Device for detecting the theft/theft of a vehicle and method of detecting the theft

• US 7,102,491 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Shimizu, Atsushi, Ando, Tanichi, Mukaigawa, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk, Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/601,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/426.18, 340/426.19, 340/429, 340/988, 342/357.01, 342/357.15, 701/207, 701/300
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A theft detecting device has a position data-obtaining and communication arrangements which are energized after it is determined that “the automobile is stolen and is now in a stationary state” based on the signals from a state detecting means and time counter means. The communication arrangement transmits a theft notice data inclusive of the obtained position data to the owner and the like that are remote from the automobile or the like which has been stolen. After the data have been transmitted, the power source of the position data-obtaining means is again turned off to conserve battery power.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the theft of a movable member that is stolen using a transporter for transporting the movable member in a state where the main driving power of the movable member is at rest, the device for detecting the theft comprising:

a state detecting arrangement for detecting a parameter indicative that the movable member is being transported or is stationary;

a state judging arrangement for judging a state of the movable member as being stolen, based on signals from the state detecting arrangement;

position data-obtaining arrangement for obtaining the position data of the movable member from a unit outside of the movable member, the position data-obtaining arrangement being connected with a source of electrical energy and enabled to obtain the position data only when the state judging arrangement has judged that the movable member is stolen and is being transported with its main driving power at rest and is, then, transported no more; and

a communication arrangement for transmitting the position data that is obtained to the unit outside of the movable member.

2. A device for detecting the theft according to claim 1, wherein:

the state detecting arrangement includes;

a transport detecting arrangement capable of detecting whether the movable member is being transported or is stationary and producing an output indicative thereof, and

a time counter function, and wherein;

the state detecting arrangement determines that the transportation has ceased when a predetermined period of time has passed from the time that the output of the transport detecting arrangement assumes a zero value.

3. A device for detecting the theft according to claim 1, wherein the state detecting arrangement is capable of detecting whether the movable member is being transported or is stationary to produce an output by relying on at least two transport detecting sensor arrangements and a time counter arrangement, and wherein it determined that the transportation has ceased when a predetermined period of time has passed from the time it is detected that the vehicle is stationary based on outputs from the plurality of detecting sensor arrangement.

5. A device for detecting the theft according to claim 1, wherein, in order to conserve the source of electrical energy, the communication arrangement connected with the source of electrical energy and enabled to transmit the position data for a predetermined limited period of time.

6. A device for detecting the theft according to claim 1, wherein, in order to conserve electrical energy in the source of electrical energy, the position data-obtaining arrangement is connected with the source of electrical energy for a predetermined short period of time.

4. A method of detecting the theft of a movable member that is stolen using a transporter for transporting the movable member in a state where the main driving power of the movable member is at rest, comprising:

detecting a parameter indicative of the movable member being transported or being stationary using a state detecting arrangement;

obtaining position data of the movable member from a position data-obtaining arrangement from a unit outside of the movable member only when it is determined by the state judging arrangement that the movable member is stolen and is being transported with its main driving power at rest and is, then transported no more, based on the detected parameter; and

transmitting the obtained position data using the communication arrangement to a unit outside of the movable member.

7. A method according to claim 4, further comprising energizing the position data obtaining arrangement via connection with a source of electrical energy for a predetermined short period of time to conserve the source of electrical energy.

8. A method according to claim 4, further comprising energizing the communication arrangement via connection with a source of electrical energy for a predetermined short period of time to conserve the source of electrical energy.