Automotive keyless security system

• US 4,232,289 A
• Filed: 10/24/1978
• Issued: 11/04/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Don H. Daniel
• Original Assignee: Don H. Daniel
• Inventors: Daniel, Don H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/954,234
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 340/53, 340/63, 340/64, 340/543, 340/576, 180/272
• US Class Current: 307/10.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5903 Hood

Abstract

An automotive security, convenience and fuel saving system which utilizes a pushbutton combination panel in lieu of conventional keys to control all access to ignition and engine compartment, prevent burglary of mounted components, save fuel, and screen physically and mentally disabled drivers. Basic to the system are pulse gates, pulse triggered locking and unlocking means for hood-ignition-start, burglar alarm pulses to the horn, improved fuel economy pulses to the air conditioner, and pulses to screen physically or mentally disabled drivers. The invention further consolidates and improves the efficiencies of each of these functions and is a new application for and an extended use of electric permutation locks referenced and as modified.

Claims

1. In an electric permutation lock and alerting system having, in cascade, a plurality of combination selecting stages operable by remote switch means, actuation of first said stage being dependent on actuation of said remote switch means, actuation of each successive said stage being dependent on successive actuation of said remote switch means plus actuation of each prior said stage, actuation of final said stage causing an unlock voltage to operate a plunger means, having lock and unlock means to move said plunger means in opposite directions, wherein the improvement comprises an automotive application whereby said plunger means, in locked position, blocks the unlock travel path and movement, in the unlock direction, of a remote hood latch cable, and wherein said blockage of said movement in unlock direction prevents access to the engine compartment.

2. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 1, wherein the invention comprises switch means actuated by said plunger means, by which an ignition system is enabled when said plunger means is in unlock position and by which said ignition system is disabled when said plunger means is in lock position, and whereas said plunger means and said switch means are physically accessible only through said engine compartment.

3. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 1, wherein the invention comprises the further utilization of said combination selecting stages, wherein the output of a selected said stage is a voltage pulse, actuation of said selected stage beginning said pulse, actuated said selected stage supplying feedback to a self restoring circuit breaker, said feedback resulting in the temporary opening of said circuit breaker, said opening causing said circuit breaker to interrupt source voltage of said combination selecting stages, said interruption terminating each said pulse, said pulse acting as a time gate requiring, for unlock, the remaining said combination selecting stages to be actuated within the duration of one said pulse, and whereby said time gate is used to screen physically or mentally disabled or unauthorized drivers from operating the automobile.

4. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the new and extended use of the conventional automotive starter relay, actuation of said starter relay by said remote switch means, actuation of said starter relay being also dependent on said plunger means being in unlock position, and whereas said plunger means in lock position requires, for engine start, the successive actuation of each said combination selecting stage, followed then by actuation of said starter relay by said remote switch means, whereby actuation of said starter relay is the final step in a successive series of remote controlled steps required to start the engine.

6. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 3, wherein the improvement comprises that any attempted actuation, by said remote switch means, of said combination selecting stages, by other than said successive actuation during one said voltage pulse, causes a trigger voltage and resulting holding voltage to be applied to an alarm switch means, by which said alarm switch means remains actuated, said combination selecting stages are reset, and an alarm voltage pulse actuates an alarm means, width of said alarm voltage pulse being determined by the amount of voltage feedback from said alarm switch means to a self restoring circuit breaker, said circuit breaker supplying source voltage to said alarm switch means, said voltage feedback resulting in the temporary opening of said circuit breaker, said opening causing interruption of said source voltage, said interruption resetting said alarm switch means to its normal state.

7. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the physical grouping and intermingling of said remote switch means of like functions with remote other switch means of unlike functions, whereby said grouping and said intermingling causes said remote switch means of said like functions to be indistinguishable in appearance and location from said remote other switch means of unlike functions, and whereby said indistinguishable appearance and said indistinguishable location makes each said remote switch means of said like functions and each said remote other switch means of said unlike functions less vulnerable to unauthorized use, and whereas any said unauthorized use is susceptable to alarm actuation.

8. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises that connecting means between the outputs of said remote switch means and the inputs to said combination selecting stages have common interconnector means, whereby said successive actuation sequence inputs and said outputs of said remote switch means can be readily identified, and whereby said inputs and said outputs can be cross connected, and whereas said interconnector means is located under the hood.

9. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the new and extended use of the conventional remote hood release cable train as the locking medium by which the automobile hood is locked and unlocked by said plunger means.

10. The automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system of claim 1, wherein the improvement comprises the further utilization of said voltage pulse, whereby said voltage pulse is used to pulse the clutch of an air conditioner compressor, whereby the frequency and duration of said voltage pulse, as said voltage pulse is used to operate said plunger means, is sufficient to automatically satisfy the winter off season operating requirements of said air conditioner compressor, and whereas said requirement is met effectively, automatically and without driver attention.

5. In an automotive electric permutation lock and alerting system having, in cascade, a plurality of combination selecting stages operable by remote switch means, actuation of first said stage being dependent on actuation of said remote switch means, actuation of each successive stage being dependent on successive actuation of said remote switch means plus actuation of each prior said stage, actuation of final said stage causing an unlock voltage to operate an ignition unlock means, wherein output of a selected said stage is a voltage pulse, actuation of said selected stage beginning said pulse, actuated said selected stage supplying feedback to a self restoring circuit breaker, said feedback resulting in the temporary opening of said circuit breaker, said opening causing said circuit breaker to interrupt source voltage of said combination selecting stages, said interruption terminating said pulse, wherein the invention comprises that said remote switch means include a continuous switch means whereby said pulse is repeated in a cyclic fashion to form a voltage pulse train, said voltage pulse train used to actuate and deactuate, at the duty cycle of said voltage pulse train, the duty cycle of an automotive air conditioner compressor, whereby the output of said compressor is controlled by said voltage pulse train.