Vehicle security system including pre-warning features for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

• US 8,432,268 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US12/534,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.25, 340/426.15, 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/461, 340/539.1, 340/12.54, 701/32.7, 701/33.4
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• 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 25/1018 Alarm systems characterised by features related to the general power supply
• 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: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00261 the keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type including a vehicle data communications bus connected to a plurality of vehicle devices may include at least one vehicle security sensor interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus for generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal, depending upon a sensed threat level. The vehicle security system may also include an alarm indicator and a vehicle security controller. The vehicle security controller may interface with the vehicle data communications bus for causing the alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal, or for causing the alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle security method for a vehicle comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a threat level at the vehicle using at least one vehicle security sensor and generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal depending upon the sensed threat level; and

generating a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal or generating an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal using a vehicle security controller cooperating with the at least one vehicle security sensor;

the vehicle security controller being enabled to communicate via the data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles and by learning the desired set of signals based upon at least one signal on the data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle security controller is enabled by downloading the desired set of signals into the vehicle security controller.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating of the pre-warning signal corresponds to sensing a lower threat level than the alarm signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a housing and a multi-stage sensor carried by the housing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a pre-warn sensor for providing the pre-warning signal and an alarm sensor for providing the alarm signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least motion sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle carries data and address information thereover.

11. A vehicle security method for a vehicle comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a threat level at the vehicle using at least one vehicle security sensor and generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal depending upon the sensed threat level; and

generating a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal or generating an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal using a vehicle security controller cooperating with the at least one vehicle security sensor;

the at least one vehicle sensor being enabled to communicate via the data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles and by learning the desired set of signals based upon at least one signal on the data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor is enabled by downloading the desired set of signals into the at least one vehicle security sensor.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein generating of the pre-warning signal corresponds to sensing a lower threat level than the alarm signal.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a housing and a multi-stage sensor carried by the housing.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a pre-warn sensor for providing the pre-warning signal and an alarm sensor for providing the alarm signal.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one vehicle security sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least motion sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle carries data and address information thereover.