Self-contained anti-theft device for motor vehicles
First Claim
1. An anti-theft device adapted to be connected adjacent a battery of a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including an operating switch and a starting motor adapted to draw a substantial amount of current from said battery when said operating switch is actuated, said anti-theft device comprising:
- (a) a power switching device having a first condition connecting said battery to said starting circuit and a second condition disconnecting said starting circuit from said battery;
(b) current detecting means for detecting the flow of said substantial amount of current from said battery;
(c) operating means for shifting said power switching device into said second condition when said detecting means detects said substantial amount of current flow; and
,(d) lockout means for creating a signal to override said operating means upon receipt of an external command signal with a given code.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An anti-theft device that is adapted to be connected adjacent to or on a battery of a motor vehicle and including a power switch for disconnecting the battery from its standard battery cable when current flowing through the cable exceeds a preselected substantial amount of current associated with an attempt to start the vehicle. A lockout circuit is actuated by a remote transmitter for generating an external command signal to override the operation ofthe power switch. This device can be attached directly to a battery without external wiring and still provide the passive or self-arming anti-theft device.
82 Citations
60 Claims
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1. An anti-theft device adapted to be connected adjacent a battery of a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including an operating switch and a starting motor adapted to draw a substantial amount of current from said battery when said operating switch is actuated, said anti-theft device comprising:
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(a) a power switching device having a first condition connecting said battery to said starting circuit and a second condition disconnecting said starting circuit from said battery; (b) current detecting means for detecting the flow of said substantial amount of current from said battery; (c) operating means for shifting said power switching device into said second condition when said detecting means detects said substantial amount of current flow; and
,(d) lockout means for creating a signal to override said operating means upon receipt of an external command signal with a given code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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- 33. An anti-theft device adapted to be affixed onto a battery of a motor vehicle, said battery having first and second electrode members, said anti-theft device comprising a support member, means for attaching said support member onto said battery, a switching means on said support member having a first position electrically connecting said electrodes whereby current flows said battery and a second position electrically disconnecting said electrodes to interrupt current flow through said battery, detector means on said support member for detecting flow of current across said electrodes greater than a preselected high value, and means for shifting said switching means to said second position only upon detection of said high value current flow and timing means on said member for deactivating said shifting means for a known time upon receipt of a specific external command signal.
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37. A self-contained anti-theft device adapted to be mounted onto a battery of a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including an operating switch, a starting motor adapted to draw a substantial amount of current from said battery when said operating switch is actuated, and a cable adapted to connect said starting motor to said battery, said battery having an electrode, said anti-theft device comprising:
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(a) means on said device for attaching said device to said electrode; (b) means for connecting said cable onto said battery mounted device; (c) a power switch having a first condition connecting said battery electrode to said starting circuit cable and a second condition disconnecting said starting circuit cable from said battery electrode; (d) current detecting means on said device for detecting the flow of said substantial amount of current from said battery through said electrode; (e) operating means for shifting said power switch into said second condition when said detecting means detects said substantial amount of current flow; and
,(f) lockout means for creating a signal to override said operating means upon receipt of an external command signal with a given code. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A self-contained anti-theft device connected onto a battery of a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including an operating switch, a starting motor adapted to draw a substantial amount of current from said battery when said switch is actuated, said anti-theft device comprising:
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(a) a power switch having a first condition connecting said battery to said starting circuit and a second condition disconnecting said starting circuit from said battery; (b) means for shifting said power switch into said second condition on response to flow of said substantial amount of current; (c) means for disabling said shifting means for a preselected time upon receipt of an external coded command signal having a given frequency; and
,(d) a signal receiving means mounted on said device for receiving and acknowledging a properly coded command signal. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. An automotive anti-theft device adapted to be mounted adjacent a battery used to provide current to the starting circuit of a motor vehicle by a power cable connected to said battery, said anti-theft device including:
- switch means for interrupting current flow from said battery to said starting circuit in response to flow of starting current from said battery to said starting circuit; and
, means for overriding said switch means upon receipt of an external command signal with a given code.
