Vehicle safety and security system

• US 20020111756A1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OSI Optoelectronics, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: UDT Sensor Incorporated
• Inventors: Modgil, Onkar S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,629,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• 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

Abstract

A self-contained safety and security system and method that performs the multiple functions of theft deterrence, battery saving, battery analysis system, accident protection, and telemetry and control data communication for vehicles is disclosed. The present invention is an electronically-based system for a vehicle having an existing power transmission circuit including a battery that can be readily installed and made operational by an individual having no special training using common household tools. The safety and security system requires the installation of no dedicated wiring in the vehicle. Furthermore, the system preferably installs without any cutting or splicing of the wiring in the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an electrical activity sensor coupled to and sensing electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, a motion sensor sensing vibration associated with the vehicle, a battery-disconnect switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit; and a controller having inputs to receive signals from the electrical activity and motion sensors and an output to communicate with and control the switch. The electrical activity sensor has an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal

Claims

1. A battery saver for a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, said battery saver comprising:

a. an electrical activity sensor coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor having an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal functionally related to electrical activity sensed on the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit; and

c. a controller, including an input and an output, the input of said controller being electrically coupled to the electrical activity sensor output and the output of said controller being electrically coupled to said switch,

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to determine a load on the direct current power transmission circuit and said controller transmitting a disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when the electrical activity output signal varies by a preset amount from a predetermined ambient condition level.

2. The battery saver of claim 1, the vehicle further comprising an engine that produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit when the engine is active, the electrical activity output signal from said electrical activity sensor thereby containing an electrical signature of an active engine,

said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to the controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor and determining that the engine is inactive.

3. The battery saver of claim 2, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of electrical activity signatures, and said controller determining that the engine is inactive by comparing the electrical activity output signal with the library of electrical activity signatures.

4. The battery saver of claim 2, said electrical activity sensor detecting AC and DC components of the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor comprising a low-pass filter to process the AC component of the electrical activity, and the electrical activity output signal comprising AC and DC component signals,

said controller analyzing the DC component of the electrical activity output signal to determine the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to the controller analyzing the AC component of electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor and determining that the engine is inactive.

5. The battery saver of claim 1, said electrical activity sensor detecting AC and DC components of the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, and comprising a low-pass filter to process the AC component of the electrical activity, and said electrical activity output signal comprising AC and DC component signals.

6. The battery saver of claim 1 further comprising a constant current source electrically in parallel with said switch, and being electrically coupled to and receiving current source enabling and disabling signals from the output of said controller,

said constant current source, when enabled, supplying to the direct current power transmission circuit under a predetermined ambient condition an ambient condition voltage at the predetermined ambient condition level;

said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit while said switch is open and said constant current source is enabled.

7. The battery saver of claim 6, the direct current power transmission circuit further including at least one electronic accessory having a memory and requiring a minimum voltage to maintain the memory, the ambient condition voltage being at least the minimum voltage.

8. The battery saver of claim 6, the vehicle further comprising an engine that produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit when the engine is active, said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to the controller determining from the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor that the engine is inactive.

9. The battery saver of claim 1, the vehicle including an engine that produces vibration within the vehicle when the engine is active, and the battery saver further comprising:

a motion sensor having a motion sensor output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a motion sensor output signal functionally related to vibration detected within the vehicle, said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal and determining therefrom that the engine is inactive.

10. The battery saver of claim 9, said controller further analyzing the motion sensor output signal to identify a vibration signature of a door opening and a vibration signature of a door closing and to determine therefrom that the vehicle is unoccupied.

11. The battery saver of claim 9, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of vibration signatures, and said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal and determining therefrom that the vehicle is unoccupied and that the engine is inactive by comparing the motion sensor output signal with the library of vibration signatures.

12. The battery saver of claim 1 the vehicle including an engine that produces vibration within the vehicle and engine electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit when the engine is active, and the battery saver further comprising:

a motion sensor having a motion sensor output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a motion sensor output signal functionally related to vibration detected within the vehicle, said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to the controller analyzing the electrical activity and motion sensor output signals and determining therefrom that the vehicle is unoccupied and that the engine is inactive.

