Vehicle security system including pre-warning features for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

• US 20040017284A1
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,576,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• 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 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type including a vehicle data communications bus connected to a plurality of vehicle devices may include at least one vehicle security sensor interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus for generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal, depending upon a sensed threat level. The vehicle security system may also include an alarm indicator and a vehicle security controller. The vehicle security controller may interface with the vehicle data communications bus for causing the alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal, or for causing the alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus connected to a plurality of vehicle devices, the vehicle security system comprising:

at least one vehicle security sensor interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus for generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal depending upon a sensed threat level;

an alarm indicator; and

a vehicle security controller interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus for causing said alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal, or for causing said alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal.

2. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a multi-stage sensor.

3. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a pre-warn sensor for providing the pre-warning signal and an alarm sensor for providing the alarm signal.

4. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

5. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein said alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator, and wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

6. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

7. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

8. The vehicle security system of claim 1 wherein said alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren, a horn, and a vehicle light.

9. The vehicle security system of claim 1 further comprising a signal enabler for enabling said vehicle security controller to operate using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles for permitting said vehicle security controller to communicate with said at least one vehicle security sensor and said alarm indicator via the vehicle data communications bus.

10. The vehicle security system of claim 9 wherein said signal enabler comprises a bus learning device for learning the desired set of signals based upon signals on the vehicle data communications bus.

11. The vehicle security system of claim 9 wherein said signal enabler comprises a download device for downloading the desired set of signals.

12. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus connected to a plurality of vehicle devices, the vehicle security system comprising:

at least one vehicle security sensor for generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal depending upon a sensed threat level;

an alarm indicator interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus; and

a vehicle security controller connected to said at least one vehicle security sensor and interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus for causing said alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal, or for causing said alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal.

13. The vehicle security system of claim 12 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a multi-stage sensor.

14. The vehicle security system of claim 12 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a pre-warn sensor for providing the pre-warning signal and an alarm sensor for providing the alarm signal.

15. The vehicle security system of claim 12 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

16. The vehicle security system of claim 12 wherein said alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator, and wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

17. The vehicle security system of claim 12 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

18. The vehicle security system of claim 12 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

19. The vehicle security system of claim 12 wherein said alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren, a horn, and a vehicle light.

20. A vehicle security device for use with a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus and comprising:

at least one sensor for generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal depending upon a sensed threat level; and

a security sensor bus interface for interfacing said at least one sensor with the vehicle data communications bus.

21. The vehicle security device of claim 20 further comprising a housing carrying said at least one sensor.

22. The vehicle security device of claim 20 wherein said at least one sensor comprises a multi-stage sensor.

23. The vehicle security device of claim 20 wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

24. The vehicle security device of claim 20 wherein said at least one sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

25. A vehicle security device for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus and comprising:

an alarm indicator and associated alarm indicator data bus interface for interfacing said alarm indicator with the vehicle data communications bus;

said alarm indicator for generating a pre-warning indication responsive to a pre-warning signal on the vehicle data communications bus, and for generating an alarm indication based upon an alarm signal on the vehicle data communications bus.

26. The vehicle security device of claim 25 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

27. The vehicle security device of claim 25 wherein said alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator, and wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

28. The vehicle security device of claim 25 wherein said alarm indicator comprises a siren.

29. The vehicle security device of claim 25 further comprising a housing carrying said alarm indicator and said alarm indicator data bus interface.

30. A vehicle security method for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus and an alarm indicator, the method comprising:

interfacing at least one vehicle security sensor with the vehicle data communications bus, the at least one vehicle security sensor for generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal depending upon a sensed threat level; and

causing the alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal, or causing the alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a housing and a multi-stage sensor carried by the housing.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a pre-warn sensor for providing the pre-warning signal and an alarm sensor for providing the alarm signal.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator, and wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein the at least motion sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

37. A vehicle security method for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus, the method comprising:

interfacing an alarm indicator with the vehicle data communications bus; and

causing the alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon a pre-warning signal on the vehicle data communications bus, and causing the alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon an alarm signal on the vehicle data communications bus.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator, and wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren and a horn.