Motor vehicle having a central locking system and an anti-theft alarm system

• US 5,216,406 A
• Filed: 07/31/1991
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Bechtle, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US07/738,047
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/430, 340/542, 340/543, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 70/262, 70/263, 70/264
• US Class Current: 340/426.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/65 Central control

Abstract

A motor vehicle including a central locking system as well as an anti-theft alarm system is controlled by a control unit common to both systems. The locked state and the unlocked state of all locks or doors of the motor vehicle are monitored by means of additional switching contacts and an activating of the alarm system is prevented if at least one of the locks is not in the locked state. An activating of the alarm ready state of the alarm system is nevertheless possible by operating a key-operated lock a certain number of times within a specific limited time period.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle central locking system and anti-theft alarm system wherein said motor vehicle has at least two doors and a closable and lockable trunk, said doors having key operated locks and being automatically lockable and unlockable by the central locking system via operating the key-operated locks and wherein access to the motor vehicle interior is monitored by the anti-theft alarm system, the central locking and alarm system comprising:

a first group of switching contacts arranged in the key-operated locks for controlling the central locking system and for activating and deactivating the alarm ready state of the anti-theft alarm system during locking and unlocking of the key-operated locks, respectively;

an electro-optical display element arranged in locking buttons for displaying the alarm ready state via a flashing of said display element;

a second group of switching contacts, each of said contacts having an active and an inactive state wherein an alarm is triggered indicating access or unauthorized use of the motor vehicle by at least one of said second group of switching contacts changing from its inactive state to the active state;

a control unit for controlling both the central locking and anti-theft alarm system;

a third group of switching contacts indicating a locked and unlocked state of said doors and trunk for allowing said control unit to monitor the locked and unlocked state of said doors and trunk, wherein activation of the anti-theft alarm system is prevented and a warning signal is emitted via said electro-optical display element when said control unit recognizes that at least one signal indicating the locked state from at least one contact of said third group of switching contacts is absent after at least one key operation of said key-operated locks in a locking direction.

2. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein after recognizing that said at least one signal indicating the locked state from at least one contact of said third group of switching contacts is absent after at least one key operation of the key-operated lock in the locking direction, the alarm system is activated by a predetermined number of key operations of the key-operated lock in the locking direction within a certain limited time period even when at least one vehicle door is unlocked or unlockable or locked manually.

3. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein after a manual locking of all doors and the presence of the signals of the third group of switching contacts which indicate the locked state of all doors, the activating of the alarm system is made possible by a key operation of the key-operated lock in the locking direction.

4. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein after a manual locking of all doors and the presence of the signals of the third group of switching contacts which indicate the locked state of all doors, the activating of the alarm system is made possible by a key operation of the key-operated lock in the locking direction.

5. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein after the expiration of an inoperative period, said period beginning after the activating of the alarm system, a triggering of the alarm system is possible by only those switching contacts of the second group of switching contacts which were inactive during the entire inoperative period, while the active switching contacts can trigger the alarm system in each case only after one of:

the transition into the inactive state, and after the expiration of an inoperative period which started after the transition into the inactive state.

6. A motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein after the expiration of an inoperative period, said period beginning after the activating of the alarm system, a triggering of the alarm system is possible by only those switching contacts of the second group of switching contacts which were inactive during the entire inoperative period, while the active switching contacts can trigger the alarm system in each case only after one of:

the transition into the inactive state, and after the expiration of an inoperative period which started after the transition into the inactive state.

7. A motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein after the expiration of an inoperative period, said period beginning after the activating of the alarm system, a triggering of the alarm system is possible by only those switching contacts of the second group of switching contacts which were inactive during the entire inoperative period, while the active switching contacts can trigger the alarm system in each case only after one of:

the transition into the inactive state, and after the expiration of an inoperative period which started after the transition into the inactive state.

8. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when an ignition lock of the motor vehicle is operated before the expiration of the inoperative period, the alarm system is deactivated.

9. A motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein when an ignition lock of the motor vehicle is operated before the expiration of the inoperative period, the alarm system is deactivated.

10. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when an ignition lock of the motor vehicle is operated, after the expiration of the inoperative period, the ignition current to an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle is interrupted, and an alarm is triggered.

11. A motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein when the ignition lock of the motor vehicle is operated, after the expiration of the inoperative period, the ignition current to an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle is interrupted, and an alarm is triggered.

12. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when a trunk lock is operated in the unlocking direction, an already activated alarm system remains deactivated at least as long as the corresponding switching contact of the second group of switching contacts is active.

13. A motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a trunk lock is operated in the unlocking direction, an already activated alarm system remains deactivated at least as long as the corresponding switching contact of the second group of switching contacts is active.

14. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an external auxiliary device for the alarm system for monitoring of the motor vehicle is controlled to be active if the alarm system is activated and, during the entire inoperative period, all switching contacts of the second group of switching contacts were inactive or after the transition of all switching contacts of the second group into the inactive state if the inoperative period has again expired.

15. A motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein an external auxiliary device for the alarm system for monitoring of the motor vehicle is controlled to be active if the alarm system is activated and, during the entire inoperative period, all switching contacts of the second group of switching contacts were inactive or after the transition of all switching contacts of the second group into the inactive state if the inoperative period has again expired.

16. A motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a self-analysis function which, after the activating of the alarm system, tests its operability.

17. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the control unit has a self-analysis function which, after the activating of the alarm system, tests its operability.

18. A motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein errors in the alarm system and triggered alarms, while marginal conditions are detected, are stored in an error memory of the control unit.

19. A motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the operating state of the alarm system is displayed by the electro-optical display elements in the locking buttons and, for the identification of the respective operating state, the electro-optical display elements are controlled by means of different flashing signals.

20. A motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the operating state of the alarm system is displayed by the electro-optical display elements in the locking buttons and, for the identification of the respective operating state, the electro-optical display elements are controlled by means of different flashing signals.