Apparatus for protecting automobile against unauthorized operation

• US 5,708,308 A
• Filed: 05/08/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Naito, Yasuo, Katayama, Kazuyori
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganjian, Peter
• Application Number:
  US08/646,926
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1-10.8, 180/287, 180/167, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 364/423.098, 364/423.099, 364/424.037, 364/424.045, 235/128, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 123/198 B, 123/198 DB, 123/198 DC, 380/3
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

An antitheft apparatus for an automobile includes an engine starting key storing an identification code allocated inherently, a code reading circuit for reading out the identification code from the engine starting key inserted in a key cylinder installed on the automobile, a code collating circuit for collating the identification code supplied from the code reading circuit with a verification code stored previously, and an engine start decision circuit for enabling engine starting operation when the identification code coincides with the verification code, while upon occurrence of a discrepancy between the identification code and the verification code, for enabling the engine starting operation only when a door or accelerator pedal of the automobile is actuated in a predetermined manner. The automobile can be operated even when the key is lost or damaged and the identification code is unavailable.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting an automobile against unauthorized operation, comprising:

an engine starting key incorporating storage means for storing an identification code allocated inherently to said automobile;

socket means mounted on said automobile for receiving said engine starting key;

code reading means provided in association with said socket means for reading out said identification code from said engine starting key inserted in said socket means;

code collating means for collating said identification code supplied from said code reading means with a verification code stored previously;

manipulation detecting means for detecting whether or not said automobile is manipulated in a predetermined manner, and for generating a predetermined manipulation signal when said automobile is manipulated in said predetermined manner;

engine starting means for starting operation of an engine of said automobile; and

engine start decision means for enabling said engine starting means to start operation of said engine in response to an output of said code collating means which indicates that said identification code coincides with said verification code and, when said output of said code collating means indicates a discrepancy between said identification code and said verification code, for enabling said engine starting means to start operation of said engine only when said predetermined manipulation signal is generated by said manipulation detecting means.

2. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein upon a decision of said discrepancy between said identification code and said verification code, said engine start decision means generates the engine start enable signal when at least two different types of automobile manipulation signals are issued by said manipulation detecting means.

3. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said engine start decision means imposes a time limit of generation of each of said automobile manipulation signals to thereby generate an engine start enable signal to said engine starting means only when each of said automobile manipulation signals is generated within said time limit.

4. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said manipulation detecting means includes door switch means provided in association with a door of said automobile for detecting opening and closing of said door.

5. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said manipulation detecting means includes throttle a position sensor for detecting actuation of an accelerator pedal of said automobile.

6. An automobile protecting apparatus for protecting an automobile from unauthorized operation, comprising:

an engine starting key incorporating storage means for storing an identification code allocated inherently to said automobile;

socket means mounted on said automobile for receiving said engine starting key;

code reading means provided in association with said socket means for reading out said identification code from said engine starting key inserted in said socket means;

code collating means for collating said identification code supplied from said code reading means with a verification code stored previously;

manipulation detecting means for detecting whether or not said automobile is manipulated in a predetermined manner, and for generating a predetermined manipulation signal when said automobile is manipulated in said predetermined manner;

timer means for setting a predetermined time limit;

engine starting means for starting operation of an engine of said automobile; and

engine start decision means for enabling said engine starting means to start operation of said engine in response to an output of said code collating means which indicates that said identification code coincides with said verification code and, when said output of said code collating means indicates a discrepancy between said identification code and said verification code, for enabling said engine starting means to start operation of said engine only when said predetermined manipulation signal is generated by said manipulation detecting means within said predetermined time limit set at said timer.

7. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein a number of times said automobile is manipulated in said predetermined manner after decision said indication of said discrepancy between said identification code and said verification code is limited to a predetermined number.

8. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein said manner of said manipulation of said automobile and said time limit can be determined arbitrarily and set in said engine start decision means.

9. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein said manner of said manipulation of the automobile and said time limit can be determined arbitrarily and set in said engine start decision means when a coincidence between said identification code and said verification code is decided.

10. An automobile protecting apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein the number of times the manner of said manipulation and said time limit can be set said in engine start decision means is limited to a predetermined number.

11. An automobile protecting apparatus for protecting an automobile against unauthorized operation, comprising:

an engine starting key incorporating storage means for storing an identification code allocated inherently to said automobile;

socket means mounted on said automobile for receiving said engine starting key;

code reading means provided in association with said socket means for reading out said identification code from said engine starting key inserted in said socket means;

code collating means for collating said identification code supplied from said code reading means with a verification code stored previously;

manipulation detecting means for detecting whether or not said automobile is manipulated in a predetermined manner, and for generating a predetermined manipulation signal when said automobile is manipulated in said predetermined manner;

engine starting means for starting operation of an engine of said automobile, said engine starting means comprising said manipulation detecting means;

communication means for transmitting an output of said manipulation detecting means; and

engine start decision means for enabling said engine starting means to start operation of said engine in response to an output of said code collating means which indicates that said identification code coincides with said verification code and, when said output of said code collating means indicates a discrepancy between said identification code and said verification code, for enabling said engine starting means to start operation of said engine only when said predetermined manipulation signal is received from said manipulation detecting means.