Alarm system

• US 8,098,144 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: W-Secure Oy
• Original Assignee: W-Secure Oy
• Inventors: Honkonen, Jarkko, Vilmi, Toivo, Jurvansuu, Yrjö, Hildén, Teijo
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, An
• Application Number:
  US11/922,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/429, 340/426.24, 340/426.33, 340/566, 340/427, 731/462
• US Class Current: 340/426.33
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• 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 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-theft alarm system for vehicle wheels. The system comprises at least one wireless measuring module for determining kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of a vehicle wheel on the basis of acceleration measurement. The wireless measuring module is further configured to be attached to the vehicle wheel, to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and transmit the wireless data transfer signal. The system further comprises at least one wireless central processing unit, which is configured to receive the wireless data transfer signal and execute a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfils predetermined conditions.

Claims

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

at least one wireless measuring module for determining kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of a vehicle wheel on the basis of an acceleration, velocity or oscillation frequency measurement, the wireless measuring module being further configured to be attached to the vehicle wheel, to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and transmit the wireless data transfer signal;

at least one adapter configured to attach a wireless measuring module to a middle opening of a rim of the vehicle wheel, the adapter comprising a flange preventing the adapter and the wireless measuring module from being removed from the rim without removing the rim from the vehicle, the adapter and the wireless measuring module being separate from an axle of the vehicle and attachable to the rim before the rim is mounted to the vehicle, the wireless measuring module configured to determine said kinetic state information from a vicinity of the rotational axis of the vehicle wheel; and

at least one wireless central processing unit, which is configured to receive the wireless data transfer signal and execute a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfills predetermined conditions indicative of a theft alarm status.

2. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless central processing unit is configured to include control information in a wireless control information signal and transmit the wireless control information signal;

the wireless measuring module is configured to receive the wireless control information signal; and

the wireless measuring module is configured to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the control information.

3. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm system comprises:

several wireless measuring modules for determining kinetic state information characterizing the motion of the vehicle wheel on the basis of acceleration measurement, each of the wireless measuring modules being configured to be attached to a different wheel of the vehicle, to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and transmit the wireless data transfer signal;

the central processing unit is configured to receive several wireless data transfer signals;

the central processing unit is configured to perform a comparison between the several wireless data transfer signals; and

the central processing unit is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

4. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless measuring module further comprises a comparison register, which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

the wireless measuring module is configured to perform a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information;

the wireless measuring module is configured to include an alarm indicator in the wireless data transfer signal when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions; and

the wireless central processing unit is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function on the basis of the alarm indicator.

5. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless measuring module is configured to include kinetic state information in the wireless data transfer signal;

the wireless central processing unit further comprises a comparison register, which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

the wireless central processing unit is configured to perform a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information; and

the wireless central processing unit is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

6. A measuring module of an anti-theft alarm system, wherein the measuring module is configured to be attached to a vehicle wheel and comprises:

a movement sensor for determining kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of the vehicle wheel on the basis of an acceleration, velocity or oscillation frequency measurement;

an adapter configured to attach the measuring module to a middle opening of a rim of the vehicle wheel, the adapter comprising a flange preventing the adapter and the measuring module from being removed from the rim without removing the rim from the vehicle, the adapter and the measuring module being separate from an axle of the vehicle and attachable to the rim before the rim is mounted to the vehicle, the movement sensor configured to determine said kinetic state information from a vicinity of the rotational axis of the vehicle wheel; and

a first wireless communication unit for generating a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and for transmitting the wireless data transfer signal to a central processing unit of the alarm system, which is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the comparison fulfills predetermined conditions indicative of a theft alarm status.

7. The measuring module according to claim 6, wherein the first wireless communication unit is configured to receive a wireless control information signal, which includes control information;

and

the first wireless communication unit is configured to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the control information.

8. The measuring module according to claim 6, wherein the measuring module further comprises:

a first comparison register, which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

a first comparison unit for performing a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information; and

the first wireless communication unit is configured to include an alarm indicator in the wireless data transfer signal when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

9. The measuring module according to claim 6, wherein the first communication unit is configured to include kinetic state information in the wireless communication signal.

10. A vehicle wheel rim, comprising:

a wireless measuring module, which comprises;

a movement sensor for determining kinetic state information characterizing the kinetic state of a vehicle wheel on the basis of an acceleration, velocity or oscillation frequency measurement;

an adapter configured to attach the wireless measuring module to a middle opening of the rim, the adapter comprising a flange preventing the adapter and the wireless measuring module from being removed from the rim without removing the rim from the vehicle, the adapter and the wireless measuring module being separate from an axle of the vehicle and attachable to the rim before the rim is mounted to the vehicle, the movement sensor configured to determine said kinetic state information from a vicinity of the rotational axis of the vehicle wheel; and

a first wireless communication unit for generating a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the kinetic state information and for transmitting the wireless data transfer signal to a central processing unit of an alarm system, which is configured to execute a predetermined alarm function when the wireless data transfer signal fulfills predetermined conditions indicative of a theft alarm status.

11. The rim according to claim 10, wherein the first wireless communication unit is configured to receive a wireless control information signal, which includes control information;

and

the first wireless communication unit is configured to generate a wireless data transfer signal on the basis of the control information.

12. The rim according to claim 10, wherein the wireless measuring module further comprises:

a first comparison register, which includes reference information characterizing the characteristic kinetic state of the vehicle wheel;

a first comparison unit for performing a comparison between the kinetic state information and the reference information; and

the first wireless communication unit is configured to include an alarm indicator in the wireless data transfer signal when the comparison fulfils predetermined conditions.

13. The rim according to claim 10, wherein the first communication unit is configured to include kinetic state information in the wireless communication signal.

14. The rim according to claim 10, wherein the rim comprises an adapter arranged on the rotation axis of the rim for connecting the wireless measuring module;

and

the movement sensor is configured to determine kinetic state information from the vicinity of the rotation axis of the vehicle wheel.