Electronic vehicle theft preventive device

• US 7,049,931 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Hayashi, Masaki, Yoshino, Masaki, Shamoto, Hirokazu, Nagae, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam
• Application Number:
  US10/433,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/426.31, 180/287, 701/86, 702/52, 307/10.2, 307/10.5, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02142 comprising externally controlled safety devices for preventing locking during vehicle running condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02153 comprising a locking member radially and linearly moved towards the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5956 Steering mechanism with switch

Abstract

A steering wheel locking apparatus having high reliability. A steering lock apparatus (1) includes a lock pin (21) engaged with a steering wheel (5), a motor (23) for moving the lock pin, and an ECU (31) for controlling the motor. A switch (61) is arranged in a first power supply line (81) for supplying the motor with current. When supplying an electrical component with current, the switch breaks the first power supply line.

Claims

1. An electronic anti-theft apparatus for preventing theft of a vehicle, comprising:

a locking means for selectively locking a movable component that is operated when the vehicle is being driven;

an actuator for moving the locking means; and

a control circuit including a processor for controlling the actuator, the control circuit including a first power supply line for supplying the actuator with current for moving the locking means, a second power supply line for supplying an electrical component of the vehicle with current to activate the electrical component, a processor supply line for supplying the processor with current, and a switching device for breaking the first power supply line when the vehicle is started;

wherein the processor supply line supplies power to the processor even when the switching device breaks the first power supply line.

2. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lock position detection switch connected in parallel to the switching device, wherein the lock position detection switch is opened when locking with the locking means is released, and is closed when the locking means locks the movable component.

3. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first contact pair arranged in the first power supply line and a second contact pair arranged in the second power supply line, wherein the switching device switches between a first position connecting the first contact pair and a second position connecting the second contact pair.

4. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first contact pair arranged in the first power supply line, wherein the switching device is a relay including a movable terminal selectively connecting the first contact pair and an attraction element for attracting the movable terminal to disconnect the first contact pair when current flows through the second power supply line.

5. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first contact pair arranged in the first power supply line and selectively connected by the switching device, wherein the switching device mechanically switches the second power supply line to a connected state when the first contact pair is disconnected.

6. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first contact pair arranged in the first power supply line and a second contact pair arranged in the second power supply line, wherein the switching device switches between a first position connecting the first contact pair and a second position connecting the second contact pair.

7. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first contact pair arranged in the first power supply line, wherein the switching device is a relay including a movable terminal selectively connecting the first contact pair and an attraction element for attracting the movable terminal to disconnect the first contact pair when current flows through the second power supply line.

8. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second power supply line includes a first branch line for supplying the electrical component with current and a second branch line for supplying the attraction element with excitation current.

9. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first contact pair arranged in the first power supply line and selectively connected by the switching device, wherein the switching device mechanically switches the second power supply line to a connected state when the first contact pair is disconnected.

10. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching device is an electrical switching device that is electrically turned ON and OFF, and the control circuit further includes a drive circuit for driving the electrical switching device, the drive circuit driving the switching device to open the first power supply line when receiving an ignition signal, which is generated when the vehicle is started, a drive permission signal, which is generated by the control circuit, and driving the switching device to close the first power supply line when the vehicle is stopped.

11. An electronic anti-theft apparatus for preventing the theft of a vehicle, comprising:

a locking means for selectively locking a movable component that is operated when the vehicle is being driven;

an actuator for moving the locking means;

a control circuit including a processor for controlling the actuator and a processor supply line for supplying the processor with current, wherein the control circuit supplies the actuator with current to actuate the actuator when the lock member locks the movable component and when releasing the locking;

a first power supply line for supplying the actuator with current; and

a switching device arranged in the first power supply line for breaking the first power supply line when the locking of the locking means is released and when the vehicle is started;

wherein the processor supply line supplies power to the processor even when the switching device breaks the first power supply line.

12. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a second power supply line for supplying an electric component of the vehicle with current to activate the electrical component, wherein the second power supply line is broken by the switching device when the first power supply line is connected by the switching device, and is connected when the first power supply line is broken.

13. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 11, wherein that the switching device closes the first power supply line when the vehicle is stopped and opens the first power supply line when the vehicle is being driven.

14. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the switching device is manually operated by a user.

15. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the switching device electrically opens the first power supply line when the vehicle is being driven.

16. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the switching device closes the second power supply line and opens the first power supply line when the vehicle is being driven.

17. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a verification device connected to the control device for communicating with a portable device recording an ID code that indicates an authorized owner of the vehicle to determine whether the ID code is correct, wherein the control device releases the locking with the locking means when the ID code is correct.

18. The electronic anti-theft apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the movable component is a steering shaft.

19. An electronic anti-theft apparatus for preventing theft of a vehicle, comprising:

a locking means for selectively locking a movable component that is operated when the vehicle is being driven;

an actuator for moving the locking means; and

a control circuit for controlling the actuator, the control circuit comprising;

a first power supply line for supplying the actuator with current for moving the movable component;

a second power supply line for supplying an electrical component of the vehicle with current to activate the electrical component;

a switching device for breaking the first power supply line when the vehicle is started, wherein the switching device is an electrical switching device (41) that is electrically turned ON and OFF; and

a drive circuit for driving the electrical switching device, the drive circuit driving the switching device to open the first power supply line when receiving an ignition signal, which is generated when the vehicle is started, a drive permission signal, which is generated by the control circuit, and driving the switching device to close the first power supply line when the vehicle is stopped.