Theft prevention device for automobiles

• US 4,933,664 A
• Filed: 09/13/1988
• Issued: 06/12/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shiroki Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Shiroki Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kunitachi, Masahiro, Igawa, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/243,731
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 340/63-65, 340/527, 340/528, 340/541, 340/542, 340/566, 340/550, 340/545, 340/590, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/429, 340/430, 307/9, 307/10 R, 307/10 AT, 307/10.1-10.3, 307/10.6, 180/287, 180/271, 180/282, 180/283, 180/173
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• 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

Abstract

An automobile theft prevention device has an alarm circuit for intermittently energizing a horn, a sensor for detecting a monitored action; and a control unit for controlling the alarm circuit so as to intermittently energize the horn when the monitored action is detected by means of the sensor during a period of time after an automobile door is locked according to a predetermined procedure and until the automobile door is properly unlocked.

Claims

1. An automobile theft protection device, comprising:

an alarm circuit for intermittently energizing an alarm horn;

sensor means for detecting a monitored action;

a control unit for controlling said alarm circuit so as to intermittently energize said alarm horn when said monitored action is detected by said sensor means during a period of time after an automobile door is locked according to a predetermined procedure and before said automobile door is properly unlocked;

a starter circuit including a starter switch connected to an automobile engine starter; and

means within said control unit for opening said starter switch during said period of time after said automobile door has been locked according to said predetermined procedure and before said automobile door is properly unlocked.

2. An automobile theft prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprises:

a key lock/unlock sensor for detecting whether a door lock device of said automobile door is locked or unlocked using a key;

a sensor for detecting whether an automobile window glass panel is broken;

a door courtesy switch for detecting whether the automobile door is opened; and

an engine hood opening sensor for detecting whether an automobile engine hood is opened;

said control unit comprising means for detecting, based on an output signal from said key lock/unlock sensor, whether the control unit is in a monitoring period after the automobile door is locked using a key and until the automobile door is unlocked using the key, for detecting, based on output signals from said sensor for detecting whether the automobile window glass panel is broken, said door courtesy switch, and said engine hood opening sensor, whether a monitored action has occurred, and for controlling said alarm circuit to intermittently energize the horn when the monitored action occurs during said monitoring period.

3. An automobile theft prevention system, comprising:

an alarm circuit for intermittently energizing an alarm horn (8);

sensor means for detecting a monitored action;

a control unit for controlling said alarm circuit by intermittently energizing said alarm horn by means of a horn starting signal (HS) when said monitored action is detected by said sensor means during a period of time after an automobile door has been locked according to a predetermined procedure and before said automobile door is properly unlocked, and for de-energizing said alarm horn by means of a horn stopping signal (HR) when said monitored action has not been detected;

first monostable multivibrator means (71) for determining a period of time during which said alarm circuit is operative and having a trigger input terminal (S) for receiving said horn starting signal (HS), a reset terminal (R) for receiving said horn stopping signal (HR), and an output terminal (Q);

second monostable multivibrator means (72) for determining a period of time during which said alarm horn (8) is de-energized and having a trigger input terminal (S), a reset terminal (R) for receiving said horn stopping signal (HR), and an output terminal (Q);

third monostable multivibrator means (73) for determining a period of time during which said alarm horn is energized and having a trigger input terminal (S), a reset terminal (R), a first output terminal (Q), and a second output terminal (Q);

delay circuit means (74) for delaying an output signal from said output terminal (Q) of said first monostable multivibrator means (71);

gate circuit means (75) operatively connected to said delay circuit means (74) and said output terminal (Q) of said second monostable multivibrator means (72);

switching transistor means (76) operatively connected to said first output terminal (Q) of said third monostable multivibrator means (73) for generating an output signal for intermittently energizing said alarm horn (8);

an output signal from said gate circuit means (75) and said horn stopping signal (HR) being respectively supplied to said trigger input terminal (S) and said reset terminal (R) of said third monostable multivibrator means (73) such that a first output signal from said third monostable multivibrator means (73) is transmitted to said switching transistor means (76) while a second output signal from said third monostable multivibrator means (73) is fed back to said trigger input terminal (S) of said second monostable multivibrator (72); and

means interconnecting said control unit with said reset terminal (R) of said second monostable multivibrator means (72) for supplying said horn stopping signal (HR) thereto.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sensor means comprises:

a key lock/unlock sensor for detecting whether a door lock device of said automobile door is locked or unlocked by means of a key;

a sensor for detecting whether an automobile window glass panel has been broken;

a door courtesy switch for detecting whether an automobile door has been improperly opened; and

an engine hood opening sensor for detecting whether an automobile engine hood has been improperly opened.

5. An automobile theft protection system, comprising:

an alarm circuit for intermittently energizing an alarm horn (8);

sensor means for detecting a monitored action;

a control unit for controlling said alarm circuit by intermittently energizing said alarm horn by means of a horn starting signal (HS) when said monitored action is detected by said sensor means during a period of time after an automobile door has been locked according to a predetermined procedure and before said automobile door is properly unlocked, and for de-energizing said alarm horn by means of a horn stopping signal (HR) when said monitored action has not been detected;

a starter circuit including a starter switch connected to an automobile engine starter;

means within said control unit for opening said starter switch during said period of time after said automobile door has been locked according to said predetermined procedure and before said automobile door is properly unlocked;

first monostable multivibrator means (71) for determining a period of time during which said alarm circuit is operative and having a trigger input terminal (S) for receiving said horn starting signal (HS), a reset terminal (R) for receiving said horn stopping signal (HR), and an output terminal (Q);

second monostable multivibrator means (72) for determining a period of time during which said alarm horn (8) is de-energized and having a trigger input terminal (S), a reset terminal (R) for receiving said horn stopping signal (HR), and an output terminal (Q);

third monostable multivibrator means (73) for determining a period of time during which said alarm horn (8) is energized and having a trigger input terminal (S), a reset terminal (R), a first output terminal (Q), and a second output terminal (Q);

delay circuit means (74) for delaying an output signal received from said output terminal (Q) of said first monostable multivibrator means (71);

gate circuit means (75) operatively connected to said delay circuit means (74) and said output terminal (Q) of said second monostable multivibrator means (72);

switching transistor means (76) operatively connected to said first output terminal (Q) of said third monostable multivibrator means (73) for generating an output signal for intermittently energizing said alarm horn (8);

means interconnecting said gate circuit means (75) and said control unit, respectively, to said trigger input terminal (S) and said reset terminal (R) of said third monostable multivibrator means (73) such that an output signal from said gate circuit means (75) and said horn stopping signal (HR) can be respectively conducted to said trigger input terminal (S) and said reset terminal (R) of said third monostable multivibrator means (73) whereby a first output signal from said first output terminal (Q) of said third monostable multivibrator means (73) can be transmitted to said switching transistor means (76), while a second output signal from said second output terminal (Q) of said third monostable multivibrator means (73) can be fed back to said trigger input terminal (S) of said second monostable multivibrator means (72); and

means interconnecting said control unit with said reset terminal (R) of said second monostable multivibrator means (72) for supplying said horn stopping signal (HR) thereto.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said sensor means comprises:

a key lock/unlock sensor for detecting whether a door lock device of said automobile door is locked or unlocked by means of a key;

a sensor for detecting whether an automobile window glass panel has been broken;

a door courtesy switch for detecting whether an automobile door has been improperly opened; and

an engine hood opening sensor for detecting whether an automobile engine hood has been improperly opened.