Single-key security system

• US 6,275,141 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter, Gerhard
• Original Assignee: Walter, Gerhard
• Inventors: Walter, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/351,128
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/426, 340/455, 340/5.64, 340/5.72, 341/176, 180/287, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 307/10.7, 702/56, 702/57, 704/56, 701/49, 701/48, 704/273
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00968 shape of the data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A system for restricting access to certain components of a vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode wherein access to the certain components is restricted and a second mode wherein the certain components are accessible, the vehicle having a processor programmed to place the vehicle in the first mode upon receipt of a first signal and to place the vehicle in the second mode upon receipt of a second signal, the system comprising: a remote control; and means for causing transmission to the processor of the first signal to place the system in the first mode and means for causing transmission of the second signal to the processor to place the system in the second mode. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for restricting access to certain components of a vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode wherein access to the certain components of the vehicle is restricted and a second mode wherein the certain components are accessible, the vehicle having a processor programmed to place the vehicle in the first mode upon receipt of a first signal and to place the vehicle in the second mode upon receipt of a second signal, the system comprising:

a remote control including a receptor and a device removably positioned within said receptor;

said remote control being operatively associated with said processor to cause transmission of the first signal to place the system in the first mode when said device is removed from said receptor.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said remote control also functions to cause transmission of the second signal to place the vehicle in the second mode when the device is positioned within said receptor.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is used in combination with a Vehicle Attack Alarm/Vehicle Theft Prevention system.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a connector, removably connected to the remote control to cause transmission of said signals.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a connector, removably connected to the remote control to cause transmission of said signals, and wherein the connector comprises an insulated portion and an electrically conductive portion causing a signal to be transmitted when the electrically conductive portion of the connector passes electrode means in the remote control.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a connector, removably connected to the remote control to cause transmission of said signals, and wherein the insertion of the connector into the remote control brings together two electrodes, causing transmission of a signal.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the connector has a fin, the rotation of the connector in the receptor of the remote control causing the fin to push two electrodes together.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein the insertion of the connector into the remote control causes a spring-loaded slider block to be moved at right angles to the direction of travel of the connector, causing momentary contact to be made between a metal area on a surface of the slider and two separated spring electrodes, momentarily causing transmission of a signal.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a connector, removably connected to the remote control to cause transmission of said signals, and wherein the remote control comprises:

a movable magnet, positioned on a magnet carrier, movable upon the insertion of the connector into the remote control; and

a stationary magnet, attached to a spring electrode, positioned in an area of the remote control such that when the connector is inserted into the remote control, the movable magnet moves into a position parallel to the stationary magnet, causing the two magnets to attract one another, forcing the spring electrode to come into contact with another spring electrode, causing transmission of a signal.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a connector, removably connected to the remote control to cause transmission of said signals, and wherein a part of a surface on the connector is made of a conducting material, the insertion of the connector into the remote control causing the conductive material to momentarily connect two spring electrodes, causing transmission of a signal.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control comprises:

a ring with a gap;

said receptor in the remote control adapted to fit the ring; and

a push button on the remote control, the depressing of the button allowing the ring to be rotated and pushing together two spring electrodes causing transmission of a signal.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control comprises:

a ring with a gap;

said ring being rotatable and means operatively associated with said gap to cause

transmission of said signals when said ring is rotated.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control mechanism is comprised of:

a key or a key ring;

the receptor in the remote control adapted to fit the key or key ring; and

a movable slider, blocking the receptor when the key or key ring has not been inserted into the remote control, the insertion of the key or key ring into the receptor pushing the slider aside, causing momentary contact to be made between two spring electrodes, causing transmission of a signal.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control mechanism is comprised of:

a key or a key ring;

the receptor in the remote control adapted to fit the key or key ring, the receptor comprising one or more hinged, spring-loaded jaws, the insertion of the key or key ring causing a jaw to rotate and momentarily force two spring electrodes together, causing transmission of a signal.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein the remote control comprises two physically separable parts, one part being a Key Remote Control integrated with the key to be given to a valet, and the second part comprising a Driver Remote Control for retention by the owner of a motor vehicle, the connection and separation of the two parts causing transmission of a signal.

16. A system according to claim 15 including face-to-face infrared emitters and receivers at the interfaces of the Key and Driver Remote Controls to transmit signals and power.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein the processor is adapted to receive the second signal from a radio in the motor vehicle, the radio being modified to include mode controls to put the vehicle in the second mode by the entering of a secret number.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein the remote control includes a system specific ID tag removably connected to the remote control whereby removal of the ID tag causes transmission of one signal and its connection to the remote control causes transmission of the other signal.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the tag comprises an audio plug having system specific binary information encoded thereon.

20. A system according to claim 18 wherein the tag comprises a flat machine readable ID tag with system specific binary information encoded on the tag.

21. A system according to claim 18 wherein the tag comprises a bar code with encoded system specific binary information.

22. A system according to claim 18 wherein the tag comprises a hole code ID with encoded system specific binary information.

23. A system according to claim 18 wherein the tag comprises conductive and non-conductive areas representing system specific binary information.

24. A system according to claim 18 wherein the tag comprises a magnetic stripe ID tag with system specific binary information encoded thereon.

25. A system for restricting access to said components of a vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode wherein access to the said components of the vehicle is restricted and a second mode wherein the certain components are accessible, the vehicle having a processor programmed to place the vehicle in the first mode upon receipt of a first signal and to place the vehicle in the second mode upon receipt of a second signal, the first signal being sent to the processor when the connector is withdrawn from the vehicle'"'"'s remote control and the second signal being sent to the processor from the motor vehicle'"'"'s radio, the radio being modified to include mode controls to put the vehicle in the second mode by the entering of a secret number including means to automatically change the radio from a normal power consumption mode to a lower power consumption mode upon failure of the normal power source thereby enabling a switch over to a lower capacity, secondary power source.

26. A system comprising a vehicle and an in-vehicle processor capable of operating in several modes, and means for switching operation of said processor from one mode to another, said means including signals received from a remote control incorporating a receptor and a control device removably held by said receptor, and means whereby removal of said device from said receptor causes transmission of a signal to the in-vehicle processor to switch from one mode to another.