Electronic vehicle security system

• US 4,922,224 A
• Filed: 08/11/1988
• Issued: 05/01/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DEI Headquarters Inc (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Clifford Electronics, Inc. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Abrishami, Amir, Drori, Ze'ev
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMM, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/231,159
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/428, 340/430, 340/528, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/664, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/428
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2225/00 Means indicating the functioning state of the alarm system, e.g. indicating arming, using leds
• 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 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 Monitoring of the detection circuits

Abstract

A multi-featured electronic vehicle security system includes an output device protection feature, to prevent damage to output devices such as power transistors from damage due to improper installation or miswiring. The system can be user-programmed so that second and subsequent trippings of the same sensor device will result in an alarm condition only if a system trigger device has also been tripped. The system includes a user-enabled feature wherein a first alarm signal generator is activated by a sensor tripping, and a second, distinct alarm signal generator is activated when a trigger device has been tripped. A further user-enabled feature is useful with vehicles having a courtesy light delay timer, with the door trigger wired to the interior light, to permit the system to be actively armed even while the interior light is still turned on. The system entrance delay is automatically bypassed if a sensor device has been tripped. An automatic door lock signal is provided to automatically lock the vehicle'"'"'s doors when the system is passively armed but only if the vehicle'"'"'s doors have not been opened and closed since the ignition was turned off. The system provides a sensor test mode to permit the sensor devices to be tested without activating the siren for the alarm duration, thereby preventing noise pollution. The system may be efficiently programmed, with the user provided the flexibility of enabling or disabling many of the system features.

Claims

1. An electronic vehicle security system, comprising:

means for sensing an attempted unauthorized intrusion event and providing an intrusion signal when the event is sensed;

at least one controlled device to be activated in the event of a detected unauthorized intrusion event, said controlled device activated by an output device responsive to an alarm signal;

a digital controller for controlling the operation of the security system, said digital controller comprising;

(i) means responsive to said intrusion signal for generating said alarm signal to activate said controlled device after an unauthorized intrusion event is detecting;

(ii) means for monitoring said output device to detect undesired high current flow through said device and for turning off said alarm signal when said undesired current flow is detected.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said controlled device comprises an alarm siren.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said controlled device comprises a means for disabling the vehicle engine ignition circuitry.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said monitoring means comprises means for monitoring the voltage at a predetermined circuit node comprising said output device, and means for comparing said voltage to a predetermined voltage threshold level and for generating a high current indicating signal if said voltage exceeds said threshold level.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said digital controller comprises a microcomputer, said microcomputer comprising a first input terminal for receiving said intrusion signal, a second input terminal for receiving said high current indicating signal, a first output terminal, said generating means coupled to said first output terminal for providing said alarm signal at said output terminal, and wherein said monitoring means comprises a programmed means responsive to said high current indicating signal for turning off said generating means.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said output device comprises a field effect transistor (FET) which is selectively gated to the conductive state by said alarm signal to activate said controlled device, and wherein said monitoring means comprises a voltage comparator circuit for generating a high current indicating signal when the potential difference between the drain and source of said FET exceeds a predetermined level, and wherein said controller is responsive to said high current indicating signal to turn off said alarm signal.

7. An electronic vehicle security system, comprising:

at least one sensor device for sensing attempted tampering with said vehicle and generating a "sensor active" signal when the sensor device is tripped;

at least one trigger device for monitoring the open/closed status of one or more of the vehicle access locations, and providing a "trigger active" signal when said location has an opened status;

means for generating an alarm alert signal, said means activated by alarm event signals;

means for selectively arming or disarming said system;

an electronic controller for controlling the operation of the security system, said controller responsive to said "sensor active" and "trigger active" signals when the system is armed for generating said alarm event signals under predetermined conditions, said controller comprising;

first means responsive to said "sensor active" signal for generating a first alarm event signal and thereby activating said alarm alert means for a predetermined alarm cycle time duration the first time said sensor device is tripped after said system has been armed; and

second means responsive to any subsequent "sensor active" signals resulting from each subsequent tripping of said sensor device after the first such tripping and to said "trigger active" signals for generating a second alarm event signal and thereby activating said alarm alert means for a predetermined alarm cycle time duration if and only if a "trigger active" signal is also received.