13. The battery saver of claim 12, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of electrical activity and a library of vibration signatures, and said controller analyzing the electrical activity and motion sensor output signals and determining therefrom that the vehicle is unoccupied and that the engine is inactive by comparing the electrical activity output signal with the library of electrical activity signatures and by comparing the motion sensor output signal with the library of vibration signatures.

14. The battery saver of claim 12, said motion sensor comprising

a. an analog signal conditioner circuit having a conditioner circuit input and the motion sensor output, said analog signal conditioner circuit producing the motion sensor output signal functionally related to an analog electrical signal;

and

b. a piezo-ceramic motion transducer coupled to the conditioner circuit input, said motion transducer detecting and converting vibration into the analog electrical signal functionally related to the vibration processed by said analog signal conditioner circuit.

15. The battery saver of claim 1, the preset amount being at least five percent of the predetermined ambient condition level.

16. That battery saver of claim 1, the predetermined ambient condition level being between about three and about eleven volts.

17. The battery saver of claim 1,

said switch being a MOSFET switch and having an output electrically coupled to the input of said controller,

said switch producing a thermal sense signal functionally related to a temperature of said switch, and

the input of said controller receiving the thermal sense signal and the output of said controller transmitting the disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when the temperature of said switch passes a predetermined temperature threshold level.

19. The method of claim 18, the vehicle further including an engine that produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit when the engine is active, and the method further comprising steps, preceding step (a), of:

-a1. detecting and analyzing the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

-a2. determining from analyzing the electrical activity that the engine is inactive.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step preceding step (a) allowing a predetermined period of time to elapse, the predetermined period exceeding a threshold period of time that an accessory interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit is electrically active after the engine becomes inactive.

21. The method of claim 19, the analyzing step comprising processing the detected electrical activity through a low pass filter.

22. The method of claim 19, the step -a2 comprising the steps of:

-a21. comparing the electrical activity with an electrical activity signature of an active engine; and

-a22. identifying when the electrical activity does not contain the electrical activity signature of the active engine.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising steps, preceding step (a), of:

-a1. detecting and analyzing electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit and vibration within the vehicle; and

-a2. determining from analyzing the electrical activity and the vibration that the vehicle is unoccupied and inactive.

24. The method of claim 23, the step -a2 comprising the steps of:

-a21. comparing the electrical activity with an electrical activity signature of an active engine and the vibration with a vibration signature of the vehicle becoming unoccupied;

-a22. identifying when the electrical activity does not contain the electrical activity signature of the active engine; and

-a23. identifying when the vibration contains the vibration signature of the vehicle becoming unoccupied.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising a step preceding step (a) of allowing a predetermined period of time to elapse, the predetermined period of time exceeding a threshold period of time that an accessory interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit is electrically active after the engine becomes inactive.

26. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps between steps (b) and (c) of:

bc1. detecting and analyzing a first voltage on the direct current power transmission circuit;

bc2. electrically reconnecting the battery on the direct current power transmission circuit if the first voltage varies by the preset amount from the ambient condition level voltage;

bc3. allowing a period of time to elapse; and

bc4. electrically disconnecting the battery from the direct current power transmission circuit.

27. The method of claim 26, the period of time being at least two minutes.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising steps after (c) of:

cd1. electrically reconnecting the battery on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

cd2. allowing a second time period to elapse; and

step (d) further comprising disconnecting the battery from the direct current power transmission circuit if the final voltage level varies by the preset amount from the predetermined ambient condition level voltage.

29. The method of claim 18, the preset amount being at least five percent of the ambient condition level voltage.

30. The method of claim 18, the ambient condition level voltage being at least a minimum voltage, the minimum voltage being required to maintain a memory in an electronic accessory interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit.

