Remote vehicle identification and disabling system

• US 6,505,101 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William E. Brill
• Original Assignee: William E. Brill
• Inventors: Brill, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/917,159
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 342/357.07, 342/457, 342/69, 342/70, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 455/8, 455/450, 455/60, 455/509, 455/526
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply

Abstract

A remote vehicle identification and disabling system for identifying and controlling a vehicles engine. The system has a limited ranged programmable transceiver unit mounted in a non-civilian vehicle for sending and receiving a signal through an antenna located in the grille. A control and display unit is located in the cab that allows access to an onboard computer for accessing a remote police database. The system also has a civilian vehicle mounted multiple channel transceiver that controls a fail-open valve which is connected to a fuel line of the civilian vehicle to control the amount of fuel supplied to the engine. The civilian vehicle unit transmits an identification signal to the non-civilian unit upon request and if the civilian unit receives the identical identification signal from the non-civilian unit then the valve will be activated. A remote control unit transmitting at a frequency other than the non-civilian unit can be used to activate the valve. The non-civilian unit transmits at a frequency that has higher priority over the remote control deter from any unauthorized activation of the valve.

Claims

1. A new and improved remote vehicle identification and disabling system comprising, in combination:

a non-civilian transceiver unit in a first vehicle, the non-civilian transceiver unit including;

a limited range transceiver mounted in the first vehicle for sending and receiving a signal at a predetermined frequency;

a control unit located in the first vehicle and connected to the limited range transceiver for controlling the functions of the limited range transceiver;

a display unit located in the first vehicle and connected to the control unit and the limited range transceiver for displaying information from the control unit and the limited range transceiver;

an antenna adaptively mounted to a forward grille of the first vehicle and connected to the limited range transceiver;

an onboard computer in the first vehicle connected to the non-civilian unit for remotely connecting to a database for receiving information from the database corresponding to a signal from the non-civilian unit;

a civilian transceiver unit in a second vehicle, the civilian transceiver unit including;

a directional antenna adaptively mounted in the second vehicle extending down and toward the rear of the second vehicle;

a two channel programmable limited range transceiver connected to the directional antenna for communicating and verifying a transmission from the programmable transceiver of the first vehicle, the two channel programmable limited range transceiver having a primary and a secondary channel, the primary channel having higher priority over the secondary channel and programmed to receive signals at the same frequency as the limited range transceiver of the non-civilian unit;

a valve actuator connected to the two channel programmable limited range transceiver;

a fail-open valve connected to the valve actuator and mounted in a fuel line of the second vehicle for controlling the flow of fuel to a minimum amount needed to keep an engine idling running in the second vehicle;

a remote control unit for activating and deactivating the fail-open valve of the civilian unit, the remote control unit including;

a battery for supplying power to the remote control unit;

a transmitter connected to the battery for transmitting a signal at a frequency corresponding to the second channel of the two channel programmable limited range transceiver of the civilian unit; and

a switch connected to the transmitter and the battery for activating the transmitter.

2. A remote vehicle identification and disabling system for identifying a vehicle and disabling the vehicle'"'"'s engine comprising, in combination:

a non-civilian unit in a first vehicle, the non-civilian unit including;

a transceiver for sending and receiving a signal;

a control and display unit connected to the transceiver for controlling and displaying information from the transceiver;

an antenna connected to the transceiver;

a civilian unit in a second vehicle, the civilian unit including;

a transceiver having at least one channel for communicating with the transceiver of the non-civilian unit;

an antenna connected to the transceiver of the civilian unit;

a valve actuator connected to the transceiver of the civilian unit; and

a valve mounted in a fuel line of the second vehicle and connected to the valve actuator of the civilian unit for controlling fuel flow.

3. The remote vehicle identification and disabling system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the transceiver of the civilian unit is a programmable limited range transceiver which transmits and receives a signal at a predetermined frequency.

4. The remote vehicle identification and disabling system as set forth in claim 2 where in the antenna of the non-civilian unit is mounted to a forward grille of the first vehicle.

5. The remote vehicle identification and disabling system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a computer connected to the non-civilian unit for remotely connecting to a database for receiving information corresponding to a signal from the non-civilian unit.

6. The remote vehicle identification and disabling system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the transceiver of the civilian unit is a two channel programmable limited range transceiver having a primary channel and a secondary channel.

7. The remote vehicle identification and disabling system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the primary channel having higher priority over the secondary channel and programmed to receive signals from the transceiver of the non-civilian unit.

8. The remote vehicle identification and disabling system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the valve is a fail-open valve and allows a minimum amount of fuel needed to keep an engine in the second vehicle idling.

9. The remote vehicle identification and disabling system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a remote control unit for activating and deactivating the valve of the civilian unit.