Vehicle protection device

• US 4,691,801 A
• Filed: 03/03/1986
• Issued: 09/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pekka Sarssi, Yale Mann
• Original Assignee: Pekka Sarssi, Yale Mann
• Inventors: Mann, Yale, Sarssi, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US06/835,465
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287, 307/10 AT, 340/63
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

An anti-theft system for vehicles, such as trucks, which is operated by a self-contained hand held transmitter. The system is enabled by activating the vehicle'"'"'s parking brake system. The transmitter transmits a predetermined signal that activates/deactivates any one of a plurality of manually selected security systems only after the anti-theft system verifies the predetermined signal. Typical security systems lock the parking brake system or interrupt the fuel supply of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-theft device for a truck having a parking brake system, said device comprising:

(a) locking means for preventing operation of said truck;

(b) a portable, battery operated infrared light transmitter comprising a manual switch for selectively activating emission of a;

predetermined stream of light pulses and

(c) a control unit, operable only after engagement of said parking brake system, said control unit comprising an infrared detector for receiving said stream of light pulses, a demodulator for converting said stream of light pulses to a digital data stream, and a microprocessor which compares said digital data stream to a digital identification code stored in a read only memory, said microprocessor enabling activation/deactivation of said locking means for preventing operation of said truck whenever said digital data stream is identical to said digital identification code.

2. The vehicle anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a valve for controlling pressurization of air brake lines of said truck.

3. The vehicle anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a fuel line valve for interrupting delivery of fuel to said truck.

4. The vehicle anti-theft device of claims 2 or 3, wherein said valve is a bi-stable valve, capable of remaining in its present state without being continuously energized.