Anti-theft device for a vehicular electric apparatus

• US 5,091,724 A
• Filed: 05/30/1991
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Go, Yasunao
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/707,318
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/428, 340/527, 340/568, 340/652, 340/660, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.56, 340/825.32, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 455/345, 455/346, 235/375, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/5.31
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

When a vehicular electric apparatus, such as an audio apparatus, is switched on, an anti-theft procedure is initiated. The electric apparatus is inhibited from becoming operational if a predetermined code is not input, when the electric apparatus is switched on after it was disconnected from a vehicle battery or after a prescribed period has passed.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for a vehicular electric apparatus, comprising:

connection detecting means for detecting a disconnection of the electric apparatus from a power source used to supply power to the electric apparatus;

input means for allowing an input code to be input to the apparatus;

code detecting means for detecting an input through said input means of a input code;

timing means for keeping track of an amount of time that has elapsed since said predetermined code has been entered to said apparatus through said input means and for issuing a time over signal after a predetermined time has elapsed since said predetermined code has been entered;

first inhibition controlling means for inhibiting an operation of the electric apparatus, until said predetermined code is detected by said code detecting means, if a situation occurs such that said connection detection means has detected that the electric apparatus has been connected to said power source after said connection detection means had detected that the electric apparatus has been disconnected from said power source; and

second inhibition controlling means for inhibiting an operation of the electric apparatus, until said predetermined code is detected by said code detecting means, when said time over signal is issued by said timing means.

2. An anti-theft device for a vehicular electric apparatus, comprising:

connection detecting means for detecting a disconnection of the electric apparatus from a power source used to supply power to the electric apparatus;

input means for allowing an input code to be input to the apparatus;

code detecting means for detecting an input through said input means of a input code;

actuating switch means for turning said apparatus on and off;

actuating switch counter means for counting a predetermined number of times in which said actuating switch means turns said apparatus on after said predetermined code has been entered;

first inhibition controlling means for inhibiting an operation of the electric apparatus, until said predetermined code is detected by said code detecting means, if a situation occurs such that said connection detection means has detected that the electric apparatus has been connected to said power source after said connection detection means had detected that the electric apparatus has been disconnected from said power source; and

second inhibition controlling means for inhibiting an operation of the electric apparatus, until said predetermined code is detected by said code detecting means, when said actuating switch counter means has counted said predetermined number of times.