Vehicle antitheft system controlling parking brake

• US 5,925,940 A
• Filed: 04/01/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: P.V. Security, Inc.
• Original Assignee: P.V. Security, Inc.
• Inventors: Bednar, Fred H., Prusakowski, Leonard B., Donatelle, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/829,844
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1-10.6, 303/20, 180/287, 123/179.2-179.4, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.3-825.32, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 70/256, 70/288
• US Class Current: 307/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

A vehicle antitheft system utilizing the parking brake of a vehicle. If the primary parking brake release mechanism is operated for releasing the brake, the parking brake does not release, because it continues to be held by a secondary system, which is under security control. The system includes a remote control unit for setting the parking brake from locations away from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle antitheft device, comprising an actuating means including a motor and controls connected with the motor, the controls containing two limit states of the motor in the form of a forward motor position and a reverse motor position, the controls issuing commands to move the motor between the two limit states, and means for connecting the motor of the actuating means to a parking brake such that a locked state of the brake corresponds to one of the limit states and an unlocked state of the brake corresponds to the other of the limit states.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, the controls comprising a remote control unit and a main control unit.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, the remote control unit comprising a keypad and means for transmitting data, including a keypad command, to the main control unit.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, the main control unit comprising a receiver and means for controlled processing of data received by the receiver into input to a system for controlling the motor.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, the controls including a micro-controller.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, the controls including learned encoder/decoder pairs, with communication between remote control unit and main control unit having varying digital words.

7. A device as claimed in claim 2, the controls including learned encoder/decoder pairs, with communication between remote control unit and main control unit having varying digital words.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, the controls further including means requiring introduction of correct PIN numbers, in order to obtain motor movement.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, the brake remaining in the locked state as long as the motor is in the corresponding limit state.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, for combination with a primary parking brake operating mechanism for operating the parking brake in unison with, or independently of, the vehicle antitheft device, release of the primary mechanism not releasing the brake, if the motor is in its limit state corresponding to the locked state of the brake.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, the controls including position sensors corresponding to the limit states.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, the controls further providing a time limit on motor movement.

13. In a vehicle having a parking brake and a primary parking brake operating mechanism linked by cable to the brake and operable between a lock state holding the brake in a locked state and a release state allowing the brake to be in a released state, the improvement in the form of a vehicle antitheft device comprising a secondary parking brake operating mechanism which is linked to the brake and operable between a lock state holding the brake in a locked state and a release state allowing the brake to be in a released state, and a security control on the operation of the secondary mechanism, the secondary mechanism being independent of the primary mechanism, in that, when the brake is in the locked state and both mechanisms are in their lock states, operation of the primary mechanism into the release state does not cause release of the brake, as long as the secondary mechanism remains in the lock state.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, the security control comprising a remote control unit and a main control unit.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, the remote control unit comprising a keypad and means for transmitting data, including a keypad command, to the main control unit.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14, the main control unit comprising a receiver and means for controlled processing of data received by the receiver into input to a system for controlling the secondary mechanism.

17. A device as claimed in claim 14, the security control including a micro-controller.

18. A device as claimed in claim 17, the security control including learned encoder/decoder pairs, with communication between remote control unit and main control unit having varying digital words.

19. A device as claimed in claim 14, the controls including learned encoder/decoder pairs, with communication between remote control unit and main control unit having varying digital words.

20. A vehicle parking brake operating method, comprising holding the brake in a locked state with two cable linkages, and releasing the brake from the locked state only with the release of both linkages, release of one of the linkages being under security control.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising, for security control, transmitting and receiving a command, a unit ID, and a system ID.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising, for security control, transmitting and receiving a varying digital word.

23. A vehicle antitheft device, comprising:

a mechanical system means attachable to a vehicle parking brake, for setting and releasing the brake; and

an electrical system means capable of causing the mechanical system means to set the brake from locations remote to the vehicle, the mechanical system means including a motor and linkage keeping the motor connected to the parking brake when and after the parking brake has been set.

24. In a vehicle having a parking brake and a primary parking brake operating mechanism linked to the brake and operable between a lock state holding the brake in a locked state and a release state allowing the brake to be in a released state, the improvement in the form of a vehicle antitheft device comprising a secondary parking brake operating mechanism which is linked to the brake and operable between a lock state holding the brake in a locked state and a release state allowing the brake to be in a released state, and a security control on the operation of the secondary mechanism, the secondary mechanism being independent of the primary mechanism, in that, when the brake is in the locked state and both mechanisms are in their lock states, operation of the primary mechanism into the release state does not cause release of the brake, as long as the secondary mechanism remains in the lock state, and in that the secondary mechanism can be operated to set the brake independently of the primary mechanism.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24, the security control comprising a remote control unit and a main control unit, the remote control unit comprising a keypad and means for transmitting data, including a keypad command, to the main control unit, the main control unit comprising a receiver and means for controlled processing of data received by the receiver into input to a system for controlling the motor.

26. A device as claimed in claim 25, the security control precluding setting of the brake by the secondary mechanism at speeds above a limit speed.