Vehicle security system shock sensing siren and associated methods

• US 6,963,272 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/650,425
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/429, 340/426.24, 340/426.1, 180/287, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/426.24
• 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 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics

Abstract

A vehicle security system may include at least one security sensor and a security controller connected thereto, and a siren which also serves as a shock sensor. The siren may include a housing, a siren security electrical signal generator circuit carried by the housing for generating an electrical siren security alarm signal responsive to the security controller, and a shock detector circuit carried by the housing for processing an electrical shock sense signal for the security controller. The siren also preferably includes an electrical/mechanical (E/M) transducer carried by the housing for sounding a siren security alarm responsive to the electrical siren security alarm signal, and for generating the electrical shock sense signal responsive to mechanical shock. In other words, the E/M transducer and associated circuitry provide the dual alternate functions of sounding the siren security alarm and sensing for shocks to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system comprising:

at least one security sensor and a security controller connected thereto;

a siren comprising

a common housing to be positioned within an engine compartment of a vehicle,

a siren electrical signal generator circuit carried by said common housing for generating an electrical siren security alarm signal responsive to said security controller,

a shock detector circuit carried by said common housing for processing an electrical shock sense signal for said security controller, and

a common electrical/mechanical (E/M) transducer carried by said common housing for both sounding a siren security alarm responsive to the electrical siren security alarm signal, and for generating the electrical shock sense signal responsive to mechanical shock.

2. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes an ignition switchable between ON and OFF positions;

and wherein said siren is operable responsive to the ignition being in the OFF position and is not operable responsive to the ignition being in the ON position.

3. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 wherein said security controller is switchable between an armed mode for causing said siren to generate the siren security alarm responsive to said at least one security sensor, and a disarmed mode.

4. A vehicle security system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a hood switch;

and wherein said shock detector is operatively coupled to said security controller through said hood switch.

5. A vehicle security device according to claim 1 wherein said shock detecting circuit generates a first output based upon detecting a shock within a first intensity range, and generates a second output based upon detecting a shock within a second intensity range.

6. A vehicle security device according to claim 5 wherein the first intensity range is less than the second intensity range;

and wherein the first output causes a reduced siren security alarm and the second output causes a full siren security alarm.

7. A vehicle security device according to claim 1 wherein said common E/M transducer comprises a loudspeaker.

8. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 further comprising a receiver connected to said security controller, and at least one remote transmitter communicating with said receiver.

9. A vehicle security system according to claim 8 wherein said receiver and said at least one remote transmitter operate with changing codes.

10. A siren for operation with a vehicle security system comprising at least one security sensor and a security controller connected thereto, the siren comprising:

a common housing to be positioned within an engine compartment of a vehicle;

a siren electrical signal generator circuit carried by said common housing for generating an electrical siren security alarm signal responsive to the security controller;

a shock detector circuit carried by said common housing for processing an electrical shock sense signal for the security controller; and

a common electrical/mechanical (E/M) transducer carried by said common housing for both sounding a siren security alarm responsive to the electrical siren security alarm signal, and for generating the electrical shock sense signal responsive to mechanical shock.

11. A siren according to claim 10 wherein the vehicle includes an ignition switchable between ON and OFF positions;

and wherein said siren is operable responsive to the ignition being in the OFF position and is not operable responsive to the ignition being in the ON position.

12. A siren according to claim 10 wherein the security controller is switchable between an armed mode for causing said siren to generate the siren security alarm responsive to said at least one security sensor, and a disarmed mode.

13. A siren according to claim 12 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a hood switch;

and wherein said shock detector is operatively coupled to the security controller through the hood switch.

14. A siren according to claim 10 wherein said shock detecting circuit generates a first output based upon detecting a shock within a first intensity range, and generates a second output based upon detecting a shock within a second intensity range.

15. A siren according to claim 14 wherein the first intensity range is less than the second intensity range;

and wherein the first output causes a reduced siren security alarm and the second output causes a full siren security alarm.

16. A siren according to claim 10 wherein said common E/M transducer comprises a loudspeaker.

17. A siren comprising:

a common housing to be positioned within an engine compartment of a vehicle;

a siren electrical signal generator circuit carried by said common housing for generating an electrical siren security alarm signal;

a shock detector circuit carried by said common housing for processing an electrical shock sense signal; and

a common electrical/mechanical (E/M) transducer carried by said common housing for both sounding a siren security alarm responsive to the electrical siren security alarm signal, and for generating the electrical shock sense signal responsive to mechanical shock.

18. A siren according to claim 17 wherein a vehicle includes an ignition switchable between ON and OFF positions;

and wherein said siren is operable responsive to the ignition being in the OFF position and is not operable responsive to the ignition being in the ON position.

19. A siren according to claim 17 wherein said shock detecting circuit generates a first output based upon detecting a shock within a first intensity range, and generates a second output based upon detecting a shock within a second intensity range.

20. A siren according to claim 19 wherein the first intensity range is less than the second intensity range;

and wherein the first output causes a reduced siren security alarm and the second output causes a full siren security alarm.

21. A siren according to claim 17 wherein said common E/M transducer comprises a loudspeaker.

22. A method for providing vehicle security comprising:

connecting a siren within an engine compartment of the vehicle, the siren comprising a common housing within the engine compartment of the vehicle, a siren electrical signal generator circuit carried by the common housing, a shock detector circuit carried by the common housing, and a common electrical/mechanical (E/M) transducer carried by the common housing;

generating an electrical siren security alarm signal using the siren electrical signal generator circuit and sounding a siren security alarm responsive thereto using the common E/M transducer; and

generating the electrical shock sense signal responsive to mechanical shock using the common E/M transducer and processing the electrical shock sense signal using the shock detector circuit.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the vehicle includes an ignition switchable between ON and OFF positions;

and further comprising operating the siren responsive to the ignition being in the OFF position and not operating the siren responsive to the ignition being in the ON position.

24. A method according to claim 22 further comprising using the shock detecting circuit to generate a first output based detecting a shock within a first intensity range, and to generate a second output based upon detecting a shock within a second intensity range.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the first intensity range is less than the second intensity range;

and further comprising generating a reduced siren security alarm responsive to the first output, and generating a full siren security alarm responsive to the second output.

26. A method according to claim 22 wherein the common E/M transducer comprises a loudspeaker.