Vehicle security system

• US 5,805,056 A
• Filed: 04/03/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Code Systems Incorporated (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Code-Alarm Incorporated
• Inventors: Santavicca, Joseph, Gillespie, John, Cullimore, Jay N., Rupert, David, Cohrs, Mark, Fishman, Graham, Mueller, Rand W., Scott, Todd, Pizzuti, Robert J., Lemense, Thomas, Girard, Hilton W., Stouffer, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/624,146
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/429, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557, 340/566, 340/440, 340/689, 340/583, 73/655, 73/653, 356/249, 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/232, 250/231.1
• US Class Current: 340/426.24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics

Abstract

A vehicle security system 10 having a sensor 28 which selectively produces output signals based upon a threshold signal comparison, which automatically deactivates upon the presence of transmitter 20, and which may be used in combination with an existing vehicle security system 106.

Claims

1. A shock sensor adapted for use in detecting a shock made to a stationary vehicle, said shock sensor comprising:

a housing which includes a top surface, a bottom surface and side surfaces;

a light source deployed within said housing and adapted to generate light parallel to two of said surfaces;

a light detector deployed within said housing and adapted to receive said generated light; and

an elastic member deployed within said housing and including a first and a second end;

wherein said first end of said elastic member is attached to said bottom surface of said housing, and said second end of said elastic member is attached to a member;

said member is a moveable member which is deployed between said light source and said light detector for blocking said generated light to said light detector, and said member is capable of moving vertically when said shock is made to said stationary vehicle for allowing at least a portion of said generated light to be received by said light detector.

2. A shock sensor adapted for use in detecting a shock made to a stationary vehicle, said shock sensor comprising:

a housing which includes a plurality of surfaces;

a light source deployed within said housing and adapted to generate light;

a light detector deployed within said housing and adapted to receive said generated light;

a moveable member deployed within said housing and adapted to block said generated light from reaching said light detector; and

an elastic member attached to said moveable member and attached to said housing and which is adapted to elastically move said moveable member in a first plane parallel to a plane containing said light source and parallel to a plane containing said light detector and which is adapted to allow said moveable member to allow at least a portion of said generated light to be received by said light detector in response to said shock made to said stationary vehicle.