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

• US 7,576,637 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• 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): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US10/626,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/429, 340/426.12, 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 340/426.15
• 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 system for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the data communications bus carrying data and address information thereover, and connected to a plurality of vehicle devices, the vehicle security system comprising:

a two-zone shock sensor to interface with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information for generating a pre-warning signal based upon a sensed low threat level condition and an alarm signal based upon a sensed high threat level condition higher than the sensed low threat level condition;

an audible alarm indicator; and

a vehicle security controller cooperating with said two-zone shock sensor, interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information, and being connected to said audible alarm indicator independently of the data communications bus, and for causing said audible alarm indicator to generate an audible pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal for the sensed low threat level condition or for causing said audible alarm indicator to generate an audible alarm indication based upon the alarm signal for the sensed high threat level condition so that the audible alarm indication has a greater volume than the audible pre-warning indication and so that the audible alarm indication has a greater duration than the audible pre-warning indication.

2. The vehicle security system of claim 1, wherein said audible alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren and a horn.

3. The vehicle security system of claim 1, further comprising a signal enabler for enabling said vehicle security controller to operate using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles for permitting said vehicle security controller to communicate with said two-zone shock sensor via the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information.

4. The vehicle security system of claim 3, wherein said signal enabler comprises a bus learning device for learning the desired set of signals based upon signals on the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information.

5. The vehicle security system of claim 3, wherein said signal enabler comprises a download device for downloading the desired set of signals.

6. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the data communications bus carrying data and address information thereover, and connected to a plurality of vehicle devices, the vehicle security system comprising:

a two-zone shock sensor for generating a pre-warning signal based upon a sensed low threat level condition and an alarm signal based upon a sensed high threat level condition higher than the sensed low threat level condition;

an audible alarm indicator to interface with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information; and

a vehicle security controller cooperating with said two-zone shock sensor independently of the data communications bus and to interface with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information for causing said audible alarm indicator to generate an audible pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal for the sensed low threat level condition or for causing said audible alarm indicator to generate an audible alarm indication based upon the alarm signal for the sensed high threat level condition so that the audible alarm indication has a greater volume than the audible pre-warning indication and so that the audible alarm indication has a greater duration than the audible pre-warning indication.

7. The vehicle security system of claim 6, wherein said audible alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren and a horn.

8. The vehicle security system of claim 6, further comprising a signal enabler for enabling said vehicle security controller to operate using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles for permitting said vehicle security controller to communicate with said alarm indicator via the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information.

9. The vehicle security system of claim 8, wherein said signal enabler comprises a bus learning device for learning the desired set of signals based upon signals on the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information.

10. The vehicle security system of claim 8, wherein said signal enabler comprises a download device for downloading the desired set of signals.

11. A vehicle security method for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the data communications bus carrying data and address information thereover, the method comprising:

interfacing a two-zone shock sensor with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information for generating a pre-warning signal based upon a sensed low threat level condition and an alarm signal based depending upon a sensed high threat level condition higher than the sensed low threat level condition;

providing an audible alarm indicator; and

interfacing a vehicle security controller with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information to cooperate with the two-zone shock sensor for causing the audible alarm indicator, the audible alarm indicator being connected to the vehicle security controller independently of the data communications bus, to generate an audible pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal for the sensed low threat level condition or for causing the audible alarm indicator to generate an audible alarm indication based upon the alarm signal for the sensed high threat level condition so that the audible alarm indication has a greater volume than the audible pre-warning indication and so that the audible alarm indication has a greater duration than the audible pre-warning indication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the audible alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren and a horn.

13. A vehicle security method for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the data communications bus carrying data and address information thereover, the method comprising:

providing a two-zone shock sensor for generating a pre-warning signal based upon a sensed low threat level condition and an alarm signal based upon a sensed high threat level condition higher than the sensed low threat level condition;

interfacing an audible alarm indicator with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information; and

interfacing a vehicle security controller with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information to cooperate with the two-zone shock sensor independently of the data communications bus for causing the audible alarm indicator to generate an audible pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal for the sensed low threat level condition or for causing the audible alarm indicator to generate an audible alarm indication based upon the alarm signal for the sensed high threat level condition so that the audible alarm indication has a greater volume than the audible pre-warning indication and so that the audible alarm indication has a greater duration than the audible pre-warning indication.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the audible alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren and a horn.

15. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and connected to a plurality of vehicle devices, the data communications bus carrying data and address information thereover, the vehicle security system comprising:

at least one vehicle security sensor interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information for generating a pre-warning signal or an alarm signal depending upon a sensed threat level;

an alarm indicator;

a vehicle security controller interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information for causing said alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal, or for causing said alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal; and

a signal enabler for enabling said vehicle security controller to operate using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles for permitting said vehicle security controller to communicate with said at least one vehicle security sensor and said alarm indicator via the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information.

16. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a multi-stage sensor.

17. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said 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.

18. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

19. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator, and wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

20. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

21. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

22. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren, a horn, and a vehicle light.

23. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said signal enabler comprises a bus learning device for learning the desired set of signals based upon signals on the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information.

24. The vehicle security system of claim 15 wherein said signal enabler comprises a download device for downloading the desired set of signals.

25. A vehicle security system for a vehicle of a type comprising a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, the data communications bus carrying data and address information thereover, and connected to a plurality of vehicle devices, the vehicle security system comprising:

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

an alarm indicator interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information;

a vehicle security controller connected to said at least one vehicle security sensor and interfacing with the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information for causing said alarm indicator to generate a pre-warning indication based upon the pre-warning signal, or for causing said alarm indicator to generate an alarm indication based upon the alarm signal; and

a signal enabler for enabling said vehicle security controller to operate using a desired set of signals for a corresponding desired vehicle from a plurality of sets of signals for different vehicles for permitting said vehicle security controller to communicate with said at least one vehicle security sensor and said alarm indicator via the vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and carrying data and address information.

26. The vehicle security system of claim 25 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a multi-stage sensor.

27. The vehicle security system of claim 25 wherein said 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.

28. The vehicle security system of claim 25 wherein the alarm indication has a greater duration than the pre-warning indication.

29. The vehicle security system of claim 25 wherein said alarm indicator comprises an audible alarm indicator, and wherein the alarm indication has a greater volume than the pre-warning indication.

30. The vehicle security system of claim 25 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises at least one motion sensor.

31. The vehicle security system of claim 25 wherein said at least one vehicle security sensor comprises a two-zone shock sensor.

32. The vehicle security system of claim 25 wherein said alarm indicator comprises at least one of a siren, a horn, and a vehicle light.