Vehicle security control apparatus

• US 6,259,168 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/349,162
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 123/198.DD, 123/198.DC, 180/287, 340/825.72, 340/539, 340/426, 340/825.31, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A vehicle security control apparatus has a connecting portion within a vehicle for receiving a switch device and a determination backup device. The determination backup device determines whether to permit or prohibit use of the vehicle by performing a code comparison with the switch device connected to the connecting portion if a determiner is unable to determine whether to permit or prohibit the use of the vehicle. Therefore, the apparatus is able to permit use of the vehicle even if the battery of a portable device is depleted or radio interference occurs.

Claims

1. A vehicle security control apparatus comprising:

a portable device capable of being carried and of transmitting a signal;

a vehicle-installed device that receives the signal from the portable device, the vehicle-installed device being provided in a vehicle;

a determiner that determines whether a use of the vehicle is authorized based on a result of code comparison through remote communication between the vehicle-installed device and the portable device;

a connecting portion provided in the vehicle;

a switch device provided in the portable device and connectable to the connecting portion; and

a backup device, in communication with the connecting portion, that permits the use of the vehicle by performing the code comparison when the switch device is connected to the connecting portion and the determiner has not determined whether use of the vehicle is authorized.

2. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portable device transmits corresponding signals corresponding to signals received from the vehicle-installed device, and the determiner compares the corresponding signals with a code pre-stored in the vehicle-installed device side.

3. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a range of permitted uses of the vehicle determined by the determination backup device is restricted relative to a range of a permission of the use of the vehicle determined by the determiner.

4. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection detector that detects a connection of the switch device to the connecting portion and operates the determination backup device.

5. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation prohibiter that prohibits the determiner from operating if the determination backup device is operating.

6. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the switch device comprises a transponder circuit that transmits a specific code, and the determination backup device receives the specific code from the transponder and compares the specific code with a predetermined code specific to the vehicle.

7. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle includes a detachable start switch for starting the engine, and the connecting portion is provided at a position from which the start switch is detached.

8. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an engine start permitting device that permits an engine of the vehicle to be started if the determination backup device determines that the use of the vehicle is authorized.

9. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a steering unlock permitting device that permits a steering of the vehicle to be unlocked if the determination backup device determines that the use of the vehicle is authorized.

10. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch device that connects to the connecting portion transmits a specific code, and the determination backup device receives the specific code from the switch device and compares the specific code with a pre-stored code specific to the vehicle.

11. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a range of permitted uses of the vehicle determined by the determination backup device is restricted relative to a range of permitted uses of the vehicle determined by the determiner.

12. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a door open-close permitting device that permits a door to be opened or closed if the determination backup device determines that the use of the vehicle is authorized.

13. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an engine start permitting device that permits an engine of the vehicle to be started if the determination backup device determines that the use of the vehicle is authorized.

14. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a range of permitted uses of the vehicle determined by the determination backup device is restricted relative to a range of permitted uses of the vehicle determined by the determiner.

15. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a steering unlock permitting device that permits a steering of the vehicle to be unlocked if the determination backup device determines that the use of the vehicle is authorized.

16. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication check transponder circuit provided in the vicinity of the determination backup device for communicating with the determination backup device;

and a checking device for performing the code comparison through communication between the communication check transponder circuit and the determination backup device for conforming that the determination backup device operates normally.

17. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the check device is operated at a predetermined time interval.

18. A vehicle security control apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an alarm for alarming a user when a check by the check device is not performed normally.