Apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a vehicle

• US 20110063076A1
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Inc (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Inc (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Dziaba, Stefan, Kurtz, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/923,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a vehicle includes a fob in the possession of a person who whishes to use the vehicle. The fob includes a fob code. A proximity sensor mounted on the vehicle is used to actuate circuitry for interrogating the fob so as to retrieve the fob code. The fob code is then matched to a vehicle code to determine whether the person possessing the fob is authorized to use the vehicle. The proximity sensor may include a capacitive sensor, and inductive sensor, or both.

Claims

1. An apparatus for limiting unauthorized use of a vehicle, comprising:

a proximity sensor mounted on the vehicle, the proximity sensor including at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a capacitive sensor and an inductive sensor;

a fob having means for transmitting and receiving signals, the fob being detached from the vehicle; and

operative means for transmitting an interrogation signal to the fob in response to manual activation of the proximity sensor, for receiving from the fob a signal that includes a fob code, and for determining whether the fob code matched a code assigned to the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operative means comprises means for responding to a signal from the proximity sensor only if the signal has a magnitude that exceeds a predetermined magnitude threshold and a duration that exceeds a predetermined duration threshold.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fob includes a solenoid and the operative means includes a solenoid assembly having three solenoids that are oriented in orthogonal directions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a dashboard, and the apparatus further comprises a panel mounted on the dashboard, the panel having an activation region that is disposed adjacent the proximity sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the activation region is a surface irregularity in the panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the irregularity is a dimple in the panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus permits a plurality of operating modes, and further comprising signaling means disposed behind the panel for indicating which mode has been selected.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the modes include a start mode, an accessory mode, and a run mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fob code is encrypted, and the operative means include means for decrypting the fob code.