Anti-theft device for a motor vehicle

In a motor vehicle, a drive system including an anti-theft device, the drive system comprising:

• an engine for generating mechanical power,
• a key-operated ignition system for starting the engine and providing a reference time point for said anti-theft device,
• wheel means for receiving the mechanical power to move the motor vehicle,
• clutch means for engaging the engine with the wheel means, the clutch means having an engaged position for engaging the engine with the wheel means, and a disengaged position for disengaging the engine and the wheel means,
• means for automatically moving the clutch means between the engaged and disengaged positions to automatically engage and disengage the engine and the wheel means, and
• means for monitoring at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle and producing a signal corresponding to said at least one operating condition,
• control means for operating said means for automatically moving, said control means comprising means for receiving said produced operating condition signal and means for operating said means for automatically moving to automatically engage and disengage said clutch means in response to said produced operating condition signal, and
• said anti-theft device, said anti-theft device comprising:
• means for producing a signal for permitting engagement of the clutch means to permit engagement of the engine with the wheel means;
• and
• said control means comprising means for receiving said produced engagement signal of said anti-theft device to correspondingly operate said means for automatically engaging and disengaging to:
• permit engagement of the clutch for an authorized user upon receipt of said produced engagement signal within a predetermined period of time before or after starting of the engine, and
• disengage the clutch for an unauthorized user upon not receiving said produced engagement signal within a predetermined period of time immediately before or after starting of the engine.

A method for protecting a motor vehicle from being stolen, the motor vehicle having a drive train, the drive train having an engine for generating mechanical power to move the motor vehicle, a key-operated ignition system for starting the engine and operating the motor vehicle, wheels for being driven by the mechanical power generated by the engine, shaft means for receiving the mechanical power of the engine and transmitting the mechanical power to the drive wheels to move the motor vehicle, clutch means for engaging and disengaging the engine and the wheels to respectively engage and disengage the engine from the wheels, an automatic clutch activation device for automatically engaging and disengaging the clutch means to respectively engage and disengage the engine and the wheels, the automatic clutch activation device having a first limit position for engaging the clutch and a second limit position for disengaging the clutch, and being movable between the first and second limit positions, said automatic clutch activation device comprising:

• sensor means for monitoring an operating condition of at least one of:
• the engine, the wheels, and the transmission, and control means for operating said automatic clutch activation device, said control means comprising means for monitoring said sensor means, and means for operating the automatic clutch activation device to automatically engage and disengage the clutch means in response to predetermined operating conditions of the at least one of:
• the engine, the wheels, and the transmission, an anti-theft system comprising:
• a keypad for inputting a multi-digit code and producing an electronic signal corresponding to said input code;
• and said control means comprises means for receiving said produced signal and correspondingly operating said automatic clutch activating device to:
• permit engagement of the clutch for an authorized user upon receiving at least a first pre-determined multi-digit code within a predetermined period of time before or after starting of the engine, and disengage the clutch for an unauthorized user upon one of:
• receiving a multi-digit numeric code different from the predetermined multi-digit code, and not receiving any multi-digit code within the predetermined period of time before or after starting of the engine, said method comprising the steps of:
• providing the drive train for a motor vehicle;
• providing said automatic clutch activation device for engaging and disengaging said clutch means;
• providing said keypad for inputting a multi-digit code and producing a signal corresponding to said input code;
• providing said means for receiving said produced signal;
• and one of:
• upon receiving said at least a first pre-determined multi-digit code within said predetermined period of time before or after starting the engine, permitting engagement of said clutch means;
• and
• upon receiving one of:
• a multi-digit code different from said pre-determined code, and no multi-digit code within the predetermined period of time before or after starting the engine, disengaging said clutch means.