver the tactile impression of holding a key head (the part not part of the key blade on conventional keys) between their fingers when turning the control element. The rotating control element can be permanently fixed inside the vehicle. This means that the control element cannot be removed without damaging it. The control device can be used in any motor vehicle, for example in passenger cars with combustion engines and/or electric motors, including hybrid vehicles. In other words, the control device is not limited to a specific type of drive system. The sensor device is designed to detect the respective positions of the control element. This means that the sensor device can at least detect whether the control element is in the engine start position or the engine stop position. Furthermore, the sensor device can also be designed to detect intermediate rotational positions, i.e., between the engine start position and the engine stop position. For example, the sensor device can have suitable switches that detect the respective (end) positions. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor device can, for example, have a potentiometer by means of which the position of the control element can be detected. The sensor device can be designed to transmit data and/or signals characterizing the position of the control element to the control unit. The control unit is configured to analyze this data and/or signals. The system detects the position of the control element and, based on this, recognizes its respective position. Depending on the position of the control element, the control unit can then initiate the starting or stopping of the engine accordingly. The operating device according to the invention for keyless starting and stopping of the engine offers the advantage that, unlike a conventional key, the operating element cannot be easily lost or stolen. The operating element according to the invention can be installed in a vehicle and remains installed in the vehicle after installation; it is not