APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AN INTRUDER INSIDE A VEHICLE

• US 20090189751A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: McCALL, CLARK E., MARKYVECH, CRAIG R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,988,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.240
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an intruder inside a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a load sensor coupled to the vehicle, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the load sensor and is configured to monitor the load in the vehicle after the vehicle is vacated and locked and to determine if the load in the vehicle changes by more than a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A vehicle security device, comprising:

a load sensor coupled to a vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the load sensor and configured to;

monitor a load in the vehicle after the vehicle is vacated and locked, and

determine if the load in the vehicle changes by more than a predetermined threshold.

2. The vehicle security device of claim 1, wherein the load sensor is comprised of a chassis weight sensor, coupled to the vehicle and configured to detect the load in the vehicle.

3. The vehicle security device of claim 1, wherein the load sensor is comprised of a chassis height sensor, coupled to the vehicle and configured to detect a height of the vehicle'"'"'s chassis.

4. The vehicle security device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive an initial signal, representative of an initial load in the vehicle, after the vehicle is vacated and locked;

periodically receive subsequent signals from the load sensor representative of subsequent loads in the vehicle; and

determine if the difference between the initial signal and at least one of the subsequent signals exceeds the predetermined threshold.

5. The vehicle security device of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to replace the value of the initial signal with the value of a subsequent signal if the difference between the initial signal and the subsequent signal does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

6. The vehicle security device of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to wait a predetermined length of time after the vehicle is vacated and locked before receiving the initial signal.

7. The vehicle security device of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to activate an alarm if the difference between the initial signal and at least one of the subsequent symbols exceeds the predetermined threshold.

8. The vehicle security device of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to activate an alarm if the difference between the initial signal and at least one of the subsequent signals exceeds the predetermined threshold and the vehicle'"'"'s doors are unlocked using a door key or a keyless remote control.

9. The vehicle security device of claim 4, wherein the processor activates the alarm only if the differences between the initial signal and at least two successive signals exceed the predetermined threshold.

10. The vehicle security device of claim 4, wherein the processor activates an alarm if the differences between the initial signal and at least two successive signals exceed the predetermined threshold and the vehicle'"'"'s doors are unlocked using a door key or a keyless remote control.

11. The vehicle security device of claim 4, further comprising:

an onboard communication system coupled to the processor, and

a personal electronic device, for use by an operator of the vehicle and configured to receive a wireless signal from the onboard communication system if the processor determines that the difference between the initial signal and at least one of the subsequent signals exceeds the predetermined threshold.

12. A method for detecting an intruder inside a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring a load in the vehicle after the vehicle is vacated and locked, and

determining if the load in the vehicle changes by more than a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating an alarm if the load in the vehicle changes by more than the predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating an alarm if the load in the vehicle changes by more than a predetermined threshold and the vehicle'"'"'s doors are unlocked using a door key or a keyless remote control.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of monitoring the load in the vehicle after it is vacated and locked further comprises:

receiving an initial signal representing an initial load in the vehicle after the vehicle is vacated and locked, and

periodically receiving subsequent signals representative of subsequent loads in the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining step is further comprised of determining if the difference between the initial signal and at least one of the subsequent signals exceeds the predetermined threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising replacing the value of the initial signal with the value of a subsequent signal if the difference between the initial signal and the subsequent signal does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

18. A system for detecting an intruder inside a vehicle, the system comprising:

a load sensor coupled to the vehicle;

an alarm module that activates an alarm; and

an intruder detection control module coupled to the load sensor and to the alarm module, the intruder detection control module comprising a processor and configured to;

receive an initial signal, representative of an initial load in the vehicle, from the load sensor after the vehicle is vacated and locked,

periodically receive subsequent signals from the load sensor representative of subsequent loads in the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, the intruder detection control module further configured to transmit a signal to the alarm module resulting in the activation of the alarm, if the processor determines that the difference between the initial signal and at least one of the subsequent signals exceeds a predetermined threshold.

20. The system of claim 18, the intruder detection control module further configured to transmit a signal to the alarm module resulting in the activation of the alarm, if the processor determines that the difference between the initial signal and at least one of the subsequent signals exceeds a predetermined threshold and the vehicle doors are unlocked using a door key or a keyless remote control.