Theft prevention apparatus of leisure vehicle

• US 20060163947A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Onishi, Yoji, Takahashi, Tomoyuki, Furuhashi, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,414,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02 operating on the steering mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A theft prevention apparatus of a leisure vehicle including a portable device configured to transmit a user identification code by radio, a communication device that is equipped in the leisure vehicle and is configured to receive the user identification code, an electric power supply loaded in the leisure vehicle, a hand-operated switch that is disposed on a power line coupling the electric power supply to the communication device and is configured to turn to an on-state or an off-state to or not to permit the electric power to be supplied from the electric power supply to the communication device; and a controller configured to determine whether or not the user identification code received from the communication device matches the correct user identification code and to enable the leisure vehicle to be steered when it is determined that the received user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

Claims

1. A theft prevention apparatus of a leisure vehicle that is configured to enable the leisure vehicle to be steered when a user identification code transmitted by radio matches a correct user identification code, the apparatus comprising:

a portable device configured to transmit the user identification code by radio;

a communication device that is equipped in the leisure vehicle and is configured to receive the user identification code transmitted from the portable device, with electric power being supplied to the communication device;

an electric power supply loaded in the leisure vehicle;

a hand-operated switch that is disposed on a power line coupling the electric power supply to the communication device and is configured to be turned to an on-state or an off-state to or not to permit the electric power to be supplied from the electric power supply to the communication device; and

a controller including a memory configured to store the correct user identification code, the controller being coupled to the communication device through a signal line and being configured to determine whether or not the user identification code received from the communication device matches the correct user identification code stored in the memory and to enable the leisure vehicle to be steered when it is determined that the received user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

2. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a request signal to the portable device to request the portable device to transmit a portable device detection signal to the communication device, when the hand-operated switch is tuned to the ON-state;

and

wherein the portable device is configured to transition from a sleep state to an active state, upon receiving the request signal, and to transmit the user identification code to the communication device.

3. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a theft prevention module that is configured to have a theft prevention function and includes a lock module of the leisure vehicle;

wherein the controller determines whether or not the user identification code transmitted from the portable device and received in the communication device matches the correct user identification code stored in the memory of the controller, and causes the lock module to turn to an on-state to unlock at least a steering lock when it is determined that the received user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

4. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the theft prevention module further includes a fuel and ignition module of the leisure vehicle;

and

the controller determines whether or not the user identification code transmitted from the portable device and received in the communication device matches the correct user identification code and causes the fuel and ignition module to be activated to enable an engine to start-up when the received user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

5. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the lock module includes a user identification code match determiner that is coupled to the controller through a signal line and configured to store the correct user identification code;

wherein the communication device is configured to send the user identification code transmitted from the portable device to the user identification code match determiner through the controller, and the user identification match code determiner is configured to determine whether or not the user identification code matches the correct user identification code; and

wherein the user identification code match determiner causes the lock module to turn to the on-state to unlock at least the steering lock when the user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

6. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fuel and ignition module includes a user identification code match determiner that is coupled to the controller through a signal line and configured to store the correct user identification code;

wherein the communication device is configured to send the user identification code transmitted from the portable device to the user identification code match determiner through the controller, and the user identification match code determiner is configured to determine whether or not the user identification code matches the correct user identification code, and

wherein the user identification code match determiner causes the fuel and ignition module to be activated when the user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

7. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the theft prevention module further includes a meter module of the leisure vehicle, the meter module including a user identification code match determiner that is coupled to the controller through a signal line and configured to store the correct user identification code;

wherein the communication device is configured to send the user identification code transmitted from the portable device to the user identification code match determiner through the controller, and the user identification match code determiner is configured to determine whether or not the user identification code matches the correct user identification code; and

wherein the user identification code match determiner causes the meter module to be activated when the user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

8. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display device that is equipped in the leisure vehicle and is configured to answer back when the received user identification code matches the correct user identification code.

9. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a switch equipped in the leisure vehicle serves as the hand-operated switch.

10. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the switch equipped in the leisure vehicle is a kill switch of the engine that is equipped in the leisure vehicle.

11. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the switch equipped in the leisure vehicle is a lap time start/stop switch equipped in the leisure vehicle.

12. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hand-operated switch is a dial switch.

13. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to cause an engine to start-up by turning on a starter switch within a predetermined time from a time point when the user identification code received in the communication device matches the correct user identification code;

and

wherein the controller is configured to return a control process to an initial state in which a theft prevention function is active when a match between the user identification codes is not detected after the time point.

14. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the portable device is configured to send to the communication device, the user identification code and a battery signal indicating that a battery power of a battery loaded in the portable device is running short, when the battery power is running short;

wherein the communication device is configured to send to the controller the user identification code and the battery signal, upon receiving the user identification code and the battery signal; and

wherein the controller is configured to cause the display device equipped in the leisure vehicle to display information indicating that the battery power is running short.

15. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

right and left directional antennae that are disposed on right and left sides of the leisure vehicle such that a rider'"'"'s seat is located in a region where predetermined angular ranges of the antennae in which the antennae are able to receive radio wave overlap with each other, the antennae being coupled to the communication device through a communication line and being configured to be able to receive signals from the portable device in a case where the portable device is present within the predetermined angular ranges; and

a comparator that is equipped in the leisure vehicle and is configured to compare intensities of the signals received from the right and left antennae;

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether or not the user identification code transmitted from the portable device matches the correct user identification code when a difference between the intensities of the signals received from the right and left antenna is zero, or within a predetermined value.

16. A theft prevention apparatus of a leisure vehicle that is configured to enable the leisure vehicle to be steered when a user identification code transmitted by radio matches a correct user identification code, the apparatus comprising:

a portable device configured to transmit the user identification code by radio;

a communication device that is equipped in the leisure vehicle and is configured to receive the user identification code transmitted from the portable device;

right and left directional antennae that are disposed on right and left sides of the leisure vehicle such that a rider'"'"'s seat is located in a region where predetermined angular ranges of the antennae in which the antennae are able to receive radio wave overlap with each other, the antennae being coupled to the communication device through a communication line and being configured to be able to receive the signals from the portable device in a case where the portable device is present within the predetermined angular ranges;

a comparator that is equipped in the leisure vehicle and is configured to compare intensities of the signals received from the right and left antennae; and

a controller configured to determine whether or not the user identification code transmitted from the portable device matches the correct user identification code when a difference between the intensities of the signals received from the right and left antenna is zero or within a predetermined value.

17. The theft prevention apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined angular ranges are about 15 to 40 degrees.