Vehicle security system

• US 8,994,494 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2009
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Koenig, David J., Tharaldson, Joseph D., Secor, Nathan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US12/475,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,130 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.72, 340/425, 340/426, 340/426.18, 340/438, 340/439, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/00 Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions for electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; road vehicle drive control systems for purposes not related to the control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/00; drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/041 Preventing use of engine operating on the fluid supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/34 of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/026 Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/02 power driven
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4997 At least one part nonmetallic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/473 Socket or open cup for bonding material

Abstract

A vehicle is disclosed which includes a controller having at least one of a vehicle security module and a playback module. The vehicle security module may operate in a secure once mode of operation or in a secure all mode of operation. The playback module records ride information associated with the vehicle. The ride information may be provided to an external device.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising

a plurality of ground engagement members;

a frame supported by the plurality of ground engagement members;

a power system supported by the frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engagement members to power movement of the vehicle;

a controller operatively coupled to the power system to control an operation of the power system;

at least one user input device operatively coupled to the controller; and

at least one user output device operatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller includes a vehicle security module having a secure once mode of operation and a secure all mode of operation, during a current start-up of the power system the operation of the power system being in a limited state until a valid security code is provided to the controller through the at least one user input, the reception of the valid security code in the secure once mode of operation disables the vehicle security module for the current start-up and all subsequent start-ups of the power system and permits the operation of the power system in a normal operating state and the reception of the valid security code in the secure all mode of operation disables the vehicle security module for only the current start-up and permits the operation of the power system in the normal operating state, wherein the current start-up of the power system includes a switching of the power system from a powered-off state to a powered-on state.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the limited state prevents a powered movement of the vehicle through the operation of the power system.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the limited state is an idle state.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power system includes a CVT and a prime mover and the limited state restricts the prime mover to operate at a level below an engagement speed of the CVT.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the prime mover is an internal combustion engine.

6. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the vehicle security module shuts off the power system during the current start-up after a predetermined time period if the valid security code has not been provided.

7. The vehicle of claim 4, further comprising a temperature sensor monitoring a temperature associated with the prime mover, wherein the prime mover is an internal combustion engine and the vehicle security module shuts off the power system during the current start-up after a predetermined time period if the valid security code has not been provided and if the monitored temperature associated with the prime mover is above a threshold temperature.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the internal combustion engine is a liquid cooled engine and the temperature sensor monitors a temperature of a liquid of the liquid cooled engine.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device includes a plurality of buttons associated with an instrument cluster, the at least one output device includes a display associated with the instrument cluster, and the security code is a numeric code which is input through the plurality of buttons.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the valid security code is one of a plurality of possible security codes each of the possible security codes having a preset configuration for the operation of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein when the valid security code corresponds to a first possible security code the controller configures the vehicle in a novice mode of operation.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein when the valid security code corresponds to a second possible security code the controller configures the vehicle in an expert mode of operation.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein when the valid security code corresponds to a third possible security code the controller configures the vehicle in a cruise mode of operation.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein when the valid security code corresponds to a fourth possible security code the controller configures the vehicle in a normal mode of operation.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller further includes a playback module which records ride information associated with the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the ride information includes vehicle speed and navigation data stored in a memory accessible by the controller.

24. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the normal operating state permits powered movement of the vehicle.

17. A method of operation of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle having a plurality of ground engagement members, a prime mover, and a CVT operatively coupling the prime mover to at least one of the plurality of ground engagement members to power movement of the vehicle;

providing a vehicle security control module having a secure once mode of operation and a secure all mode of operation;

configuring the vehicle in a secure once mode of operation; and

limiting an output of the prime mover during a current start-up of the prime mover to a level which is below an engagement speed of the CVT until a valid security code is provided through at least one user input, the reception of the valid security code in the secure once mode of operation disables the vehicle security control module for the current start-up and all subsequent start-ups of the prime mover and permits the output of the prime mover to be above the engagement speed of the CVT and the reception of the valid security code in the secure all mode of operation disables the vehicle security control module for only the current start-up and permits the output of the prime mover to be above the engagement speed of the CVT, wherein the current start-up of the power system includes a switching of the prime mover from a powered-off state to a powered-on state.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a temperature of the prime mover; and

shutting off a power system of the vehicle which includes the prime mover when the temperature of the prime mover reaches a threshold temperature if the valid security code has not been provided through the at least one user input.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a temperature of the prime mover; and

shutting off the prime mover when the temperature of the prime mover reaches a threshold temperature if the valid security code has not been provided through the at least one user input.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the normal operating state permits powered movement of the vehicle.

19. A method of operation of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle having a plurality of ground engagement members, a prime mover, and a CVT operatively coupling the prime mover to at least one of the plurality of ground engagement members to power movement of the vehicle;

providing a vehicle security control module having a secure once mode of operation and a secure all mode of operation;

configuring the vehicle in a secure all mode of operation; and

limiting an output of the prime mover during a current start-up of the prime mover to a level which is below an engagement speed of the CVT until a valid security code is provided through at least one user input, the reception of the valid security code in the secure once mode of operation disables the vehicle security control module for the current start-up and all subsequent start-ups of the prime mover and permits the output of the prime mover to be above the engagement speed of the CVT and the reception of the valid security code in the secure all mode of operation disables the vehicle security control module for only the current start-up and permits the output of the prime mover to be above the engagement speed of the CVT, wherein the current start-up of the prime mover includes a switching of the prime mover from a powered-off state to a powered-on state.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a temperature of the prime mover; and

shutting off a power system of the vehicle which includes the prime mover when the temperature of the prime mover reaches a threshold temperature if the valid security code has not been provided through the at least one user input.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a valid security code;

recording ride data during the operation of the vehicle;

transferring information to a website, the information including the ride data and navigation data; and

marking the ride data for sharing with others through the web site.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a temperature of the prime mover; and

shutting off the prime mover when the temperature of the prime mover reaches a threshold temperature if the valid security code has not been provided through the at least one user input.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the normal operating state permits powered movement of the vehicle.