Vehicle theft prevention device

• US 5,874,890 A
• Filed: 07/30/1997
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Kouji, Kamiya, Masachika, Mizutani, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/903,356
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/428, 340/430, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.6, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features

Abstract

An alarm operation is activated by closing all vehicle doors (S11). When all doors are locked (S12), an active alarm awaiting state is set (S13) and, when all doors are not locked (S12), a passive alarm awaiting state is set (S16). When all the doors are locked after a passive alarm awaiting state was set (S17), the passive alarm awaiting state shifts to an active alarm awaiting state. Then, whether or not all doors are unlocked is judged (S14). If they are unlocked, the alarm awaiting state is released (S15). If the alarm mode is preserved intact, without shifting to be in an active alarm mode, the alarm awaiting state is released (S15) by turning on an ignition or accessory switch within fifteen seconds after a door was opened (S18).

Claims

1. A vehicle theft prevention device

which raises an alarm when a predetermined action is performed with the device set in an alarm waiting state, comprising:

a first alarm mode in which an alarm awaiting state is set under a first set condition and released under a first release condition; and

a second alarm mode in which an alarm awaiting state is set under a second set condition and released under a second release condition;

wherein

the first set condition is at least that an ignition key is not inserted into a key cylinder, all doors are closed, and any door is left unlocked; and

the second set condition is at least that an ignition key is not inserted into a key cylinder, all doors are closed, and all doors are locked.

2. A vehicle theft prevention device as defined in claim 1, wherein,

the alarm awaiting state is set in a predetermined period of time after either the first set condition or the second set condition was met.

3. A vehicle theft prevention device as defined in claim 1, wherein,

the first release condition is that an ignition key is operated within a predetermined period of time after at least one door was opened;

and

the second release condition is that at least one door is unlocked.

4. A vehicle theft prevention device as defined in claim 1, wherein,

the alarm awaiting state set in the first alarm mode shifts to be in the second alarm mode after all the doors were locked.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first alarm mode is a passive alarm mode.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second alarm mode is an active alarm mode.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first set condition is at least that the ignition key is not actuated, all doors are closed and a door is unlocked.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second set condition is at least that an ignition key is not actuated, all doors are closed, and all doors are locked.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the system switches to the second set condition when the second set condition is met while the system is in the first awaiting mode.