Theft prevention system for an automobile having a power door

• US 20050174218A1
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Matthew, Shpakoff, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,026,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• 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: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/52 Safety arrangements Safety means for manual wing operation E05Y2800/116
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/254 the elements not functioning in case of emergency
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

An alarm system module for an automobile includes: a logic circuit; an actual vehicle speed value input configured to receive an actual vehicle speed value from the automobile; a state selection input configured to receive a state selection instruction from a user; and a synthetic vehicle speed value output configured to output a synthetic vehicle speed value to the automobile. The logic circuit is configured so that, when the alarm system module is in the disarmed state, the synthetic vehicle speed value is approximately equal to the actual vehicle speed value, and when the alarm system module is in the armed state, the synthetic vehicle speed value is greater than a threshold value of approximately 2.5 km/hr.

Claims

1. An automobile system, comprising:

an automobile;

a power door movably connected to the automobile and configured to automatically open in response to a user power door open instruction;

an alarm system module connected to the power door and capable of at least disarmed, armed, and activated states; and

a user interface connected to at least one of the power door and the alarm system module and configured to provide the user power door open instruction to said at least one of the power door and the alarm system module,

wherein, when the alarm system module is in the armed state, the alarm system module is configured to generate a synthetic vehicle speed value that is greater than a threshold value, and

wherein the power door is configured to automatically open in response to the user power door open instruction only when the synthetic vehicle speed value is below the threshold value.

2. The system as in claim 1, further comprising an alarm system interface connected to the alarm system module and configured to provide a state selection instruction to the alarm system module.

3. The system as in claim 2,

wherein the alarm system interface is configured to provide an alarm interface power door open instruction to the alarm system module,

wherein when the alarm system module is in the armed state, the alarm system module is configured to change from the armed state to the disarmed state in response to receiving the alarm interface power door open instruction, and

wherein the power door is configured to automatically open in response to the alarm interface power door open instruction from the alarm system interface.

4. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a vehicle speedometer connected to the alarm system module and configured to provide an actual vehicle speed value to the alarm system module,

wherein, when the alarm system module is in the disarmed state, the alarm system module is configured to generate a synthetic vehicle speed value that is approximately equal to the actual vehicle speed value.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein the threshold value is in the range of approximately 1.0 to 4.0 km/hr.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein the threshold value is approximately 2.5 km/hr.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a switch interior to the automobile and operable by a user.

8. The system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a horn connected to the alarm system module;

at least one manually openable door connected to the automobile; and

an indicator connected between the manually openable door and the alarm system module and configured to provide an indication signal to the alarm system module when the manually openable door is opened,

wherein, when the alarm system module is in the armed state, the alarm system module is configured to change from the armed state to the activated state in response to receiving the indication signal from the indicator, and

wherein, when the alarm system module is in the activated state, the alarm system module is configured to sound the horn for a predetermined time.

9. The system as in claim 8, wherein, when the alarm system module is in the armed state, the alarm system module is configured to remain in the armed state without entering the activated state in response to receiving the user power door open instruction from the user interface.

10. An alarm system module for an automobile, the alarm system module capable of at least disarmed, armed, and activated states, comprising:

a logic circuit;

an actual vehicle speed value input connected to the logic circuit and configured to receive an actual vehicle speed value from the automobile;

a state selection input connected to the logic circuit and configured to receive a state selection instruction from a user; and

a synthetic vehicle speed value output connected to the logic circuit and configured to output a synthetic vehicle speed value to the automobile,

wherein the logic circuit is configured so that, when the alarm system module is in the disarmed state based on the state selection instruction received from the user, the synthetic vehicle speed value is approximately equal to the actual vehicle speed value, and when the alarm system module is in the armed state based on the state selection instruction received from the user, the synthetic vehicle speed value is made greater than a threshold value.

11. The alarm system module as in claim 10, wherein the threshold value is in the range of approximately 1.0 to 4.0 km/hr.

12. The alarm system module as in claim 10, further comprising:

an indication signal input connected to the logic circuit and connectable to a manually openable door of the automobile, and configured to receive an indication signal when the manually openable door is opened; and

an activated state signal output connected to the logic circuit and configured to output an activated state signal when the alarm system module is in the activated state,

wherein the logic circuit is configured so that, when the alarm system module is in the armed state based on the state selection instruction received from the user, the alarm system module will change from the armed state to the activated state in response to receiving the indication signal.

13. The alarm system module as in claim 12, further comprising a user power door open instruction input connected to the logic circuit and configured to receive a user power door open instruction to open a power door of the automobile,

wherein the logic circuit is configured so that, when the alarm system module is in the armed state, the alarm system module will remain in the armed state without entering the activated state in response to receiving the user power door open instruction.