FR2636457A1 - PARKING VEHICLE MONITORING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a surveillance device for vehicles parked in a car park, which comprises, for each parking place, a fixed post (1), a movable detector head (4) connected to the fixed post (1) by means of a flexible cable (3) and designed so that it can be temporarily fastened in a tamper-proof manner to a vehicle (2) to be monitored so as to detect possible acts of vandalism on the latter, an electronic circuit triggering the operation of alarm means (23) in response to detection signals emitted by the detector head (4) or if a cable (3) connecting the latter to the said post is severed, and a keypad (16) making it possible to enter a secret code in order to authorise and then to inhibit the triggering of the alarm means.

Description

Stationary vehicle monitoring device The invention is

  relates to a device for monitoring parked vehicles, in particular motor cars in a parking lot. More particularly, the object of the invention is to create a device capable of ensuring the automatic surveillance of vehicles whether or not provided with their own surveillance device, and of reporting any malicious act targeting the vehicle being monitored: attempted break-in, vehicle intrusion, theft, vandalism, etc. The monitoring device according to the invention comprises for this purpose a fixed terminal, disposed near a parking space, a movable detector head connected to the fixed terminal by a flexible cable and designed to be able to. be temporarily fixed, tamper-proof, to a vehicle to be monitored so as to detect any malicious acts of which it is the object, an electronic control circuit triggering the operation of alarm means specific to the monitoring device in response to detection signals emitted by the detector head or in the event of the cable connecting it being cut off at said terminal, and a confidential code device making it possible to authorize and inhibit the triggering of the alarm means . Such a device allows each person coming to park their vehicle nearby to place it under surveillance during his absence. It suffices to subject the detector head of the device to its vehicle and to put the latter into activity (standby situation) by introducing a confidential code. To take back his vehicle, the person forms a second confidential code (preferably identical to the first) which puts the device in a situation of inactivity (or waiting); it can then detach the detector head from the vehicle without the device reacting, and the latter is available to ensure

  monitoring another vehicle.

  In a preferred embodiment, the detector head has in its structure a part of reduced thickness thanks to which it can be fixed to the vehicle by pinching, at this part, between a fixed element and a mobile element of the vehicle, the operation of this movable element that can be made impossible without breaking into any person not

  authorized to enter the vehicle.

  The above-mentioned fixed element can be a door frame, the movable element being the door received in this frame, or even a window frame, the movable element being a sliding window in this frame. In the latter case, the thinner part of the detector head should be the result of a deep slit which it comprises, this slit making it possible to mount the head by straddling

  detector on the edge of the sliding window.

  The detector head may include at least one volumetric ultrasonic or microwave detector (to detect any abnormal movement or displacement inside the vehicle), a shock detector or a change of attitude detector (to detect acts of vandalism and vehicle theft attempts). In a very simple manner, the device for authorizing and inhibiting the triggering of the alarm means can be constituted by a keyboard mounted on the terminal and making it possible to introduce an authorization code into the electronic control circuit and a muting code in order to place the device

  in an active standby situation or bring it back into a waiting situation.

  The fixed terminal may include a safety lock, the only operation of which, using a special key, makes it possible to stop the operation of the alarm means after they have been activated. To apply the invention to a parking lot with several locations, for example a parking lot for motor cars, it is necessary to use several similar monitoring devices assigned respectively to the different parking locations, the terminals of all these devices being electrically connected. at a central station with a

  common alarm means To all monitoring devices.

  In order to avoid any possibility of fraudulent decommissioning of the electrical connection of the terminals of the various devices at the central station, this is done by connecting said terminals at successive points of a single electric cable, which comprises a conductive loop which extends over its entire length and whose opening, revealing a cutting of the target, is detected by a control device which triggers

then an alarm.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to the drawings

  attached, of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment.

  FIG. 1 schematically represents, in perspective,

  a monitoring device according to the invention in use

  tion. 2 shows in cross section, on a larger scale, the detector head of the device of Figure 1, secured on the sliding glass of a door of the vehicle under surveillance. FIG. 3 represents a simplified diagram of the electrical connection of several monitoring devices to a central station. We see in Figure l a fixed terminal 1 with which a vehicle 2 (automobile) is parked. A terminal 4 is connected to terminal I by a twisted target 3 which can be temporarily secured to the vehicle or, when not in use, placed at rest in 4 'on a support 5 integral

from terminal 1.