8. The electronic security system of claim 7 wherein said sensor device comprises a vibration sensor, and said trigger device is for monitoring the opened/closed status of at least one vehicle door.

9. The electronic security system of claim 7 wherein said controlled device comprises an alarm siren device.

10. The electronic security system of claim 7 wherein said alarm alert means comprises a first alarm event indicating device comprising means for generating a first type of alarm alert signal in response to said first alarm event signals, and a second alarm event indicating device for generating a second type of alarm alert signal which is distinguished from said first type in response to said second alarm event signals, whereby a distinctive alarm alert signal is generated in response to said second alarm event signals.

11. The electronic security system of claim 10 wherein said first alarm event indicating device comprises a siren device for generating audible siren-type sounds, and said second alarm event indicating device comprises a voice synthesizer device for generating predetermined audible voice messages.

12. The electronic security system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle includes an interior light triggered on and off by the opening and closing of a door, and a vehicle interior light delay timer for turning the interior light on for a predetermined delay time interval after the vehicle door has been closed, and wherein said trigger device comprises a door trigger device for monitoring the open/closed status of one or more of the vehicle doors, said device comprising means for monitoring the on/off status of the vehicle interior light and providing a "trigger active" signal when said light is turned on, and wherein said electronic controller further comprises user-activated means for actively arming said system even while said door trigger device is providing "trigger active" signals, thereby providing apparent indications that the door is opened, said means comprising means responsive to a user-activated signal when the system is in a disarmed status for arming the system, means for monitoring the status of said trigger device signal, means responsive to said "trigger active" signals for generating said alarm event signals, said means comprising means for ignoring the "trigger active" signals for a time interval commencing with active arming of the system so that a "trigger active" signal does not result in generation of said alarm event signal during said delay timer interval, and means responsive to a change in status of the trigger signal from the "trigger active" state to a "trigger inactive" state when the delay timer interval on said interior light expires for thereafter generating alarm event signals in response to said "trigger active" signals.

13. The electronic security system of claim 7 further comprising at least one controlled device to be activated by said alarm event signal, and wherein said controller further comprises means for monitoring said output device to detect undesired high current flow through said device and for turning off said output device when said undesired high current flow is detected.

14. The electronic security system of claim 7 wherein said electronic controller further comprises:

third means responsive to said "sensor active" signal for generating said alarm event signal for a predetermined time interval so as to activate said alarm alert signal generating means for said time interval;

fourth means responsive to said "trigger active" signals for generating said alarm event signal a predetermined entrance delay interval after receipt of said "trigger active" signal if said system is still armed at the end of said entrance delay interval; and

fifth means responsive to said "sensor active" and "trigger active" signals for generating an immediated alarm event signal upon receipt of said "trigger active" signal if said sensor device has previously generated a "sensor active" signal after the system was armed;

whereby said entrance delay is bypassed when the sensor device has previously been tripped after the system is armed.

15. The electronic security system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle includes a power door lock system, wherein the doors are locked and unlocked in response to door lock control signals, and said trigger device comprises at least one door trigger device for providing a signal indicative of the opened/closed status of the vehicle doors, and wherein said controller further comprises:

means for automatically passively arming said security system upon expiration of a predetermined time interval after the vehicle ignition has been turned off; and

means for automatically generating door lock control signals to lock said vehicle doors when said passive arming means arms said system if and only if none of the vehicle doors has been opened and closed after said ignition has been turned off.

