Safety system for protecting movable objects

• US 5,696,482 A
• Filed: 09/22/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hans Christian Kaiser
• Original Assignee: Hans Christian Kaiser
• Inventors: Schmitt, Udo, Kaiser, Hans Christian, Wolm, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T.
• Application Number:
  US08/492,090
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/428, 340/438, 340/439, 340/825.31, 340/825.72, 307/10.2-10.5, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A safety system for protecting movable objects such as alarm systems of motor vehicles, although the same basic ideas can be applied for example to cases, computers and the like, which are to be protected from an unauthorized use or removal. Particularly, the safety system for the vehicle comprising state indicators may for door contacts, oil pressure pick ups, temperature pick ups and the like; and state transducers may for control lighting means, starter, and the like. Both the state indicators and state transducers are continuously emitting code signals to identify themselves to the primary control unit and second control unit via the common information transmission channel. The primary control unit for storing information on the correct form of the code signals of a first predetermined number of the other state indicators and state transducers, while the second control unit for storing information on the correct form of the code signals of a second predetermined number of the other state indicators and state transducers, wherein at least one of state indicators and state transducers perform its intended function only when the code signals received from the other state indicators and state transducers and the primary control unit is in the correct form.

Claims

1. A safety system for protecting a vehicle from unauthorized use or removal, comprising:

a plurality of state indicators for measuring physical quantities, said state indicators emitting code signals to identify themselves;

a plurality of state transducers for controlling physical quantities, said state transducers emitting code signals to identify themselves;

a bi-directional, common information transmission channel to which said state indicators and said state transducers are connected;

an integrated surveillance unit including;

a function unit absolutely essential to the function of the vehicle, said function unit being inseparable from said integrated surveillance unit without destruction of said function unit; and

a primary control unit which controls at least said function unit, said primary control unit including means for storing information on the correct form of the code signals of a first predetermined number of said state indicators and said state transducers and for comparing the code signals received from said state indicators and said state transducers over said channel with the stored information, said primary control unit bring connected with and receiving the code signals form said plurality of state indicators and said plurality of state transducers via said common information transmission channel, said primary control unit blocking the function of said function unit when said primary control unit does not receive the code signals in the correct form for all of said first predetermined number of said state indicators and said state transducers; and

wherein said state indicators and said state transducers are distributed in a substantially random manner over the entire vehicle and wherein at least one of said indicators and said state transducers includes a secondary control unit for storing information on the correct form of the code signals of a second predetermined number of the other of said state indicators and said state transducers and said primary control unit and for comparing the code signals received from said second predetermined number of the other of said state indicators and said state transducers and said primary control unit over said channel with the stored information, said at least one of said state indicators and said state transducers performing its intended function only when the code signals received from the other of said state indicators and said state transducers and said primary control unit are in the correct form for all of said second predetermined number of the other of said state indicators and said state transducers.

2. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said state indicators and said state transducers emit the code signals continuously.

3. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said state indicators and said state transducers emit the code signals on request.

4. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring monitors the code signals continuously.

5. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring monitors the code signals on request.

6. The safety system of claim 1, wherein the number of code signals monitored by one of said primary and secondary control units and the timing of the monitoring depend on the operating state of the vehicle.

7. The safety system of claim 6, wherein each of said primary and secondary control units includes means for transmitting an error code signal to said channel when it does not correctly receive all the code signals of said first and second predetermined number of code signals, respectively;

and

wherein each of said primary and secondary control units, said state indicators, and said state transducers include means for evaluating the error code signal.

8. The safety system of claim, 6, wherein said surveillance unit includes state indicators and state transducers which cannot be separated therefrom without destruction.

9. The safety system of claim 1, wherein each of said primary and secondary control units includes means for transmitting an error code signal to said channel when it does not correctly receive all the code signals of said first and second predetermined number of code signals, respectively;

and

wherein each of said primary and secondary control units, said state indicators, and said state transducers include means for evaluating the error code signal.

10. The safety system of claim 9, wherein said surveillance unit includes state indicators and state transducers which cannot be separated therefrom without destruction.

11. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said surveillance unit includes state indicators and state transducers which cannot be separated therefrom without destruction.

12. The safety system of claim 1, further including an ignition lock, motion indicators, door contacts, and sensors for physical quantities of the drive unit, and wherein said state indicators and said secondary control units included therein form elements, inseparable without destruction, of said ignition lock, said motion indicators, said door contacts, and said sensors for physical quantities of the drive unit.

13. The safety system of claim 12, further including a starter motor, actuating switches for lights, the vehicle ignition, and injectors, wherein said state transducers control said starter motor, said actuating switches, said vehicle ignition, and said injectors.

14. The safety system of claim 13, wherein said state transducers cannot be separated from said starter motor, said actuating switches, said vehicle ignition, and said injectors.

15. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said function unit is the injection and ignition unit of the vehicle.

16. The safety system of claim 1, further comprising means for changing the code signal of at least one of said state indicators, said state transducers, and said primary control unit by external action.

17. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the external action is the sending of a radio signal, and wherein said means for changing the code signal of an already existing radio network with at least a country-wide distribution, only if the vehicle is stolen, comprises a radio receiver connected to at least one of said state indicators and said state transducers so as to be inseparable therefrom without destruction, said radio receiver including means for initiating the emission of an error code signal to said channel whereby the function of all of said state indicators and said state transducers to which said channel is connected is impaired.

18. The safety system of claim 1, wherein said channel is an optical transmission channel.

19. The safety system of claim 1, further including an ignition lock, motion indicators, door contacts, and sensors for physical quantities of the drive unit, and wherein said secondary control units included therein form elements, inseparable without destruction of said ignition lock, said motion indicators, said door contacts, and said sensors for physical quantities of the drive unit.

20. The safety system of claim 19, further including a starter motor, actuating switches for lights, the vehicle ignition, and injectors, wherein said state transducers control said starter motor, actuating switches for lights, said vehicle ignition, and said injectors.

21. The safety system of claim 20, wherein said state transducers cannot be separated from said starter motor, said actuating switches, said vehicle ignition, and said injectors.