Vehicle security system for unattended idle operations

• US 6,060,981 A
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Landes, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/298,740
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 180/287, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/426.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A vehicle theft deterrent system for controlling the operation of a vehicle engine when the engine is in an unattended idle mode of operation wherein a vehicle ground speed sensor, an engine speed sensor, an operator input device actuatable to enter a security code, a power takeoff (PTO) switch operable to provide power from the engine to a remote location, a throttle position indicator sensor, cruise control switches, and an ignition key switch are all coupled to an electronic controller in a particular manner such that the proper combination of a valid security code and certain signal inputs from the various system components will enable and disable a secure idle mode of operation, and will limit vehicle operation if unauthorized use is detected while the system is enabled. The present system allows the electronic controller to determine whether the vehicle is moving and/or performing some type of work function prior to any enablement of the system and, once enabled, allows an operator to elevate the engine speed above normal idle limits to run certain parasitic loads prior to leaving the vehicle unattended without triggering the theft deterrent features of the present system.

Claims

1. A vehicle theft deterrent system for controlling the operation of a vehicle engine when such engine is in an idle mode of operation, said theft deterrent system comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor for determining the ground speed of the vehicle;

an engine speed sensor for determining the speed of the engine;

an operator input device actuatable to enter a security code;

a PTO switch operable to permit power from the engine to be provided to a remote location, said PTO switch being operable between a first mode of operation corresponding to a condition when power is not being transferred to said remote location and a second mode of operation corresponding to a condition when power is being transferred to said remote location;

an electronic controller coupled to said speed sensors, said operator input device, said PTO switch, and receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from said vehicle speed sensor indicative of the ground speed of the vehicle, a signal from said engine speed sensor indicative of the engine speed, a signal from said operator input device indicative of the entry of a valid security code, a signal from said PTO switch indicative of said switch being in either its first mode of operation or its second mode of operation, said controller calculating an engine speed error and a fuel flow command; and

said controller enabling the theft deterrent system when said controller receives a signal indicative of the vehicle ground speed being less than a predetermined ground speed signal indicative of the engine speed being less than a first predetermined value, a signal indicative of the first entry of a valid security code, a signal indicative of said PTO switch being in its first mode of operation, said fuel flow command being less than a predetermined value, and said engine speed error being less than a predetermined value.

2. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vehicle engine has a low idle RPM associated with a low idle mode of operation, said first predetermined engine speed value being substantially equal to the low idle RPM plus 100 RPM.

3. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle engine is capable of running certain parasitic loads, said predetermined fuel flow value being less than the fuel flow required to run said certain parasitic loads.

4. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined engine speed error is substantially equal to 100 RPM.

5. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller disables the theft deterrent system when said controller receives a subsequent signal indicative of a second entry of a valid security code.

6. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, further including an idle shutdown timer operable to send a signal upon expiration thereof, said timer being programmable to any predetermined period of time and being initiated when said theft deterrent system is enabled,

said controller being operable to receive a signal from said idle shutdown timer indicative of the expiration thereof,

said controller outputting a signal to shutdown the vehicle engine when said controller receives a signal indicative of the expiration of said idle shutdown timer.

7. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said controller is further operable to prohibit restart of the vehicle engine until said controller receives a subsequent signal indicative of a second entry of a valid security code.

8. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 6, further including another theft deterrent system operable when the vehicle engine is not running, said controller being operable to automatically enable said another theft deterrent system when said vehicle engine is shutdown.

9. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, further including an ignition key switch operable between a first mode of operation to allow the vehicle engine to be started, a second mode of operation to allow the vehicle engine to run, and a third mode of operation to allow the vehicle engine to be shutdown in a normal manner,

said controller being coupled to said ignition key switch for receiving signals therefrom,

said controller outputting a signal to shutdown the vehicle engine when said controller receives a signal indicative of said ignition key switch being in its third mode of operation.

10. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said controller is further operable to prohibit restart of the vehicle engine until said controller receives a subsequent signal indicative of a second entry of a valid security code.

11. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to limit the speed of the engine to a predetermined idle speed when said controller receives a signal from said vehicle speed sensor indicative of the ground speed of said vehicle being greater than a predetermined amount.

12. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to limit the speed of the engine to a predetermined idle speed when said controller receives a signal from said engine speed sensor indicative of the engine speed being less than a second predetermined value.

13. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to limit the speed of the engine to a predetermined idle speed when said controller receives a signal indicative of said PTO switch being in its second mode of operation.

14. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to limit the speed of the engine to a predetermined idle speed when said fuel flow command is greater than said predetermined value.

15. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to limit the speed of the engine to a predetermined idle speed when said engine speed error is greater than said predetermined value.

16. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, further including throttle position indicator means for determining the throttle setting of the vehicle engine,

said controller being coupled to said throttle position indicator means for receiving signals therefrom, said controller outputting a signal to limit the speed of the engine to a predetermined idle speed when said controller receives a signal indicative of said throttle setting being greater than a predetermined setting for a predetermined period of time.

17. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said predetermined ground speed value is approximately 1 mile per hour.

18. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second predetermined engine speed value is low idle RPM minus 100 RPM.

19. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said predetermined throttle setting is approximately 10 percent.

20. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to shutdown the vehicle engine when said controller receives a signal from said vehicle speed sensor indicative of the ground speed of said vehicle being greater than a predetermined amount.

21. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to shutdown the vehicle engine when said controller receives a signal from said engine speed sensor indicative of the engine speed being less than a second predetermined value.

22. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to shutdown the vehicle engine when said controller receives a signal indicative of said PTO switch being in its second mode of operation.

23. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to shutdown the engine when said fuel flow command is being greater than said predetermined value.

24. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to output a signal to shutdown the vehicle engine when said engine speed error is greater than said predetermined value.

25. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, further including throttle position indicator means for determining the throttle setting of the vehicle engine,

said controller being coupled to said throttle position indicator means for receiving signals therefrom, said controller outputting a signal to shutdown the vehicle engine when said controller receives a signal indicative of said throttle setting being greater than a predetermined setting for a predetermined period of time.

26. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, further including cruise control switches actuatable to control the speed of the vehicle engine and to the bump up the idle RPM,

said controller being coupled to said cruise control switches for receiving signals therefrom, said cruise control switches being further operable such that the idle bump up RPM triggered when said switches are actuated will not exceed the predetermined governor speed error value.

27. The theft deterrent system, as set forth in claim 1, further including cruise control switches actuatable to control the speed of the vehicle engine and to accelerate the vehicle engine at a predetermined ramp up rate,

said controller being coupled to said cruise control switches for receiving signals therefrom, said cruise control switches being further operable such that the engine acceleration ramp up rate commanded by actuation of said switches will produce a fuel flow which will not exceed the predetermined fuel flow value.