Starter control and indicator system

1. A single-button ignition control and starting system for a vehicle having an engine, an ignition system, a starter motor and a manually-operated clutch pedal, the system comprising:

an onboard computer operatively connected to the ignition system for selectively energizing the ignition system and operatively connected to the starter motor for selectively energizing the starter motor;

a start button operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to produce signals indicative of whether the button is depressed;

a light source operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to selectively illuminate the start button in a first, a second and a third illumination color;

a clutch sensor operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to produce signals indicative of whether the clutch pedal is depressed;

an engine sensor operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to produce signals indicative of whether the engine is running;

an identity sensor adapted to receive identity indicia and operatively connected to the onboard computer for producing signals indicative of the identity indicia received; and

wherein, when the onboard computer

receives signals from the identity sensor indicative of a predetermined identity indicia being received,

receives signals from the engine sensor indicative of the engine not running, and

receives signals from the clutch sensor indicative of the clutch pedal not being depressed,

then the onboard computer

energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the first illumination color and

does not energize the starter motor if the start button is depressed.

2. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

when the onboard computer

receives signals from the identity sensor indicative of the predetermined identity indicia being received,

receives signals from the engine sensor indicative of the engine not running and

receives signals from the clutch sensor indicative of the clutch pedal being depressed,

then the onboard computer,

when the start button is not depressed, energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the second illumination color and does not energize the starter motor, and

when the start button is depressed, energizes the ignition system and energizes the starter motor.

3. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein:

when the onboard computer receives signals from the engine sensor indicative of the engine running,

then the onboard computer energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the third illumination color, and

when the start button is depressed, de-energizes the ignition system.

4. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising:

a movement sensor operatively connected to the onboard computer and adapted to produce signals indicative of whether the vehicle is moving;

the light source being further adapted to illuminate the start button in a fourth illumination color; and

when the onboard computer receives signals from the engine sensor indicative of the engine running and receives signals from the movement sensor indicative of the vehicle moving,

then the onboard computer

energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the fourth illumination color and

does not de-energize the ignition system if the start button is depressed.

5. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein:

when the onboard computer receives signals from the engine sensor indicative of the engine running and receives signals from the movement sensor indicative of the vehicle not moving,

then the onboard computer

energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the third illumination color and

de-energizes the ignition system if the start button is depressed.

6. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the start button is formed of a translucent material and the light source is disposed behind the start button.

7. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the second illumination color is green and the third illumination color is red.

8. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the identity sensor is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transceiver adapted to receive identity indicia from a proximate RFID tag.

9. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the RFID tag is mounted on a pocket fob.

10. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the identity sensor is a card reader adapted to receive identity indicia from a proximate identity card.

11. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the identity card further comprises a magnetic stripe with embedded identity indicia.

12. The single-button ignition control and starting system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the identity card further comprises an embedded integrated circuit device with embedded identity indicia.