18. A method of protecting the charge in a battery for a vehicle, the battery interposed in a direct current power transmission circuit, comprising the steps of:

a. enabling a constant current source interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit, that under an ambient condition supplies a predetermined ambient condition level voltage over the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. electrically disconnecting the battery from the direct current power transmission circuit;

c. detecting a final voltage level on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

d. electrically disconnecting the constant current source from the direct current power transmission circuit if the final voltage level varies by a preset amount from the predetermined ambient condition level voltage.

31. A battery analyzer for a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, and having a starter that when activated produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, said battery analyzer comprising:

a. an electrical activity sensor electrically coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor having an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal functionally related to electrical activity detected on the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. a battery condition reporting module electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and reporting battery condition data encoded in a battery condition signal received on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

c. a controller, including an input and an output, the input of said controller being electrically coupled to the electrical activity sensor output and the output of said controller electrically coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit,

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor when the starter is activated to determine the battery condition, and said controller transmitting on the direct current power transmission circuit the battery condition signal containing the battery condition data to said battery condition reporting module.

32. The battery analyzer of claim 31 further comprising a motion sensor, said motion sensor having a motion sensor output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a motion sensor output signal functionally related to vibration detected within the vehicle, said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal in conjunction with the electrical activity output signal to determine the battery condition when the starter switch is activated.

33. The battery analyzer of claim 31, further comprising a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit, the output of said controller being connected to the direct current power transmission circuit by being electrically coupled to said switch, and said controller communicating the battery condition signal by transmitting to said switch a sequence of switch opening and switch closing control signals, the time intervals between control signals containing the battery condition data.

34. The battery analyzer of claim 33, said switch being a field effect transistor.

35. The battery analyzer of claim 33,

said switch being a MOSFET switch and having an output electrically coupled to the input of said controller,

said switch producing a thermal sense signal functionally related to a temperature of said switch, and

the input of said controller receiving the thermal sense signal and the output of said controller transmitting the disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when the temperature of said switch exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

36. The battery analyzer of claim 31 further comprising a constant current source electrically in parallel with said switch, and being electrically coupled to and receiving current source enabling and disabling signals from the output of said controller,

said constant current source, when enabled, supplying to the direct current power transmission circuit under a predetermined ambient condition an ambient condition voltage at the predetermined ambient condition level;

said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit while said switch is open and said constant current source is enabled.

37. The battery analyzer of claim 36, the direct current power transmission circuit further including at least one electronic accessory having a memory and requiring a minimum voltage to maintain the memory, the ambient condition voltage being at least the minimum voltage.

38. The battery analyzer of claim 33, the sequence having a start portion, a middle portion and an end portion, the start and end portions of the sequence comprising a start/end code, and the middle portion of the sequence comprising a bit zero code representing a value of zero and a bit one code representing a value of one.

39. The battery analyzer of claim 33, battery condition reporting module comprising:

a. a decoder having an output and electronically processing the battery condition signal received over the direct current power transmission circuit into a report instruction signal; and

b. a user interface having an input electrically coupled to the output of said decoder, said user interface receiving the report instruction signal from the decoder and reporting the battery condition.

40. The battery analyzer of claim 39, the user interface comprising an LED display.

41. The battery analyzer of claim 39, the user interface comprising a speaker.

42. The battery analyzer of claim 31, battery condition reporting module comprising:

c. a decoder having an output and electronically processing the battery condition signal received over the direct current power transmission circuit into a report instruction signal; and

d. a user interface having an input electrically coupled to the output of said decoder, said user interface receiving the report instruction signal from the decoder and reporting the battery condition.

43. The battery analyzer of claim 42, the user interface comprising an LED display.

44. The battery analyzer of claim 42, the user interface comprising a speaker.

45. The battery analyzer of claim 31, the controller transmitting the battery condition signal representing a poor battery condition when the electrical activity output signal crosses a predetermined threshold level.

