# US 5,349,326 A · Car audio apparatus

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- Number: US 5,349,326 A
- Document ID: US5349326A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/906,690
- Filed: 1992-06-30
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1991-07-03
- Assignees: Yamaha Corporation
- Inventors: Morito Yamada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349326A

## CPC

- B60R 11/02: for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
- H04B 1/082: {to be used in vehicles (H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02)}
- B60R 11/0211: {for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players}
- B60R 11/0264: {for control means}
- B60R 25/10: actuating a signalling device
- G06Q 40/00: Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
- G08B 13/14: by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
- B60R 2011/0096: {Theft prevention of articles}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A car audio apparatus mounted on an automobile and having a function for preventing theft, the car audio apparatus includes a main body portion fixed to the automobile and a front panel detachably mounted to the main body portion of the audio apparatus. The main body portion has a CPU and a first memory for storing a first secret code and the front panel has a second memory for storing a second secret code. The CPU is capable of respectively reading out the first and second secret codes from the first and second memories and comparing the first secret code with the second secret code so that when both secret codes agree, the CPU enables operation of the car audio apparatus and when both of the secret codes do not agree, the CPU inhibits the operation of the car audio apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A car audio apparatus mounted on an automobile comprising:
a main body portion fixed to the automobile, the main body portion having a first storage means for storing a first secret code;
a front panel detachably mounted to the main body portion of the audio apparatus, the front panel having a second storage means for storing a second secret code; and
a control means for respectively reading out the first and second secret codes from the first storage means and second storage means and comparing the first secret code with the second secret code so that when both secret codes agree, the control means enables the operation of the car audio apparatus and when both of the secret codes do not agree, the control means inhibits the operation of the car audio apparatus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A car audio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front panel forms an operation panel for designating a desired operation of the car audio apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A car audio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front panel further comprises input means for inputting a plurality of codes so that the first and second storage means respectively store a code inputted by the input means as new first and second secret codes.