Vehicle antitheft system

• US 5,598,898 A
• Filed: 09/06/1995
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nagai, Akira, Mutoh, Eiji, Asakura, Suguru
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/524,449
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287
• US Class Current: 180/287
• 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

A vehicle antitheft system comprising an ID code compare unit for comparing a key ID code obtained from an ignition key with a reference ID code stored in advance in the vehicle and generating an enable signal when these ID codes are in a preset relationship (for example, both codes are identical), an engine ECU for receiving the enable signal and enabling control of the engine when the enable signal is correct and a delay times that is started in response to generation of the enable signal and generates a signal which enables starting of the motor starter after the lapse of a preset time period following the generation of the enable signal (for example, at least period necessary for the engine ECU to store or identify the enable signal).

Claims

1. A vehicle antitheft system comprising, in a vehicle:

motor starter means;

an ID code compare unit which compares a key ID code with a reference ID code stored in advance in said vehicle and generates an enable signal when said ID codes are in a preset relationship to one another;

an engine ECU which receives and identifies the enable signal, said engine ECU being operative to generate an output signal which activates components in said vehicle other than said starter means when the enable signal has been determined to be correct; and

delay means which generates a further signal used to activate said motor starter means after lapse of a preset time period subsequent to generation of the enable signal.

2. A vehicle antitheft system according to claim 1, wherein said preset time period is at least long enough for the engine ECU to store the enable signal before said motor starter means is activated by said further signal.

3. A vehicle antitheft system according to claim 1, wherein said preset time period is at least long enough for the engine ECU to complete identifying the enable signal before said starter motor means is activated by said further signal.

4. A vehicle antitheft system according to claim 1 in which said delay means comprises a timer for measuring said preset time period, the operation of said timer being initiated by generation of said enable signal, said timer having an output coupled to a signal generator which generates said further signal after the lapse of said preset time period.

5. The vehicle antitheft system according to claim 4, wherein said further signal controls a relay in said motor starter means.