Method for managing the operating condition of an anti-theft security device for a motor vehicle and device therefor

• US 20030047371A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sevic System AG
• Original Assignee: Sevic System AG
• Inventors: Albert, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 6,861,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply

Abstract

This invention concerns the anti-theft security devices for a motor vehicle, such devices being of the type consisting of portable transmitting means, of a receiving module on board said vehicle and of means controlling a system for interrupting at least one circuit required for operating the vehicle (ignition circuit engine, fuel intake circuit or other . . . ) when the distance between said transmitting means and said receiving means exceeds a certain value.

According to this invention, the method for managing the operation of such a device consists, when resetting the affected circuit(s), following an interruption relative to accidental signal loss, in performing this resetting only very gradually.

Claims

1. A method for managing the operation of an anti-theft security device for a motor vehicle, which device consists of portable transmitting means (1), of a receiving module (11) on board said vehicle and of means controlling (12) a system (14, 14′

) for interrupting at least one circuit (15, 15′

) required for operating the vehicle, when the distance between said transmitting means (1) and said receiving module (11) exceeds a certain value, characterised in that it consists, when resetting said circuit (15, 15′

) following an interruption relative to accidental signal loss, in performing said resetting only very gradually;

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that it consists in performing the resetting of the circuit (15, 15′

) required for operating the vehicle, after a succession of activations and of deactivations of the interruption system (14, 14′

).

3. A method according to claim 2, characterised in that it consists in performing the resetting of the circuit (15, 15′

) after a succession of activations and of deactivations of the interruption system (14, 14′

), with decreasing durations of deactivations.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterised in that it consists in performing the resetting of the circuit (15, 15′

) after a succession of activations and of deactivations of the interruption system (14, 14′

), with decreasing durations of activations.

5. An anti-theft security device for the implementation of the method according to any of the claims 1 to 4, which device consists of portable transmitting means (1), of a receiving module (11) on board said vehicle and of means controlling (12) an interruption system (14, 14′

) of at least one circuit (15, 15′

) required for operating the vehicle, for interrupting said circuit (15, 15′

) when the distance between said transmitter (1) and said receiver (11) exceeds a certain value, characterised in that it comprises means which, when resetting said circuit(s) (15, 15′

) following an interruption relative to accidental signal loss, perform the gradual resetting of this or of these circuits (15, 15′

).

6. A security device according to claim 5, characterised in that it comprises an interruption device (14) in the form of a power output interposed on said ignition circuit (15) of the engine for interrupting or resetting this circuit in relation to the signal or of the absence of a signal supplied by controlling means in the form of a microprocessor (12), which microprocessor (12) manages the sending of this signal in relation to the information received from the receiving module (11).

7. A security device according to any of the claims 5 or 6, characterised in that it comprises an interruption device (14′

) in the form of an electrovalve placed on the fuel intake circuit (15′

) for interrupting or resetting this circuit in relation to the signal or of the absence of a signal supplied by controlling means in the form of a microprocessor (12), which microprocessor (12) manages the sending of this signal in relation to the information received from the receiving module (11).

8. A security device according to any of the claims 6 or 7, characterised in that it comprises a power output (16) controlled by the microprocessor (12), enabling activation of the blinking warning lights (20, 21) of the vehicle, and activation of a sound device (17) such as a “

buzzer”

.

9. A security device according to any of the claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises means (22) which enable to sense the presence of a starter contact, the corresponding information being transmitted to the microprocessor (12) to differentiate the operating procedure in case of signal loss, in relation to the presence or the absence of said starter contact.

10. A security device according to any of the claims 6 to 9, characterised in that it comprises at least one additional power output (30) controlled by the microprocessor (12) to activate or deactivate complementary security functions.

11. A security device according to any of the claims 6 to 10, characterised in that it comprises transmitting means (1) in the form of a portable case integrating—

a module (2) for transmitting a low power encoded cyclic signal,—

means in the form of a microprocessor (3) performing the management of the signal transmitted by the transmitting module (2), notably in terms of encoding and in terms of cyclic sending,—

a supply battery (5),—

an on/off switch (6) and—

a control light indicator (7).