47. The method of claim 46, the step (c) comprising the steps:

c1. enabling a power source electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and having a voltage level offset at least 10% from the battery voltage; and

c2. alternatively enabling and disabling a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and parallel to said power source such that the DC voltage on the direct current power transmission circuit alternates between the battery voltage and the power source voltage and encodes the battery condition data into the battery condition signal.

48. The method of claim 46 further comprising a step after step (e) of error-checking the battery condition signal at the battery condition reporter module.

49. The method of claim 48, the error-checking step comprising comparing the battery condition data for a plurality of transmissions of the battery condition signal.

50. The method of claim 46, step (e) being performed by displaying the battery condition on an LED display.

51. The method of claim 46, step (e) being performed by reporting the battery condition over speaker.

52. The method of claim 46, step (a) comprising steps of:

a1. comparing the electrical activity with a set of electrical activity signatures representing a plurality of battery conditions; and

a2. selecting an electrical activity signature most closely matching the electrical activity.

53. The method of claim 46, further comprising a step preceding step (a) of identifying the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit of an ignition switch in motion.

46. A method of analyzing and reporting the charge in a battery for a vehicle, the vehicle having a starter that produces electrical activity on a direct current power transmission circuit when the starter is activated, the battery interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

a. analyzing the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit as the starter is activated to obtain battery condition data for the battery;

b. transmitting on the direct current power transmission circuit to a battery condition reporter module a battery condition signal containing the battery condition data;

c. reproducing the battery condition data at the battery condition reporter module from battery condition signal; and

d. reporting the battery condition data via a user interface.

54. An accident safety system for a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, said accident safety system comprising:

a. a motion sensor having a motion sensor output, said motion sensor detecting vibration within the vehicle and producing a motion sensor output signal functionally related to the vibration detected within the vehicle,

b. a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit; and

c. a controller, including an input and an output, the input of said controller being electrically coupled to the motion sensor output and the output of said controller being electrically coupled to said switch,

said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal of said motion sensor to identify whether the motion sensor output signal contains a vibration signature of a collision involving the vehicle, and said controller transmitting a battery-disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when said motion sensor output signal matches the vibration signature to a preset degree.

55. The accident safety system of claim 54, further comprising an electrical activity sensor coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor having an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal functionally related to electrical activity sensed on the direct current power transmission circuit;

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to determine a load on the direct current power transmission circuit and said controller transmitting a disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when the electrical activity output signal varies by a preset amount from a predetermined ambient condition level.

56. The accident safety system of claim 54, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of vibration signatures, and said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal and determining therefrom when the vehicle is involved in a collision by comparing the motion sensor output signal with a vibration signature of a collision involving the vehicle.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising a step of providing a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit, and step (c) being performed by transmitting a battery-disabling control signal to the switch, thereby opening said switch.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising steps of analyzing electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit and electrically disconnecting the battery from the direct current power transmission circuit when the electrical activity signature matches a vehicle collision electrical signature to a preset degree.

60. The method of claim 57 step (b) comprising steps of:

a. producing an electrical signal functionally related to the vibration;

b. applying a low-pass filter to the electrical signal; and

c. determining a degree of match between the electrical signal and at least one vehicle collision vibration signature.

57. A method of minimizing the probability of having an electrical short circuit in a direct current power transmission circuit in a vehicle after a collision involving the vehicle, a battery interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

a. detecting vibration within the vehicle caused by the collision;

b. analyzing the vibration to identify a vibration signature for the vibration;

c. electrically disconnecting the battery from the direct current power transmission circuit when the vibration matches a vehicle collision vibration signature to a preset degree.

61. A system for communicating data over an existing direct current power transmission circuit including a battery comprising:

a. a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit,

b. a controller, having an output electrically coupled to said switch, said controller encoding the data in a data signal by transmitting to said switch a sequence of battery enabling and disabling signals, the time between enabling and disabling signals comprising the data signal; and

c. a receiver electrically coupled to the direct current power circuit, said receiver receiving the data signal and decoding the data signal into data.

