Vehicle security system

• US 6,608,555 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wintecronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Wintecronics Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Apin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Lam P
• Application Number:
  US10/041,126
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/426, 340/428, 340/429, 340/430, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/439
• 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 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off

Abstract

A vehicle security system includes a detector circuit cluster, an alarm circuit cluster and a host device, all connected to a common power supply line. The detector circuit cluster includes a detector circuit for detecting a current state of a respective component of the vehicle. The detector circuit can receive a status request signal and transmit a status response signal corresponding to the detected state of the respective component. The alarm circuit cluster is enabled upon receipt of an alarm enable signal for generating an alarm output. The host device can transmit the status request signal for the detector circuit, receive the status response signal from the detector circuit, and selectively transmit the alarm enable signal in accordance with the status response signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system for a vehicle having a power supply and a power supply line connected to the power supply, said vehicle security system comprising:

a detector circuit cluster that includes a plurality of detector circuits adapted to detect a current state of a respective component of the vehicle and adapted to be connected to the power supply line, each of said detector circuits being capable of receiving a status request signal unique thereto via the power supply line, and transmitting a status response signal unique thereto and corresponding to the detected state of the respective component via the power supply line in response to the status request signal;

an alarm circuit cluster adapted to be connected to the power supply line and capable of receiving an alarm enable signal distinct from the status request and status response signals via the power supply line, said alarm circuit cluster being enabled to generate an alarm output upon receipt of the alarm enable signal; and

a host device adapted to be connected to the power supply line, and capable of transmitting the status request signals for said detector circuits in sequence via the power supply line, receiving the status response signals from said detector circuits via the power supply line, and selectively transmitting the alarm enable signal to said alarm circuit cluster via the power supply line in accordance with the status response signals from said detector circuits;

wherein each of the status request signals, the status response signals and the alarm enable signal is in the form of an alternating current signal.

2. The vehicle security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detector circuits include at least one of:

a vehicle door detector adapted to detect unauthorized opening of a door of the vehicle;

an engine hood detector adapted to detect unauthorized opening of an engine hood of the vehicle;

a trunk hood detector adapted to detect unauthorized opening of a trunk hood of the vehicle;

a hand brake detector adapted to detect unauthorized movement of a hand brake of the vehicle; and

a lock-pick detector adapted to detect insertion of a lock-pick into a keyhole of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alarm circuit cluster includes:

a vehicle horn actuator adapted to activate a vehicle horn of the vehicle when enabled;

an exterior light actuator adapted to activate exterior lighting of the vehicle when enabled; and

an interior light actuator adapted to activate interior lighting of the vehicle when enabled.

4. The vehicle security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the status request signals, the status response signals and the alarm enable signal includes an alternating current carrier.

5. The vehicle security system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said alternating current carrier is a low frequency carrier.

6. The vehicle security system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the status request signals, the status response signals and the alarm enable signal further includes an exclusive binary code for modulating said alternating current carrier.

7. The vehicle security system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the binary code of each of the status response signals is one of a first code to indicate a detected normal state of the respective component, and a second code to indicate a detected abnormal state of the respective component.