- switch means for interrupting current flow from said battery to said starting circuit in response to flow of starting current from said battery to said starting circuit; and
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43. An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including a battery, a battery cable, an operating switch and a starting motor adapted to draw a substantial amount of current from said battery of said vehicle, through said battery cable, when said operating switch is actuated, said anti-theft device comprising a housing containing:
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(a) a power switching device having a first condition connecting said battery to said starting circuit and a second condition disconnecting said starting circuit from said battery; (b) current detecting means for detecting the flow of said substantial amount of current from said battery; (c) operating means for shifting said power switching device into said second condition when said detecting means detects said substantial amount of current flow; and
,(d) lockout means for creating a signal to override said operating means upon receipt of an external command signal with a given code. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
- current passing means for selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor, and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor unimpaired, the current passing means being connected electrically between the battery and the starter motor;
current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means including means for determining whether a received access control signal includes a preselected access code and timing means, the access code determining means and the timing means being operatively connected with the current passing means for enabling the current passing means to pass current of the second current level for a preselected duration in response to receiving the preselected access code, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
- current passing means for selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor, and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor unimpaired, the current passing means being connected electrically between the battery and the starter motor;
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48. An access control for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
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(a) current passing means for selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor, the current passing means including; (1) a normally closed switch means for passing current of the second level between the battery and the starter motor, whereby the starter motor is normally able to draw sufficient current to operate, and (2) a current limiting means for limiting current passed to the starter motor generally to the first current level, the current limiting means including; (i) a current sensor for sensing current passed to the starter motor, and (ii) means for opening the normally closed switch means in response to the sensed current exceeding the first current level, whereby the passage of current to the starter motor through the normally closed switch means is stopped in response to the passed current exceeding the first current level, and then allowing the normally closed switch means to close after the current level has dropped below the first current level, the current passing means being connected electrically between the battery and the starter motor; (b) current level selection means for selective enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means selectively enables and disables the current limiting means from opening the normally closed switch, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery.
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49. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
- a tamper resistant housing which is configured to be mounted to the battery enclosing at least one battery terminal, means for securely mounting the housing to the battery, a housing electrical terminal mounted on the housing for selective electrical interconnection with the starter motor, a current passing means being mounted within the housing and being electrically connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal, the current passing means selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor, such that the current passing means selectively passes current of the first and second levels between the battery terminal and the housing terminal, and, a current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means being mounted within the tamper resistant housing, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery.
- View Dependent Claims (50)
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51. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
- a tamper-resistant housing;
housing mounting means for mounting the housing to the battery such that at least one battery terminal is enclosed in the housing;
a housing terminal of substantially the same configuration as the battery terminal mounted on the housing such that the vehicle electrical system is adapted to be connected with the housing terminal;
current passing means for selectively passing electric current, the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal for selectively passing electric current therebetween; and
, current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass current, the current level selection means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected with the current passing means, the current level selection means including comparing means for comparing a received code with a preselected access code and a timing means operatively connected with the comparing means for enabling the current passing means for a preselected duration in response to receiving the preselected access code. - View Dependent Claims (52)
- a tamper-resistant housing;
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53. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
- a tamper-resistant housing;
housing mounting means for mounting the housing to the battery such that at least one battery terminal is enclosed in the housing;
a housing terminal of substantially the same configuration as the battery terminal mounting on the housing such that the vehicle electrical system is adapted to be connected with the housing terminal;
current passing means for selectively passing electric current, the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal, the current passing means includes a current limiting means for limiting the level of current passing therethrough to a first level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and a high level current passing means for passing current therethrough at a level which is sufficiently high to operate the starter motor, the current limiting means and the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal for selectively passing electric current therebetween, current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass current, the current level selecting means disposed in the housing and operatively connected with the current limiting means and high level current passing means such that the current level selecting means selectively enables current to be passed.
- a tamper-resistant housing;
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54. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
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a tamper resistant housing which is configured to be mounted to the battery enclosing at least one battery terminal, means for securely mounting the housing to the battery, a housing electrical terminal mounted on the exterior of the housing for selective electrical interconnection with the starter motor, a current passing means being mounted within the housing and being electrically connected between the battery terminal the the housing terminal, the current passing means selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor, such that the current passing means selectively passes current of the first and second levels between the battery terminal and the housing terminal, and, a current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means being mounted within the tamper resistant housing, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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58. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
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a tamper-resistant housing; housing mounting means for mounting the housing to the battery such that at least one battery terminal is enclosed in the housing; a housing terminal of substantially the same configuration as the battery terminal mounted on the exterior of the housing such that the vehicle electrical system is adapted to be connected with the housing terminal; current passing means for selectively passing electric current, the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal for selectively passing electric current therebetween; and
,current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass current, the current level selection means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected with the current passing means, the current level selection means including comparing means for comparing a received code with a preselected access code and a timing means operatively connected with the comparing means for enabling the current passing means for a preselected duration in response to the receiving the preselected access code. - View Dependent Claims (59)
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60. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising:
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a tamper-resistant housing; housing mounting means for mounting the housing to the battery such at least one battery terminal is enclosed in the housing; a housing terminal of substantially the same configuration as the battery terminal mounted on the exterior of the housing such that the vehicle electrical system is adapted to be connected with the housing terminal; current passing means for selectively passing electric current, the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal, the current passing means includes a current limiting means for limiting the level of current passing therethrough to a first level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and high level current passing means for passing current therethrough at a level which is sufficiently high to operate the starter motor, the current limiting means and the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal for selectively passing electric current therebetween, current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass current, the current level selecting means disposed in the housing and operatively connected with the current limiting means and high level current passing means such that the current level selecting means selectively enables current to be passed.
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Specification