Vehicle security system with gear shift position sensor and door interlock

• US 5,247,279 A
• Filed: 12/17/1990
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US07/628,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/539, 340/428, 340/429, 340/430, 340/527, 340/528, 340/456, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 180/287, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/426.17
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features

Abstract

A vehicle security system includes a portable transmitter remote control unit for transmitting an arming signal or a disarming signal, a receiver unit mounted on the vehicle for receiving the arming or disarming signal from the transmitter unit, a detector for detecting the gear shift lever park position, an arming-signal reception monitor unit capable of receiving the arming signal from the transmitter unit only if the gear shift lever is in "park", and only if the vehicle door has just been opened and then closed and a security control unit activated to arm the system in response to the arming signal transmitted from the transmitter unit only when the arming-signal reception monitor unit can receive the arming signal. Since the transmission lever cannot be in the "park" position while the vehicle is in motion, the system cannot be armed by the accidental operation of the transmitter unit while the vehicle is in motion.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

a portable transmitter for transmitting therefrom a security-operation arming signal;

a receiver mounted on a vehicle, for receiving therein the arming signal;

means for detecting if a gear shift of the vehicle is in the parked position;

an arming unit for receiving an arming instruction only when the gear shift is detected to be in the parked position; and

a security control unit activated when said arming unit receives the arming instruction.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting operation of a door of the vehicle, and wherein said arming unit is capable of receiving the arming instruction only during a predetermined period of time after the door operation is detected.

3. A vehicle security system comprising:

a remote transmitter for arming the system;

a detector for detecting if a gear shift of the vehicle is in the parked position; and

means for preventing arming of the system unless the gear shift of the vehicle is detected to be in the parked position.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a second detector for detecting operation of a door of the vehicle; and

second means for preventing arming of the system unless the remote transmitter attempts to arm the system within a predetermined amount of time of the detection of operation of the door.

5. A vehicle security system comprising:

a remote transmitter for arming the system;

a detector for detecting operation of a door of the vehicle; and

means for preventing arming of the system unless the remote transmitter attempts to arm the system within a predetermined time of detection of the operation of the door.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for receiving a disarming signal from the remote transmitter at any time.