16. The electronic vehicle security system of claim 7 wherein said vehicle includes an interior light, and wherein said system further comprises means responsive to said alarm event signal for pulsating said interior light on and off for the duration of an alarm event cycle.

17. The electronic vehicle security system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for putting the system in an unarmed "sensor test" mode for verifying the proper operation of said sensor device, wherein the tripping of said sensor does not result in activating said alarm alert signal generating means for the duration of an alarm event cycle; and

means for monitoring said sensor device while the system is operating in said "sensor test" mode and providing a "sensor test" signal when said "sensor active" signal is generated, said "sensor test" signal indicating that said sensor has been tripped.

18. An electronic vehicle security system, comprising:

at least one sensor device for sensing attempted tampering with said vehicle and generating a "sensor active" signal when the sensor device is tripped;

at least one trigger device for monitoring the open/closed status of one or more of the vehicle access locations, and providing a "trigger active" signal when said location has an opened status;

a first controlled device for generating a first type of alarm alert signal in response to a first alarm event signal;

a second controlled device for generating a second type of alarm alert signal in response to a second alarm event signal;

means for selectively arming or disarming said security system; and

an electronic controller for controlling the operation of said security system, said controller responsive to said "sensor active" and "trigger active" signals while said system is armed for generating said first and second alarm event signals under predetermined conditions, said controller comprising;

means for generating said first alarm event signals when said "sensor active" signal is active while said system is armed and said "trigger active" signal is not active; and

means for generating said second alarm event signal in response to said "trigger active" signal while said system is armed,

whereby said first controlled device is activated when only said sensor and not said trigger device has been tripped, and said second controlled device is activated only when said trigger device has been tripped.

19. The electronic security system of claim 18 wherein said first controlled device comprises a siren for generating audible siren sounds, and said second controlled device comprises a voice synthesizer for generating predetermined audible voice messages.

20. An electronic security system for a vehicle having an interior light triggered on and off by the opening and closing of a door, and having a vehicle interior light delay timer for turning the interior light on for a delay time interval after the vehicle'"'"'s door has been closed, comprising:

a door trigger device for monitoring the open/closed status of one or more of the vehicle doors, said device comprising means for monitoring the on/off status of the vehicle interior light, and providing a "trigger active" signal when said light is turned on;

means for generating an alarm alert signal, said means activated by an alarm event signal; and

an electronic controller for controlling the operation of the security system, said controller responsive to said "trigger active" signals when the system is armed for generating an alarm event signal under predetermined conditions, said controller comprising user-activated means for actively arming said system even while the trigger device is providing "trigger active" signals, thereby providing apparent indication that the door is opened, said user-activated means comprising (i) means responsive to a user-activated signal when the system is in a disarmed status for arming the system, (ii) means for monitoring the status of said trigger device signal, (iii) means responsive to "trigger active" signals for generating said alarm event signals, said means comprising means for ignoring the "trigger active" signals for a time interval commencing with active arming of the system so that a "trigger active" signal does not result in generation of said alarm event signal during said delay time interval, and (iv) means responsive to a change in status of the trigger signal from the "trigger active" state to a "trigger inactive" state when the delay timer interval on said light expires for thereafter generating alarm event signals in response to said "trigger active" signals.

21. The electronic security system of claim 20 wherein said means for generating an alarm alert signal comprises a siren device actuated by said alarm event signal.

22. The electronic security system of claim 20 wherein said system further comprises a remote control transmitter for transmitting an RF signal encoded with a predetermined user code, said signal comprising said user-activated signal, and said controller comprises a receiver responsive to receipt of said encoded RF signal for providing a receiver signal, and wherein said means responsive to said user-activated signal is responsive to said receiver signal.

