Vehicle anti-theft apparatus and method

• US 20070188310A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Mori, Kazunori, Tsutsui, Izumi
• Application Number:
  US11/489,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188310A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.360
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A vehicle anti-theft apparatus and method can prevent the theft of a vehicle without increasing costs, and hence the illegal use of the theft vehicle. The apparatus includes a smart key carried by a user, and a smart keyless control device installed on the vehicle. The smart key includes a storage section for storing identification information and use time limit information of the vehicle. The smart keyless control device reads the identification information and the use time limit information stored in a memory, and authenticates the vehicle user based on the identification information and the use time limit information upon use of the vehicle. The use of the vehicle is permitted when the identification information and the authentication identification information set beforehand in the smart keyless control device coincide with each other, and when a current time is within a use time limit of the use time limit information.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-theft apparatus comprising a smart key that is carried by a user of a vehicle, and a smart keyless control device installed on the vehicle,

wherein the smart key includes a storage section that stores identification information of the vehicle and use time limit information of the vehicle;

and

the smart keyless control device includes;

a reading section that reads the identification information and the use time limit information stored in the storage section; and

a determination section that authenticates the user based on the identification information and the use time limit information when the user uses the vehicle;

wherein when the identification information and identification information for authentication that is stored beforehand in the smart keyless control device coincide with each other, and when a current time is within a use time limit of the use time limit information, the determination section permits the use of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle anti-theft apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the determination section permits the release of a door lock of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle anti-theft apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the determination section authenticates the user when the user tries to release the door lock.

4. The vehicle anti-theft apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the determination section permits the release of a steering lock of the vehicle and the starting of an engine of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle anti-theft apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the determination section authenticates the user when the user tries to release the steering lock and start the engine.

6. The vehicle anti-theft apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the current time is input from a GPS device, which is installed on the vehicle for detecting the position of the vehicle, to the smart keyless control device.

7. The vehicle anti-theft apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the use time limit information is stored in advance before the user carries the smart key.

8. A vehicle anti-theft method comprising:

a step of storing, into a smart key that is carried by a user of a vehicle, identification information of the vehicle and use time limit information of the vehicle;

a step of reading the identification information and the use time limit information stored in the storage section by means of a smart keyless control device installed on the vehicle; and

a step in which the smart keyless control device permits release of a door lock of the vehicle based on the identification information and the use time limit information, when the identification information and authentication identification information stored beforehand in the smart keyless control device coincide with each other, and when a current time input from a GPS device, which is installed to the vehicle for detecting the position of the vehicle, is within a use time limit of the use time limit information.

9. A vehicle anti-theft method comprising:

a step of storing, into a smart key that is carried by a user of a vehicle, identification information of the vehicle and use time limit information of the vehicle;

a step of reading the identification information and the use time limit information stored in the storage section by means of a smart keyless control device installed on the vehicle; and

a step in which the smart keyless control device permits release of a steering lock of the vehicle and starting of an engine of the vehicle based on the identification information and the use time limit information, when the identification information and authentication identification information stored beforehand in the smart keyless control device coincide with each other, and when a current time input from a GPS device, which is installed on the vehicle for detecting the position of the vehicle, is within a use time limit of the use time limit information.