62. The system of claim 61, further comprising a constant current source interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and electrically in parallel with the switch, and being electrically coupled to and receiving current source enabling and disabling signals from the output of said controller,

said constant current source, when enabled, supplying under a predetermined ambient condition an ambient condition voltage to the direct current power transmission circuit, such that when the controller disables the battery by transmitting a disabling signal to said switch, the voltage on the direct current power transmission circuit is based on the ambient condition voltage.

63. The battery saver of claim 62, the direct current power transmission circuit further including at least one electronic accessory having a memory and requiring a minimum voltage to maintain the memory, the ambient condition voltage being at least the minimum voltage.

64. The communication system of claim 62, the data signal comprising square pulses of voltage having pulse widths determined by the content of the data, and pulse levels alternating between the battery voltage and the ambient condition voltage.

65. The communication system of claim 61, the data signal comprising square pulses of voltage and the data encoded in pulse widths.

66. The communication system of claim 65, the receiver comprising a Schmitt Trigger such that the data signal comprises square pulses of voltage.

67. The communication system of claim 61, the data signal having a start portion, a middle portion and an end portion, the start and end portions of the data signal comprising a start/end code, and the middle portion of the data signal comprising a bit zero code representing a value of zero and a bit one code representing a value of one.

68. The communication system of claim 67, the start/end code, the bit zero code and bit one code each comprising a voltage square pulse, the voltage square pulses having pulse widths varying from each other by at least five milliseconds.

69. The system of claim 61, the data signal being a control signal, and the receiver performing a control function in response to decoding the control signal.

70. The communication system of claim 61, the direct current power transmission circuit operating in a motorized vehicle.

71. A method for communicating data over an existing direct current power transmission circuit including a battery comprising the steps of:

a. providing a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit to disconnect the battery from the circuit when the switch is open;

b. opening and closing the switch in predetermined time intervals thereby encoding the data and forming a data signal transmitted on the direct current power transmission circuit, the time periods between closings of the switch representing the data in the data signal; and

c. decoding the data signal into received data at a receiver electrically coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising a step before step (b) of enabling a power source interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and electrically in parallel with the switch such that a minimum voltage on the direct current power transmission circuit is provided when the switch is opened.

73. The method of claim 72, the power source being a constant current source and the minimum voltage being an ambient condition level voltage.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising steps preceding step (a) of:

a. detecting an active load on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

b. deactivating the active load.

75. The method of claim 71, further comprising a step before step (c) of processing the data signal through a Schmitt trigger such that the data signal is a pulse waveform.

76. The method of claim 71, further comprising a step of performing a control function at the receiver in response to decoding the data signal.

77. The method of claim 71, further comprising a step preceding step (b) of:

ab. opening and closing the switch in predetermined time intervals thereby transmitting a data start code signal on the direct current power transmission circuit preceding transmission of the data, the time intervals between closings of the switch comprising a data start code;

and a step following step (b) of;

bc. opening and closing the switch in predetermined time intervals thereby transmitting a data end code signal on the direct current power transmission circuit following transmission of the data, the time intervals between closings of the switch comprising a data end code.

78. The method of claim 71 further comprising steps following step (c) of:

d. retransmitting the data as a retransmitted data signal on the direct current power transmission circuit;

e. decoding the retransmitted data signal into second received data at the receiver; and

f. performing a control function at the receiver in response to decoding the retransmitted data signal if the received data and the second received data are equivalent.

80. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, said controller determining that when the system state register is in a state representing that said theft-deterrence system is armed and the electrical activity output signal matches the ignition switch electrical signature to a preset degree, the theft-deterrence value surpasses the predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

81. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, further comprising:

a. a remote radio frequency transmitter actuated by a remote user and transmitting an arm/disarm control signal; and

b. a radio frequency receiver receiving the arm/disarm control signal and having a receiver output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a receiver output signal functionally related to the arm/disarm control signal, said controller setting the system state register to the armed state when the receiver output signal to arm said theft-deterrence system is received, and setting the system state register to a disarmed state when the receiver output signal to disarm said theft-deterrence system is received.

82. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of electrical activity signatures, and said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal by comparing the signal with the library of electrical activity signatures.

83. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to identify when the electrical activity output signal contains an electrical signature of a door opening, and said controller factoring into the theft-deterrence value whether said controller identifies the door-opening electrical signature when the theft-deterrence system is armed.

84. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, further comprising a condition reporting module electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and reporting a warning when an alarm warning signal is received over the direct current power transmission circuit,

said controller transmitting the alarm warning signal to said condition reporting module when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined warning threshold level.

85. The theft-deterrence system of claim 84, further comprising an alarm module electrically coupled to the output of said controller and broadcasting an alarm signal when an alarm activation signal is received from the controller,

said controller transmitting the alarm activation signal to said alarm module when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined alarm threshold level.

86. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, further comprising an alarm module electrically coupled to the output of said controller and broadcasting an alarm signal when an alarm activation signal is received from the controller,

said controller transmitting the alarm activation signal to said alarm module when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined alarm threshold level.

87. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, further comprising a motion sensor having a motion sensor output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a motion sensor output signal functionally related to vibration detected within the vehicle, said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal of said motion sensor to identify when the motion sensor output signal contains a vibration signature of a forced entry of the vehicle, and said controller factoring into the theft-deterrence value whether the controller identifies the forced entry vibration signature.

88. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of electrical activity and vibration signatures, and said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal by comparing the electrical activity output signal with the library of electrical activity signatures and analyzing the motion sensor output signal by comparing the motion sensor output signal with the library of vibration signatures.

89. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, the electrical activity sensor including a low-pass filter.

90. The theft-deterrence system of claim 79, the battery-disconnect switch being a field-effect transistor.

79. A theft-deterrence system for a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, and having an ignition switch that when in motion produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, said theft-deterrence system comprising:

a. an electrical activity sensor coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor having an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal functionally related to a voltage detected on the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. a battery-disconnect switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit; and

c. a controller, including an input, an output and a system state register, the input of said controller being electrically coupled to the electrical activity sensor output and the output of said controller being electrically coupled to said battery-disconnect switch,

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to identify when the electrical activity output signal contains an electrical signature of an ignition switch in motion, and

said controller calculating a theft-deterrence value based on analyzing the electrical activity and transmitting a battery-disabling signal to said battery-disconnect switch when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

91. A method of deterring theft of a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, and having an ignition switch that when in motion produces an electrical activity signal unique to said motion on the direct current power transmission circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

a. setting a system state register in a controller to a value representing a theft-deterrence system in an armed state;

b. analyzing the electrical activity signal on the direct current power transmission circuit and identifying therefrom when the ignition switch is in motion;

c. calculating a theft-deterrence value based on identified electrical activity; and

d. transmitting a battery-disabling signal when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

92. The method of claim 91, said analyzing step being performed by comparing the electrical activity signal with a library of electrical activity signatures.

93. The method of claim 91, said analyzing step further comprising identifying from the electrical activity signal when a door of the vehicle is opening.

94. The method of claim 91, further comprising steps of:

a. detecting vibration within the vehicle;

b. identifying when the vibration contains a vibration signature of a forced entry of the vehicle, and

c. factoring into the theft-deterrence value whether the forced entry vibration signature is identified in the vibration.

95. The method of claim 91, further comprising a step of determining that when the system state register is in a state representing that said theft-deterrence system is armed and the electrical activity signal matches the ignition switch electrical signature to a preset degree, the theft-deterrence value surpasses the predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

96. The method of claim 91, further comprising a step of transmitting an alarm warning signal to a condition reporting module interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined warning threshold level but does not surpass the predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

97. The method of claim 91, further comprising a step of broadcasting an alarm signal when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined alarm threshold level but does not surpass the predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

98. A battery saver for a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, said battery saver comprising:

a. an electrical activity sensor coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor having an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal functionally related to a voltage detected on the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit;

c. a controller, including an input and an output, the input of said controller being electrically coupled to the electrical activity sensor output and the output of said controller being electrically coupled to said switch, said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to determine a load on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

d. an intelligent module electrically interposed in and sensing electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, said intelligent module having an output electrically coupled to an electronic accessory and deactivating the electronic accessory from an active state when said intelligent module senses the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit falling a preset amount below a predetermined ambient condition level.

