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

• US 5,387,897 A
• Filed: 03/24/1993
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Bechtle, Rolf, Hacker, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/966,193
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/430, 340/542, 340/423.5, 70/264, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/426.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2225/00 Means indicating the functioning state of the alarm system, e.g. indicating arming, using leds
• 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 25/1004 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

An arrangement for a motor vehicle with a central locking system and an anti-theft alarm system is controlled by a control device which both systems have in common and which monitors the operating condition of the systems. For this purpose, the locked condition and the unlocked condition of all locks or doors of the motor vehicle is monitored by additional switching contacts. A differentiation is made between at least three operating conditions which are indicated by visually distinguishable flashing signals output by electro-optical indicating elements in the door locking buttons by visually distinguishable flashing signals.

Claims

1. An arrangement for controlling a central locking system and an alarm system for a motor vehicle with at least two doors having locks and locking buttons, comprising:

a central locking system for automatically locking and unlocking the doors via a lock activation by means of the lock in at least one of the doors;

a first group of switching contacts on the locks of the doors and coupled to the central locking system, the central locking system being controlled in response to signals from the first group of switching contacts;

an anti-theft alarm system that monitors accessing of an interior of the motor vehicle, an alarm readiness of the anti-theft alarm system being capable of being activated by the switching contacts of the first group of switching contacts during locking of the doors, the alarm readiness being capable of being deactivated during unlocking of the doors;

a second group of switching contacts, coupled to the anti-theft alarm system, which records accessing and unauthorized use of the vehicle, with a triggering of an alarm by the alarm-ready anti-theft alarm system taking place by a change from an inactive condition to an active condition of at least one switching contact of the second group of switching contacts;

an electro-optical indicating element in at least one of the locking buttons which indicates alarm readiness of the anti-theft alarm system by flashing;

a third group of switching contacts which monitors a locking condition of the locks of the vehicle; and

a control device, coupled to the first, second and third groups of switching contacts, which determines an operating condition of the central locking system and of the anti-theft alarm system, the control device controlling both the central locking system and the anti-theft alarm system, said control device receiving inputs from the first, second and third switching groups of contacts and differentiating between at least the operating conditions;

anti-theft alarm system deactivated or defective (first operating condition),

anti-theft alarm system activated and locks of the vehicle properly locked (second operating condition), and

anti-theft alarm system activated and locks of the vehicle not properly locked (third operating condition),

wherein the control device causes the electro-optical indicating element to indicate one of the operating conditions by visually distinguishable flashing pulses.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical indicating element is not controlled by the control device in the first operating condition.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the electro-optical indicating element is operated in the second operating condition with a repetitive pulse signal having a first no-pulse period which is relatively long in comparison to the pulse width of the flashing pulse.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the electro-optical indicating element is operated in the third operating condition with a repetitive pulse signal with two flashing pulses, which are separated by a brief second no-pulse period, followed by a third no-pulse period which is relatively long in comparison to the pulse width of the flashing pulses.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the control device is capable of determining at least one other operating condition of the central locking system and of the anti-theft alarm system in which the anti-theft alarm system is activated and the vehicle is locked properly, and an inoperative period after the activating of the anti-theft alarm system has not yet elapsed (fourth operating condition).

6. An arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the electro-optical indicating element is operated in the fourth operating condition with a repetitive pulse signal with a flashing pulse, followed by a fourth no-pulse period, whose pulse width is longer than the flashing pulse or the second no-pulse period, however, significantly shorter than the pulse width of the first or third no-pulse period.

7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control device has a self-diagnosis function which, after the activating of the alarm system, tests operatability of the control device.

8. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical indicating element is operated in the second operating condition with a repetitive pulse signal having a first no-pulse period which is relatively long in comparison to the pulse width of the flashing pulse.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the electro-optical indicating element is operated in the third operating condition with a repetitive pulse signal with two flashing pulses, which are separated by a brief second no-pulse period, followed by a third no-pulse period which is relatively long in comparison to the pulse width of the flashing pulses.

10. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the electro-optical indicating element is operated in the third operating condition with a repetitive pulse signal with two flashing pulses, which are separated by a brief second no-pulse period, followed by a third no-pulse period which is relatively long in comparison to the pulse width of the flashing pulses.

11. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical indicating element is operated in the third operating condition with a repetitive pulse signal with two flashing pulses, which are separated by a brief second no-pulse period, followed by a third no-pulse period which is relatively long in comparison to the pulse width of the flashing pulses.