Alarm system and kit with event recording

• US 20020027502A1
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxxal International, Inc. (IVS Intelligent Vehicle Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Maxxal International, Inc. (IVS Intelligent Vehicle Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mayor, Dwight
• Granted Patent: US 6,737,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A stand alone alarm system and kit for vehicles are disclosed. The alarm system includes an alarm module connected to an audio and visual device and at least one sensor. The alarm system also includes an input device coupled to the alarm module. The alarm system also includes a housing that encloses the alarm module, battery, anti-tamper devices, a transmitter, a receiver, an unauthorized connect sensor, a reefer fault sensor, and a keypad. Upon triggering the alarm module, a signal is transmitted to a remote device or a receiving device. The alarm system further includes a mechanism for automated, long-term tracking of events relating to operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A stand-alone system kit for use with a vehicle having a tractor and a trailer of multiple types, comprising:

a housing having an interior volume for receiving components for attachment to said vehicle, said housing being made of substantially rigid material;

a alarm module;

a sensor;

a siren; and

a strobe light;

said alarm module being contained sealably within said housing and electrically connectable to said sensor, said siren and said strobe light;

a keypad couplable to said alarm module and located within said housing;

a rechargeable battery for supplying DC power to said alarm module when connected thereto;

a transmitter located within said housing to transmit a signal when a triggering event occurs;

a receiving device locatable on said tractor that receives said signal from said transmitter and indicates an alarm module is activated; and

a remote receiver that receives a signal and alerts the user that said alarm module is activated;

said housing, with said keypad, alarm module and transmitter comprising the components contained therein, being sealably affixable to said vehicle in a manner that insulates the components of said housing from the surrounding environment;

said components cooperating to permit said housing to be attached to multiple configurations of tractors and trailers with electrical connecting devices connecting said sensor, said siren to said alarm module independently of the varying distance from said housing that may occur as a result of different size tractors or trailers.

2. The stand-alone system kit of claim 1, wherein said alarm module comprises a memory for storing records of events sensed by said sensor.

3. An alarm system for a vehicle, comprising:

an alarm module; and

a plurality of sensors connectable to said alarm module, for detecting events associated with said vehicle;

wherein said alarm module includes an event memory for storing a plurality of event records corresponding to events detected by said plurality of sensors.

4. The alarm system of claim 3, wherein said alarm module is couplable to a separate device for downloading said event records to said separate device.

5. The alarm system of claim 3, wherein said alarm module further comprises a processor for monitoring inputs from said sensors and writing said event records to said event memory.

6. The alarm system of claim 3, further comprising software for processing said event records.

7. An alarm system for use with a trailer and a separable tractor therefor, comprising:

a plurality of sensors capable of being distributed at checkpoints of said trailer to detect events occurring at said checkpoints;

an alarm module housed in a weather-resistant housing connectable to said trailer, said alarm module being configured to activate an alert in response to an event detected by said sensors, and including an event memory for recording events detected by said sensors;

a siren and a strobe light connectable to said alarm module, for generating, respectively, an audible and a visible alert in response to said alarm module; and

a receiving component locatable in said tractor, comprising an interface for receiving a signal generated by said alarm module in response to an event, and a vehicle location system coupled to said interface, for determining a location of said receiving component in response to said signal.

8. The alarm system of claim 7, further comprising a wireless device for remotely activating and de-activating said alarm system.

9. The alarm system of claim 7, further comprising a pager that receives said signal from said alarm module and generates an alert in response thereto.

10. The alarm system of claim 7, wherein first ones of said plurality of sensors are connected to said alarm module in series, and second ones of said plurality of sensors are connected to said alarm module in parallel.

11. The alarm system of claim 7, further comprising a keypad for entering an authorization code for activating and de-activating said alarm system.

13. The alarm system of claim 12, wherein said control means activates an alert in response to ones of said events.

15. The alarm system of claim 12, further comprising software for processing said plurality of records.

16. The alarm system of claim 15, wherein said software provides a user interface for downloading said event records from said memory means to a separate device.

17. The alarm system of claim 16, wherein said user interface further provides for displaying, printing, and extracting selected ones of said event records.

18. The alarm system of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving means locatable in said drive means, comprising an interface for receiving a signal generated by said control means in response to an event, and a vehicle location system coupled to said interface, for determining a location of said receiving means in response to said signal; and

a weather-resistant housing mountable to said container and housing said memory means and said control means.

20. The alarm module of claim 18, wherein said processor includes a user-configurable flash memory.

12. An alarm system for a vehicle configuration including a container and separable drive means for moving said container, said alarm system comprising:

sensing means for detecting events that occur relative to said container;

memory means for storing a plurality of records of said events; and

control means for monitoring said sensing means and recording said events in said memory means.

19. An alarm module for use in vehicle alarm system, comprising:

input ports connectable to sensors for detecting events;

a memory for storing event records;

a processor for monitoring said sensors and recording said events in said memory;

a clock for assigning a date and time to each event record; and

output ports connectable to devices for generating an alert in response to an event.

21. A machine-readable medium tangibly embodying executable instructions, said instructions when executed implementing a process comprising:

providing a user interface for downloading event records stored in a memory of a vehicle alarm system to a separate device, said event records corresponding to a plurality of events detected by a plurality of sensors of said vehicle alarm system.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein said user interface further provides for displaying, printing, and extracting selected ones of said event records.