99. The battery saver of claim 98, the vehicle further comprising an engine that produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit when the engine is active, the electrical activity output signal from said electrical activity sensor thereby containing an electrical signature of an active engine,

said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to the controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor and determining that the engine is inactive.

100. The battery saver of claim 99, said electrical activity sensor detecting AC and DC components of the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor comprising a low pass filter to process the AC component of the electrical activity, and the electrical activity output signal comprising AC and DC component signals,

said controller analyzing the DC component of the electrical activity output signal to determine the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to the controller analyzing the AC component of electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor and determining that the engine is inactive.

101. The battery saver of claim 99, said electrical activity sensor detecting AC and DC components of the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, and comprising a low pass filter to process the AC component of the electrical activity, and said electrical activity output signal comprising AC and DC component signals.

102. The battery saver of claim 99 further comprising a constant current source electrically in parallel with said switch, and being electrically coupled to and receiving current source enabling and disabling signals from the output of said controller,

said constant current source, when enabled, supplying to the direct current power transmission circuit under a predetermined ambient condition an ambient condition voltage at the predetermined ambient condition level;

said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit while said switch is open and said constant current source is enabled.

103. The battery saver of claim 102, the direct current power transmission circuit further including a second electronic accessory having a memory and requiring a minimum voltage to maintain the memory, the ambient condition voltage being at least the minimum voltage.

104. The battery saver of claim 98, the vehicle including an engine and the battery saver further comprising a motion sensor having a motion sensor output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a motion sensor output signal functionally related to vibration detected within the vehicle,

said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit in response to the controller analyzing the electrical activity and motion sensor output signals and determining therefrom that the vehicle is unoccupied and that the engine is inactive.

105. The battery saver of claim 98, the preset amount being at least five percent of the predetermined ambient condition level.

106. That battery saver of claim 98, the predetermined ambient condition level being between about three and about eleven volts.

107. The battery saver of claim 98,

said switch being a MOSFET switch and having an output electrically coupled to the input of said controller,

said switch producing a thermal sense signal functionally related to a temperature of said switch, and

the input of said controller receiving the thermal sense signal and the output of said controller transmitting the disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when the temperature of said switch exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

108. The battery saver of claim 98 further comprising an accessory control switch electrically interposed between said intelligent module and the electronic accessory, said intelligent module deactivating the electronic accessory by transmitting an accessory disabling signal to the accessory control switch thereby opening said accessory control switch.

109. A method of protecting charge in a battery for a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine that produces electrical activity on a direct current power transmission circuit when the engine is active, the battery and an electronic accessory interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

a. enabling a constant current source electrically in series with the battery, that under an ambient condition supplies an ambient condition level voltage over the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. electrically disconnecting the battery from the direct current power transmission circuit;

c. detecting a voltage level on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

d. deactivating the electronic accessory from the direct current power transmission circuit if the electronic accessory is active and the voltage level varies by a preset amount from the ambient condition level voltage.

110. The method of claim 109, further comprising steps preceding step (a) of:

a1. detecting and analyzing electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit; and

a2. determining from analyzing the electrical activity that the engine is inactive.

111. The method of claim 110, further comprising a step preceding step (a) allowing a predetermined period of time to elapse, the predetermined period exceeding a threshold period of time that an accessory interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit is electrically active after the engine becomes inactive.

112. The method of claim 110, the analyzing step comprising processing the detected electrical activity through a low pass filter.

113. The method of claim 110, the step -a2 comprising the steps of:

-a21. comparing the electrical activity with an electrical activity signature of an active engine; and

-a22. identifying when the electrical activity does not contain the electrical activity signature of the active engine.

