Anti-theft system for automotive electronic accessory with coded interlock

• US 6,104,309 A
• Filed: 02/18/1994
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ozawa, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/198,671
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.69, 340/426, 340/568, 340/691, 340/693
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

An anti-theft system for an automotive electronic accessory, such as an automotive audio device, has a security device including a sensor for sensing any abnormal state of the electronic accessory, a siren, and a remote control unit for controlling arming and disarming of the system. The system also includes the electronic accessory itself, which is enabled to operate only when a predetermined code is input thereto after turning on its electrical power supply. The predetermined code is input to the electronic accessory through the security device in response to the arming or disarming command from the remote control unit.

Claims

1. An anti-theft system for a vehicle comprising:

a portable remote control unit responsive to actuation of buttons thereon for transmitting a radio frequency signal including a first identification code;

a security unit fixedly mounted on the vehicle, the security unit including a receiver for receiving the radio frequency signal, a first memory for storing a second identification code, and a first processor for comparing the received first identification code with the second identification code and for generating a third identification code when the first identification code coincides with the second identification code; and

an electronic audio device removably mounted on the vehicle and connectable to the security unit, the electronic audio device including a second memory for storing a fourth identification code and an audio signal generator for transmitting audio signals to an output device, the electronic audio device including a second processor for comparing the third identification code with a fourth identification code and enabling the audio signal generator only when the third identification code coincides with the fourth identification code.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal including both the first identification code and a command code.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein the first identification code and a command code transmitted in the radio frequency signal are stored in a third memory located on the remote control unit.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein the first identification code is user-settable.