Wireless vehicle security motion sensor with threaded mounting surface and related methods

• US 10,106,125 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Research and Development Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Omega Research and Development Technology LLC
• Inventors: Barrios, Hircio Javier, Thompson, Michael Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Application Number:
  US15/630,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20170282855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0418 Sharing hardware components like housing, antenna, receiver or signal transmission line with other vehicle systems like keyless entry or brake control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0422 characterised by the type of signal transmission means
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/32 of vehicle dynamic parameters, e.g. speed or acceleration

Abstract

A vehicle security system may include a vehicle controller and a first wireless communications device coupled thereto, and at least one wireless sensor. The wireless sensor may include a housing having a threaded mounting surface, a motion sensor carried by the housing, a second wireless communications device carried by the housing, and a sensor controller carried by the housing. The sensor controller is configured to determine when motion of the housing exceeds a first threshold, and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon via the second and first wireless communications devices, and determine when the first threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode based thereon. The at least one sensor may also include a power source carried by the housing to power the motion sensor, second wireless communications device, and sensor controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system comprising:

a vehicle controller and a first wireless communications device coupled thereto; and

at least one wireless sensor comprising

a housing having a threaded mounting surface,

a motion sensor carried by the housing,

a second wireless communications device carried by the housing,

a sensor controller carried by the housing and coupled to the motion sensor and the second wireless communications device to

determine when motion of the housing exceeds a first threshold, and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon via the second and first wireless communications devices, and

determine when the first threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode based thereon, and

a power source carried by the housing to power the motion sensor, second wireless communications device, and sensor controller.

2. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless sensor comprises a tire pressure sensor carried by the housing and coupled to the sensor controller;

and wherein the sensor controller sends a sensed tire pressure to the vehicle controller via the second and first wireless communications devices.

3. The vehicle security system of claim 2 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded passageway to be received on a threaded tire valve stem of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle security system of claim 2 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded tube to be received through a valve stem opening of a wheel of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded passageway to be received on a threaded wheel stud of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle controller generates a first alarm responsive to the first security alert message.

7. The vehicle security system of claim 6 the first alarm comprises at least one of a local audible alarm, a local visual alarm, and a wireless alarm transmission based upon the first security alert message.

8. The vehicle security system of claim 6 wherein the sensor controller determines when motion is above a second threshold lower than the first threshold and sends a second security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon;

and wherein the vehicle controller generates a second alarm responsive to the second security alert message.

9. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless sensor has a unique identifier (UID) associated therewith;

and wherein the sensor controller is switchable to a learning mode to send the UID to the vehicle controller.

10. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein the motion sensor comprises at least one of a three dimensional (3D) accelerometer, and a tilt sensor.

11. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle controller comprises at least one of a remote start controller, an alarm system controller, and a remote keyless entry controller.

12. A wireless sensor for use with a vehicle controller and a first wireless communications device coupled thereto, the wireless sensor comprising:

a housing having a threaded mounting surface;

a motion sensor carried by the housing;

a second wireless communications device carried by the housing; and

a sensor controller carried by the housing and coupled to the motion sensor and the second wireless communications device to

determine when motion of the housing exceeds a first threshold, and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon via the second and first wireless communications devices, and

determine when the first threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode based thereon; and

a power source carried by the housing to power the motion sensor, second wireless communications device, and sensor controller.

13. The wireless sensor of claim 12 comprising a tire pressure sensor carried by the housing and coupled to the sensor controller and the power source;

and wherein the sensor controller sends a sensed tire pressure to the vehicle controller via the second and first wireless communications devices.

14. The wireless sensor of claim 13 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded passageway to be received on a threaded tire valve stem of the vehicle.

15. The wireless sensor of claim 13 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded tube to be received through a valve stem opening of a wheel of the vehicle.

16. The wireless sensor of claim 12 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded passageway to be received on a threaded wheel stud of the vehicle.

17. The wireless sensor of claim 12 wherein the sensor controller determines when motion is above a second threshold lower than the first threshold and sends a second security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon.

18. The wireless sensor of claim 12 wherein the sensor controller has a unique identifier (UID) associated therewith;

and wherein the sensor controller is switchable to a learning mode to send the UID to the vehicle controller.

19. The wireless sensor of claim 12 wherein the motion sensor comprises at least one of a three dimensional (3D) accelerometer, and a tilt sensor.

20. A method of using a wireless sensor with a vehicle controller having a first wireless communications device coupled thereto, the wireless sensor comprising a housing having a threaded mounting surface, a motion sensor carried by the housing, a second wireless communications device carried by the housing, a sensor controller carried by the housing and coupled to the motion sensor and the second wireless communications device, and a power source coupled to the motion sensor, second wireless communications device and sensor controller, the method comprising:

mounting the wireless sensor to the vehicle using the threaded mounting surface of the housing; and

operating the sensor controller to

determine when motion of the housing exceeds a first threshold responsive to the motion sensor, and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon via the second and first wireless communications devices, and

determine when the first threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode based thereon.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the wireless sensor comprises a tire pressure sensor carried by the housing;

and comprising operating the sensor controller to send a sensed tire pressure to the vehicle controller via the second and first wireless communications devices.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded passageway to be received on a threaded tire valve stem of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded tube to be received through a valve stem opening of a wheel of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the threaded mounting surface of the housing comprises a threaded passageway to be received on a threaded wheel stud of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 20 comprising operating the sensor controller to determine when motion is above a second threshold lower than the first threshold and send a second security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the sensor controller has a unique identifier (UID) associated therewith;

and comprising switching the sensor controller to a learning mode to send the UID to the vehicle controller.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the motion sensor comprises at least one of a three dimensional (3D) accelerometer, and a tilt sensor.