Vehicle security system having enhanced valet feature and related methods
First Claim
1. A vehicle security system comprising:
- at least one vehicle sensor;
an ignition monitor for determining whether a vehicle ignition switch is in an off position or an on position;
an alarm indicator for indicating an alarm;
a valet switch accessible to a user within the vehicle; and
a controller operatively connected to said at least one vehicle sensor, said ignition monitor, said alarm indicator, and said valet switch, said controller being switchable to a valet mode based upon determining a plurality of successive activations of said valet switch, with each activation comprising at least one operation of said valet switch, and based upon determining at least one change in ignition switch position between successive activations of said valet switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle security system includes a controller being switchable to a valet mode based upon determining a plurality of successive activations of a valet switch with each activation comprising at least one operation of the valet switch, and based upon determining at least one change in ignition switch position between successive activations of the valet switch. The security system also preferably includes at least one vehicle sensor, an ignition monitor for determining whether a vehicle ignition switch is in an off position or an on position, an alarm indicator for indicating an alarm, and all of which are preferably connected to the controller. The controller may be switchable to an armed mode in which the controller is capable of generating an alarm responsive to triggering of the at least one vehicle sensor. The controller when in the valet mode prevents generation of an alarm responsive to triggering of the at least one vehicle sensor. The controller may be switchable to the valet mode based upon determining the ignition switch being in the on position during each activation of the valet switch. In addition, the at least one change in ignition switch position may comprise a change to the off position. A pseudorandomly coded remote transmitter may be used to switch the controller between armed and disarmed modes.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A vehicle security system comprising:
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at least one vehicle sensor;
an ignition monitor for determining whether a vehicle ignition switch is in an off position or an on position;
an alarm indicator for indicating an alarm;
a valet switch accessible to a user within the vehicle; and
a controller operatively connected to said at least one vehicle sensor, said ignition monitor, said alarm indicator, and said valet switch, said controller being switchable to a valet mode based upon determining a plurality of successive activations of said valet switch, with each activation comprising at least one operation of said valet switch, and based upon determining at least one change in ignition switch position between successive activations of said valet switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle security system comprising:
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at least one vehicle sensor;
an ignition monitor for determining whether a vehicle ignition switch is in an off position or an on position;
an alarm indicator for indicating an alarm;
a valet switch accessible to a user within the vehicle; and
a controller operatively connected to said at least one vehicle sensor, said ignition monitor, said alarm indicator, and said valet switch, said controller being switchable to a valet mode based upon determining a plurality of successive activations of said valet switch, with each activation comprising at least one operation of said valet switch, and based upon determining the ignition switch being in the on position during each activation and in the off position between successive activations of said valet switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle security system comprising:
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at least one vehicle sensor;
an ignition monitor for determining whether a vehicle ignition switch is in an off position or an on position;
an alarm indicator for indicating an alarm;
a switch accessible to a user within the vehicle; and
a controller operatively connected to said at least one vehicle sensor, said ignition monitor, said alarm indicator, and said switch, said controller being switchable to a mode stopping generation of an alarm indication based upon determining a plurality of successive activations of said switch, with each activation comprising at least one operation of said switch, and based upon determining at least one change in ignition switch position between successive activations of said switch. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a vehicle security system comprising at least one vehicle sensor, an ignition monitor for determining whether a vehicle ignition switch is in an off position or an on position, an alarm indicator for indicating an alarm, a valet switch accessible to a user within the vehicle, and a controller operatively connected to the at least one vehicle sensor, the ignition monitor, the alarm indicator, and the valet switch, the method comprising:
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switching the controller to a valet mode based upon determining a plurality of successive activations of the valet switch with each activation comprising at least one operation of the valet switch, and at least one change in ignition switch position between successive activations of the valet switch. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for switching a vehicle security system to a mode stopping generating of an alarm indication responsive to activation of a valet switch and based upon ignition switch position, the method comprising:
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monitoring the valet switch and the ignition switch position; and
switching the controller to the mode based upon determining a plurality of successive activations of the switch with each activation comprising at least one operation of the valet switch, and at least one change in ignition switch position between successive activations of the valet switch. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification