Vehicle anti-theft system with remote security module

• US 4,852,680 A
• Filed: 04/07/1988
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: J. I. Case Company
• Inventors: Rodeghiero, Charles D., Brown, Thomas R., Hahn, Robert W., Brekkestran, Kevin L., Logan, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weaver, Ross
• Application Number:
  US07/178,742
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287, 307/10 AT, 340/63, 70/243
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes

Abstract

An anti-theft security system for an off-road vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a master control module, which may be part of the vehicle'"'"'s instrument cluster, and a remotely located security module, which is directly adjacent to at least one electrically-operated actuator of the vehicle normally operated as part of transporting the vehicle to another location. The security module includes a tamper-resistant housing which obstructs physical access to at least part of the actuator. The master module, which may include a microprocessor and LED display, has an operator interface such as a keypad for entering a first access code known only to authorized operators of the vehicle. When the sequence of entered keystrokes matches the first access code stored within the master module, the module automatically generates and transmits to the security module a signal containing a second and different access code. When the security module determines that the received signal is coded with the same second access code stored within its memory, a power switch within the security module is energized, thereby providing electrical power to the actuator so that the vehicle may be moved. The second access code contained in the signal transmitted between modules may be an analog signal encoded by using a special voltage, frequency or waveform, or a serial digital signal encoded with a multi-bit code. To further improve security, the master module is arranged to allow the first access code stored therein to be reprogrammed when a special sequence of keystrokes is entered.

Claims

1. In an off-road vehicle anti-theft system which controls when at least one electrically-operated actuator on the vehicle may be operated, comprising:

a master control module including operator input means for entering a sequence of first signals from an operator of the vehicle, means for determining whether the entered sequence of first signals matches a first template in the master control module, and means of automatically generating a second signal for transmission to a remote location when the entered sequence of first signals matches the first template; and

security module means, at a location remote from the master control module and directly adjacent to the one electrically-operated actuator for protecting the actuator against unauthorized operation, the security module means including signal input means for receiving the second signal from the master control module, means for determining whether the received second signal includes the first predetermined identifying characteristic;

the operator input means includes a keypad having a plurality of keys;

the sequence of first signals is a sequence of at least three keystrokes on the keypad;

the means for determining whether the entered sequence of first signals received form the operator includes memory means for storing a sequence of at least three characters corresponding to three predetermined keystrokes; and

the means for automatically generating includes means for encoding at least eight bits of information in the second signal;

wherein the electrically-operated actuator is a device selected from the group of electrical devices employed on the vehicle consisting of solenoids and electric motors, and the portion of the vehicle is part of a vehicle subsystem selected from the group of vehicle subsystems consisting of the fuel delivery subsystem, the transmission control subsystem, and the control subsystem for a vehicle-stabilizing system including at least one deployable stabilizer, and wherein;

the means for providing an electrical signal to the actuator includes a solid-state power switching device; and

,

wherein the master control module also includes means for readily changing the first template without disassembly of the master control module and without replacement of components within the master control module, such that, after the first template is changed, a different sequence of first signals must be entered by the operator in order to match the first template.

2. A security system for preventing unauthorized movement of an off-road vehicle by controlling when at least one electrically-operated actuator on the vehicle may be operated, comprising:

an instrument cluster including (1) memory means for storing a sequence of characters representing a first access code known to an authorized vehicle operator, (2) keypad means for enabling the authorized vehicle operator to enter a first sequence of keystrokes corresponding to the first access code, (3) means for determining whether the entered sequence of keystrokes matches the first access code stored within the memory means, and (4) means for automatically generating, when the entered sequence of keystrokes matches the first access code, an electrical signal encoded with a second access code distinct from the first access code as part of enabling the operation of the actuator; and

security means, located remotely from the instrument cluster and at the actuator, for protecting the actuator against unauthorized operation, the security means including (1) tamper-resistant housing means for obstructing physical access to at least part of the actuator, (2) memory means for storing the second access code within the security means, (3) signal input means for receiving the electrical signal from the instrument cluster, (4) means for determining whether the received electrical signal is encoded with the second access code, and (5) means for providing an electric signal to the actuator to operate the actuator when the received electrical signal is so encoded;

wherein a received electrical signal encoded with the second access code is an analog signal encoded with one distinctive identifying characteristic selected from the group of analog signal characteristics consisting of a predetermined voltage level intermediate a supply voltage level and ground, a predetermined frequency, and a predetermined waveform, and

