Frequency modulation digital code anti-theft system

• US 5,473,200 A
• Filed: 10/08/1993
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Depromax Limited
• Original Assignee: Depromax Limited
• Inventors: Woo, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/133,611
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1-10.6, 361/171, 361/172, 180/287, 180/286, 70/278, 70/264, 70/241, 340/825.3-825.32, 340/825.34, 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 340/825.71-825.73, 340/825.77, 340/426, 340/430, 340/310.01 , 340/310.02, 340/310.06
• US Class Current: 307/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply

Abstract

A theft prevention device that includes a digital control unit and digital receiving units. These digital components form a control system along with existing peripheral components. The control system utilizes a signal network where signals are transmitted and received on the existing wiring or through the air between the digital components. The components of the anti-theft device operate in either an armed or disarmed state, and the system automatically arms whenever the ignition key is turned from on to off. If the system is in a vehicle and the vehicle is started without disarming the system first, each component becomes active after its programmed time delay has elapsed. A unique code, generated by the digital control unit, is passed through alarm system'"'"'s signal network during the disarmed state such that the digital components in the theft prevention device becomes active and perform their respective functions even if the power supply is cut in the armed state.

Claims

1. A theft deterring device using existing peripheral components, comprising:

(a) a control system including a plurality of components, the plurality of components each having a memory, the control system entering an activated state when (i) the control system is in a second state of operation, (ii) a disruption occurs and (iii) a saved code saved in the memory of the plurality of components is not received by the plurality of components;

(b) a signal network coupling the plurality of components to each other; and

(c) a code generator coupled to the control system, the code generator generating a generated code periodically when the second state of operation changes to a first state of operation, the generated code being passed among the plurality of components only during the first state of operation, the generated code being based on the saved code, and the saved code being periodically saved in the memories of the plurality of components.

2. The theft deterring device of claim 1 wherein the control system is a digital control system and the plurality of components are a plurality of digital components.

3. The theft deterring device of claim 1 wherein the signal network sends signals through the existing wiring.

4. The theft deterring device of claim 1 wherein the signal network sends signals through the air.

5. The theft deterring device of claim 2 wherein the plurality of digital components includes a control unit and at least one remote digital receiver.

6. The theft deterring device of claim 5 wherein at least one of the remote digital receivers contains a battery supply which keeps the remote digital receiver in the second state of operation if a disruption to power occurs.

7. The theft deterring device of claim 5 wherein the remote digital receivers include at least one siren or at least one immobilizer.

8. The theft deterring device of claim 2 wherein the saved code is stored in an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory in each of the remote digital components.

9. The theft deterring device of claim 2 wherein the first state of operation is a disarmed state and the second state of operation is an armed state.

10. The theft deterring device of claim 5 wherein the remote digital receivers include at least one siren and at least one immobilizer.

11. A theft deterring device for a motorized vehicle, incorporated into the vehicle'"'"'s existing wiring and using the vehicle'"'"'s peripheral components, comprising:

(a) a digital control system including a plurality of digital components, the plurality of digital components each having a memory, the digital control system entering an activated state when (i) the digital control system is in a second state of operation, (ii) a disruption occurs and (iii) a saved code saved in the memory of the plurality of digital components is not received by the plurality of digital components;

(b) a signal network connecting the plurality of digital components to each other, the signal network sending signals through the vehicle'"'"'s existing wiring;

(c) a code generator coupled to the digital control system, the code generator generating a generated code periodically when a second state of operation changes to a first state of operation, the generated code being passed throughout the signal network only during the first state of operation, the generated code being based on the saved code, and the saved code being periodically saved in the memory of the plurality of digital components.

12. The theft deterring device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of digital components includes a control unit and at least one remote digital receiver.

13. The theft deterring device of claim 12 wherein the control unit comprises:

(a) an alarm logic circuit for sending out an analog signal, the analog signal being dependent on input information;

(b) a unique code generator for receiving the analog signal and for generating a unique code signal from the saved code stored in memory; and

(c) a frequency modulator for receiving and amplifying the unique code signal, the unique code signal being then sent out on the existing wiring.

14. The theft deterring device of claim 13 wherein the remote digital receiver comprises:

(a) a frequency demodulator for receiving and amplifying the unique code signal sent on the existing wiring and for converting the unique code signal into a data signal; and

(b) a code decoder for receiving the data signal, for comparing it with the saved code in memory, and for generating an analog signal for removing the remote digital receiver from the activated state.

15. The theft deterring device of claim 13 wherein the input information is a signal from a sensor in the door, hood, trunk, or other places located in the vehicle with sensors.

16. The theft deterring device of claim 12 wherein at least one of the remote digital receivers contains a battery supply which maintains the remote digital receiver in the second state of operation if a disruption to power occurs.

17. The theft deterring device of claim 12 wherein the remote digital receivers include at least one siren or at least one immobilizer.

18. The theft deterring device of claim 12 wherein each of the remote digital receivers contains a time delay feature which can be independently programmed in each of the digital components to allow a variety of delays before the activated state of each of the digital components.

19. The theft deterring device of claim 11 wherein the first state of operation is a disarmed state and the second state of operation is an armed state.

20. The theft deterring device of claim 12 further comprising a means for polling the presence of each of the remote digital receivers.

21. The theft deterring device of claim 11 wherein the generated code generated periodically by the digital control system is a code word containing a unique identification code, an incrementing value and an output from a formula which uses the incrementing value as an input.

22. The theft deterring device of claim 12 wherein the remote digital receivers include at least one siren and at least one immobilizer.

23. A method of deterring theft using existing peripheral components, the method comprising:

(a) detecting a disturbance, the disturbance being input signal;

(b) recognizing a state of operation, the state of operation being either a first state of operation or a second state of operation;

(c) comparing an entered code to a stored code; and

(d) activating digital alarm components after a predetermined delay following the disturbance when the entered code does not match the stored code by inhibiting transmission of a digital disarm code word generated from the stored code to alarm components when the entered code fails to match the stored code.