Automatically armed vehicle anti-theft system
OwnerDavid M. Stadlerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motorized vehicle anti-theft system which is passive by being automatically armed (i.e., does not require a vehicle occupant to set the system). Once power has been turned on to the vehicle, detection of an attempt to start the vehicle motor or the opening of a vehicle door starts a predetermined time cycle. If a first reset signal is not received before the end of the time cycle, a vehicle disabling circuit is set. After that, a detection of actuation of the vehicle brake will cause the disabling circuit to only permit the vehicle engine to operate properly near the engine idling speed, and set off an alarm. Only proper generation of the first and a second reset signal will allow the vehicle to be operated properly again.
Claims12
An automatically armed motorized vehicle anti-theft system comprising:
- a sensor latch means for providing an output signal in response to detection of either an attempt to start the vehicle motor or the opening of a vehicle door;
- an electrical power detection means for providing an output signal in response to activation of vehicle electrical power;
- a timer means having a timer cycle, said timer means automatically starting the timer cycle in response to said sensor latch means output signal and said electrical power detection means output signal, wherein when the timer cycle is complete, said timer means outputs a trigger signal;
- means for generating a first reset signal to reset said sensor latch means and said timer means;
- and
- a vehicle disabling means which is responsive to said trigger signal and a signal indicative of a vehicle brake actuation for only permitting the vehicle engine to operate properly near an engine idling speed in response to detection of a vehicle brake actuation after the receipt of said trigger signal.
A method for passively preventing a theft of a motorized vehicle comprising the steps of:
- a) detecting activation of the vehicle's electrical power;
- b) detecting an attempt to start the vehicle motor or open a vehicle door;
- c) in response to both steps a) and b), automatically initiating a predetermined time cycle;
- d) detecting whether a first reset signal is generated;
- e) generating a trigger signal at the end of said time cycle if the first reset signal has not been generated;
- f) detecting actuation of a vehicle brake;
- and
- g) disabling the vehicle so that the vehicle engine will only operate properly near an engine idling speed in response to the first detection of vehicle brake actuation after said trigger signal has been generated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.