114. The method of claim 109, further comprising steps, preceding step (a), of:

-a1. detecting and analyzing electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit and vibration within the vehicle; and

-a2. determining from analyzing the electrical activity and the vibration that the vehicle is unoccupied and inactive.

115. The method of claim 114, the step -a2 comprising the steps of:

-a21. comparing the electrical activity with an electrical activity signature of an active engine and the vibration with a vibration signature of the vehicle becoming unoccupied;

-a22. identifying when the electrical activity does not contain the electrical activity signature of the active engine; and

-a23. identifying when the vibration contains the vibration signature of the vehicle becoming unoccupied.

116. The method of claim 114, further comprising a step preceding step (a) of allowing a predetermined period of time to elapse, the predetermined period of time exceeding a threshold period of time that an accessory interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit is electrically active after the engine becomes inactive.

117. The method of claim 109, the preset amount being at least five percent of the ambient condition level voltage.

118. The method of claim 109, the ambient condition level voltage being at least a minimum voltage, the minimum voltage being required to maintain a memory in an electronic accessory interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit.

120. The vehicle safety and security system of claim 119 further comprising a battery condition reporting module electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and reporting battery condition data encoded in a battery condition signal received by said battery condition reporting module on the direct current power transmission circuit;

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor when a starter for the vehicle is activated to determine the battery condition, and said controller transmitting on the direct current power transmission circuit the battery condition signal containing the battery condition data.

121. The vehicle safety and security system of claim 120, said controller encoding the data in a data signal by transmitting a current source enabling signal to said constant current source and transmitting to said switch a sequence of battery enabling and disabling signals, the time between enabling and disabling signals comprising the data signal;

122. The vehicle safety and security system of claim 119, said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to identify when the electrical activity output signal contains an electrical signature of an ignition switch in motion.

123. The vehicle safety and security system of claim 119, said controller calculating a theft-deterrence value based on analyzing the electrical activity and transmitting a battery-disabling signal to said battery-disconnect switch when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

124. The vehicle safety and security system of claim 119, the vehicle having an ignition switch that when in motion produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit,

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to identify when the electrical activity output signal contains an electrical signature of an ignition switch in motion,

said controller further including a system state register and said controller determining that when the system state register is in a state representing that said vehicle safety and security system is armed and the electrical activity output signal matches the ignition switch electrical signature to a preset degree, the theft-deterrence value surpasses the predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

125. The vehicle safety and security system of claim 119, further comprising an intelligent module electrically interposed in and sensing electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit,

said intelligent module having an output electrically coupled to an electronic accessory and deactivating the electronic accessory from an active state when said intelligent module senses the electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit being a preset amount below the ambient condition level voltage.

119. A safety and security system comprising for a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, said safety and security system comprising:

a. an electrical activity sensor coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor having an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal functionally related to electrical activity sensed on the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. a motion sensor having a motion sensor output, said motion sensor detecting vibration and producing from the motion sensor output a motion sensor output signal functionally related to the vibration detected;

c. a switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit;

d. a constant current source electrically in parallel with said switch, said constant current source, when enabled and said battery is disabled, supplying to the direct current power transmission circuit under a predetermined ambient condition an ambient condition level voltage; and

e. a controller, including an input and an output, the input of said controller being electrically coupled to the electrical activity sensor output and the motion sensor output, and the output of said controller being electrically coupled to said switch and said constant current source;

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor and transmitting a current source enabling signal to said constant current source to determine a load on the direct current power transmission circuit and said controller transmitting a disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when the electrical activity output signal varies by a preset amount from the ambient condition level voltage,

said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal of said motion sensor to identify whether the motion sensor output signal contains a vibration signature of a collision involving the vehicle, and said controller transmitting a battery-disabling signal to said switch thereby opening said switch when said motion sensor output signal matches the vibration signature to a preset degree; and

said controller determining the load on the direct current power transmission circuit while said battery-disconnect switch is open and said constant current source is enabled;