  In accordance with FIG. 2, the detector head 4 comprises a U-shaped part 6 on the branches 6a, b of which are fixed externally on the one hand a housing 10 containing a detector 7 and on the other hand a housing 8 of connection to the target 3 and, internally, a pair of blocks 9 of elastic foam offering between them a narrow gap forming a deep slot 24. The head 4 is thus composed of two relatively large parts, constituted by the booters 8, 10, which are connected by a thin part formed by the bottom 6c of the U-shaped part 6. This structure makes it possible to secure inviolably the detector head on the vehicle by pinching said thin part between the edge of the sliding glass 11 of one doors 14 of the vehicle and the corresponding seal 12 which

  runs along the frame 13 of the window glass.

  The detector 7 is housed in the case 10 which is inside the vehicle when the detector head 4 is in

  square. This detector is intended to detect attempted break-outs.

  tion or theft of which the parked vehicle 2 may be the object. It can be a volumetric detector (with ultrasonic, infrared or microwave waves) sensitive to the presence of any moving object or person inside the vehicle, or a shock or attitude change detector , sensitive to the movements of the vehicle as a whole which would result from an attempt to tow or remove the vehicle. Optionally, several detectors of different types

  will be combined in the detector head 4.

  The cable 3 ensures the electrical supply, from terminal 1, of the detector (s) 7 of the head 4 and the routing towards terminal 1 of the detection signals possibly emitted by the

head 4.

  Terminal 1 (Figure 1) consists of a barrel 21 anchored to the ground by a base 15. On the front face of the barrel 21 appear the support 5 already mentioned, a keypad 16 with twelve keys, a lock 17 operating using a key, two indicator lights 18, 19 and an information plate 20 for users. At the top of the barrel 21 is mounted a mast 22 carrying at its end a visual alarm device 23 (flashing lamp for example). Terminal 1 also contains an audible alarm device, an electronic control circuit and means of electrical supply or connection to such a supply, not visible in the drawing. The keyboard 16, connected to the electronic circuit, comprises ten keys marked 0, 1, ... 9 which allow each user to dial a digital code with several digits at the address of the electronic circuit, as well as a validation key V and a cancel key A for the code entered on the keyboard. The two indicators 18 and 19 are also connected to the electronic circuit. The indicator 18 is a green indicator, the lighting of which indicates that the monitoring device is available; LED 19 is a red LED that is on

  during the entire period of use of the device.

  The electronic circuit can be a circuit of known type commonly used in monitoring devices

  for homes. It is designed to trigger the operation of

  alarm means if the link target 3 is cut. When a motorist wishes to use the monitoring device for his vehicle 2 parked nearby, he enters, after verifying that the green light 18 is on, the detector head 4 resting on the support 5 and subjects it to the vehicle. To do this, it lowers the glass II and straddles the head 4 thereon, which takes place in the slot 24 formed between the elastic blocks 9; then it raises the glass so that the thin part 6c of the head 4 is pinched between the edge of the glass and the seal 12. The sensor head 4 is then firmly secured to the vehicle, and cannot be removed therefrom

  without break-in once locked the vehicle doors.

  The user then dials a secret code of his choice on the keyboard 16 and presses the validation key V. The green light 18 goes out and the red light 19 comes on, which indicates the activation of the surveillance. Consequently, any abnormal event affecting the monitored vehicle is detected by the head 4, which produces a detection signal transmitted via the target 3 to the electronic control circuit, which

  triggers the operation of the audible and visual alarm means.

  When the motorist wants to repossess his vehicle, he again dials the aforementioned code on the keypad 16 (in the event of an error, he can start again after pressing the cancel key A), then validates it with using the V key. The red light 19 goes out, the green light comes on and the circuit

  electronics inhibits the operation of alarm means.

  The motorist can then enter his vehicle without the monitoring device reacting; it lowers the glass II to release the detector member 4 which it puts back on the support 5. As soon as the vehicle leaves, the monitoring device

  found available to monitor another vehicle.

