Electronic vehicle security system
DCFirst Claim
1. A vehicle security system comprising means for detecting attempted intrusions to a vehicle when the system is put into the armed mode, means responsive to indications of a detected intrusion for activating an audible signal generating device for a predetermined alarm cycle duration, said means responsive to indications of a detected intrusion resetting after expiration of said duration so as to be activated again in the event of another intrusion after the first of said detected intrusions, and means for disabling, until said system has been disarmed and rearmed, further operation of said audible signal generating device in response to indications of a detected intrusion from said detecting means after said audible signal generating device has been activated by said detecting means a predetermined cumulative time interval after the system has been put into the armed mode, said cumulative time interval being longer than said alarm cycle duration, thereby reducing the noise pollution which might otherwise be created by a repetitive alarm condition.
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Abstract
A multi-featured electronic vehicle security system is disclosed. The system is controlled by an electronic controller such a microcomputer. To reduce noise pollution due to false alarms caused by repetitive tripping of the system sensor devices, the system will not respond to more than a defined number of successive trippings of the same sensor device to initiate an alarm condition. The system includes a user-enabled feature wherein a first alarm signal generator is activated by a sensor tripping, and a second, distinct alarm signal generator is activated when a trigger device has been tripped. When the system is passively armed, active sensors and triggers are automatically diagnosed and bypassed, permitting the system to be passively armed even if one or more trigger or sensor is active. The system can be programmed so that if the system is disarmed by a remote control and the doors are automatically unlocked, the system will automatically rearm and relock the doors if a door is not opened within a predetermined time interval after disarming with the remote control.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A vehicle security system comprising means for detecting attempted intrusions to a vehicle when the system is put into the armed mode, means responsive to indications of a detected intrusion for activating an audible signal generating device for a predetermined alarm cycle duration, said means responsive to indications of a detected intrusion resetting after expiration of said duration so as to be activated again in the event of another intrusion after the first of said detected intrusions, and means for disabling, until said system has been disarmed and rearmed, further operation of said audible signal generating device in response to indications of a detected intrusion from said detecting means after said audible signal generating device has been activated by said detecting means a predetermined cumulative time interval after the system has been put into the armed mode, said cumulative time interval being longer than said alarm cycle duration, thereby reducing the noise pollution which might otherwise be created by a repetitive alarm condition.
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3. A vehicle security system which does not continuously cycle through alarm cycles due to a constantly or repetitively active sensor or trigger device, comprising:
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at least one sensor or trigger device for sensing an intrusion event and providing a device activated signal when the event is detected; means for generating audible alarm alert signals in response to appropriate alert control signals; a controller for controlling the operation of said security system so that said system may be operated in an armed mode wherein said controller monitors said at least one sensor or trigger device and generates the appropriate alert control signals to cause said audible alert generating means to issue an audible alarm alert signal of an alarm cycle duration in response to said device activated signal, or in a disarmed mode wherein said system is disabled from generating said alarm alert signals, said controller comprising; means for monitoring the number of alarm cycles activated since the system was placed in the armed mode and preventing said audible alert generating means from activating further audible alarm alert signals after said number exceeds a predetermined number; wherein said means for preventing said audible alert generating means from activating further audible alarm alert signals comprises means for monitoring the number of consecutive times one of said sensor or trigger devices is tripped and disabling said sensor or trigger device from thereafter activating said means for activating the audible alert generating means, without disabling the other of said sensor or trigger devices from thereafter activating said means for activating the audible alert generating means. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle security system which may be armed or disarmed by a remote control transmitter, and which is operable to automatically rearm the system a predetermined time interval after disarming by remote control if none of the vehicle doors has been opened, comprising:
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vehicle antitheft means; a remote control transmitter for generating an encoded signal; means operable when the system is armed and responsive to receipt of said encoded signal for disarming said system; and means for automatically rearming said system in the event none of the vehicle doors is opened during a time interval of predetermined length after said system is disarmed by said remote control transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle security system, comprising:
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at least one sensor device for sensing attempted tampering with said vehicle and generating a "sensor active" signal when the sensor device is tripped; at least one trigger device for monitoring the open/closed status of one or more of the vehicle access locations, and providing a "trigger active" signal when said location has an opened status; a first alert means for generating a first type of alarm alert signal in response to a first alarm event signal; a second alert means for generating a second type of alarm alert signal in response to a second alarm event signal; means for selectively arming or disarming said security system; and an electronic controller for controlling the operation of said security system, said controller responsive to said "sensor active" and "trigger active" signals while said system is armed for generating said first and second alarm event signals under predetermined conditions, said controller comprising; means responsive to receipt of the first said "sensor active" signal after said system is armed for activating said first alert means to generate said first type of alert signal for a limited time duration; means responsive to at least said first "sensor active" signal after said system is armed for activating said second alert means for a limited time duration if said "trigger active" signal is generated within a predetermined time interval after receipt of said first "sensor active" signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification