Anti-theft device for vehicle

• US 7,916,005 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakane, Yoshihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): King; Curtis J
• Application Number:
  US10/574,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.65, 340/5.52, 340/5.42
• US Class Current: 340/426.36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition

Abstract

An anti-theft system for a vehicle, includes certifying means of an electronic key for getting in the vehicle, human body certification information certifying means, door lock control means for unlocking a vehicle door in a case where the electronic key is certified by the certifying means of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and the human body certification information of the person is confirmed by the human body certification information certifying means in a state where the door is unlocked; memory means for memorizing ID information of the electronic key; certifying means of an electronic key for starting an engine; and engine starting control means for starting the engine of the vehicle in a case where the electronic key is certified by the certifying means of the electronic key for starting the engine and the electronic key is an electronic key whose ID information is memorized in the memory means, after the vehicle door is unlocked by the door lock control means.

Claims

1. An anti-theft system for a vehicle, comprising:

a certifying device of an electronic key for getting in the vehicle, the certifying device certifying the electronic key held by a person who intends to get in the vehicle;

a human body certification information certifying device that confirms human body certification information of the person;

a door lock control device that unlocks a vehicle door in a case where the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and the human body certification information of the person is confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device in a state where the door is locked;

a memory that memorizes ID information of the electronic key when the vehicle door is unlocked by the door lock control device based on the electronic key being certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and the human body certification information of the person being confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device;

a certifying device of an electronic key for starting an engine, the certifying device certifying the electronic key based on a detection by an approaching detection sensor and reception of a response signal sent from the electronic key held by a person who intends to start the engine; and

an engine starting switch that starts the engine of the vehicle if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the electronic key is an electronic key whose ID information is memorized in the memory, without performing human body certification, after the vehicle door is unlocked by the door lock control device,

wherein the engine starting switch does not start the engine of the vehicle if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine but the electronic key is an electronic key whose ID information is not memorized in the memory, after the vehicle door is unlocked by the door lock control device.

2. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the memory memorizes, in advance, a maximum number of times for permitting starting the engine after the door is unlocked by the door lock control device, and

the engine starting switch allows for starting of the engine for the permitted maximum number of times memorized in the memory by the electronic key which is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, after the door is unlocked by the door lock control device.

3. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the memory memorizes, in advance, a maximum number of times for permitting starting of the engine after the door is unlocked by the door lock control device, the maximum number being set for every electronic key which is certified and registered, and

the engine starting switch allows for starting of the engine for the permitted maximum number of times memorized in the memory by the electronic key which is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, the maximum number corresponding to the electronic key and being memorized in the memory, after the door is unlocked by the door lock control means.

4. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the memory memorizes, in advance, a maximum number of times for permitting starting of the engine after the door is unlocked by the door lock control device, the maximum number being set for every person who is certified and registered, and

the engine starting control device allows for starting of the engine for the permitted maximum number of times memorized in the memory by the electronic key which is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, the maximum number corresponding to the person whose human body certification information is confirmed by the human body information certifying device at the time when the door is unlocked by the door lock control means, the maximum number being memorized in the memory, after the door is unlocked by the door lock control means.

5. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the engine starting switch includes a permission counter that reduces the number of times permission is granted to start the engine by using the electronic key which is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, when a designated time during which the engine is continued to be run passes.

6. An anti-theft system for a vehicle, comprising:

a certifying device of an electronic key for getting in the vehicle, the certifying device certifying the electronic key held by a person who intends to get in the vehicle;

a human body certification information certifying device for confirming human body certification information of the person;

a door lock control device for unlocking a vehicle door in a case where the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and the human body certification information of the person is confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device in a state where the door is locked;

a writing device that writes information that the human body certification information is confirmed in the electronic key as readable or delete-able information, when the vehicle door is unlocked by the door lock control device based on the electronic key being certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and the human body certification information of the person being confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device;

a certifying device of an electronic key for starting an engine, the certifying device certifying the electronic key based on a detection by an approaching detection sensor and reception of a response signal sent from the electronic key held by a person who intends to start the engine; and

an engine starting switch that starts the engine of the vehicle if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the information that the human body certification information is certified is written in the electronic key, without performing human body certification, after the vehicle door is unlocked by the door lock control device,

wherein the engine starting switch does not start the engine of the vehicle if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine but the information that the human body certification information is certified is not written in the electronic key, after the vehicle door is unlocked by the door lock control device.

