Single-key security system

• US 5,959,540 A
• Filed: 05/11/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerhard Walter
• Original Assignee: Gerhard Walter
• Inventors: Walter, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/075,340
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/426, 340/455, 341/176, 180/287, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.7, 70/256, 70/257, 70/456, 701/49, 701/48, 704/273
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights

Abstract

A system for limiting access to certain components of a vehicle where the vehicle has a valet mode wherein access to the certain components of the vehicle is limited and a normal mode wherein the certain components are operable. The vehicle has a processor programmed to place the vehicle in the valet mode upon receipt of a first signal and to place the vehicle in the normal mode up receipt of a second signal. Mode changing signals are transmitted to a processor using a remote control and a connector switch removably connected to the remote control, wherein the remote control transmits the first signal when the connector switch is disconnected from the remote control, and wherein the remote control transmits the second signal when the connector switch is reconnected to the remote control. A radio in the vehicle and/or a voice-recognition system can also be used to transmit the mode changing signals to the processor.

Claims

1. A system for restricting access to certain components of a vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode wherein access to the certain components of the vehicle is restricted and a second mode wherein the certain components are made accessible, the vehicle having a processor programmed to place the vehicle in the first mode upon receipt of a first signal and to place the vehicle in the second mode upon receipt of a second signal, the system comprising:

a remote control; and

connector removably connected to the remote control, wherein removal of the connector from the remote control causes transmission of the first signal to thereby restrict access to said certain components upon said removal.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein reconnection of the connector to the remote control causes the transmission of the second signal to make said certain components accessible.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein the second signal is not tranmitted if the connector is reconnected to the remote control within a predetermined time of it having been removed from the remote control.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the remote control comprises:

a mode change button causing alternate transmission of the first mode signal and the second mode signal when the mode change button is depressed.

5. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

a voice-rocognition mechanism constructed and adapted to send the second mode signal to the processor when a command is spoken.

6. A system as in claim 5 wherein the voice-recognition mechanism is in a radio of the vehicle.

7. A system as in claim 5 wherein the processor only responds to commands from particular persons.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein the connector is integrated into a key of the vehicle.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the trunk, glove compartment, fuel tank and mobile phone.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein access is restricted to two or more of said components.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein the connector is integrated into a key of the vehicle.

12. A system as in claim 1 but without a connector and comprising a key ring hanging on a second ring with a gap, non-removably incorporated into a receptor, but rotatble through a circular channel in the receptor, wherein depression of a remote control button, normally preventing the rotation of the receptor ring, causes transmission of a signal and allows a rotation of the receptor ring to a position where the key ring can be moved through the gap in the receptor ring.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein the receptor comprises a button and wherein depressing the button allows the receptor ring to rotate and causes the receptor to transmit a signal.

14. A system as in claim 1 wherein the remote control comprises a mode change button operable to transmit only the second mode signal.

15. A method of controlling access to certain components of a vehicle using a controlling system, the vehicle having a first mode wherein certain components of the vehicle are inaccessible and a second mode wherein the certain components are accessible, the vehicle having a processor programmed to place the vehicle in the first mode upon receipt of a first mode signal and to place the vehicle in the second mode upon receipt of a second mode signal, the controlling system comprising a remote control;

and a connector switch removably connected to the remote control, wherein removal of the connector from the remote signal control causes the controlling system to automatically transmit the first mode signal to thereby render said certain components inaccessible, the method comprising;

disconnecting the connector from the remote control, whereby the first mode signal is automatically tranmitted to the vehicle and the vehicle is placed in the first mode to thereby restrict access to said certain components and thereafter reconnecting said connector with said remote control to transmit the second mode signal to make said certain components accessible.

16. A vehicle security system for controlling access to components of a vehicle comprising, in combination:

a remote control;

a key ring having a connector removably connected to the remote control and means for tranmitting a signal when the connector is removed from the remote control to render said component inaccessible.

17. A system as in claim 16, including means for transmitting another signal when the connector is reconncted to the remote control so as to render said components accessible.

18. A system as in claim 16 further comprising:

a processing unit adapted to receive signals, the processing unit being programmed to automatically place the vehicle in a first mode upon receipt of a first mode signal and to place the vehicle in a second mode upon receipt of a second mode signal,

wherein the signal tranmitted when the connector is removed from the remote control is the first mode signal, and

wherein the signal transmitted when the connector is reconnected to the remote control is the second mode signal.

19. A system as in claim 18 further comprising:

a radio including means for sending the second mode signal to the processing unit when a button of the radio is pressed to enter a secret code number.

20. A system as in claim 19 wherein the radio has a high power consumption mode and a low power consumption mode, the system further comprising:

a primary battery and a secondary battery; and

a battery switch for selectively supplying power to the radio from one of the primary battery and the secondary battery, the battery switch automatically switching power from the primary battery to the secondary battery when the voltage from the primary battery drops below a predetermined level,

wherein the radio automatically enters the low power consumption mode when power is supplied to the radio from the secondary battery.

21. A system as in claim 19 wherein the processing unit stores an identifier and wherein the processing unit only responds to mode changing signals when the identifier has been provided to it using buttons on the radio.

22. A system as in claim 21 wherein the processing unit stores an encrypted version of the identifier.

23. A system as in claim 19 wherein the radio is automatically switched to a low power consumption mode comprising a system specific power source when the primary power source is inadequate.

24. A system as in claim 18 wherein the remote control comprises a button and wherein the remote control transmits the second mode signal when the button is depressed, whereby the procesing unit, upon receipt of the second mode signal, places the vehicle in the second mode.

25. A system as in claim 18 further comprising

a primary battery and a secondary battery, and

a battery switch for selectively supplying power to the system from one of the primary battery and the secondary battery, the battery switch automatically switching power from the primary battery to the secondary battery when the voltage from the primary battery drops below a predetermined level.

26. A system as in claim 16 wherein a vehicle key hangs on the key ring.

27. A kit comprising;

a pair of keys for a vehicle, one of the keys allowing only restricted access to certain components of the vehicle, and the other of the keys allowing unrestricted access to all components of the vehicle;

a receptor adapted to hold one of the keys;

a key ring adapted to hold the other of the pair of keys, the key ring having a connector removably connected to the receptor, whereby separation of receptor and connector causes automatic transmission of a signal for allowing only limited access to said components.

28. A system as in claim 27 wherein connection of said receptor and said connector causes transmission of a signal.