Removable security bezel for an electronic device

• US 6,316,778 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Chapman, Simon, Goodman, Gary, Johnston, Malcolm
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/609,530
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 221/221, 221/222.1, 221/227.11, 221/227.14, 221/551, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/555, 340/815.42, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 250/551
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The invention is a theft deterrent arrangement for a motor vehicle audio apparatus (10) wherein the audio apparatus (10) is enabled when an optoelectronic circuit (7,11,13) is closed by a security bezel (1) removably seated in a recess (3) in a front face (2) of the audio apparatus (10). The security bezel (1) has a light pipe (17), so that when the security bezel (1) is seated in the recess (3), the light pipe (17) provides an optical path (32) between a light detector (13) and an emitter (11) fixedly mounted in the recess (3), thereby closing the optoelectronic circuit (7,11,13) and enabling the audio apparatus (10).

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

an accessible surface with a recess;

a security bezel having a light pipe, said security bezel being removably seated in said recess;

a light source;

a light detector, wherein said light source and said light detector are spaced apart within said recess, so that when said security bezel is removed from said recess there is no optical path between said light source and said light detector, and when said security bezel is seated in said recess said security bezel provides an optical path through said light pipe between said light source and said light detector; and

circuitry for at least partially disabling said electronic device when light from said light source does not reach said light detector.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said light pipe is a unitary light pipe.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said security bezel is substantially flush with said accessible surface when said security bezel is seated in said recess.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a sensor circuit senses when light from said light source reaches said light detector and produces a corresponding output signal indicating that said security bezel is seated in said recess.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein said output signal from said sensor circuit is sent to a security circuit that at least partially disables said electronic device when a signal from said sensor circuit to indicate that said security bezel is seated in said recess is not received.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said bezel has an elongate pen-like shape and a clip is provided on said security bezel.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein said light pipe terminations have one or more end faces, and wherein a clip is arranged to protect each end face when said security bezel is placed on a flat surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said light source and said light detector respectively emit and detect light in the infra-red part of the spectrum.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said light pipe terminates with end faces that respectively lie opposite to said light source and said light detector when said bezel is seated in said recess.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor to sense when said bezel is seated in said recess so that said light source is only operational when said bezel is seated in said recess.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein a light intensity produced by said light source changes with time according to a predetermined pattern and wherein said sensor circuit only produces an output signal indicating that said security bezel is seated in said recess if said light intensity reaching said detector changes with time according to the predetermined pattern.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein an additional light source is provided that produces pulses of visible light when said security bezel is not seated in said recess.