Antitheft apparatus for automotive vehicle

• US 5,519,376 A
• Filed: 05/09/1995
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Iijima, Yohichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/437,745
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/428, 340/429, 340/430, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.6, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.35
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

An antitheft apparatus for an automotive vehicle comprises: a transponder (1) buried in an ignition key to store an ID number thereof; a receive unit (2) to receive the ID number of the ignition key inserted into the ignition key cylinder; an immobilizer unit (3) for outputting an engine start enable signal when the received ID number matches one of the stored ID numbers and not outputting the engine start enable signal when does not match; and an engine control unit (5) for enabling an engine drive in response to the reception of the engine start enable signal but disabling the engine drive in response to no reception of the engine start enable signal. In particular, the engine drive unit (5) keeps the immobilizer unit (3) inoperative for a predetermined time duration when the engine cranking operation is detected and allows the immobilizer unit (3) to be operative after the predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore, even if the cranking voltage is intentionally applied to disable the antitheft apparatus, since the antitheft apparatus can be restored after a predetermined time has elapsed and thereby the ID collation can be executed, it is possible to stop the engine from being started by use of a non-registered ignition key or stop the already driven engine, securely.

Claims

1. An antitheft apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a transponder provided in an ignition key, for storing an ID number of its own ignition key therein;

a receive unit for receiving the ID number of the ignition key inserted into the ignition key cylinder;

an immobilizer unit for storing ID number and for outputting an engine start enable signal when the received ID number matches one of the stored ID numbers and not outputting the engine start enable signal when the received ID number does not match any of the stored ID numbers; and

an engine control unit for enabling an engine to drive in response to the reception of the engine start enable signal but disabling the engine to drive in response to the no reception of the engine start enable signal, said engine control unit having;

means for detecting an engine cranking operation;

means for checking whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the engine has been cranked; and

means for keeping said immobilizer unit inoperative for the predetermined time and allowing said immobilizer unit to be operative after the predetermined time has elapsed.

2. The antitheft apparatus for the automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said engine control unit stops the engine drive already started, when the immobilizer unit detects that an ID numbers collation is disabled or a collated ID number is not registered by the ID number collation executed after the predetermined time has elapsed.

3. The antitheft apparatus for the automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein the engine cranking operation is detected by detecting a voltage applied to an engine starter motor.

4. A method of keeping an antitheft apparatus inoperative, comprising the steps of:

monitoring whether a cranking voltage is applied to an engine starter motor;

if the cranking voltage is applied to the engine starter motor, setting the antitheft apparatus inoperative;

checking whether a predetermined time has elapsed;

if the predetermined time has not elapsed, keeping the antitheft apparatus inoperative for the predetermined time;

if the predetermined time has elapsed, enabling the antitheft apparatus checking whether an ignition key is inserted into an ignition key cylinder;

if the ignition key is inserted into the ignition key cylinder, transmitting a transmit signal to a transponder of the ignition key inserted into the ignition key cylinder to receive an ID number of the ignition key;

operation of antitheft apparatus including checking whether the received ID number is registered;

if the received ID number is registered, outputting an engine start enable signal; and

if the received ID number is not registered, not outputting the engine start enable signal.