Anti-theft device for a vehicle and method for activating the anti-theft device

• US 6,956,466 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Giaroli, Vittorio, Fontana, Flavio, Caretta, Renato
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/432,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.11, 340/445, 340/447, 340/429, 340/425.5, 340/426.24, 340/426.33, 340/442, 731/464, 731/465
• US Class Current: 340/426.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels includes an immobilization device, at least one detection control unit, and at least one sensor. The immobilization device activates an anti-theft procedure. The at least one detection control unit is connected to the immobilization device and verifies an alarm condition. The at least one sensor is associated with one or more of the tyre wheels, communicates with the at least one detection control unit, detects movement of one or more of the tyre wheels, and detects inflation pressure of one or more of the tyre wheels. A method for activating an anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels includes detecting an alarm condition from at least one of the tyre wheels, receiving the detected condition, and activating an anti-theft procedure.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels, comprising:

an immobilization device;

at least one detection control unit; and

at least one sensor;

wherein the immobilization device activates an anti-theft procedure,

wherein the at least one detection control unit is connected to the immobilization device,

wherein the at least one detection control unit verifies an alarm condition,

wherein the at least one sensor is associated with one or more of the tyre wheels;

wherein the at least one sensor detects movement of the associated one or more tyre wheels,

wherein the at least one sensor detects inflation pressure of the associated one or more tyre wheels, and

wherein the at least one sensor communicates to the at least one detection control unit if the at least one sensor detects variation in inflation pressure of the associated one or more tyre wheels corresponding to raising the associated one or more tyre wheels from contact with the ground.

2. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

a mobile station; and

a fixed station;

wherein the mobile station is associated with a rim of a respective tyre wheel,

wherein the fixed station is associated with the vehicle, and

wherein the fixed station supplies electrical energy to the mobile station during movement of the respective tyre wheel.

3. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.

4. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch, and

wherein the mobile station further comprises a pressure sensor.

6. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises a device that stores at least some of the electrical energy supplied by the fixed station.

7. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the mobile station comprises a transmitter device,

wherein the transmitter device communicates to the at least one detection control unit information detected by an accelerometric switch, and

wherein the transmitter device further communicates to the at least one detection control unit information detected by a pressure sensor.

8. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the fixed station supplies electrical energy to the mobile station at least once for each revolution of the respective tyre wheel.

9. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the fixed station comprises:

a support element; and

an electronic board;

wherein the support element is disposed on a hub on which the rim is mounted, and

wherein the electronic board is disposed on the support element.

10. The anti-theft device of claim 2, wherein the fixed station comprises a fixed antenna, and

wherein the fixed antenna communicates with a mobile antenna of the mobile station.

11. The anti-theft device of claim 10, wherein the fixed antenna and the mobile antenna are inductively coupled together.

12. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

13. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

14. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the immobilization device activates the anti-theft procedure if:

the immobilization device has not recognized a disabling action associated with an identification code; and

the at least one detection control unit has determined a parked state of the vehicle.

15. A method for activating an anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels, comprising:

detecting an alarm condition from at least one of the tyre wheels;

receiving the detected condition; and

activating an anti-theft procedure;

wherein detecting the alarm condition comprises detecting variation in inflation pressure of the at least one of the tyre wheels corresponding to raising the at least one of the tyre wheels from contact with the ground.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the alarm condition further comprises detecting rotation of the at least one of the tyre wheels.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the alarm condition comprises detecting variation in inflation pressure of more than one of the tyre wheels corresponding to raising the more than one of the tyre wheels from contact with the ground.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the anti-theft procedure is activated if:

an immobilization device of the vehicle has not recognized a disabling action associated with an identification code; and

a detection control unit of the vehicle has determined a parked state of the vehicle.

21. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels, comprising:

an immobilization device;

a detection control unit; and

at least one sensor;

wherein the immobilization device activates an anti-theft procedure,

wherein the detection control unit is connected to the immobilization device,

wherein the detection control unit verifies an alarm condition,

wherein each sensor is associated with one of the tyre wheels,

wherein each sensor detects movement of the associated tyre wheel,

wherein each sensor detects inflation pressure of the associated tyre wheel, and

wherein the at least one sensor communicates to the detection control unit if the at least one sensor detects variation in inflation pressure of the associated tyre wheel corresponding to raising the associated tyre wheel from contact with the ground.

