Self-contained anti-theft device for motor vehicles

• US 5,132,551 A
• Filed: 08/27/1990
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Original Assignee: James E. Winner
• Inventors: Adkins, Joey B., Carlo, Louis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osborn, David
• Application Number:
  US07/572,684
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1-10.8, 307/131, 361/171, 361/172, 361/187, 361/87, 361/93, 340/426-430, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 180/287, 180/289
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5877 with provisions for direct mounting on a battery pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

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 of the 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.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device adapted to be used with a battery of a motor vehicle having a starting circuit, 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 one of said electrodes with said starting circuit and a second position electrically disconnecting said one of said electrodes from said starting circuit, 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.

2. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 1 including means for delaying said shifting means for a preselected short time.

3. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 1 wherein said battery has two external posts forming said electrodes and said anti-theft device including means for mounting said support member on said battery by said posts generally engaging said support member and means on said support member for attaching an external battery cable onto one of said posts through said anti-theft device with said switching means first position connecting said one post and said battery cable and said switching means second position disconnecting said one post and said battery cable.

4. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 3 wherein said switching means is a relay operated switch and wherein said shifting means is a circuit on said support member for actuating said relay.

5. A self-contained anti-theft device to be used with 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 electrically operated accessories, said anti-theft device comprising:

(a) a power switch having a first condition connecting said battery to said starting circuit and allowing said starting motion to draw said substantial amount of current from said battery and a second condition preventing said starting circuit from drawing said substantial amount of current from said battery but allowing flow of current at a low level to operate said accessories;

(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.

6. A self-contained anti-theft device as defined in claim 5 wherein said receiving means includes a loading coil adapted to be connected to the body of said vehicle for forming an antenna tuned to a given frequency.

7. A self-contained anti-theft device as defined in claim 5 wherein said mean for shifting including means for detecting a drop in voltage of said battery indicative of current flow from said battery being said substantial amount of current.

8. A self-contained anti-theft device as defined in claim 5 including means for connecting said anti-theft device onto said battery.

9. A self-contained anti-theft device as defined in claim 8 wherein said connecting means is a plate mounted on the outside of said battery.

10. An anti-theft device for use on a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including an operating switch, a starting motor adapted to draw a substantial amount of current from a battery of said vehicle when said operating switch is actuated and electrically operated accessories, said anti-theft device comprising:

(a) a power switching device having a first condition connecting said battery to said starting circuit allowing said starting motor to draw said substantial amount of current from said battery and a second condition preventing said starting circuit from drawing said substantial amount of current from said battery but allowing flow of current at a low level to operate said accessories;

(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.

11. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 10 including means for returning said power switching means to said first condition after a delay of a preselected short time.

12. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 10 wherein said lockout means includes means for maintaining said override signal for a preselected time after receipt of said external command signal to allow said substantial amount of current to flow during said preselected time whereby said motor vehicle can be started within said preselected time after receipt of said command signal.

13. An anti-theft deivce as defined in claim 10 wherein said device has a conductor for said battery current and wherein said power switching device includes a relay with a movable bar member operable to connect two fixed contacts defining a gap in said conductor when said switch device is in said first condition.

14. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 10 wherein said battery has two electrode posts and said anti-theft device is self-contained and supported on a rigid mounting member, said member including means for affixing said member onto said battery at one of said posts with said one post attached to one of said fixed contacts and with means for connection of an external battery cable to the other of said fixed contacts.

15. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 10 wherein said anti-theft device is self-contained and supported on said battery.

16. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 15 wherein said anti-theft device includes means for attaching said device onto said battery.

17. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 10 including means for creating a stall signal when said vehicle stalls after being started and means for actuating said lockout means in response to said stall signal.

18. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 17 wherein said stall signal creating means includes means for detecting operating voltage of said battery and means for creating said stall signal when said voltage is at an increased value over a first value for at least a given time and then decreases below a second value.

19. An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including a battery, a battery cable, an operating switch, 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 and electrically operated accessories, said anti-theft device comprising a housing containing:

(a) a power switch having a first condition connecting said battery to said starting circuit and allowing said starting motion to draw said substantial amount of current from said battery and a second condition preventing said starting circuit from drawing said substantial amount of current from said battery but allowing flow of current at a low level to operate said accessories;

(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.

20. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 19 including means for mounting said housing spaced away from said battery.

21. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 19 including means for mounting said housing on said battery.

22. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 21 wherein said housing is mounted on the outside of said battery.

23. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery, a starter motor, and electrically operated accessories, 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 accessories which draw less current than that required to operate said starter motor, 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 in response to receiving the preselected access code.

24. An access control system as defined in claim 23 including means for mounting said system spaced away from said battery.