7. An anti-theft system for a vehicle, comprising:

a certifying device of an electronic key for starting a vehicle engine, the certifying device certifying the electronic key held by a person who intends to start the vehicle;

a human body certification information certifying device for confirming human body certification information of the person;

an engine starting switch that starts the engine in a case where the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the human body certification information of the person is confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device in a state where the engine has stopped running;

a memory that memorizes ID information of the electronic key when the engine is started by the engine starting switch based on the electronic key being certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the human body certification information of the person being confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device;

a certifying device of an electronic key for starting an engine, the certifying device certifying the electronic key based on a detection by an approaching detection sensor and reception of a response signal sent from the electronic key held by a person who intends to start the engine; and

a door locking control device that unlocks the door if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the electronic key is an electronic key whose ID information is memorized in the memory, without performing human body certification, after the engine is started by the engine starting switch,

wherein the door locking control device does not unlock the door of the vehicle if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine but the electronic key is an electronic key whose ID information is not memorized in the memory, after the engine is started by the engine starting switch.

8. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the memory memorizes, in advance, a maximum number of times for permitting unlocking the door after the engine is started by the engine starting switch, and

the door locking control device allows for unlocking of the door for the permitted maximum number of times memorized in the memory by the electronic key that is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, after the engine is started by the engine starting control device.

9. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the memory memorizes, in advance, a maximum number of times for permitting unlocking of the door after the engine is started by the engine starting switch, the maximum number of times being set for every electronic key which is certified and registered, and

the door locking control device that allows for unlocking of the door for the permitted maximum number of times memorized in the memory by the electronic key that is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, the maximum number corresponding to the electronic key and being memorized in the memory, after the vehicle is started by the engine starting control device.

10. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the memory memorizes, in advance, a maximum number of times for permitting unlocking of the door after the engine is started by the engine starting switch, the maximum number being set for every person who is certified and registered, and

the door locking control device allows for unlocking of the door for the permitted maximum number of times memorized in the memory by the electronic key that is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, the maximum number corresponding to the person whose human body certification information is confirmed by the human body information certifying device at the time when the engine is started by the engine starting switch, the maximum number being memorized in the memory, after the engine is started by the engine starting switch.

11. The anti-theft system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8,

wherein the door locking control device includes a permission counter that reduces the number of times permission is granted to unlock the door by using the electronic key that is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for getting in the vehicle and whose ID information is memorized in the memory, when the vehicle door is unlocked and then opened.

12. An anti-theft system for a vehicle, comprising:

a certifying device of an electronic key for starting a vehicle engine, the certifying device certifying the electronic key held by a person who intends to start the vehicle;

a human body certification information certifying device that confirms human body certification information of the person;

an engine starting switch that starts the engine in a case where the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the human body certification information of the person is confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device in a state where the engine has stopped running;

a writing device for writing information that the human body certification information is confirmed to the electronic key as readable or delete-able information, when the engine is started by the engine starting switch based on the electronic key being certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the human body certification information of the person being confirmed by the human body certification information certifying device;

a certifying device of an electronic key for starting an engine, the certifying device certifying the electronic key based on a detection by an approaching detection sensor and reception of a response signal sent from the electronic key held by a person who intends to start the engine; and

a door locking control device that unlocks the door if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine and the information that the human body certification information is certified is written in the electronic key, without performing human body certification after the engine is started by the engine starting switch,

wherein the door locking control device does not unlock the door if the electronic key is certified by the certifying device of the electronic key for starting the engine but the information that the human body certification information is certified is not written in the electronic key, after the engine is started by the engine starting switch.