Anti-theft automobile security system

• US 5,635,901 A
• Filed: 04/27/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weinblatt, Lee S.
• Original Assignee: Weinblatt, Lee S.
• Inventors: Weinblatt, Lee S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/430,186
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/428, 340/429, 340/425.5, 340/427, 340/430, 340/459, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 180/173, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001

Abstract

First and second code comparators are sequentially responsive to keypad-entered first and second different codes. The first code enables operation of the engine. When a distance sensing device generates a signal representing traversal of a preset distance, this blocks the further operation of the engine based on the first code. The driver must enter a second code upon receipt of a warning that engine disablement is imminent. To prevent carjacking in which the driver is forcibly ejected from a car having its engine running in a normal operating mode, the driver surreptitiously trips a hidden switch as he exits the car. The hidden switch, which would typically be operated after both codes have been entered and with the engine running, resets the system. After a preset delay which is provided to permit the owner to reach safety from a carjacker, the system once again requires that the second code be inputted. The second code needs to be re-entered to keep the engine running. By this time the car will be sufficiently distant from the owner, and actuation of an alarm such as a siren encourages the carjacker to abandon the car at the time of such disablement.

Claims

1. A motorized-vehicle anti-theft security system for precluding unauthorized engine operation, comprising:

engine enabling code means responsive to an encoded input signal for enabling operation of an engine of a vehicle;

manually operated switch means placed in the vehicle for selective operation only by a driver of the vehicle after the engine is enabled by said engine enabling code means; and

engine disabling means responsive to activation of said switch means for producing a signal to disable the operation of said engine and for requiring inputting of another encoded input signal to said engine enabling code means, before engine disablement occurs, in order for operation of said engine to continue without interruption after occurrence of said activation of the manually operated switch means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said engine enabling code means includes first and second code means having respective first and second codes, each for independently enabling the operation of said engine, said engine disabling means disabling said engine unless said second code means is enabled subsequent to the enabling of the engine by the first code means, wherein said encoded input signal is said first code, and said another encoded input signal is said second code.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said engine disabling means includes means for automatically disabling the first code means after the vehicle has traveled a preset distance from its location at which the first code means is enabled, and means for bypassing the disabled first code means when the second code means is enabled in response to inputting of said second code.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said engine disabling means disables the engine within a preset time delay after activation of said switch means unless said another encoded input signal is inputted before the time delay expires.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said switch means is coupled to said second code means for further causing the second code means to output a signal causing said engine disabling means to disable said engine, and wherein said another encoded input signal required to operate said engine after occurrence of said activation is said second code.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said manually operated switch means is placed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 2 including manual switch override means for selectively overriding the need for inputting said first code to the first code means such that said engine disabling means remains operative for disabling the engine after the vehicle has traversed a preset distance from its position when the switch override means is activated.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising alarm means responsive to the engine disabling means for producing at least one of an acoustic and visual alarm as the engine is disabled.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising driver warning means coupled to said engine disabling means for warning the driver that the engine is about to be disabled.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the manually operated switch means includes delay means for delaying the disabling of said engine for a selective delay period.

11. An automobile anti-theft security system for precluding unauthorized engine operation, comprising:

first engine enabling code means responsive to a first encoded input signal for enabling operation of an engine of an automobile;

engine disable means for disabling said engine after a predetermined time delay;

second engine enabling code means for overriding said engine disable means in response to an occurrence of a second encoded input signal within said predetermined time; and

manually operated switch means for selective operation by a driver of said automobile after the engine is enabled by both said first and second engine enabling code means, said switch means including first delay means responsive to activation of said switch means for delayed disablement of the operation of said engine after it has been enabled in order to require entry of said second encoded input signal to said second engine enabling code means for enabling continued operation of said engine after occurrence of said activation of the switch means.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said engine disable means includes second delay means for disabling the engine after said predetermined time delay which begins after operation of the engine has been enabled by the first engine enabling code means.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said second delay means for disabling the engine after said predetermined delay includes distance sensing means for detecting the distance travelled by said automobile after said first engine enabling code means is enabled, and means responsive to said distance sensing means for disabling the operation of said engine by said first engine enabling code means.

14. The system of claim 11 including distance sensing means for generating a distance signal indicative of the distance traveled by said automobile after enablement of the engine by said first engine enabling code means, said system including inhibit means responsive to said distance signal for inhibiting the enablement of said engine operation by said second engine enabling code means before travel of the automobile for a predetermined distance has been detected by said distance sensing means.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said inhibit means includes means responsive to said distance sensing means and the enablement of said first engine enabling code means for enabling operation of said engine by said second engine enabling code means.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said second engine enabling code means overrides said engine disabling means only if said second encoded input signal occurs after the first encoded input signal.

17. An anti-theft method for an automobile comprising the steps of:

entering a first code for enabling the operation of an automobile engine;

automatically disabling said engine after a certain delay from when the first code has been entered;

entering a second code after the engine has been enabled by the first code to block said step of automatically disabling said engine to thereby continuously operate the engine; and

selectively activating by the driver of the automobile the step of automatically disabling said engine as it is being continuously operated, so that disablement of the engine occurs unless said second code is entered.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of entering the second code includes entering a code different than the first code.

19. An anti-theft method for an automobile, comprising the steps of:

enabling operation of an automobile engine by manually manipulating a first device by a driver to produce an engine enablement signal for causing the engine to operate continuously; and

selectively actuating a second device in the automobile only by the driver of the automobile to disable further continuous operation of the engine unless, before engine disablement occurs, said first device is manipulated by the driver to produce said engine enablement signal.

20. An anti-theft method for an automobile, comprising the steps of:

producing a control signal by the driver of the automobile for operating an automobile engine continuously in a normal operating mode; and

selectively actuating a device in the automobile only by the driver for disrupting said normal operating mode unless, before disruption of the normal operating mode occurs, a predetermined operation is manually performed by the driver.