22. The anti-theft device of claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

a mobile station; and

a fixed station;

wherein the mobile station is associated with a rim of a respective tyre wheel,

wherein the fixed station is associated with the vehicle, and

wherein the fixed station supplies electrical energy to the mobile station during movement of the respective tyre wheel.

23. The anti-theft device of claim 22, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.

24. The anti-theft device of claim 22, wherein the mobile station comprises a pressure sensor.

25. The anti-theft device of claim 22, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch, and

wherein the mobile station further comprises a pressure sensor.

26. The anti-theft device of claim 21, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

27. The anti-theft device of claim 21 wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

28. The anti-theft device of claim 21, wherein the immobilization device activates the anti-theft procedure if:

the immobilization device has not recognized a disabling action associated with an identification code; and

the detection control unit has determined a parked state of the vehicle.

29. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels, comprising:

an immobilization device;

at least one detection control unit; and

at least one sensor;

wherein the immobilization device activates an anti-theft procedure,

wherein the at least one detection control unit is connected to the immobilization device,

wherein the at least one detection control unit verifies an alarm condition,

wherein each sensor is associated with one of the tyre wheels,

wherein each sensor detects movement of the associated tyre wheel,

wherein each sensor detects inflation pressure of the associated tyre wheel, and

wherein the at least one sensor communicates to the at least one detection control unit if the at least one sensor detects variation in inflation pressure of the associated tyre wheel corresponding to raising the associated tyre wheel from contact with the ground.

30. The anti-theft device of claim 29, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

a mobile station; and

a fixed station;

wherein the mobile station is associated with a rim of a respective tyre wheel,

wherein the fixed station is associated with the vehicle, and

wherein the fixed station supplies electrical energy to the mobile station during

movement of the respective tyre wheel.

31. The anti-theft device of claim 30, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.

32. The anti-theft device of claim 30, wherein the mobile station comprises a pressure sensor.

33. The anti-theft device of claim 30, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch, and

wherein the mobile station further comprises a pressure sensor.

34. The anti-theft device of claim 29, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

35. The anti-theft device of claim 29, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

36. The anti-theft device of claim 29, wherein the immobilization device activates the anti-theft procedure if:

the immobilization device has not recognized a disabling action associated with an identification code; and

the at least one detection control unit has determined a parked state of the vehicle.

37. An anti-theft device for a vehicle with tyre wheels, comprising:

an immobilization device;

a detection control unit; and

a sensor;

wherein the immobilization device activates an anti-theft procedure,

wherein the detection control unit is connected to the immobilization device,

wherein the detection control unit verifies an alarm condition,

wherein the sensor is associated with a respective tyre wheel,

wherein the sensor detects movement of the respective tyre wheel,

wherein the sensor detects inflation pressure of the respective tyre wheel, and

wherein the sensor communicates to the detection control unit if the sensor detects variation in inflation pressure of the respective tyre wheel corresponding to raising the respective tyre wheel from contact with the ground.

38. The anti-theft device of claim 37, wherein the sensor comprises:

a mobile station; and

a fixed station;

wherein the mobile station is associated with a rim of the respective tyre wheel,

wherein the fixed station is associated with the vehicle, and

wherein the fixed station supplies electrical energy to the mobile station during movement of the respective tyre wheel.

39. The anti-theft device of claim 38, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch.

40. The anti-theft device of claim 38, wherein the mobile station comprises a pressure sensor.

41. The anti-theft device of claim 38, wherein the mobile station comprises an accelerometric switch, and

wherein the mobile station further comprises a pressure sensor.

42. The anti-theft device of claim 37, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on one end of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

43. The anti-theft device of claim 37, wherein the variation in inflation pressure corresponds to raising the tyre wheels on both ends of the vehicle from contact with the ground.

44. The anti-theft device of claim 37, wherein the immobilization device activates the anti-theft procedure if:

the immobilization device has not recognized a disabling action associated with an identification code; and

the detection control unit has determined a parked state of the vehicle.