Catalytic converter alarm

A catalytic converter alarm system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• one or more sensors configured to detect (i) a movement disturbance at a vehicle catalytic converter, wherein the movement disturbance includes one or more of a vibration, a shock, and an air pressure disturbance, and (ii) an audio frequency disturbance;
• a wireless communication device configured to communicate with a user mobile device;
• one or more accelerometers configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle and an orientation of the vehicle catalytic converter;
• a processor operative to:
• after the one or more sensors are installed on a vehicle, store one or more normal vibration signatures that are detected during normal operation of the vehicle,
• communicate with the wireless communication device and determine whether the user mobile device is within a predefined proximity of the vehicle;
• if the user mobile device is within the predefined proximity of the vehicle, keep or place the catalytic converter alarm system in an unarmed state;
• if the user mobile device is not within the predefined proximity of the vehicle, keep or place the catalytic converter alarm system in an armed state;
• communicate with the one or more accelerometers and determine whether the vehicle is moving and whether there is a change in orientation of the vehicle catalytic converter;
• if a movement disturbance is detected at the catalytic converter by the one or more sensors, determine if the detected movement disturbance is indicative of an attempt to remove the catalytic converter including being operative to compare a movement signature of the detected disturbance to the one or more normal vibration signatures;
• if an audio frequency disturbance is detected by the one or more sensors, determine if the detected audio frequency disturbance is indicative of an attempt to remove the catalytic converter;
• keep or place the catalytic converter in the unarmed state to avoid generating a trigger signal if it is determined that the vehicle is moving or that the vehicle engine is running;
• generate a trigger signal if the catalytic converter alarm device is in the armed state and if:
• it is not determined that the vehicle is moving;
• and
• it is determined that (i) the detected movement disturbance or the detected audio frequency disturbance is indicative of an attempt to remove the vehicle catalytic converter, or (ii) there is a change in orientation of the vehicle catalytic converter;
• and
• cause a security device to be activated in response to the trigger signal.