Theft prevention system for an automobile having a power door

• US 7,339,459 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Matthew, Shpakoff, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/369,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.28, 340/426.27, 340/426.1, 307/10.2, 180/281, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/72 responsive to emergency conditions, e.g. fire
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/52 Safety arrangements associated with the wing motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/254 the elements not functioning in case of emergency
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

Various systems, methods, and computer programs are used to operate a vehicle having a power door. The power door may be opened in response to a user instruction when a vehicle speed value is below a predetermined vehicle speed value. When an alarm system for the vehicle is in an armed state, a signal representative of a synthetic vehicle speed value that is above the predetermined vehicle speed value is generated to prevent the power door from opening.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a power door configured to open in response to a user power door instruction when vehicle speed is below a predetermined vehicle speed value; and

an alarm system operable in at least a disarmed state and an armed state, wherein the alarm system causes generation of a synthetic vehicle speed value that is greater than the predetermined vehicle speed value to prevent the power door from opening when the alarm system is in the armed state.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the alarm system is further operable in an activated state, wherein when the alarm system is in the activated state the alarm system causes generation of the synthetic vehicle speed value to prevent the power door from opening.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein the power door is a power slide door.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the power door is a power back door.

5. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a user interface located in an interior portion of the vehicle to provide the user power door instruction.

6. The system as in claim 5, further comprising an alarm interface to provide a state selection instruction to operate the alarm system in the armed state or the disarmed state.

7. The system as in claim 6, wherein the alarm interface is further configured to provide an alarm interface power door instruction, the power door configured to open in response to the alarm interface power door instruction from the alarm interface when vehicle speed is below the predetermined vehicle speed value.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein when the alarm system is in the armed state the alarm system is changed to the disarmed state in response to the alarm interface power door instruction.

9. A system for a vehicle having a power door configured to open in response to a user power door instruction when vehicle speed is below a predetermined vehicle speed value, the system comprising:

an alarm interface configured to provide an armed state instruction; and

an alarm system configured to operate in at least an armed state in response to the armed state instruction,

wherein the alarm system causes generation of a synthetic vehicle speed value to prevent a power door from opening when the alarm system is in the armed state.

10. The system as in claim 9, wherein the alarm system is further configured to operate in an activated state, wherein when the alarm system is in the activated state the alarm system causes generation of the synthetic vehicle speed value to prevent the power door from opening.

11. The system as in claim 9, wherein the alarm interface is further configured to provide an alarm interface power door instruction, and wherein when the alarm system is in the armed state the alarm system is changed to the disarmed state in response to the alarm interface power door instruction.

12. A method of operating a vehicle having a power door, comprising:

opening a power door in response to a user instruction when a vehicle speed value is below a predetermined vehicle speed value; and

generating a synthetic vehicle speed value that is above the predetermined vehicle speed value when an alarm system for a vehicle is in an armed state to prevent the power door from opening.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the alarm system is further operable in an activated state, wherein the method comprises, when the alarm system is in the activated state, causing generation of the synthetic vehicle speed value to prevent the power door from opening.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the power door is a power slide door.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the power door is a power back door.

16. A computer readable medium having program code that, when executed on a computing system, causes a vehicle having a power door to perform the following functions:

opening a power door in response to a user instruction when a vehicle speed value is below a predetermined vehicle speed value; and

generating a signal representative of a synthetic vehicle speed value that is above the predetermined vehicle speed value when an alarm system for a vehicle is in an armed state to prevent the power door from opening.

17. The medium of claim 16 wherein the medium has program code that, when executed on the computing system, causes the alarm system to be operable in an activated state, such that when the alarm system is in the activated state the alarm system causes generation of the synthetic vehicle speed value to prevent the power door from opening.

18. The medium of claim 16 wherein the power door is a power slide door.

19. The medium of claim 16 wherein the power door is a power back door.

20. The medium of claim 16 wherein the medium has program code that, when executed on the computing system, causes the alarm system to be operable in an arm delay state.