Anti-theft system for a vehicle, and method for the operation of an anti-theft system

• US 8,150,563 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Georgi, Thomas, Wagner, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US12/678,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/33, 701/208, 701/301, 701/19, 701/23, 701/24, 701/28, 701/29, 701/36, 701/117, 701/118, 701/200, 370/342, 370/343, 342/357.06, 342/455, 342/903, 340/502, 340/540, 340/825, 340/825.02, 340/2.1, 340/3.9, 340/825.36, 340/825.39, 340/7.1, 340/825.49, 340/825.53, 340/903, 340/531, 340/870.18, 340/853.1, 340/853.2, 340/853.3, 340/853.9, 340/855.3, 340/855.4, 455/462, 455/466, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/500, 455/90.2, 4551791-2001, 398/125, 905/928, 905/933, 905/937, 905/988, 180/168, 180/272, 318/587, 307/10.1, 307/10.5, 705/13, 235/375, 235/384
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An anti-theft system, especially in the form of an access and/or starting system for a vehicle has a vehicle-mounted receiver for receiving a request signal containing the instruction to find out whether objects that are associated with the vehicle, e.g. lost identifiers, are located in specific areas of the vehicle. The anti-theft system further has a vehicle-mounted control and evaluation unit for verifying whether the objects are in the specific areas of the vehicle and outputting information on whether an object that is associated with the vehicle has been found. The anti-theft system finally has a vehicle-mounted transmitter for transmitting a result signal containing the information on whether objects have been found. Such an anti-theft system allows an identifier, for example, which is associated with a user, to start a search from a distance in order to verify whether certain objects are located near or inside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for operating an anti-theft system for a vehicle,

wherein a portable identifier associated with the anti-theft system performs the following step:

transmitting a request signal with the instruction to detect the presence of objects associated with the vehicle in at least one of;

in a particular area in the vehicle and in a particular area outside the vehicle;

and wherein a vehicle-mounted part of the anti-theft system performs the following steps;

receiving the request signal by a processor;

checking for the presence of objects of at least one of in and outside the vehicle;

transmitting by said processor a result signal with information as to whether objects associated vehicle have been found during checking for the presence thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein presence checking comprises the following steps:

transmitting a request signal into at least one of the vehicle interior and exterior;

checking whether a response signal of an object is received.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the portable identifier associated with the vehicle is also designed to receive the result signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the objects associated with a vehicle include additional identifiers associated with the vehicle, or other items provided with a communication device.

5. The method according to claim 1, whereby during presence checking in at least one of the vehicle interior and vehicle exterior a plurality of request signals with different field strengths or a plurality of request signals at different positions are transmitted.

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

a portable identifier for transmitting a request signal with the instruction to detect the presence of objects associated with a vehicle in at least one of;

in a particular area in and outside the vehicle;

a vehicle-mounted receiver for receiving a request signal;

a vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device for checking for the present of objects in the one or more particular areas of the vehicle and for outputting information as to whether an object associated with the vehicle has been found;

a vehicle-mounted transmitter for transmitting a result signal with the information concerning the finding of objects.

7. The anti-theft system according to claim 6, wherein, to check for the presence of the objects, the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device causes the vehicle-mounted transmitter to transmit at least one request signal into one or more particular areas of the vehicle, and the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device, depending on receipt of a respective response signal via the vehicle-mounted receiver, detects the presence of an object transmitting the response signal.

8. The anti-theft system according to claim 6, wherein the portable identifier is also designed, by means of an authentication, to effect locking or unlocking of the vehicle or to activate the propulsion system.

9. The anti-theft system according to claim 6, wherein the result signal is received by the portable identifier.

10. The anti-theft system according to claim 9, wherein the portable identifier has a display for indicating the content of the result signal to a user.

11. The anti-theft system according to claim 6, wherein to check for the presence of the objects, the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device causes the vehicle-mounted transmitter to transmit a plurality of request signals of different field strengths.

12. The anti-theft system according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle-mounted transmitter has a plurality of antennas for mounting in different positions on the vehicle, wherein, to check for said presence, the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device causes the vehicle-mounted transmitter to transmit a plurality of request signals at the different positions.

13. A vehicle comprising an anti-theft system, with:

a portable identifier for transmitting a request signal with the instruction to detect the presence of objects associated with a vehicle in a particular area (SBA1, SBA2, SBI1, SBI2) in and/or outside the vehicle;

a vehicle-mounted receiver for receiving a request signal;

a vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device for checking for the present of objects in the one or more particular areas of the vehicle and for outputting information as to whether an object associated with the vehicle has been found;

a vehicle-mounted transmitter for transmitting a result signal with the information concerning the finding of objects.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein, to check for the presence of the objects, the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device causes the vehicle-mounted transmitter to transmit at least one request signal into one or more particular areas of the vehicle, and the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device, depending on receipt of a respective response signal via the vehicle-mounted receiver, detects the presence of an object transmitting the response signal.

16. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the portable identifier is also designed, by means of an authentication, to effect locking or unlocking of the vehicle or to activate the propulsion system.

17. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the result signal is received by the portable identifier.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the portable identifier has a display for indicating the content of the result signal to a user.

19. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein, to check for the presence of the objects, the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device causes the vehicle-mounted transmitter to transmit a plurality of request signals of different field strengths.

20. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle-mounted transmitter has a plurality of antennas for mounting in different positions on the vehicle, wherein, to check for said presence, the vehicle-mounted control and evaluation device causes the vehicle-mounted transmitter to transmit a plurality of request signals at the different positions.