Anti-theft device for a vehicle

• US 5,838,075 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/727,401
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1-10.6, 180/287, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 364/423.098, 123/198 DB, 123/198 DC, 701/1
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

In a vehicle control device having a so-called keyless entry system in which a door lock control unit controls a door lock actuator by receiving a signal representing an identification code and transmitted from a transmitter, an internal-combustion engine control unit computes fuel injection quantity and ignition timing from control data stored in a memory in response to detection results inputted from respective detectors, and thereby drives a fuel injection valve and an igniter. The door lock control unit detects whether a theft is attempted on the vehicle, based on the switching states of various switches, and supplies the result of the detection to a constant-voltage circuit in the internal-combustion engine control unit in the form of a code signal; when a theft is detected, power supply to respective circuits in the internal-combustion engine control unit is shut off. Furthermore, the internal-combustion engine control unit checks whether the identification code received by a receiver matches the identification code prestored in the memory, and if they do not coincide, inhibits the internal-combustion engine from starting. Since identification code data that cannot be created in a pseudo manner is inputted to the internal-combustion engine control unit, not a binary signal indicating whether to permit or not permit the starting of the internal-combustion engine, the vehicle can be reliably prevented from being burgled and driven away.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

control means for controlling at least one of either a fuel injection quantity or an ignition timing of an internal-combustion engine; and

detection means for making the control means stop outputting of at least either of an injection signal and an ignition signal to the internal-combustion engine, when a theft of a vehicle is detected.

2. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the detection means transmits a detection result in the form of a code signal.

3. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

control means for controlling at least one of either a fuel injection quantity or an ignition timing of an internal-combustion engine; and

backup control means provided in relation to the control means, for supplying a fixed backup injection signal or a fixed backup ignition signal to the internal-combustion engine when it is detected that an injection signal or an ignition signal to the internal-combustion engine has stopped; and

detection means for detecting a theft of a vehicle;

wherein, when a theft is detected by the detection means, the control means shortens at least either the injection signal or the ignition signal to a predetermined infinitesimal time.

4. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 3, wherein the detection means transmits a detection result in the form of a code signal.

5. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 3, wherein the control means performs the shortening of the injection signal or the ignition signal when vehicle speed reaches or exceeds a predetermined value after detection of the theft of the vehicle.

6. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

control means for controlling operating conditions of an internal-combustion engine;

power supply means, having a semiconductor switch, for stabilizing power from a battery and supplying the power via said semiconductor switch to said control means; and

detection means for controlling said semiconductor switch to stop said power supply means from supplying power to said control means when a theft of the vehicle is detected.

7. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 6, wherein the detection means transmits a detection result in the form of a code signal.

8. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

control means for controlling operating conditions of an internal-combustion engine;

power supply means for stabilizing power from a battery and supplying the power to the control means;

a power source line connected from the power supply means to the control means;

short circuit means disposed between the power source line and a grounding line for short circuiting the power supply to the control means; and

detection means for stopping the power supply means from supplying power to the control means, upon detection of a theft of the vehicle;

wherein,

the power supply means is for automatically shutting off the power supply to the control means upon overcurrent detection, and

the detection means is for activating the short circuit means to cause generation of an overcurrent, upon detection of a theft of the vehicle.

9. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the detection means transmits a detection result in the form of a code signal.

10. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

control means for controlling operation conditions of an internal-combustion engine;

initializing means, for supplying an initialization signal to an initial terminal of said control means at the time when a supply voltage rises and thereby making calculation of control amounts possible; and

detection means for inhibiting the supply of the initialization signal from said initialization means in order to inhibit said control means when a theft of the vehicle is detected.

11. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 10, wherein the detection means transmits a detection result in the form of a code signal.

12. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

a detector for detecting control parameters of an internal-combustion engine and for outputting a control detection result;

control means for calculating a control amount based on the control detection result from the detector, and for supplying a control output to the internal-combustion engine;

detection means for detecting a theft of the vehicle; and

shut-off means interposed between the detector and the control means, for shutting off an output from the detector in order to inhibit the control means when a theft is detected by the detection means.

13. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein the detection means transmits a detection result in the form of a code signal.

14. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

a detector for detecting control parameter of an internal-combustion engine and for outputting a control detection result;

control means for calculating a control amount based on the control detection result from the detector, and for supplying a control output to the internal-combustion engine;

detection means for detecting a theft of the vehicle; and

shut-off means interposed in a power supply line to the detector, for shutting off the power supply line to disable the detector to inhibit the output of the detection result to the control means when a theft is detected by the detection means.

15. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 14, wherein the detection means is for transmitting a detection result in the form of a code signal.

16. An anti-theft device for a vehicle, comprising:

control means for controlling at least one of either a fuel injection quantity or an ignition timing of an internal-combustion engine;

storage means having a storage area for storing data relating to control of the internal-combustion engine and a storage area for storing an identification code; and

input means for inputting an identification code to the control means by a predetermined operation;

wherein, when the control means is energized with an attempt to start the internal-combustion engine, the control means compares the identification code inputted from the input means with the identification code stored in the storage means, and when the identification codes do not coincide, the control means inhibits output of at least either one of an injection signal and an ignition signal outputted to the internal-combustion engine.

17. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 16, wherein the control means is for comparing the identification codes again when rotational speed of the internal-combustion engine is not higher than a predetermined value, vehicle speed is not higher than a predetermined value, and a transmission shift lever is in a parking or neutral position.

18. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein, when vehicle speed is not lower than a predetermined value, output of at least either one of the injection signal and the ignition signal the internal-combustion engine is permitted regardless of the result of the comparison between the identification codes.

19. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 17, wherein, when parameters to be used to control the internal-combustion engine are inputted in a combination that cannot occur during a usual operation of the internal-combustion engine, the control means writes the identification code inputted from the input means, into the storage means.

20. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 16, wherein, when parameters to be used to control the internal-combustion engine are inputted in a combination that cannot occur during a usual operation of the internal-combustion engine, the control means writes the identification code inputted from the input means, into the storage means.

21. The anti-theft device for a vehicle of claim 16, wherein, when vehicle speed is not lower than a predetermined value, output of at least either one of the injection signal and the ignition signal to the internal-combustion engine is permitted regardless of the result of the comparison between the identification codes.