INDUCTION-KEYED DOOR-LOCK AND POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES AND THE LIKE

• US 3,723,967 A
• Filed: 03/24/1971
• Issued: 03/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Carl E. Atkins, Paul A. Carlson
• Inventors: Atkins, Carl E., Carlson, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/127,463
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 340/58,64,63 307/1AT,1R 123/146.5B,179BG,198B 180/114,112 331/65 317/134,146
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/48 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00714 with passive electrical components, e.g. resistor, capacitor, inductor

Abstract

A control circuit actuable by an inductive keying circuit, the inductor of which must be placed in a predetermined spatial relationship with the inductor in a tank circuit in the control circuit to effect keying. The energization and de-energization of a relay is thus controlled, and this relay in turn controls at least one door-unlocking solenoid. Circuitry is provided for automatically energizing each door-locking solenoid when the associated vehicle door is sequentially open and closed, and for manually energizing each of the locking and unlocking solenoids. Power control circuitry is also provided to prevent engine startup by an unauthorized person who has broken into the vehicle, to energize an alarm circuit in such event when the unauthorized person actuates the starting switch, and to enable engine startup by actuation of the starting switch within a predetermined length of time after an authorized person has unlccked the vehicle.

Claims

1. A door-lock and power control circuit for an automotive vehicle, said control circuit comprising:

1. keyable circuit means normally operative to provide a first signal and operative in response to the coupling of a keying circuit thereto to provide a second signal;

2. door-lock control means associated with each vehicle door lock and operative to close the associated lock after the door has been opened and closed, with at least the first door lock control means being further operative to open the associated lock in response to said second signal provided by said keyable circuit means; and

3. power control circuit means operative in response to said second signal provided by said keyable circuit means to enable start-up of the vehicle engine upon the closing of a first switch within a predetermined period of time after termination of said second signal, and further operative to turn off the vehicle engine and actuate at least said first door lock control means to open the associated lock upon the closing of a second switch.

2. a normally de-energized relay comprising an armature, at least one contact, and a winding, said winding being connected in the controlled current path of said transistor, said alarm means being connectable across a source of electric power by energization of said relay.

3. amplifier circuit means operative to open or close a load current path in response to predetermined variations in said direct current signal;

and

4. second disabling circuit means normally operative to apply a disabling signal to said control circuit means from said enabling circuit means of said power control circuit in response to said predetermined input signal.

5. The control circuit according to claim 2 further including:

6. The control circuit according to claim 1 wherein each of said door lock control means comprises:

7. The control circuit according to claim 6 wherein said circuit means comprises:

8. The control circuit according to claim 6 wherein at least said first door lock control means further includes a second relay operative to energize said first solenoid in resPonse to said second signal provided by said keyable circuit means.

9. The control circuit according to claim 8 wherein said second relay includes a winding connected in series with a blocking capacitor to enable only momentary energization of said relay means and said first solenoid.

10. The control circuit according to claim 1 wherein said power control circuit means comprises:

11. The control circuit according to claim 10 wherein said latching circuit means further comprises discharge circuit means operative to maintain said latching circuit in a latched condition for a predetermined period of time after said second switch has been actuated.

12. The control circuit according to claim 10 wherein said second switch is further operative when actuated to actuate at least said first door lock control means.

13. The control circuit according to claim 10 wherein said power control circuit means further comprises relay means actuated by said first switch and operative to disconnect accessory circuits from the power source during the period of actuation of said first switch.

14. An inductively keyable control circuit comprising:

15. The keyable control circuit according to claim 14 further comprising a first relay connected to said load current path and energizable by the flow of a predetermined minimum current in said load current path.

16. The keyable control circuit according to claim 14 wherein the degree of oscillation in said tank circuit is variable by a keying circuit comprising a second inductance and a second capacitance connected in parallel when said second inductance is positioned in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to said first inductance in said tank circuit.

17. A lock control circuit comprising:

18. The lock control circuit according to claim 17 wherein said circuit means comprises:

19. The lock control circuit according to claim 17 further including a switch operative to energize said first solenoid in response to a predetermined input signal.

20. A power control circuit comprising:

21. The power control circuit according to claim 20 wherein said latching circuit means further comprises discharge circuit means operative to maintain said latching circuit in a latched condition for a predetermined period of time after said second switch has been actuated.

22. The power control circuit according to claim 20 in combination with an alarm circuit comprising:

23. The combination of a power control circuit and an alarm circuit according to claim 22 wherein said normally disabled control circuit means comprises:

24. The combination of a power control circuit and an alarm circuit according to claim 22 wherein said first and second disabling circuit means comprise first and second diodes, respectively.