Vehicle disabling system

• US 6,411,217 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Gabbard
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Gabbard
• Inventors: Gabbard, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/517,892
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/425.5, 340/426, 341/176, 180/287, 307/9.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle. The system includes a transmit unit for transmitting a command shutdown message and a command-receiver vehicle unit within the subject vehicle in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle and capable of shutting down that component to thereby terminate vehicle operation. The transmit unit is operable only by an operator having a pre-authorized biometrics identification that is read, recognized, and confirmed by the transmit unit site prior to system activation. Both the transmit unit and the vehicle unit preferably are in separate communication with the global positioning satellite. With respect to the transmit unit, such satellite communication functions to record all transmit unit usage to thereby maintain and assure proper and appropriate operator use thereof. With respect to the vehicle unit, such satellite communication functions to receive location information of the vehicle both for apprehension purposes and for stolen-vehicle recovery purposes. Use of the system can ensure reduced risk and danger to innocent third parties as well as to law enforcement personnel by essentially eliminating the need for vehicle chases.

Claims

1. A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) hand holdable transmit unit operable only by an operator having a pre-authorized biometrics identification for transmitting a shutdown message, said transmit unit additionally comprising an operator biometrics identifier having access to a data base of respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia for a plurality of respective authorized operators, a reader of operator biometrics indicia provided by said operator, a comparator of operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia for matching said operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia, and a transmit unit activator for activating the transmit unit only upon a match of operator biometrics identification indicia with stored-identification indicia; and

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the shutdown message, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of the shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation, said operational component being in communication with a visually observable tamper-evident indicator disposed at an external site of the vehicle whereby tampering with the operational component activates the indicator for drawing attention to the vehicle.

2. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the biometrics identification is a thumb print.

3. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmit unit thereof additionally comprises a reset message transmittable to the vehicle unit for reversal of a pre-transmitted shutdown message.

4. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system additionally comprises a communication linkage communicable with a global positioning satellite for sending a usage record of the transmit unit and a remote receiver in communication with the global positioning satellite for receiving said usage record.

5. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia is stored in the transmit unit.

6. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmit unit thereof additionally comprises a circuitry destroyer for destroying operational circuitry within the transmit unit and activateable upon attempted tampering with said circuitry.

7. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein transmissions and responses between the transmit unit and the vehicle unit-are encoded with a continuously changing key determined by time of day and an algorithm common to the query message, shutdown message and query message response.

8. A vehicle disabling system of terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a transmit unit operable only by an operator having a pre-authorized biometrics identification for transmitting a query message and a shutdown message and for receiving a response to the query message, said transmit unit additionally comprising an operator biometrics identifier having access to a data base of respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia for a plurality of respective authorized operators, a reader of operator biometrics indicia provided by said operator, a comparator of operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia for matching said operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia, and a transmit unit activator for activating the transmit unit only upon a match of operator biometrics identification indicia with stored-identification indicia; and

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the query message and the shutdown message and for providing a query message response activated and generated by the vehicle unit, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation, said operational component being in communication with a visually observable tamper-evident indicator disposed at an external site of the vehicle whereby tampering with the operational component activates the indicator for drawing attention to the vehicle.

9. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the biometrics identification is a thumb print.

10. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the transmit unit thereof additionally comprises a reset message transmittable to the vehicle unit for reversal of a pre-transmitted shutdown message.

11. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the system additionally comprises a communication linkage communicable with a global positioning satellite for sending a usage record of the transmit unit and a remote receiver in communication with the global positioning satellite for receiving said usage record.

12. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia is stored in the transmit unit.

13. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the transmit unit thereof additionally comprises a circuitry destroyer for destroying operational circuitry within the transmit unit and activateable upon attempted tampering with said circuitry.

14. A vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein transmissions and responses between the transmit unit and the vehicle unit are encoded with a continuously changing key determined by time of day and an algorithm common to the query message, shutdown message and query message response.

15. A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) hand holdable transmit unit operable only by an operator having a pre-authorized biometrics identification for transmitting a shutdown message, said transmit unit additionally comprising an operator biometrics identifier having access to a data base of respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia for a plurality of respective authorized operators, a reader of operator biometrics indicia provided by said operator, a comparator of operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia for matching said operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia, and a transmit unit activator for activating the transmit unit only upon a match of operator biometrics identification indicia with stored-identification indicia;

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the shutdown message, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of the shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation; and

c) a communication linkage communicable with a global positioning satellite for sending a usage record of the transmit unit and a remote receiver in communication with the global positioning satellite for receiving said usage record.

16. A vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) hand holdable transmit unit operable only by an operator having a pre-authorized biometrics identification for transmitting a shutdown message, said transmit unit additionally comprising an operator biometrics identifier having access to a data base of respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia for a plurality of respective authorized operators, a reader of operator biometrics indicia provided by said operator, a comparator of operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia for matching said operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia, a transmit unit activator for activating the transmit unit only upon a match of operator biometrics identification indicia with stored-identification indicia, and a circuitry destroyer for destroying operational circuitry within the transmit unit and activateable upon attempted tampering with said circuitry; and

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the shutdown message, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of the shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation.

17. A vehicle disabling system of terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a transmit unit operable only by an operator having a pre-authorized biometrics identification for transmitting a query message and a shutdown message and for receiving a response to the query message, said transmit unit additionally comprising an operator biometrics identifier having access to a data base of respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia for a plurality of respective authorized operators, a reader of operator biometrics indicia provided by said operator, a comparator of operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia for matching said operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia, and a transmit unit activator for activating the transmit unit only upon a match of operator biometrics identification indicia with stored-identification indicia;

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the query message and the shutdown message and for providing a query message response activated and generated by the vehicle unit, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation; and

c) a communication linkage communicable with a global positioning satellite for sending a usage record of the transmit unit and a remote receiver in communication with the global positioning satellite for receiving said usage record.

18. A vehicle disabling system of terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a) a transmit unit operable only by an operator having a pre-authorized biometrics identification for transmitting a query message and a shutdown message and for receiving a response to the query message, said transmit unit additionally comprising an operator biometrics identifier having access to a data base of respective authorized biometrics stored-identification indicia for a plurality of respective authorized operators, a reader of operator biometrics indicia provided by said operator, a comparator of operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia for matching said operator biometrics identification indicia with said stored-identification indicia, a transmit unit activator for activating the transmit unit only upon a match of operator biometrics identification indicia with stored-identification indicia, and a circuitry destroyer for destroying operational circuitry within the transmit unit and activateable upon attempted tampering with said circuitry; and

b) a vehicle unit for receiving the query message and the shutdown message and for providing a query message response activated and generated by the vehicle unit, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle for shutting down said component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation.