Vehicle security system based on two step communication range between transmitter and receiver

• US 5,602,535 A
• Filed: 07/15/1994
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Audiovox Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Friedkin Companies Incorporated
• Inventors: Burger, Philip G., Chang, David S., Boyles, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/275,592
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00198 the keyless data carrier having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An apparatus and method allowing a first communication distance between transmitter and receiver for substandard short range control of a vehicle security module, and a second communication distance between transmitter and receiver for standard long range control of the vehicle security module. In this manner, the receivers of numerous vehicles may be programmed all to respond to the same common code, and the short range control used to activate only the vehicle(s) immediately proximate a short range transmitter. Thereafter, the receiver of a selected vehicle may be programmed to respond to a unique code, and the long range control used to activate the receiver of the selected vehicle at a longer distance from a long range transmitter.

Claims

1. A method of selectively controlling a vehicle alarm system comprising a transmitter and a security module responsive to a control code from said transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:

adjusting a variable feature of said transmitter to define a first predetermined distante;

from a transmitter having a sufficient power source, transmitting a first control code within said first predetermined distance with said transmitter;

after said transmitting step, responding to said first control code with said security module only if said security module is within said first predetermined distance of said transmitter, wherein said first predetermined distance is a first short distance;

adjusting a variable feature of said transmitter to define a second predetermined distance;

programming said security module to respond to a second control code and not to respond to said first control code;

transmitting said second control code within said second predetermined distance with said transmitter; and

responding to said second control code from said transmitter with said security module only if said security module is within said second predetermined distance of said second transmitter, wherein said second predetermined distance is a second distance which exceeds said first short distance.

2. The mehod of claim 1 wherein said first short distance comprises a range of zero to six feet.

3. A method of selectively controlling a vehicle alarm system, comprising the steps of:

first, adjusting a variable feature of a first transmitter to define a first short distance;

second, from said first transmitter having a sufficient power source, communicating a first control code said first short distance;

third, receiving said first control code with a receiver and responding to said first control code only if said receiver is within said first short distance of said transmitter;

fourth, programming said receiver to respond to a second control code and not respond to said first control code;

fifth, from a second transmitter having a sufficient power source, communicating said second control code a second distance which is longer than said first short distance; and

sixth, receiving said second control code with said receiver and responding to said second control code if said receiver is within said second distance Of said second transmitter.

4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising the step of adjusting a variable feature of said transmitter to define said first short distance between a range of zero to six feet.

5. A method of securing a plurality of vehicles, comprising the steps of:

attaching a security module receiver in each of said plurality of vehicles;

programming each said security module receiver to respond to a common code;

transmitting said common code from a first transmitter located at a first point;

selectively responding to said common code from said first transmitter wherein only security module receivers within a first short distance from said first point respond to said common code from said first transmitter;

programming a selected security module receiver of one of said plurality of vehicles to respond to a unique code and not respond to said common code;

transmitting said unique code from a second transmitter located at a second point; and

responding to said unique code by said selected security module receiver, wherein said selected security module receiver responds within a second distance which is longer than first short distance from said second point.

6. The method of claim 5 and further comprising the step of adjusting a variable feature of said first transmitter to define said first short distance.

7. The method of claim 5 and further comprising the step of adjusting a sensitivity range of said receiver to define said first short distance and said second distance.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said first short distance comprises a range of zero to six feet.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said second distance comprises a range of twenty to seventy-five feet.

10. A security system for use with a plurality of vehicles, comprising:

a first transmitter for receiving a sufficient power source and operable to transmit a first control code a first short distance;

a second transmitter for receiving a sufficient power source and operable to transmit a second control code a second distance which is longer than said first short distance; and

a plurality of security modules for connecting to respective ones of said plurality of vehicles, wherein each of said plurality of security modules comprises a respective receiver selectively responsive to said first and second control codes.

11. The security system of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of respective receivers is responsive to said first control code in a first mode, and responsive to said second control code in a second mode.