the means for determining of the security means includes electronic circuitry for recognizing the presence of at least the one distinctive identifying characteristics, and memory means for remembering, as long as electrical power continues to be supplied to the security module, the receipt of an electrical signal encoded with the second access code having that distinctive characteristic;

wherein the instrument cluster further includes (4) a microprocessor and the means for determining and the means for automatically generating are each implemented at least in part with the microprocessor, and (5) means for reprogramming the sequence of characters representing the first access code through at least in part the entering of a second sequence of keystrokes distinct of the first sequence of keystrokes, such that the first access code is changed;

the received electrical signal encoded with the second access code is a serial digital data signal encoded with at least eight bits of information; and

wherein the memory means of the security means includes nonvolatile storage means for storing at least eight bits of information corresponding to the second access code, and

the means for determining of the security means includes at least one programmable logic device programmed to sequence through a plurality of logic states as part of determining whether the bits of information encoded in the second access code of the electrical signal received from the instrument cluster match the bits of information corresponding to the second access code stored in the nonvolatile storage means of the memory means of the security means.

3. In a security system for an off-road vehicle, for preventing unauthorized movement of the vehicle by controlling when at least one electrically-operated actuator on the vehicle may be operated, a control module comprising:

barrier means located adjacent to at least one electrically-operated actuator on the vehicle, for deterring unauthorized physical access to the actuator;

means for receiving over a single line a code signal;

electronic means for determining whether the received coded signal includes a predetermined identifying characteristic whose presence in the received signal indicates that an authorized operator wishes to operate the actuator; and

means for providing an electrical signal to the actuator when the received coded signal includes the first predetermined identifying characteristic;

wherein the electrically-operated actuator is a device selected from the group of electrical devices employed on a vehicle consisting of solenoids and motors, and the portion of the vehicle is part of a vehicle subsystem selected from the group of vehicle subsystems consisting of the fuel delivery subsystem, the transmission control subsystem, and the control subsystem for a vehicle-stabilizing system including at least one deployable stabilizer, and wherein;

the barrier means includes a tamper-resistant housing substantially enclosing the means for receiving, the means for determining and the means for providing;

wherein the coded signal is an electrical signal,

the first predetermined identifying characteristic is selected from the group of analog signal characteristics consisting of a predetermined voltage level between a supply voltage level and ground, a predetermined frequency, and a predetermined waveform, and

means for determining includes signal conditioning circuitry which removes transient electrical noise components from the receive coded signal before the received coded signal is analyzed to determine whether it includes the predetermined identifying characteristic; and

wherein the coded signal is a serial digital signal encoded with at least eight bits of information, and

the means for determining includes nonvolatile storage means for retaining digital access code information, and programmed logic means for sequencing through a plurality of logic states as part of determining whether the bits of information in the serial digital signal match digital access code information previously placed in the storage means.

4. In a security system for an off-road vehicle for preventing unauthorized movement of the vehicle by controlling when at least one electrically-operated actuator on the vehicle may be operated, a module for selectively enabling the electrically-operated actuator of the vehicle and responsive to a predetermined coded signal generated by another electric apparatus on the vehicle, the module comprising:

housing means obstructing physical access to at least part of the actuator so as to prevent unauthorized operation of the actuator; and

electronic circuitry located within the housing means for controlling the operation of the module, the circuitry including (1) means for storing an access code value within the module;

(2) means for receiving the coded signal over no more than two conductors;

(3) means for determining whether the receiving coded signal is encoded with the access code value; and

(4) means for providing an electrical signal to the actuator to operate the actuator when the received signal is encoded with access code value;

wherein the coded signal is a synchronous serial digital signal containing at least eight bits of information, and the electronic circuitry further comprises (5) means for receiving a clock signal along with the coded signal to permit clocked operation of at least part of the electronic circuitry;

(6) means for remembering when means for determining has determined that the received signal is encoded with the access code value within the security module; and

(7) means for disabling operation of the actuator at least until electrical power is removed from the control module;

wherein the electrically-operated actuator is a device selected from the group of electrical devices employed on a vehicle consisting of solenoids and motors, and wherein;

the means for storing includes nonvolatile storage means for retaining the access code value in binary form, and

means for determining includes programmed logic means for sequencing through a plurality of logic states as part of the process for determining whether the received coded signal contains the access code value previously placed in the storage means; and

wherein the housing means is of tamper-resistant construction and includes at least one fastener means which once fastened can only be unfastened by destruction thereof, the fastening means being located relative to the remainder of the housing means and module to deter unauthorized entry into the module once fastened.