Component replacement warning system

• US 6,822,560 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Hubrig, Juergen, Geber, Michael, Ohle, Joern-Marten
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/378,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/425.5, 340/539.24, 340/539.23, 340/539.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/426.34, 340/426.16, 340/5.1, 340/5.3, 340/5.31, 340/5.8, 340/5.61, 340/5.86, 340/568.1, 701/31, 701/32, 701/36, 701/33, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00

Abstract

Component replacement warning system for a transportation mechanism, which monitors the unauthorized removal or installation of a component (2) of the transportation mechanism, wherein the component replacement warning system (1) include a first communication device (3) that is firmly connected to the transportation mechanism, a second communication device (7) that is connected to the component (2), and an electronic authorization verification device that checks whether a component (2), which is connected to the second communication device (7) is installed in the transportation mechanism provided therefor in an authorized fashion. One of the communication devices is a transponder, which transmits a test signal (5) to the other communication device (7 or 3), wherein the other communication device (7 or 3) derives energy from the electromagnetic test signal (5) and generates a test response signal (6) for the transponder (3) so that the electronic authorization verification device detects the unauthorized removal or the installation of an unauthorized component (2), and wherein a warning/actuating device either blocks the component (2) that is installed in the transportation device with regard to its function or transmits an alarm signal.

Claims

1. A component replacement warning system for a means of transportation, which monitors unauthorized removal or installation of a component of the means of transportation, wherein the component replacement warning system comprises:

a first communication means firmly connected to the means of transportation;

a second communication means connected to the component; and

an electronic authorization verification device that checks whether said component is installed in the means of transportation provided therefor in an authorized fashion,

wherein one of said first and second communication means is a transponder, which transmits a test signal to another one of said first and second communication means, wherein said another communication means derives energy from the electromagnetic test signal and generates a test response signal for the transponder so that the electronic authorization verification device detects an unauthorized removal of said component or an installation of an unauthorized component, and wherein a warning/actuating device either blocks the component that is installed in the means of transportation with regard to its function or transmits an alarm signal.

3. The component replacement warning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transponder and the electronic authorization verification device can be removed from the means of transportation only by destroying said transponder.

4. The component replacement warning system of claim 1, wherein a microchip is arranged on the component, said microchip having an electronic authorization verification device and a communication means whereby, as a function of the test signal, a determination is made as to whether the transmitting transponder or the safety component is the transponder or whether the safety component is authorized for the means of transportation.

5. The component replacement warning system of claim 1, wherein the transponder transmits said test signal with a transponder recognition and wherein the electronic authorization verification device that is assigned to the component determines whether the transponder recognition agrees with the transponder recognition registered as being authorized.

6. The component replacement warning system of claim 1, wherein the communication means connected to the component contains an inductive device, which includes an oscillating circuit which generates an electromagnetic signal.

7. The component replacement warning system of claim 5, wherein the inductive means is connected to the component via an electrical connection and is mounted on the means of transportation adjacent to one of the transponder and the safety component.

8. The component replacement warning system of claim 1, wherein the electronic authorization verification device is provided with the communication means in the component and blocks the electronic function of the component if one of an unauthorized transponder and a safety component transmits a query/response signal.

11. The component replacement warning system of claim 3, wherein the communication means connected to the component contains an inductive device, which includes an oscillating circuit which generates an electromagnetic signal.

12. The component replacement warning system of claim 4, wherein the communication means connected to the component contains an inductive device, which includes an oscillating circuit which generates an electromagnetic signal.

14. The component replacement warning system of claim 3, wherein the electronic authorization verification device is provided with the communication means in the component and blocks the electronic function of the component if one of an unauthorized transponder and a safety component transmits a query/response signal.

15. The component replacement warning system of claim 4, wherein the electronic authorization verification device is provided with the communication means in the component and blocks the electronic function of the component if one of an unauthorized transponder and a safety component transmits a query/response signal.

16. The component replacement warning system of claim 5, wherein the electronic authorization verification device is provided with the communication means in the component and blocks the electronic function of the component if one of an unauthorized transponder and a safety component transmits a query/response signal.

17. The component replacement warning system of claim 6, wherein the electronic authorization verification device is provided with the communication means in the component and blocks the electronic function of the component if one of an unauthorized transponder and a safety component transmits a query/response signal.

18. The component replacement warning system of claim 7, wherein the electronic authorization verification device is provided with the communication means in the component and blocks the electronic function of the component if one of an unauthorized transponder and a safety component transmits a query/response signal.

2. A component replacement warning system for a means of transportation, which monitors the unauthorized removal or installation of a component of the means of transportation, wherein the component replacement warning system comprises;

a first communication means firmly connected to the means of transportation;

a second communication means connected to the component; and

an electronic authorization verification device that checks whether said component, is installed in the means of transportation provided therefor in an authorized fashion,

wherein one of said first and second communication means is a safety component, which can only be removed from the means of transportation by destroying it, and which receives a test signal from another one of said first and second communication means and generates at least one test response signal, wherein there is an electrical or optical connection between the component and the safety component in order to transmit the at least one test response signal whereby the electronic authorization verification device detects the unauthorized removal or the installation of an unauthorized component and a warning/actuating device either blocks functioning of the unauthorized component that is installed in the means of transportation, does not authorize said component, or transmits an alarm signal.

9. The component replacement warning system of claim 2, wherein a microchip is arranged on the component, said microchip having an electronic authorization verification device and a communication means whereby, as a function of the test signal, a determination is made as to whether the transmitting transponder or the safety component is the transponder or whether the safety component is authorized for the means of transportation.

10. The component replacement warning system of claim 2, wherein the transponder transmits said test signal with a transponder recognition and wherein the electronic authorization verification device that is assigned to the component determines whether the transponder recognition agrees with the transponder recognition registered as being authorized.

13. The component replacement warning system of claim 2, wherein the electronic authorization verification device is provided with the communication means in the component and blocks the electronic function of the component if one of an unauthorized transponder and a safety component transmits a query/response signal.