Electronic vehicle theft preventive device

• US 7,250,693 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• 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, Nagae, Toshihiro, Shamoto, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rutland-Wallis; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/433,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 702/52
• US Class Current: 307/10.2
• 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

Abstract

A steering wheel lock apparatus having high reliability. The steering wheel lock apparatus (1) includes a lock pin (21), which engages a steering wheel (5), a motor (23), which moves the lock pin, and a control circuit (31), which controls the motor. The control circuit includes a power supply line (72b), which provides locking current to the motor for locking the steering wheel. A breaker circuit (61) selectively breaks the power supply line when a user operates an ignition switch knob (81) to start the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronic vehicle 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 including a first power supply line for supplying the actuator with unlocking current that unlocks the movable component, a second power supply line for supplying the actuator with locking current that locks the movable component and a breaker circuit arranged in the second power supply line for breaking the second power supply line but not the first power supply line when the vehicle is started;

wherein the breaker circuit includes a cooperation member, which moves in cooperation with a switch operated by a user when starting the vehicle, and a movable contact, which is moved in accordance with the cooperation member to selectively break the second power supply line.

2. The electronic vehicle anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further includes an upstream switching device and a downstream switching device, which are arranged in the first power supply line, and a second switching device, which is arranged in the second power supply line, and the actuator is connected to a node, between the upstream switching device and the second switching device, and to the downstream switching device.

3. The electronic vehicle anti-theft apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switch includes a switch knob.

4. The electronic vehicle anti-theft apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is connected to a node between the downstream switching device and the breaker circuit.

5. The electronic vehicle anti-theft apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in the first power supply line, the upstream switching device, the actuator, and the downstream switching device are connected in series, and in the second power supply line, the breaker circuit, the actuator, and the second switching device are connected in series.

6. The electronic vehicle anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the breaker circuit includes an electric switching device, which electrically opens and closes the second power supply line, and a drive circuit, which drives the electric switching device, the drive circuit opening the second power supply line when the vehicle is started by controlling the electric switching device and closing the second power supply line when the vehicle is stopped by controlling the electric switching device.

7. The electronic vehicle anti-theft apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control circuit includes a computer that provides a drive permission signal to the drive circuit when starting of the vehicle is enabled, the drive circuit outputting the drive permission signal and an activation signal to the electric switching device in accordance with an ignition signal indicating a driving state of the vehicle.

8. The anti-theft apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the breaker circuit is a mechanical switch that mechanically opens the second power supply line when the vehicle is being driven.

9. An electronic vehicle 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 including a first power supply line for supplying the actuator with unlocking current that unlocks the movable component, a second power supply line for supplying the actuator with locking current that locks the movable component, a breaker circuit arranged in the second power supply line for breaking the second power supply line but not the first power supply line when the vehicle is started and a second switching device arranged in the second power supply line;

wherein the breaker circuit and the second switching device are independently switchable.

10. An electronic vehicle 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 including a first power supply line for supplying the actuator with unlocking current that unlocks the movable component, a second power supply line for supplying the actuator with locking current that locks the movable component, and a breaker circuit arranged only at an upstream location of the actuator in the second power supply line for breaking the second power supply line but not the first power supply line when the vehicle is started.

11. An electronic vehicle 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 including a first power supply line for supplying the actuator with unlocking current that unlocks the movable component, a second power supply line for supplying the actuator with locking current that locks the movable component; and

a breaker circuit, arranged in the second power supply line and controlled by a controller that is different from the control circuit, for breaking the second power supply line but not the first power supply line when the vehicle is started.