  If it is a question of monitoring vehicles in a car park, a monitoring device 1, 3, 4 as described above is installed near each parking space (Figure 3). The terminals 1 of these devices are electrically connected to a common cable 25 for connection to a central station 26. The latter comprises a supply device composed of a storage battery 27 and a charger 28 connected to the AC sector. by a pair of terminals S and ensuring the charge of the battery 27, which supplies, via two wires 25a, 25b of the cable 25, the DC supply voltage necessary for each monitoring device. A third wire 25c of the cable 25 routes the alarm signal delivered by the electronic circuit of any of the monitoring devices to the central station 26 and applies this signal to the coil of a relay 29, a contact 29a of which then provides the excitation of an audible alarm means 30, while another contact 29b of this relay applies the voltage of the battery 27 to a pair of terminals P in order to trigger the taking of additional measures such as closing of the gate d access to the car park, switching on of its lighting system, automatic dialing of the telephone number of the nearest police station, etc. The cable 25 has a fourth wire 25d which, with the supply wire 25a, forms a loop extending over the entire length of the cable. This loop, connected in series with the coil of a relay 31, a break contact 31a supplies the alarm means 30, ensures the integrity of the cable 25. In the event of sectioning of the latter, the loop 25a-25d is open, the relay 31 is no longer supplied and its contact 31a closes and

  controls the operation of the alarm means 30.

  If one of the vehicles is the object of burglary or theft attempts, the parking manager is immediately notified by the audible alarm means 30 provided in the central station 26. In addition, the alarm means specific to each monitoring device, in particular the flashing light 23, immediately indicate to it which vehicle is the object of malicious maneuvers, so that it can take any appropriate measure to put an end to it. He can then stop the emission of alarm signals by actuating the lock 17 of the corresponding terminal I using the special key he has, valid for the locks of all the terminals in the car park. Apart from that, the monitoring devices do not require any intervention from the

parking manager.

Claims (10)

Claims   1. Device for monitoring parked vehicles, especially cars in a parking lot, characterized in that it comprises a fixed terminal (1), disposed near a parking space, a movable detector head (4) connected to the fixed terminal (1) by a flexible cable (3) and designed to be able to be temporarily fixed, inviolably, to a vehicle (2) to be monitored so as to detect possible malicious acts of which the latter would be the object, an electronic control circuit triggering the operation of alarm means (23) specific to the monitoring device in response to detection signals emitted by the detector head (4) or in the event of cable cutting (3) connecting the latter to said terminal, and a confidential code device (16) making it possible to authorize and inhibit the triggering of alarm means.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector head (4) has in its structure a part (6c) of reduced thickness by which it can be fixed to the vehicle (2) by pinching, at this part, between a fixed element (12, 13) and a movable element (11) of the vehicle, the operation of this movable element being able to be made impossible without break-in to any person not authorized to enter the vehicle.   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixed element is a door frame -and   the mobile element the door received in this frame.   4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixed element is a window frame (12, 13)   and the movable element a window (II) sliding in this frame.   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the part (6c) of reduced thickness of the detector head (4) results from a deep slot (24) which the latter comprises, making it possible to mount the head by straddling   detector on the edge of the sliding glass (11).   6. Device according to any one of claims I   to 5, characterized in that the detector head (4) comprises at least one volumetric ultrasonic, infrared or microwave ray detector, a shock detector or a change of plate.   7. Device according to any one of claims 1   to 6, characterized in that the device for authorizing and inhibiting the triggering of the alarm means is a keyboard (16) mounted on the terminal (1) and making it possible to introduce a code into the electronic control circuit authorization and a muting code.   8. Device according to any one of claims I   to 7, characterized by the fact that the terminal includes a safety lock (17), the only operation of which, using a special key, makes it possible to stop the operation of the alarm means after that they have been put into action.   9. Device - according to any one of claims 1   8, characterized in that it is associated with several similar monitoring devices assigned to other parking spaces and that the terminals (1) of all these devices are electrically connected to a central station (26) comprising means alarm (30) common to all monitoring devices. 10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the electrical connection of its terminal (1) and of those of the other devices to the central station (26) is effected by connection of these at successive points of a single electric target (25), which comprises a conductive loop (25a, d) which extends over its entire length and whose opening, revealing a cutting of the target, is detected by a device control (31).