Unauthorized entry detection system

• US 4,638,294 A
• Filed: 07/23/1984
• Issued: 01/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US06/633,443
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 340/552, 340/63, 340/64, 340/553, 340/52 R, 340/554, 343/894, 343/5 PD, 361/182, 307/10 AT, 180/286, 180/287, 331/65, 331/96, 331/107 DP
• US Class Current: 340/426.26
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field

Abstract

In an unauthorized entry detection system for automotive vehicles, an oscillator is installed within the passenger compartment of the vehicle to generate an electromagnetic wave with a predetermined frequency defined by the interior size of the compartment, a first antenna connected to the oscillator to propagate the electromagnetic wave in the whole interior of the compartment in such a manner that the compartment resonates as a cavity resonator when all the doors and windows are closed, a second antenna arranged within the compartment to generate an induced voltage in response to the magnetic field component of the propagated electromagnetic wave, and a detecting circuit connected to the second antenna to detect a change of the induced voltage level caused by entry of a human body into the compartment and/or opening of the doors or windows, thereby to generate a detection signal therefrom.

Claims

1. An unauthorized entry detection system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment of a given size, comprising:

oscillator means, adapted to be disposed in said vehicle, for generating an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency corresponding to said passenger compartment size;

first antenna means, adapted to be disposed within said passenger compartment and coupled to said oscillator means, for generating an electromagnetic wave inside said passenger compartment to cause said passenger compartment to resonate as a cavity resonator at said predetermined frequency, said electromagnetic wave corresponding to said oscillation signal;

second antenna means, adapted to be disposed in said passenger compartment, for generating an induced voltage in response to a magnetic component of said electromagnetic wave; and

detecting means, coupled to said second antenna means, for detecting a change in said induced voltage and providing a detection signal corresponding to said change.

2. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a detecting circuit connected to said second antenna means to detect said change of the induced voltage and to generate an output signal in response to a drop of the induced voltage below a predetermined level.

3. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said antenna means includes a pair of upright metallic rods having lower and upper ends, said lower ends being adapted to be supported by a seat back of a passenger seat in said passsenger compartment, said upper ends being adapted to be embedded in a head rest of said passenger seat.

4. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said antenna means includes a loop antenna having (a) a pair of upright metallic rods with lower and upper ends, said lower ends being adapted to be supported by a seat back of a passenger seat in said passenger compartment, said upper ends being adapted to be embedded in a head rest of said passenger seat, (b) an upper lateral metallic rod integral with the upper ends of said upright metallic rods, and (c) a pair of lower metallic rods integral with the lower ends of said upright metallic rods.

5. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detecting circuit comprises (a) a field effect transistor having a gate terminal coupled to said second antenna, a source terminal adapted to be coupled to an electric power source of said vehicle, and a drain terminal which is grounded, (b) a demodulator having an input terminal coupled to the source terminal of said transistor, and (c) a level detector having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of said demodulator, and wherein said transistor is energized in response to the induced voltage from said second antenna means to cause said demodulator to generate a demodulation signal, said level detector generating an output signal when a level of said demodulation signal drops below a predetermined level.

6. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising (a) a normally open relay switch arranged to be closed in response to the detection signal from said detecting means, (b) a driving circuit arranged to be energized in response to the closing of said relay switch, and (c) alarm means responsive to the energization of said driving circuit to generate an alarm signal.

7. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an anti-theft circuit responsive to energization of said driving circuit to kill an ignition of the vehicle engine.

8. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an anti-theft circuit responsive to energization of said driving circuit to block a fuel line of the vehicle engine.

9. An unauthorized entry detection system as claimed in claim 5, further including a normally open switch adapted to be coupled between the source terminal of said transistor and said electric power source, said switch being closed in response to an extraction of an ignition key from the vehicle to activate said detecting circuit.

10. An unauthorized entry detection system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment of a given size, comprising:

oscillator means, adapted to be disposed in said vehicle, for generating an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency corresponding to said passenger compartment size;

first antenna means, adapted to be disposed within said passenger compartment and coupled to said oscillator means, for generating an electromagnetic wave inside said passenger compartment to cause said passenger compartment to resonate as a cavity resonator at said predetermined frequency, said electromagnetic wave corresponding to said oscillation signal, said first antenna means including a first pair of upright metallic rods adapted to be disposed in a passenger seat in said passenger compartment;

second antenna means, adapted to be disposed in said passenger compartment, for generating an induced voltage in response to a magnetic component of said electromagnetic wave, said second antenna means including a second pair of upright metallic rods adapted to be disposed in a passenger seat in said passenger compartment; and

detecting means, coupled to said second antenna means, for detecting a change in said induced voltage and providing a detection signal corresponding to said change.

11. An unauthorized entry detection system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment of a given size, comprising:

oscillator means, adapted to be disposed in said vehicle, for generating an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency corresponding to said passenger compartment size;

first antenna means, adapted to be disposed within said passenger compartment and coupled to said oscillator means, for generating an electromagnetic wave inside said passenger compartment to cause said passenger compartment to resonate as a cavity resonator at said predetermined frequency, said electromagnetic wave corresponding to said oscillation signal, said first antenna means including a first loop antenna adapted to be disposed in a passenger seat in said passenger compartment;

second antenna means, adapted to be disposed in said passenger compartment, for generating an induced voltage in response to a magnetic component of said electromagnetic wave, said second antenna means including a second loop antenna adapted to be disposed in a passenger seat in said passenger compartment; and

detecting means, coupled to said second antenna means, for detecting a change in said induced voltage and providing a detection signal corresponding to said change.