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
Estimating the term…
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;
- 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.