Method and apparatus for signalling theft for a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. Method for signalling theft for a motor vehicle, in which an item of theft signalling information is produced as a function of a signal state of at least one of a plurality of signals which are indicative of vehicle states, wherein:
- the theft-signalling information is produced only if signal states of a plurality of signals which are indicative of vehicle states are present in a theft-signalling combination; and
said theft signalling combination comprises signalling conditions which succeed one another in a specific time sequence, and which signalling conditions themselves comprise one or more theft indicative combinations of jointly interrogated signal states of associated signals which are indicative of vehicle states.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a failsafe method and apparatus for signalling theft for a motor vehicle, an item of theft-signalling information is produced as a function of the signal state of at least one of a plurality of monitoring signals, which are indicative of vehicle states. According to the invention, the theft-signalling information is produced only if the signal states of a plurality of monitoring signals are present in one of one or more prescribed theft-signalling combinations. Each theft-signalling combination comprises one or more signalling conditions, which succeed one another in a specific time sequence and which signalling conditions themselves comprise one or more theft indicative combinations of jointly interrogated signal states of associated monitoring signals.
39 Citations
11 Claims
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1. Method for signalling theft for a motor vehicle, in which an item of theft signalling information is produced as a function of a signal state of at least one of a plurality of signals which are indicative of vehicle states, wherein:
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the theft-signalling information is produced only if signal states of a plurality of signals which are indicative of vehicle states are present in a theft-signalling combination; and
said theft signalling combination comprises signalling conditions which succeed one another in a specific time sequence, and which signalling conditions themselves comprise one or more theft indicative combinations of jointly interrogated signal states of associated signals which are indicative of vehicle states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
a theft indicative signal state of a door contact sensor system, a passenger compartment protection sensor system, a towing-away protection sensor system, a hood-position sensor system or a tailgate-position sensor system is present when the lock system is armed;
thereafter a theft indicative state of an ignition line, a starter line, a switched-on fuel pump or of a running engine is present;
thereafter a theft indicative signal state of an external control unit detection means is present; and
thereafter an armed travel-authorization system is verified and optionally the vehicle'"'"'s exceeding a prescribed minimum velocity by the vehicle is detected.
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3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the theft-signalling information is produced if:
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a theft indicative signal state of an rpm sensor system, a towing-away protection sensor system, an altimeter, a spring extension meter, a tailgate-position sensor system or a hood-position sensor system is present when the lock system is armed;
orthereafter a theft indicative signal state of the rpm sensor system, a wheel rpm sensor system, the altimeter or the spring-extension meter is present; and
a vehicle travel-authorization system is armed and is not in a loading operating mode.
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4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the theft-signalling information is produced if:
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an absolute vehicle velocity exceeds a prescribed minimum value; and
a vehicle travel-authorization system is armed and is not in a loading operating mode.
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5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the theft-signalling information is generated if
a theft indicative signal state of a door contact sensor system, a passenger compartment protection sensor system, a towing-away protection sensor system, an altimeter, a spring extension meter, a tailgate-position sensor system or a hood-position sensor system is present when the lock system is armed; -
thereafter, a theft indicative signal state relating to a released handbrake or an automatic gearbox which has been moved out of its parking position is present; and
a vehicle travel-authorization system is armed.
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6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the theft-signalling information is generated if
a theft indicative signal state of a door contact sensor system, a passenger compartment protection sensor system, a towing-away protection sensor system, an altimeter, a spring extension meter, a tailgate-position sensor system or a hood-position sensor system is present when the lock system is armed; -
absolute vehicle velocity exceeds a prescribed minimum velocity; and
a vehicle travel-authorization system is armed.
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7. A device for signalling theft for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a plurality of vehicle-state monitoring units which generate monitoring signals that are indicative of vehicle states; and
an arithmetic unit which produces an item of theft-signalling information as a function of the signal state of at least one of the monitoring signals;
wherein;
the arithmetic unit is configured to produce theft-signalling information only if signalling states of a plurality of monitoring signals are present in a theft-signalling combination; and
said theft-signalling combination comprises signalling conditions which succeed one another in a specific time sequence, and which signalling conditions themselves each comprise at least one combination of jointly interrogated signal states of associated monitoring signals.
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8. A method of detecting theft of a motor vehicle, comprising:
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sensing a plurality of vehicle parameters and generating sensing signals which are indicative of states of systems of said vehicle;
detecting an occurrence of preset combinations of selected states of said sensing signals; and
generating a theft indicative signal in response to time sequential occurrence of a pluraity of said combinations, in a predetermined order.
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9. Apparatus for detecting a theft of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensors which monitor vehicle parameters and generate sensor signals indicative of states thereof; and
a control unit coupled to receive said sensor signals as inputs thereto;
wherein said control unit detects an occurrence of preset combinations of selected states of said sensor signals, and generates a theft indicative signal in response to time sequential occurrence of a plurality of said combinations, in a predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification