Theft warning system

• US 4,574,268 A
• Filed: 02/22/1985
• Issued: 03/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohnishi, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/704,279
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 340/64, 340/63, 340/52 F, 340/52 R, 340/54, 340/56, 340/541, 340/542, 340/506, 340/543, 340/516, 340/521-523, 340/545, 340/528, 307/10 AT, 307/10 R, 180/173, 180/287, 70/237-239, 70/262, 70/263, 70/416
• US Class Current: 340/426.28
• 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: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

A theft warning system for use in a vehicle, which issues a warning to protect vehicle contents when a vehicle door is opened without use of a door key. The theft warning condition is set only when all doors are closed while all the door lock devices are locked. The theft warning system generates a theft warning signal when the final open door is closed and locked without use of a door key and one of the door lock devices subsequently is unlocked without a door key.

Claims

1. A theft warning system for use in a vehicle having a plurality of doors with door lock devices, comprising:

first means for detecting whether an ignition switch of the vehicle is open or closed and generating a signal according to the condition of the ignition switch;

second means for detecting whether each of said vehicle doors is open or closed and generating a signal according to the condition of each said door;

third means for detecting whether said door lock device of at least one of said doors is locked or unlocked, and generating a signal according to the condition of said door lock device;

fourth means for detecting whenever one of said door lock device is unlocked by actuation of a door key, and generating a signal indicating that one of said door lock devices has been so unlocked;

control means for receiving the signals generated by the first, second, third and fourth means, said control means setting a theft detecting condition when a last of said doors is closed by an operator outside of the vehicle while the ignition switch is open and all of said door lock devices are locked, and for generating a theft warning signal when, after setting of said theft detecting condition, one of said vehicle doors is opened or unlocked without use of a door key; and

alarm means responsive to said theft warning signal for generating an alarm signal.

2. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein said control means sets said theft detecting condition when it:

detects that said ignition switch is open;

detects that one of said doors is open;

detects that all said door lock devices are in a locked condition; and

subsequently detects the closing of said open door while all of said door lock devices are maintained in a locked position.

3. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein said control means clears the set of said theft detecting condition when a door is opened with the use of a door key.

4. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said doors can be closed while the door lock device of said door is maintained in a locked condition only while a handle of said door is held in an open condition.

5. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein each said door lock device comprises a movable member responsive to actuation of a door key, and said fourth means comprises a limit switch disposed adjacent said movable member such that when said movable member moves in response to actuation of a door key, said limit switch is moved by said movable member to generate said signal indicating unlocking of said door lock device by use of a door key.

6. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein said third means comprises a switch responsive to a solenoid of an electromagnetic lock of each said door lock device.

7. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein said third means comprises a detector for determining by electrical means when a bolt of said door lock device is in a locked position.

8. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is equipped with a back door which locks automatically when the back door is closed.

9. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein said alarm means comprises a horn, lights and taillights of said car, said horn being pulsated and lights flashed when said theft warning signal is received by said alarm means.

10. The theft warning system of claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a programmed microprocessor.

11. A theft warning system for use in a vehicle having a plurality of doors with door lock devices, comprising:

an ignition switch having an open and a closed position and generating a signal indicating whether it is open or closed;

a plurality of door switches, one for each of said doors, each said switch generating a signal indicating when its respective door is open;

at least one detector for generating a signal when at least one of said door lock devices is unlocked;

a plurality of key unlock detectors, one for each of said door lock devices, each said door unlock detector generating a signal when its respective door lock device is unlocked by use of a door key;

a programmed microprocessor receiving the signals generated by said door switches, said detectors, said door unlock detectors and said ignition switch, for setting a theft detecting condition when a last of said doors is closed by an operator outside of said vehicle while all of said door lock devices are maintained in a locked condition, and for generating a theft warning signal when a door is subsequently opened or unlocked without use of a door key; and

means for sounding a horn of said vehicle and flashing headlights and taillights of said vehicle responsive to said theft warning signal.