Alarm System

• US 20080272897A1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W-Secure Oy
• Original Assignee: W-Secure Oy
• Inventors: Vilmi, Toivo, Hilden, Teijo, Jurvansuu, Yrjo, Honkonen, Jarkko
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/429
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• 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

The invention relates to an anti-theft alarm system for vehicle wheels. The system comprises at least one wireless measuring module for determining kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of a vehicle wheel on the basis of acceleration measurement. The wireless measuring module is further configured to be attached to the vehicle wheel, to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and transmit the wireless data transfer signal. The system further comprises at least one wireless central processing unit, which is configured to receive the wireless data transfer signal and execute a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfils predetermined conditions.

Claims

1. An anti-theft alarm system for vehicle wheels, wherein the alarm system comprises:

at least one wireless measuring module (102A, 102B, 200, 400, 502A to 502C, 606) for determining kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of a vehicle wheel on the basis of acceleration measurement, the wireless measuring module (102A, 102B, 200, 400, 502A to 502C, 606) being further configured to be attached to the vehicle wheel, to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and transmit the wireless data transfer signal; and

at least one wireless central processing unit (106, 300, 420, 504), which is configured to receive the wireless data transfer signal and execute a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfils predetermined conditions.

2. An alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless central processing unit (420) is configured to include control information in a wireless control information signal and transmit the wireless control information signal;

the wireless measuring module (400) is configured to receive the wireless control information signal; and

the wireless measuring module (400) is configured to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the control information.

3. An alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm system comprises:

several wireless measuring modules (502A, 502B, 502C) for determining kinetic state information characterizing the motion of the vehicle wheel on the basis of acceleration measurement, each of the wireless measuring modules (502A, 502B, 502C) being configured to be attached to a different wheel of the vehicle, to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and transmit the wireless data transfer signal;

the central processing unit (504) is configured to receive several wireless data transfer signals;

the central processing unit (504) is configured to perform a comparison between the several wireless data transfer signals; and

the central processing unit (504) is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

4. An alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless measuring module (400) further comprises a first comparison register (410), which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

the wireless measuring module (400) is configured to perform a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information;

the wireless measuring module (400) is configured to include an alarm indicator in the wireless data transfer signal when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions; and

the wireless central processing unit (400) is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function on the basis of the alarm indicator.

5. An alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless measuring module (400) is configured to include kinetic state information in the wireless data transfer signal;

the wireless central processing unit (420) further comprises a second comparison register (428), which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

the wireless central processing unit (420) is configured to perform a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information; and

the wireless central processing unit (420) is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

6. An alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless measuring unit (102A, 102B, 200, 400, 502A to 502C, 606) is configured to be attached to the rotation axis of the vehicle wheel and determine kinetic state information from the vicinity of the rotation axis of the vehicle wheel.

7. A measuring module of an anti-theft alarm system, wherein the measuring module is configured to be attached to a vehicle wheel and comprises:

a movement sensor (402) for determining kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of the vehicle wheel; and

a first wireless communication unit (404) for generating a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and for transmitting the wireless data transfer signal to a central processing unit of the alarm system, which is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfils predetermined conditions.

8. A measuring module according to claim 7, wherein the first wireless communication unit (404) is configured to receive a wireless control information signal, which includes control information;

and

the first wireless communication unit (404) is configured to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the control information.

9. A measuring module according to claim 7, wherein the measuring module further comprises:

a first comparison register (410), which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

a first comparison unit (408) for performing a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information; and

the first wireless communication unit (404) is configured to include an alarm indicator in the wireless data transfer signal when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

10. A measuring module according to claim 7, wherein the first communication unit (404) is configured to include kinetic state information in the wireless communication signal.

11. A measuring module according to claim 7, wherein the measuring module comprises:

fastening means (602) for attaching the measuring module to a rotation axis of the vehicle wheel; and

a movement sensor (402) is configured to determine kinetic state information from the vicinity of the rotation axis of the vehicle wheel.

12. A vehicle wheel rim, wherein the rim comprises:

a wireless measuring module (102A, 102B, 200, 400, 502A to 502C, 606), which comprises;

a movement sensor (402) for determining kinetic state information characterising the kinetic state of a vehicle wheel on the basis of acceleration measurement; and

a first wireless communication unit (404) for generating a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and for transmitting the wireless data transfer signal to a central processing unit of an alarm system, which is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfils predetermined conditions.

13. A rim according to claim 12, wherein the first wireless communication unit (404) is configured to receive a wireless control information signal, which includes control information;

and

the first wireless communication unit (404) is configured to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the control information.

14. A rim according to claim 12, wherein the wireless measuring module (102A, 102B, 200, 400, 502A to 502C, 606) further comprises:

a first comparison register (410), which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

a first comparison unit (408) for performing a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information; and

the first wireless communication unit (404) is configured to include an alarm indicator in the wireless data transfer signal when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

15. A rim according to claim 12, wherein the first communication unit (404) is configured to include kinetic state information in the wireless communication signal.

16. A rim according to claim 12, wherein the rim comprises an adapter (602) arranged on the rotation axis of the rim for connecting the wireless measuring module (102A, 102B, 200, 400, 502A to 502C, 606);

and

the movement sensor (612) is configured to determine kinetic state information from the vicinity of the rotation axis of the rim.

17. A central processing unit of an alarm system, wherein the central processing unit comprises:

a second wireless communication unit (422, 506) for receiving a wireless data transfer signal, the wireless data transfer signal being generated by a wireless measuring module attached to a vehicle wheel and being based on kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of the vehicle wheel on the basis of acceleration measurement; and

an alarm unit (424, 508) for executing a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfils predetermined conditions.

18. A central processing unit according to claim 17, wherein the wireless central processing unit comprises a controller (430) for generating control information, which controls generation of a wireless data transfer signal in a wireless measuring module;

a second wireless communication unit (422) is configured to include control information in a wireless control information signal; and

the second wireless communication unit (422) is configured to transmit the wireless control information signal.

19. A wireless central processing unit according to claim 17, wherein the second wireless communication unit (506) is configured to receive several wireless data transfer signals from wireless measuring modules;

the wireless central processing unit further comprises a third comparison unit (504) for performing a comparison of several wireless data transfer signals; and

an alarm unit (508) is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

20. A wireless central processing unit according to claim 17, wherein the alarm unit (424) is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function on the basis of an alarm indicator included in the data transfer signal.

21. A wireless central processing unit according to claim 17, wherein the wireless central processing unit further comprises:

a second comparison register (428), which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

a second comparison unit (426) for performing a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information; and

the alarm unit (424) is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

22. A central processing unit according to claim 17, wherein the kinetic state information characterizes the kinetic state of the vehicle wheel in the vicinity of the rotation axis.