Anti-theft system with remote controlled verification of arming

• US 5,568,120 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: LeMense, Thomas J., Tengler, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/350,296
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/430, 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 361/172, 307/10.2, 180/287
• 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 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features

Abstract

A remote controlled anti-theft system for transportation vehicles allows the user to easily determine at will if a faulty door position sensor or an open door will inhibit proper operation of the anti-theft system by pressing the lock button on the remote transmitter in a predetermined sequence. A first lock code from the remote transmitter initiates a locking and arming sequence of the anti-theft system. A second lock code received within a predetermined time of the first lock code causes an audible verification to be produced identifying whether the anti-theft system is successfully arming or whether a door ajar or faulty door sensor is preventing the anti-theft system from arming.

Claims

1. A remote controlled anti-theft system for a transportation vehicle providing on-demand audible verification of anti-theft system operation, comprising:

a portable transmitter transmitting a lock code in response to a manual activation;

door lock actuators for locking doors of said transportation vehicle in response to a lock command signal;

door position sensors associated with said doors, each generating a respective door-closed signal when a respective one of said doors is closed;

a sound transducer producing an audible sound output in response to an energizing signal; and

a vehicle-mounted control module responsive to a first occurrence of said lock code to

     1) generate said lock command signal which is sent to said door lock actuators and

     2) enter an armed state of said anti-theft system if each of said door position sensors produces a door-closed signal, said control module further being responsive to a second occurrence of said lock code received within a predetermined time of said first occurrence of said lock code to generate a first energizing signal to produce a first audible sound output verifying that said armed state has been entered if said lock command has been sent and each of said door position sensors produces a door-closed signal or to generate a second energizing signal to produce a second audible sound output verifying that said armed state has not been entered if at least one of said door position sensors fails to produce a door-closed signal, said control module not producing any energizing signal absent said second occurrence of said lock code regardless of whether said armed state has been entered.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first audible output is comprised of a single sound chirp.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said second audible output is comprised of a double sound chirp.

4. A method of operating a remote controlled anti-theft system for a transportation vehicle comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first occurrence of a lock code from a portable transmitter;

locking at least one door of said transportation vehicle in response to said first occurrence of said lock code;

sensing the open/closed position of said door;

entering an armed state of said anti-theft system in response to said first occurrence of said lock code if said door is sensed to be in a closed position;

if a second occurrence of said lock code is transmitted within a predetermined time of said first occurrence of said lock code, then either

     1) producing a first audible sound output to verify if said armed state has been entered, or

     2) producing a second audible sound output to verify if said armed state has not been entered; and

withholding any production of an audible sound output absent said second occurrence of said lock code, whereby no verification is produced concerning said armed or unarmed state of said anti-theft system.