Vehicle immobilization system

• US 20020067248A1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald Glanmor Howells
• Original Assignee: Donald Glanmor Howells
• Inventors: Howells, Donald Glanmor
• Granted Patent: US 6,897,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A system for immobilizing a stolen vehicle comprises a unit 10 for mounting in a vehicle and first and second remote control device 11, 21. The vehicle unit 10 comprises a receiver 13 for receiving wireless control signals directly from the remote control devices 11, 21 and means 15 for immobilizing the vehicle in response to predetermined control signals from either remote control device 11, 21. The first remote control device 11 is arranged to transmit a predetermined control signal which is substantially unique to the receiver 13 and the second remote control device 21 comprises means 16 for selecting the predetermined control signal to be transmitted.

In use, the first remote control device 11 is kept by the vehicle'"'"'s owner, so that the vehicle can be disabled each time it is left unattended. The second remote control 21 device is kept by the police and in the event of a vehicle theft, the police merely have to identify the vehicle, select an appropriate control signal and then transmit the control signal, either from a pursuit vehicle or from the roadside, to disable the vehicle.

The system is essentially a conventional vehicle immobilization system with the added facility that it can be activated by the police. Thus, the cost of the system to a vehicle manufacturer or owners is no greater than the cost of a conventional vehicle immobilization system, of the type commonly fitted to vehicles.

Claims

1. An immobilization system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first remote control device comprising means for transmitting a predetermined wireless control signal;

a second remote control device comprising means for transmitting a selectable wireless control signal in a first direction, means for transmitting a wireless enable signal in a different direction, and externally operable means for selecting the selectable control signal and enable signal to be transmitted;

a vehicle unit comprising a receiver for receiving said control and enable signals, and means for disabling said vehicle in response to either said predetermined control signal or said selectable control signal and for enabling said vehicle in response to said enable signal, said predetermined control signal being substantially unique to said receiver.

2. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 1, in which said externally operable means comprises a device for entering the vehicle'"'"'s registration number and means for selecting the selectable control signal and enable signal to be transmitted from the vehicle'"'"'s registration number.

3. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 1, in which said externally operable means comprises a device for entering the make of the vehicle and means for selecting the selectable control signal and enable signal to be transmitted from the vehicle'"'"'s make.

4. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 1, in which said externally operable means comprises a device for entering the model of the vehicle and means for selecting the selectable control signal and enable signal to be transmitted from the vehicle'"'"'s model.

5. An immnobilization system as claimed in claim 1, in which the disabling and enabling means is arranged to enable a disabled vehicle in response to said predetermined control signal.

6. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 4, in which the disabling and enabling means is arranged to prevent enablement of a disabled vehicle in response to said predetermined control signal, following disablement in response to said selectable control signal.

7. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for transmitting a selectable wireless control signal in said first direction and said means for transmitting a wireless enable signal in said different direction comprises respective directional aerials.

8. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 1, in which the power of the signals transmitted by the second remote control device is substantially greater than the power of the signal transmitted by the first remote control device.

9. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 1, in which the disabling and enabling means is arranged to partially disable said vehicle in response to said selectable control signal.

10. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 9, in which the second remote control device comprises means for selecting the degree of partial disablement.

11. An immobilization system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first remote control device comprising means for transmitting a predetermined wireless control signal,

a second remote control device comprising means for transmitting a selectable wireless control signal and externally operable means for entering the type of the vehicle and for selecting the selectable control signal to be transmitted from the entered type;

a vehicle unit comprising a receiver for receiving said control signals, and means for disabling said vehicle in response to either said predetermined control signal or said selectable control signal, said predetermined control signal being substantially unique to said receiver.

12. An immobilization system as claimed in claim 12, in which said second remote control devise comprises means for transmitting a selectable enable and means for selecting the selectable control signal to be transmitted from the entered vehicle typo, said vehicle unit comprising means for enabling said vehicle in response to said enable signal.