Anti-theft device for vehicles

• US 20040090344A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Giaroli, Vittorio, Caretta, Renato, Fontana, Flavio
• Granted Patent: US 6,956,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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

Abstract

An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels includes an immobilization device, at least one detection control unit, and at least one sensor. The immobilization device activates an anti-theft procedure. The at least one detection control unit is connected to the immobilization device and verifies an alarm condition. The at least one sensor is associated with one or more of the tyre wheels, communicates with the at least one detection control unit, detects movement of one or more of the tyre wheels, and detects inflation pressure of one or more of the tyre wheels. A method for activating an anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels includes detecting an alarm condition from at least one of the tyre wheels, receiving the detected condition, and activating an anti-theft procedure.

Claims

1. Anti-theft device for vehicles provided with tyre wheels, comprising:

an immobilization device (2) able to activate a procedure for operation of the anti-theft device itself,

a detection control unit (4) connected to said immobilization device and able to verify an alarm condition,

a sensor (51 or 52 or 53 or 54) which is associated with at least one of said tyre wheels, communicates with said control unit (4) and is able to detect the movement and inflation pressure of at least one of said tyre wheels.

2. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 1, in which said sensor comprises a mobile station associated with said rim and a fixed station arranged on said vehicle and able to send electric energy to said mobile station during the movement of the vehicle tyre wheels.

3. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 2, in which said mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.

4. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 2, in which said mobile station comprises a pressure sensor.

5. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 2, in which said mobile station comprises an electric energy storage device able to store the electric energy supplied by said fixed station.

6. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 2, in which said mobile station comprises a transmitter device able to communicate, to said control unit on the vehicle, the information detected by said pressure sensor and said accelerometric switch.

7. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 2, in which said electric energy is sent to said mobile station at least once for each revolution of said wheel.

8. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 2, in which said fixed station comprises a support element, constrained at one of its ends to a hub on which a rim of said tyre wheel is mounted, and an electronic board constrained to said support element.

9. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 2, in which said fixed station comprises a fixed antenna which communicates with a mobile antenna arranged on said mobile station.

10. Anti-theft device for vehicles according to claim 9, in which said fixed antenna and said mobile antenna are inductively coupled together.

11. Method for activating an anti-theft device for a vehicle provided with tyre wheels, comprising the steps of:

detecting an alarm condition resulting from at least one of said tyre wheels,

receiving this detected condition,

activating a procedure for operation of said anti-theft device.

12. Method according to claim 11, in which said step of detecting an alarm condition comprises detecting the rotation of at least one of said tyre wheels.

13. Method according to claim 11, in which said step of detecting an alarm condition comprises detecting the inflation pressure of at least one of said tyre wheels.