Abstract: A system to control turning on an engine of a vehicle includes a relay and a detect circuit. The detect circuit is configured to detect a client device and, upon detection of a client device, to assert a signal indicating that a client device has been detected. Responsive to detection of the client device, the detect circuit generates a signal to cause the relay to close upon activation of a starter control in the vehicle to thereby cause current to flow to a starter motor in the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 15, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2018
Assignee:
Livingston Enterprises LLC
Inventors:
Antony Livingston, Christopher M. Macheca
Abstract: An anti-distracted driver system comprises an interrupt device and a client device detector. The system may be installed in a vehicle. The client device detector may be installed in, for example, the glove box and may detect whether a client device (e.g., smart phone) is present (also in the glove box). If a client device is detected, an identifier (ID) is extracted from the client device and compared to a set of valid client device IDs provided by an administrator. If no match is found or no client device is detected, a relay is, or remains, disengaged thereby electrically disconnecting the starter control (e.g., ignition switch) from a solenoid of the starter motor thereby preventing the vehicle's engine from being started. Thus, the engine cannot be started unless the vehicle operator places his or her phone in the glove box of the vehicle (or wherever the client device detector is otherwise located).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 16, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 19, 2017
Assignee:
Livingston Enterprises LLC
Inventors:
Antony Livingston, Christopher M. Macheca