Car security apparatus and car security system

• US 6,100,792 A
• Filed: 05/20/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ogino, Takayuki, Sato, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/859,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/428, 340/429, 340/438, 340/439, 340/440, 340/441, 340/449, 340/450, 340/451, 340/459, 340/460, 340/461, 340/539, 340/825.54, 340/825.69 , 340/825.72, 701/29, 701/32, 701/33, 701/34, 701/35, 701/36
• US Class Current: 340/426.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2225/00 Means indicating the functioning state of the alarm system, e.g. indicating arming, using leds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• 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

Abstract

A car security apparatus and a car security system for protecting a vehicle from car theft and tampering which notifies a user of the details regarding an abnormal condition (i.e., the identity of the sensor or sensors that have detected the abnormal condition, and the time of detection) that takes place during the activation of a security function of the apparatus. When any sensor detects an abnormal condition with the security function in an armed (on) mode, a controller stores in a memory device the identification of the sensor that detects the abnormal condition and the time of detection as security information. In response to a predetermined operation performed the user, the controller reads the security information from the memory device and transmits the security information to another onboard device (audio or audio/visual device) having a display. The device receives and then presents the security message using alphanumeric characters on the display.

Claims

1. A car security system mounted on a vehicle, the car security system comprising:

a car security apparatus for protecting the vehicle from theft and tampering connected to a plurality of sensors, each sensor disposed to detect an abnormal condition of a vehicle, the car security apparatus including means for storing, as faulty sensor information, data identifying a sensor from which faulty operation is detected; and

an onboard device connected to the car security apparatus via a cable, the onboard device including a display for presenting the faulty sensor information transmitted from the car security apparatus via the cable in the form of alphanumeric characters.

2. A car security system comprising:

a car security apparatus for Protecting the vehicle from theft and tampering connected to a plurality of sensors, each sensor disposed to detect an abnormal condition of a vehicle, the car security apparatus including means for storing, as faulty sensor information, data identifying a sensor from which faulty operation is detected; and

a remote control unit for performing two-way data communication via cordless communication with the car security apparatus such that the remote control unit receives the faulty sensor information transmitted from the car security apparatus, the remote control unit including a display for presenting the faulty sensor information in the form of alphanumeric characters.

3. A car security system according to claim 2, wherein the car security apparatus sequentially transmits plural groups of faulty sensor information associated with a plurality of faulty sensors at predetermined regular intervals of time when the plurality of faulty sensors are detected.

4. A car security system comprising:

a car security apparatus including;

at least one sensor for detecting an abnormal condition of a vehicle;

sensor monitoring means for monitoring the status of the sensor;

alarm generator means for generating an alarm when the sensor detects an abnormal condition in the vehicle, and

memory means for storing a predetermined ID code and a vehicle ID number, and

means for transmitting the vehicle ID number; and

a remote control unit for performing two-way data communication via cordless communication with the car security apparatus such that the remote control unit receives the vehicle ID number transmitted from the car security apparatus, the remote control unit including a display for presenting the received vehicle ID number in the form of alphanumeric characters;

wherein the car security apparatus transmits the vehicle number to the remote control unit only when an ID code in a signal received from the remote control unit matches the predetermined ID code stored in the memory means.

5. A car security apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting an abnormal condition of a vehicle indicative of potential theft of or tampering with the vehicle;

sensor monitoring means for monitoring the status of the sensor;

memory means for storing, as security information, data identifying the sensor when the sensor detects an abnormal condition, and data identifying the time of detection when the sensor detects the abnormal condition; and

communication means for visually communicating the security sensor information stored in the memory means.

6. A car security apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication means transmits the security information via a cable.

7. A car security apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication means transmits the security information to an audio head unit via a bus line.

8. A car security apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication means transmits the security information using a one of a radio wave, a light ray and an acoustic wave.

9. A car security apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication means transmits the security information stored in the memory means when an ignition switch in the vehicle is turned on subsequent to changing an operation mode of the car security apparatus from an armed mode to a disarmed mode.

10. A car security apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the communication means transmits a plurality of groups of faulty sensor information stored in the memory means sequentially at predetermined regular intervals when an ignition switch in the vehicle is turned on subsequent to changing an operation mode of the car security apparatus from an armed mode to a disarmed mode.

11. A car security apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the communication means transmits consecutively a plurality of groups of faulty sensor information following the transmission of a signal requesting the extension of reception time when an ignition switch in the vehicle is turned on subsequent to changing an operation mode of the car security apparatus from an armed mode to a disarmed mode.

12. A car security apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication means transmits information indicative of the sensitivity of a sensor during the adjustment of the sensitivity of the sensor.

13. A car security apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication means transmits the information indicative of a next step of operation to be taken during the registration of an ID code of a remote control unit.

14. A car security system mounted on a vehicle, the car security system comprising:

a car security apparatus for protecting the vehicle from theft and tampering connected to a plurality of sensors, each sensor disposed to detect an abnormal condition of a vehicle, the car security apparatus including means for storing, as security information, data identifying a sensor which has detected an abnormal condition and the time of detection; and

an onboard device connected to the car security apparatus via a cable, the onboard device including a display for presenting the security information transmitted from the car security apparatus via the cable in the form of alphanumeric characters.

15. A car security system according to claim 14, wherein the cable is a bus line for transmitting a digital signal.

16. A car security system according to claim 14, wherein the onboard device is an audio head unit.

17. A car security system according to claim 14, wherein the onboard device is an audio visual device having a television monitor display.

18. A car security system according to claim 14, wherein the onboard device is a navigation device having a navigation display.

19. A car security system comprising:

a car security apparatus for protecting the vehicle from theft and tampering connected to a plurality of sensors, each sensor disposed to detect an abnormal condition of a vehicle, the car security apparatus including means for storing, as security information, data identifying a sensor which has detected an abnormal condition and the time of detection; and

a remote control unit for performing two-way data communication via cordless communication with the car security apparatus such that the remote control unit receives the security information transmitted from the car security apparatus, the remote control unit including a display for presenting the security information in the form of alphanumeric characters.