Systems and methods for immobilizing a vehicle
AssigneeVerizon Connect Development Limited
InventorsLouis Burger, Sean McGinn, Mark Swords, Anton G. Wigley, Jose M. Gomez Monterrosa, Jr., Nicholas Hooper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device may receive an arming signal associated with immobilizing a vehicle. The device may monitor, based on receiving the arming signal, a current associated with an electrical power output from a battery of the vehicle. The device may detect that a measurement of the current satisfies a threshold associated with an ignition component starting an engine of the vehicle. The device may control, based on detecting that the current satisfies the threshold, a bypass circuit to reduce the electrical power output to prevent the ignition component from starting the engine.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a device, an arming signal associated with immobilizing a vehicle;
- monitoring, by the device and based on receiving the arming signal, a current associated with an electrical power output from a battery of the vehicle;
- detecting, by the device, that a measurement of the current satisfies a threshold associated with an ignition component starting an engine of the vehicle;
- and
- controlling, by the device and based on detecting that the current satisfies the threshold, a bypass circuit to reduce the electrical power output to prevent the ignition component from starting the engine.
A device, comprising:
- a bypass circuit associated with a battery of a vehicle;
- a current sensor configured to measure a current between the battery and an electrical system of the vehicle;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive an arming signal associated with immobilizing the vehicle;
- determine, from a measurement of the current sensor, that the current to the electrical system satisfies a threshold;
- and
- control, based on receiving the arming signal, the bypass circuit to direct the current through a resistor, of the bypass circuit, and to the electrical system,
- wherein the resistor is configured to reduce an electrical power output from the battery to the electrical system to prevent an ignition component from starting an engine.
A system comprising:
- a power control unit comprising:
- a bypass circuit that is configured to control a current level provided by a battery of a vehicle and to provide the controlled current level to an electrical system of the vehicle;
- and
- a current sensor that is configured to measure a current from the battery to the electrical system;
- and
- a vehicle tracking unit configured to:
- receive a monitoring command associated with the vehicle,
- wherein the monitoring command comprises an immobilization command associated with immobilizing the vehicle;
- obtain, based on the monitoring command and from the power control unit, a measurement of the current from the current sensor;
- determine a status of the vehicle based on the measurement and a setting of the bypass circuit;
- and
- perform an action associated with the vehicle based on the status,
- wherein the vehicle tracking unit, when performing the action, is configured to:
- provide an arming signal to the power control unit to cause the power control unit to use the bypass circuit and the current sensor to prevent the electrical system from starting an engine of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.