23. An electronic vehicle security system, comprising:

at least one sensor device for sensing attempted tampering with said vehicle and generating a "sensor active" signal when the sensor device is tripped;

at least one trigger device for monitoring the open/closed status of one or more of the vehicle access locations, and providing a "trigger active" signal when said location has an opened status;

means for generating an alarm alert signal, said means activated by alarm event signals;

means for selectively arming or disarming said system;

an electronic controller for controlling the operation of the security system, said controller responsive to said "sensor active" and "trigger active" signals when the system is armed for generating said alarm event signals under predetermined conditions, said controller comprising;

first means responsive to said "sensor active" signal for generating said alarm event signal for a predetermined time interval so as to activate said alarm alert signal generating means for said time interval;

second means responsive to said "trigger active" signals for generating said alarm event signal after a predetermined entrance delay interval following receipt of said "trigger active" signal if said system is still armed at the end of said entrance delay interval;

third means responsive to said "sensor active" and "trigger active" signals for generating an immediate alarm event signal upon receipt of said "trigger active" signal if said sensor device has previously generated a "sensor active" signal after the system was armed;

whereby said entrance delay is bypassed when the sensor device has previously been tripped after arming the system.

24. The electronic security system of claim 23 wherein said sensor device comprises a vibration sensor.

25. The electronic security system of claim 23 wherein said system is disarmed by turning on the vehicle ignition.

26. An electronic security and control system for a vehicle having a power door lock system, wherein the doors are locked and unlocked in response to door lock control signals, the system comprising:

at least one door trigger device for providing a signal indicative of the opened/closed status of the vehicle doors;

an electronic controller responsive to said trigger signals and comprising;

means for automatically passively arming said security system upon expiration of a predetermined time interval after the vehicle ignition has been turned off; and

means for automatically generating door lock control signals to lock said vehicle doors when said passive arming means arms said system if and only if none of the vehicle doors has been opened and closed after said ignition has been turned off.

27. A method for programming an electronic vehicle security system having a plurality of programmable features, and wherein programming data is entered via a single multiposition switch, comprising a sequence of the following steps:

grouping said features in a plurality of programming branches, each branch having a predetermined numerical indicia associated therewith, each branch comprising a plurality of predetermined programmable features, each feature in each group in turn having a predetermined numerical indicia associated therewith;

entering a first system programming mode by entering a first predetermined code via said multi-position switch;

selecting one of said plurality of programming branches by entering a code representative of said predetermined indicia associated with the desired branch via said multiposition switch;

selecting one of said plurality of programmable features grouped within said selected branch by entering a code representative of said predetermined indicia associated with the desired feature via said multiposition switch; and

programming said selected feature in a desired manner in accordance with a predetermined programming sequence for that selected feature via said multiposition switch.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said predetermined branches comprise a first group of programming branches of user-programmable features, and further comprising the steps of:

grouping in at least one installer branch distinct from said first group of branches a plurality of system installer-programmable features, each feature having a predetermined numerical indicia associated therewith;

entering an installer-programming mode by entering a second predetermined code via said multiposition switch;

selecting a desired feature to be programmed by entering a code via said multiposition switch representative of the indicia associated with said desired feature; and

programming the selected feature.

29. An electronic vehicle security system for a vehicle having an interior light triggered on and off by the opening and closing of a vehicle door, said system comprising:

means for sensing an attempted unauthorized intrusion event and providing an intrusion signal when the event is detected;

at least one controlled device to be activated in the event of a detected unauthorized intrusion event;

means for turning said light on and off in response to a light activation signal;

programming means for entering instructions for programming said system;

a digital controller for controlling the operation of the security system, said digital controller comprising;

(i) first means responsive to said intrusion signal for generating said alarm signal for a predetermined alarm cycle duration to activate said controlled device after an unauthorized intrusion event is detected; and

(ii) second means responsive to said intrusion signal for generating said light activation signal in a pulsed on/off manner after an unauthorized intrusion event is detected so as to cause said interior light to pulsate on and off during said alarm cycle duration; and

means responsive to said programming means for putting said system in a programming mode and for enabling or disabling said second means in response to predetermined instructions.