Electronic starter and steering lock device for a motor vehicle

1. An electronic starter and steering locking device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a steering locking unit having a locking control unit that operates a locking actuating unit for locking and unlocking a vehicle steering element;

a vehicle starter unit for starting and stopping operation of the motor vehicle; and

a voltage supply; wherein

the locking control unit is continuously connected to the voltage supply, independently of a driving state of the vehicle;

the locking actuating unit is connected to the voltage supply via interrupter switching means, which can be switched as a function of an operating state of the vehicle starter unit, as a function of a switched position of a drive train transmission shift lever; and

the interrupter switching means includes an ignition switching element of which is contained in the vehicle starter unit and switches as a function of said operating state of the vehicle starter unit, and a further switching element which is connected in series with the ignition switching element and switches as a function of the position of said drive train transmission shift lever.

2. The electronic starter and steering locking device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle starter unit includes a vehicle starter control unit which has a data communications connection to the locking control unit.

3. A method of operating vehicle electronic starter and steering apparatus having a steering locking unit which includes a locking control unit that operates a locking actuating unit for locking and unlocking a vehicle steering element, and a vehicle starter unit for starting and stopping operation of the motor vehicle; said method comprising:

continuously supplying an operating voltage to said locking control unit, independently of a driving state of the vehicle; and

supplying an operating voltage to said locking actuating unit via a series connection of first and second switching elements, said first switching element being included in a vehicle starter unit of the electronic starter, and said second switching element being associated with a transmission shift lever of said vehicle; wherein,

said first switching element is switched between open and closed states as a function of an operating state of said starter unit; and

said second switching element is switched between open and closed states as a function of a position of said transmission shift lever.

4. In a motor vehicle having a vehicle starter unit for starting and stopping operation of a vehicle engine, and a steering locking device that includes a steering locking control unit that controls operation of a steering locking actuating unit for locking and unlocking a vehicle steering element; apparatus for energizing said steering locking control unit and said steering locking actuating unit, said apparatus comprising:

first means for continuously supplying an operating voltage to said steering locking control unit, independently of a driving state of the vehicle; and

second means for interruptibly supplying an operating voltage to said steering locking actuating unit, as a function of an operating state of said vehicle starter unit, and as a function of a position of a transmission shift lever of said vehicle; wherein;

said second means comprises a series connection of an ignition switching element which is contained in the vehicle starter unit and switches between open and closed states as a function of said operating state of the vehicle starter unit, and a further switching element that is associated with said transmission shift lever and switches between open and closed states as a function of said position of said shift lever.