Vehicle safety and security system

• US 6,629,050 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OSI Optoelectronics, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: UDT Sensors, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Modgil, Onkar S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Paul L
• Application Number:
  US09/782,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 180/287, 340/426, 340/541, 324/379, 702/66, 702/73
• US Class Current: 702/73
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001

Abstract

A self-contained safety and security system and method that performs the multiple functions of theft deterrence, battery saving, battery analysis system, accident protection, and telemetry and control data communication for vehicles is disclosed. The electronically-based system for a vehicle having an existing power transmission circuit including a battery that can be readily installed and made operational by an individual having no special training using common household tools. The system requires the installation of no dedicated wiring in the vehicle. Furthermore, the system preferably installs without any cutting or splicing of the wiring in the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

The system preferably includes an electrical activity sensor sensing electrical activity on the power transmission circuit, a motion sensor sensing vibration associated with the vehicle, a battery-disconnect switch, and a controller to receive signals from the electrical activity and motion sensors and control the switch.

Claims

1. A theft-deterrence system for a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, and having an ignition switch that when in motion produces electrical activity on the direct current power transmission circuit, said theft-deterrence system comprising:

a. an electrical activity sensor coupled to the direct current power transmission circuit, said electrical activity sensor having an electrical activity sensor output producing an electrical activity output signal functionally related to a voltage detected on the direct current power transmission circuit;

b. a battery-disconnect switch electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit; and

c. a controller, including an input, an output and a system state register, the input of said controller being electrically coupled to the electrical activity sensor output and the output of said controller being electrically coupled to said battery-disconnect switch,

said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to identify when the electrical activity output signal contains an electrical signature of an ignition switch in motion, and

said controller calculating a theft-deterrence value based on analyzing the electrical activity and transmitting a battery-disabling signal to said battery-disconnect switch when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

2. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, said controller determining that when the system state register is in a state representing that said theft-deterrence system is armed and the electrical activity output signal matches the ignition switch electrical signature to a preset degree, the theft-deterrence value surpasses the predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

3. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a remote radio frequency transmitter actuated by a remote user and transmitting an arm/disarm control signal; and

b. a radio frequency receiver receiving the arm/disarm control signal and having a receiver output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a receiver output signal functionally related to the arm/disarm control signal, said controller setting the system state register to the armed state when the receiver output signal to arm said theft-deterrence system is received, and setting the system state register to a disarmed state when the receiver output signal to disarm said theft-deterrence system is received.

4. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of electrical activity signatures, and said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal by comparing the signal with the library of electrical activity signatures.

5. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal of said electrical activity sensor to identify when the electrical activity output signal contains an electrical signature of a door opening, and said controller factoring into the theft-deterrence value whether said controller identifies the door-opening electrical signature when the theft-deterrence system is armed.

6. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, further comprising a condition reporting module electrically interposed in the direct current power transmission circuit and reporting a warning when an alarm warning signal is received over the direct current power transmission circuit,

said controller transmitting the alarm warning signal to said condition reporting module when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined warning threshold level.

7. The theft-deterrence system of claim 6, further comprising an alarm module electrically coupled to the output of said controller and broadcasting an alarm signal when an alarm activation signal is received from the controller,

said controller transmitting the alarm activation signal to said alarm module when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined alarm threshold level.

8. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm module electrically coupled to the output of said controller and broadcasting an alarm signal when an alarm activation signal is received from the controller,

said controller transmitting the alarm activation signal to said alarm module when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined alarm threshold level.

9. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor having a motion sensor output electrically coupled to the input of said controller and producing a motion sensor output signal functionally related to vibration detected within the vehicle, said controller analyzing the motion sensor output signal of said motion sensor to identify when the motion sensor output signal contains a vibration signature of a forced entry of the vehicle, and said controller factoring into the theft-deterrence value whether the controller identifies the forced entry vibration signature.

10. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, said controller further including a memory comprising a library of electrical activity and vibration signatures, and said controller analyzing the electrical activity output signal by comparing the electrical activity output signal with the library of electrical activity signatures and analyzing the motion sensor output signal by comparing the motion sensor output signal with the library of vibration signatures.

11. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, the electrical activity sensor including a low-pass filter.

12. The theft-deterrence system of claim 1, the battery-disconnect switch being a field-effect transistor.

13. A method of deterring theft of a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, and having an ignition switch that when in motion produces an electrical activity signal unique to said motion on the direct current power transmission circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

a. setting a system state register in a controller to a value representing a theft-deterrence system in an armed state;

b. analyzing the electrical activity signal on the direct current power transmission circuit and identifying therefrom when the ignition switch is in motion;

said analyzing step being performed by comparing the electrical activity signal with a library of electrical activity signatures;

c. calculating a theft-deterrence value based on identified electrical activity; and

d. transmitting a battery-disabling signal when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.

14. A method of deterring theft of a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, and having an ignition switch that when in motion produces an electrical activity signal unique to said motion on the direct current power transmission circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

a. setting a system state register in a controller to a value representing a theft-deterrence system in an armed state;

b. analyzing the electrical activity signal on the direct current power transmission circuit and identifying therefrom when the ignition switch is in motion;

c. calculating a theft-deterrence value based on identified electrical activity;

d. transmitting a battery-disabling signal when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level;

e. detecting vibration within the vehicle;

f. identifying when the vibration contains a vibration signature of a forced entry of the vehicle; and

g. factoring into the theft-deterrence value whether the forced entry vibration signature is identified in the vibration.

15. A method of deterring theft of a vehicle having a direct current power transmission circuit including a battery, and having an ignition switch that when in motion produces an electrical activity signal unique to said motion on the direct current power transmission circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

a. setting a system state register in a controller to a value representing a theft-deterrence system in an armed state;

b. analyzing the electrical activity signal on the direct current power transmission circuit and identifying therefrom when the ignition switch is in motion;

c. calculating a theft-deterrence value based on identified electrical activity;

d. transmitting a battery-disabling signal when the theft-deterrence value surpasses a predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level; and

e. determining that when the system state register is in a state representing that said theft-deterrence system is armed and the electrical activity signal matches the ignition switch electrical signature to a preset degree, the theft-deterrence value surpasses the predetermined battery-disconnect threshold level.