SECURITY-FEATURE-EQUIPPED ON-VEHICLE DEVICE AND SECURITY-FEATURE CONTROL METHOD OF ON-VEHICLE DEVICE

• US 20090167512A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoon, Hyunjin, Iwamoto, Takao, Chaki, Hidehiko, Yamamoto, Hirotaka, Higo, Takuma
• Granted Patent: US 8,120,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/429
• 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 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics

Abstract

A security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device includes: a vibration detection unit that detects vibration; an alarm sound output unit that outputs a predetermined alarm sound from a speaker; and an alarm sound control unit that going outs from a sleep mode to move into a warning mode when vibration is detected for the first time by the vibration detection unit, causes the alarm sound output unit to output the alarm sound at a predetermined first volume level, shifts from the warning mode into an alarm mode when vibration is detected for the second time within a predetermined time period, and causes the alarm sound output unit to output the alarm sound at a predetermined second volume level higher than the first volume level.

Claims

1. A security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device comprising:

vibration detection means for detecting vibration;

alarm sound output means for outputting a predetermined alarm sound from a speaker; and

control means for controlling the alarm sound control means for going out from a sleep mode to move into a warning mode when vibration is detected for the first time by the vibration detection means, causing the alarm sound output means to output the alarm sound at a predetermined first volume level, shifting from the warning mode into an alarm mode when vibration is detected for the second time within a predetermined time period and causing the alarm sound output means to output the alarm sound at a predetermined second volume level higher than the first volume level.

2. The security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein

the control means raises the volume level of the alarm sound stepwise from the first volume level to the second volume level when the device shifted into the alarm mode.

3. The security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device according to claim 2, wherein

the control means returns the device into a sleep mode and stops the alarm sound output means outputting the alarm sound when it recognizes a predetermined requirement is met for returning the device into the sleep mode after it shifts into an alarm mode.

4. The security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device according to claim 3, wherein

the control means reduces power consumption by forcibly returning the device into a sleep mode when the number of times by which the device shifts into the alarm mode exceeds a predetermined threshold value as the requirement to be met.

5. The security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device according to claim 3, wherein

the control means reduces power consumption by forcibly returning the device into the sleep mode when the total transition time spent in transition into a mode such as the warning mode and the alarm mode other than the sleep mode exceeds a predetermined threshold value as the requirement to be met.

6. The security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein

the control means controls the output condition of the alarm sound outputted by the alarm sound output means, and also controls the flashing of a predetermined light emitting means in accordance with the corresponding selection/setting provided by the user.

7. The security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device according to claim 6, wherein

the control means stops the flashing of the predetermined light emitting means in accordance with the corresponding selection/setting provided by the user.

8. The security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein

the control means shifts not immediately from the warning mode into the alarm mode but only after the elapse of a predetermined time in the warning mode in the case where it detects vibration for the second time in the warning mode.

9. A security-feature control method of an on-vehicle device comprising:

a warning mode processing step of causing the device to go out from a sleep mode to move into a warning mode when vibration is detected for the first time by vibration detection means for detecting vibration and having alarm sound output means for outputting the alarm sound output a predetermined alarm sound at a predetermined first volume level from a speaker; and

an alarm mode processing step of controlling the device to shift from the warning mode into an alarm mode when vibration is detected for the second time within a predetermined time period, and to have the alarm sound output means output the alarm sound at a predetermined second volume level higher than the first volume level.

10. The security-feature control method according to claim 9, wherein

it raises the volume level of the alarm sound stepwise from the first volume level to the second volume level when the device shifted into the alarm mode.

11. The security-feature control method according to claim 10, wherein

it returns the device into the sleep mode and stops the alarm sound output means outputting the alarm sound when it recognizes a predetermined requirement is met for returning the device into the sleep mode after it shifts into the alarm mode.

12. The security-feature control method according to claim 11, wherein

it reduces power consumption by forcibly returning the device into the sleep mode when the number of times by which the device shifts into an alarm mode exceeds a predetermined threshold value as the requirement to be met.

13. The security-feature control method according to claim 11, wherein

it reduces the power consumption by forcibly returning the device into the sleep mode when the total transition time spent in transition into a mode such as the warning mode and the alarm mode other than the sleep mode exceeds a predetermined threshold value as the requirement to be met.

14. The security-feature control method according to claim 9, wherein

it controls the output condition of the alarm sound outputted by the alarm sound output means, and also controls the flashing of a predetermined light emitting means in accordance with the corresponding selection/setting provided by the user.

15. The security-feature control method according to claim 9, wherein

it stops the flashing of the predetermined light emitting means in accordance with the corresponding selection/setting provided by the user.

16. The security-feature control method according to claim 9, wherein

it causes the device to shift not immediately from the warning mode into the alarm mode but only after the elapse of a predetermined time in the warning mode in the case where the device detects vibration for the second time in the warning mode.

17. A security-feature-equipped on-vehicle device comprising:

a vibration detection unit that detects vibration;

an alarm sound output unit that outputs a predetermined alarm sound from a speaker; and

an alarm sound control unit that goes out from a sleep mode to move into a warning mode when vibration is detected for the first time by the vibration detection unit, causes the alarm sound output unit to output the alarm sound at a predetermined first volume level, shifts from the warning mode into an alarm mode when vibration is detected for the second time within a predetermined time period, and causes the alarm sound output unit to output the alarm sound at a predetermined second volume level higher than the first volume level.