Tampering detector and system disabler
First Claim
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1. A system for disabling a vehicle, the vehicle including a critical system, the system comprising:
- a vehicle disablement device, wherein the vehicle disablement device disables the critical system of the vehicle if a payment is not made on the vehicle prior to a payment due date, wherein disablement of the critical system prevents operation of the vehicle;
a tamper transmitter, wherein the tamper transmitter periodically transmits a signal; and
a tamper receiver, wherein the tamper receiver disables a critical system when a signal is not received from the tamper transmitter for a predetermined period of time.
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Abstract
A vehicle disablement device disables a vehicle if it is determined that the vehicle disablement device is being tampered with. A signal is periodically sent from a tamper transmitter to a tamper receiver. A tamper transmitter determines whether the vehicle is being tampered with. The periodic sending of the signal is inhibited if it is determined that the vehicle is being tampered with. The vehicle is disabled if the periodic sending of the signal is inhibited.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for disabling a vehicle, the vehicle including a critical system, the system comprising:
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a vehicle disablement device, wherein the vehicle disablement device disables the critical system of the vehicle if a payment is not made on the vehicle prior to a payment due date, wherein disablement of the critical system prevents operation of the vehicle;
a tamper transmitter, wherein the tamper transmitter periodically transmits a signal; and
a tamper receiver, wherein the tamper receiver disables a critical system when a signal is not received from the tamper transmitter for a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
red, yellow and green lights which illuminate to indicate whether a payment for the vehicle is due.
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13. A method for disabling a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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disabling, by a vehicle disablement device, a critical system of the vehicle coupled to the vehicle disablement device to prevent operation of the vehicle if a payment is not made on the vehicle prior to a payment due date;
periodically sending a signal from a tamper transmitter to a tamper receiver;
determining, by a tamper transmitter, whether the vehicle is being tampered with;
inhibiting the periodic sending of the signal if it is determined that the vehicle is being tampered with; and
disabling, by the tamper receiver, a critical system of the vehicle coupled to the tamper receiver if the periodic sending of the signal is inhibited. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
determining, by the tamper receiver, whether a predetermined amount of time has passed since the last periodic signal has been received; and
disabling, by the tamper receiver, the critical system of the vehicle coupled to the tamper receiver if it is determined that the predetermined mount of time has passed since the last periodic signal has been received.
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15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of disabling a critical system of the vehicle coupled to the tamper receiver further comprises the step of:
interrupting power to a fuel pump of the vehicle.
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16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a code has been entered into the vehicle disablement device prior to the due date;
wherein the disabling, by the vehicle disablement device, of the critical system of the vehicle coupled to the vehicle disablement device occurs if the code has not been entered prior to the due date.
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17. The method of claim 13, wherein the tamper transmitter interfaces with the vehicle disablement device, and whether the vehicle is being tampered with is detected by detecting that a power wire of the vehicle disablement device has been severed, detecting that a ground wire of the vehicle disablement device has been severed, or detecting whether a starter wire passing through the vehicle disablement device has been cut.
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18. The method of claim 13, wherein the critical system coupled to the tamper receiver and the critical system coupled to the vehicle disablement device are different critical systems of the vehicle.
Specification