Vehicle security system including information display unit and related methods

• US 6,346,877 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W.
• Application Number:
  US09/714,028
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/825.31, 340/541, 340/825.32, 340/825.69, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 342/42, 296/84.1
• US Class Current: 340/426.17
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features

Abstract

A vehicle security system includes a transmitter to be carried by a user, a controller at the vehicle responsive to the transmitter, and an information display unit connected to the controller. The information display unit may include a first housing for positioning adjacent a front windshield area of the vehicle, and an indicator, such as an alphanumeric indicator, carried by the first housing and being driven by the controller. The controller is preferably switchable among a number of modes, and cooperates with the information display unit for indicating a current mode to the user. The information display unit may further include a control switch carried by the first housing. The control switch may be connected to the controller for switching the controller to a desired mode.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a front windshield area, the vehicle security system comprising:

a transmitter to be carried by a user;

a controller at the vehicle responsive to said transmitter; and

an information display unit connected to said controller, said information display unit comprising

a first housing for positioning adjacent the front windshield area of the vehicle, and

an alphanumeric indicator carried by said first housing and being driven by said controller.

2. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein said controller is switchable among a plurality of modes.

3. A vehicle security system according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of modes comprises at least two of armed, disarmed, valet and programming modes.

4. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein said information display unit comprises at least one LED.

5. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 further comprising a control switch carried by said first housing and connected to said controller.

6. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein said controller cooperates with said information display unit for indicating a current mode to the user.

7. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein said first housing comprises a body portion and an indicator mounting portion extending outwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that when said body portion is mounted to an inclined windshield, said information display unit is mounted in a generally upright orientation.

8. A vehicle security system according to claim 7 further comprising a control switch carried by said first housing below said indicator mounting portion;

and wherein said indicator mounting portion has an arcuate surface on a lower portion thereof for guiding a finger of the user to said control switch.

9. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a transmitter verification circuit for determining a number of remote transmitters capable of operating said controller, and for indicating the number of remote transmitters capable of operating said controller on said information display unit.

10. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 further comprising a control switch carried by said first housing and connected to said controller;

wherein said controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes; and

wherein said controller further comprises a coded override circuit for switching to the disarmed mode from the armed mode responsive to operation of said control switch in a predetermined pattern.

11. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one vehicle sensor cooperating with said controller;

and wherein said controller comprises a sensor status indicator circuit cooperating with said information display unit for displaying an indication related to a status of said at least one vehicle sensor to the user.

12. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein said first housing has a generally rectangular elongate shape.

13. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 further comprising a second housing;

and wherein said controller is positioned within said second housing.

14. A vehicle security system according to claim 13 further comprising an interconnecting cable extending between said first housing and said second housing.

15. A vehicle security system according to claim 14 further comprising first and second redundant connectors mounted in spaced relation on said first housing so that said interconnecting cable is connectable to one of said first and second redundant connectors to facilitate routing of said interconnecting cable.

16. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a front windshield area, the vehicle security system comprising:

a transmitter to be carried by a user;

a controller at the vehicle responsive to said transmitter; and

an information display unit connected to said controller, said information display unit comprising

a first housing for positioning adjacent the front windshield area of the vehicle,

a control switch carried by said first housing and being connected to said controller, and

an indicator carried by said first housing and being driven by said controller.

17. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 wherein said controller is switchable among a plurality of modes.

18. A vehicle security system according to claim 17 wherein the plurality of modes comprises at least two of armed, disarmed, valet and programming modes.

19. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 wherein said indicator comprises an alphanumeric indicator.

20. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 wherein said information display unit comprises at least one LED.

21. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 wherein said first housing comprises a body portion and an indicator mounting portion extending outwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that when said body portion is mounted to an inclined windshield, said information display unit is mounted in a generally upright orientation.

22. A vehicle security system according to claim 21 wherein said control switch is carried by said first housing below said indicator mounting portion;

and wherein said indicator mounting portion has an arcuate surface on a lower portion thereof for guiding a finger of the user to said control switch.

23. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 wherein said controller comprises a transmitter verification circuit for determining a number of remote transmitters capable of operating said controller, and for indicating the number of remote transmitters capable of operating said controller on said information display unit.

24. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 wherein said controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes;

and wherein said controller further comprises a coded override circuit for switching to the disarmed mode from the armed mode responsive to operation of said control switch in a predetermined pattern.

25. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 further comprising at least one vehicle sensor cooperating with said controller;

and wherein said controller comprises a sensor status indicator circuit cooperating with said information display unit for displaying an indication related to a status of said at least one vehicle sensor to the user.

26. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 wherein said first housing has a generally rectangular elongate shape.

27. A vehicle security system according to claim 16 further comprising a second housing;

and wherein said controller is positioned within said second housing.

28. A vehicle security system according to claim 27 further comprising an interconnecting cable extending between said first housing and said second housing.

29. A vehicle security system according to claim 28 further comprising first and second redundant connectors mounted in spaced relation on said first housing so that said interconnecting cable is connectable to one of said first and second redundant connectors to facilitate routing of said interconnecting cable.

30. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a front windshield area, the vehicle security system comprising:

a transmitter to be carried by a user;

a controller at the vehicle responsive to said transmitter;

an information display unit positioned in a spaced apart relationship from said controller and being operatively connected thereto, said information display unit comprising

a first housing for positioning adjacent the front windshield area of the vehicle, and

an indicator carried by said first housing and being driven by said controller;

an interconnecting cable extending between said controller and said first housing; and

first and second redundant connectors mounted in spaced relation on said first housing so that said interconnecting cable is connectable to one of said first and second redundant connectors to facilitate routing of said interconnecting cable.

31. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 wherein said controller is switchable among a plurality of modes.

32. A vehicle security system according to claim 31 wherein the plurality of modes comprises at least two of armed, disarmed, valet and programming modes.

33. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 wherein said indicator comprises an alphanumeric indicator.

34. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 wherein said information display unit comprises at least one LED.

35. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 further comprising a control switch carried by said first housing and connected to said controller.

36. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 wherein said controller cooperates with said information display unit for indicating a current mode to the user.

37. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 wherein said first housing comprises a body portion and an indicator mounting portion extending outwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that when said body portion is mounted to an inclined windshield, said information display unit is mounted in a generally upright orientation.

38. A vehicle security system according to claim 37 further comprising a control switch carried by said first housing below said indicator mounting portion;

and wherein said indicator mounting portion has an arcuate surface on a lower portion thereof for guiding a finger of the user to said control switch.

39. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 wherein said controller comprises a transmitter verification circuit for determining a number of remote transmitters capable of operating said controller, and for indicating the number of remote transmitters capable of operating said controller on said information display unit.

40. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 further comprising a control switch carried by said first housing and connected to said controller;

wherein said controller is switchable between armed and disarmed modes; and

wherein said controller further comprises a coded override circuit for switching to the disarmed mode from the armed mode responsive to operation of said control switch in a predetermined pattern.

41. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 further comprising at least one vehicle sensor cooperating with said controller;

and wherein said controller comprises a sensor status indicator circuit cooperating with said information display unit for displaying an indication related to a status of said at least one vehicle sensor to the user.

42. A vehicle security system according to claim 30 wherein said first housing has a generally rectangular elongate shape.

43. A method for operating a vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a front windshield area, the vehicle security system comprising a transmitter to be carried by a user, a controller at the vehicle responsive to the transmitter, an information display unit connected to the controller and comprising a first housing for positioning adjacent the front windshield area of the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an alphanumeric indicator on the first housing; and

driving the alphanumeric indicator with the controller.

44. A method according to claim 43 further comprising switching the controller among a plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes comprises at least two of armed, disarmed, valet and programming modes.

45. A method according to claim 43 wherein the information display unit further comprises a control switch carried by the first housing and being connected to the controller, the method further comprising the controller cooperating with the information display unit for indicating a current mode to the user.

46. A method according to claim 43 wherein the controller comprises a transmitter verification circuit, the method further comprising determining a number of remote transmitters capable of operating the controller, and for indicating the number of remote transmitters capable of operating the controller on the information display unit.

47. A method according to claim 43 wherein the information display unit comprises a control switch carried by the first housing and connected to the controller, the method further comprising switching the controller between armed and disarmed modes;

and wherein the controller comprises a coded override circuit for switching to the disarmed mode from the armed mode responsive to operation of the control switch in a predetermined pattern.

48. A method according to claim 43 wherein the vehicle security system further comprises at least one vehicle sensor cooperating with the controller;

and wherein the controller comprises a sensor status indicator circuit cooperating with the information display unit, the method further comprising displaying an indication related to a status of the at least one vehicle sensor to the user with the alphanumeric indicator.