Security module to preclude unauthorized users to operate motor driven equipment and to protect valuable parts of the motor from unauthorized exchange

• US 5,006,843 A
• Filed: 05/02/1990
• Issued: 04/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Werner Hauer
• Original Assignee: Werner Hauer
• Inventors: Hauer, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pudpud, Eric O.
• Application Number:
  US07/517,430
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 70/277, 70/278, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.6, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.32, 340/426, 361/172, 180/287, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/5.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

The disclosure describes a security system for motor driven vehicles and motor operated plants which uses a micro-chip that is mounted inside vital motor accessories and prevents these accessories from operating without the entry of a 4-digit code word. The micro-chip consists of a silicon substrate and an added semiconductor-switch that adapts the micro-chip to the various switching requirements of the various types of motor accessories. The silicon substrate carries all circuitry for data entry, data storage, conparison, evaluation and control functions and is designed to store data without power. Special circuits are provided to adapt the unit to a number of service requirements, such as maintenance, automatic code entry, and erasure of forgotten codes.

Claims

1. A security system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment containing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories comprising:

a source of vehicle electrical power;

a keyboard for generating data words;

a code sender in the dashboard coupled to the keyboard including means for outpulsing the generated data words from the keyboard;

at least one security module implanted within one of the vital motor accessories comprising;

means for permanently storing a distinct data word; and

means responsive to the received data word matching the distinct data word for generating the first signal; and

means coupled between the code sender and each security module for transmitting data words between the code sender and each security module including means for sending the generated data words to the at least one security module;

the at least one security module comprising;

means coupled to the transmitting means for receiving the data words outpulsed from the code sender;

a code memory for storing a predetermined data word;

means coupled to the code memory and to the means for receiving the data words outpulsed from the code sender responsive to the predetermined word in the security module code memory matching one of the data words outpulsed from the code sender for generating a first signal; and

means responsive solely to the first signal for enabling the one vital motor accessory to function only when the data word received from the code sender matches the predetermined data word stored in the code memory implanted within the vital motor accessory the keyboard further comprises;

means for forming a first or second status selecting signal, and

means for coupling the first or second status selecting signal to the code sender;

the code sender further comprises;

a processor coupled to the keyboard, the outpulsing means, and the source of vehicle electrical power; and

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor for retaining a status code;

the processor comprising;

means responsive to the first status selecting signal from the keyboard for storing a disarmed mode status code in the status code retaining memory,

means responsive to the status code in the status code retaining memory being the disarmed mode status code for generating the distinct data word, and

means for coupling the distinct data word from the processor to the outpulsing means whereby the distinct data word is outpulsed to the security modules when the vehicle electrical power is turned on;

means responsive to the second status selecting signal from the keyboard for storing an armed mode status code in the status code retaining memory;

means responsive to the status code in the status code retaining memory being the armed mode status code for generating a data word request signal when vehicle electrical power is turned on to indicate inserting of a data word; and

means responsive to the data word request signal for coupling the keyboard to the outpulsing means whereby a data word from the keyboard is sent to the outpulsing means.

2. A security system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment containing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories according to claim 1 wherein the security module code memory comprises a non-volatile storage device for unlimited retention of the predetermined data word.

3. A security system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment containing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories according to claim 2 wherein the means for generating the first signal comprises:

a comparator including;

a first input coupled to the means for receiving the data words outpulsed from the code sender,

a second input coupled to the code memory in the security module,

means for comparing each received data word outpulsed from the code sender coupled to the first input with the predetermined data word from the code memory coupled to the second input, and

means responsive to one of the received data words on the first input being identical to the predetermined data word from the code memory on the second input in the comparing means for generating the first signal.

4. A security system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment containing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories according to claim 3 wherein the one or more vital motor accessories comprises

a starter including a solenoid;

and

the at least one security module implanted within the starter comprises a semiconductor device having first, second and control electrodes; and

the first and second electrodes of the semiconductor device being in series with the solenoid and the control electrode being coupled to the first signal generating means.

5. A security system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment containing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories according to claim 3 wherein:

the code sender further comprises means for receiving data words from the at least one security module;

the comparator in the at least one security module further comprises means responsive to a received data word outpulsed from the code sender on the first input differing from the predetermined data word from the code memory on the second input for generating a second signal; and

the at least one security module further comprises means responsive to the second signal for outpulsing a prescribed data word to the data receiving means of the code sender.

6. A security system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment containing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories according to claim 5 wherein the means responsive to the second signal for outpulsing the prescribed data word further comprises means responsive to each second signal for disabling the security module for a first predetermined time.

7. A security system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment containing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories according to claim 6 wherein the means responsive to the second signal for outpulsing the prescribed data word further comprises means responsive to a predetermined sequence of second signals for disabling the security module for a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time.

8. A security system for protecting a motor vehicle having a dashboard and an engine compartment housing a motor and one or more vital motor accessories from theft comprising:

a source of vehicle electrical power;

a keyboard for generating data words;

a code sender in the dashboard coupled to the keyboard including means for outpulsing the generated data codes;

at least one security module on a single substrate housed inside one of the vital motor accessories in the engine compartment; and

means coupled between the code sender and the at least one security module for transmitting the data codes between the code sender and the at least one security module;

the at least one security module housed inside the vital motor accessory comprising;

data receiving means coupled to the transmitting means for receiving the data codes outpulsed from the code sender;

a code memory for storing at least a first prescribed code word;

means coupled to the code memory and to the means for receiving the data words responsive solely to the first prescribed code word in the security module code memory matching a data word from the data word receiving means for generating a first signal; and

means responsive to the first signal for allowing the vital motor accessory to be enabled only when the data word from the data receiving means matches the prescribed data word stored in the at least one security module code memory

means responsive to the first signal and an immediately following data word from the data receiving means for replacing the first prescribed data word in the code memory with the immediately following data word;

means for permanently storing a second prescribed data word;

means responsive to the received data word matching the second prescribed data word for generating a second signal; and

means responsive to the second signal for allowing the vital motor accessory to be enabled;

the keyboard further comprises;

means for forming a first or second status selecting signal, and

means for coupling the first or second status selecting signal to the code sender;

the code sender further comprises;

a processor coupled to the keyboard, the outpulsing means, and the source of vehicle electrical power; and

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor for retaining a status code;

the processor comprising;

means responsive to the first status selecting signal from the keyboard for storing a disarmed mode status code in the status code retaining memory,

means responsive to the status code in the status code retaining memory being the disarmed mode status code for generating the second prescribed data word, and

means for coupling the second prescribed data word from the processor to the outpulsing means whereby the second prescribed data word is outpulsed to the security modules when the vehicle electrical power is turned on;

means responsive to the second status selecting signal from the keyboard for storing an armed mode status code in the status code retaining memory;

means responsive to the status code in the status code retaining memory being the armed mode status code for generating a data word request signal when vehicle electrical power is turned on to indicate inserting of a data word; and

means responsive to the data word request signal for coupling the keyboard to the outpulsing means whereby a data word from the keyboard is sent to the outpulsing means.