GB2139789A

GB2139789A - Electronic anti-theft device controlled by magnetic pulses particularly for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2139789A
Application number: GB08307938A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giuseppe Gozzini
Original assignee: BAS E Srl
Current assignee: BAS E Srl
Priority date: 1982-09-09
Filing date: 1983-03-23
Publication date: 1984-11-14
Also published as: IT1157579B; FR2532898A1; GB8307938D0; IT8205212A0; DE3310217A1

Abstract

An electronic anti-theft device has a central electronic unit (1)which includes at least one electronic continuous pulse counter, a magnetic pulse detector (2) connected to the said unit and a magnetic activator which transmits magnetic pulses to the said unit through the detector and can be kept in a pocket. The central electronic unit (1) is connected to the various units and/or parts to be protected and controls the switching on and off of the anti-theft device on the basis of the pulses transmitted to it by the magnetic activator, as well as activating alarm signals if the units and/or parts protected are tampered with. This anti-theft device is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for the protection of any kind of motor vehicles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electronic anti-theft device controlled by magnetic pulses, particularly for motor vehicles The present invention relates to an electronic antitheft device controlled by magnetic impulses, which is particularly but not exclusively suitable for installation in either petrol or diesel engined motor vehicles in general.

In the context of anti-theft devices for motor vehicles and/or for other purposes electronic antitheft devices of the combination type or using pulses of various kinds have been suggested in addition to those of the substantially electrical or electromechanical type, but never devices which are switched on and off by means of magnetic impulses.

The principal aim of this invention is to seek to provide an electronic anti-theft device which is simple, reliable in operation and can be easily, conveniently and practically switched on and off using a simple and cheap permanent magnet which may be conveniently placed and kept e.g. in a key fob or in another device which can be carried in the pocket.

According to the present invention there is provided an electronic anti-theft device controlled by magnetic pulses, comprising a central electronic unit (1 ) which includes at least one electronic continuous pulse counter, a magnetic pulse detector (2) connected to the continuous counter of the said central electronic unit (1), and a magnetic activator (3) which can be carried in the pocket and is used to transmit pulses to the said central unit via detector (2), the said central electronic unit (1) being connected to various units and/or parts which are to be protected and being designed to count up to a predetermined number of pulses and then reset to control the switching on and off of the anti-theft device on the basis of the pulses transmitted to it by the magnetic activator and to activate an acoustic and/or luminous warning if any of the units and/or parts protected are tampered with.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically, an anti-theft device fitted to a motor vehicle requiring protection; Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating the connection of the anti-theft device to a petrol-engined vehicle and a diesel-engined vehicle, respectively; Figures 4,5 and 6 illustrate, separately, the central electronic unit, the pulse counter and the activator in the form of a key fob; and Figure 7 illustrates one example of the circuit of the central electronic unit.

The device of the present invention comprises of three separate parts: a central electronic unit 1, a magnetic pulse detector 2 and a magnetic activator 3, shown respectively in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The central electronic unit 1 includes, within a body 4, an electronic circuit of the type shown for example in Figure 7 of the drawings, which includes among other things a continuous electronic pulse counter preferably designed to count 10 pulses and reset on reaching that number of pulses. The central electronic unit also includes a timer 25 which is designed to control the activation time of the anti-theft device when this is triggered off in the event of theft.

The pulse detector 2 includes e.g. a bulb switch, not shown, which can be activated following the intermittent approach of magnetic activator 3 and is designed to transmit the resulting pulses to the continuous counter of central electronic unit 1 via a connection 13, see Figures 2 and 3, the said pulses being rendered visible by means of a warning light 14 incorporated into the body of the detector itself.

In turn magnetic activator 3 consists of a magnetic block 23 placed and preferably kept in a key fob 24, see Figure 6, which is thus separate from the other components of the anti-theft device and can be placed in the pocket and is convenient to use.

When the anti-theft device described above is in use on a motor vehicle central electronic unit 1 is fixed to a mounting located e.g. in the engine space of the vehicle itself, while pulse counter 2 is e.g. fixed by means of a tongue 28 provided on the body thereof to the windscreen seal of the vehicle, see Figure 1. The central electronic unit 1 is then connected by means of a terminal board 5 provided on the exterior of its body 4 to pulse counter 3, the electrical power source or battery 6 of the vehicle and to those parts of the vehicle which are to be protected such as, see Figure 1, the means 7 whereby the doors of the vehicle are closed, the means 8 whereby the bonnet of the engine space is closed, the means 9 whereby the boot is closed, the car radio, the starter unit 10, etc.

In the case of a petrol-engined motor vehicle, see Figure 2, central electronic unit 1 may also be connected to the distributor 11 and the coil 12, while in the case of a diesel-engined vehicle, see Figure 3, central unit 1 may be connected to the fuel pump 15 or to the electrical valve and an additional relay 16 may be provided.

In every case, however, central unit 1 is connected to an acoustic and/or visual warning 17 to give the alarm if any of the protected parts of the vehicle are tampered with.

In order to switch the anti-theft device on, all that is necessary is to transmit a certain number of less than ten pulses to the continuous counter of central electronic unit 1 by intermittently bringing magnetic activator 3 into the proximity of pulse detector 2.

When the anti-theft device is switched on the opening of a door or of the bonnet or tampering with any other protected part of the vehicle will set off the acoustic and/or visual device to give warning of such tampering.

Also the insertion of the key into the starter unit will cause the alarm device to be set off and will also prevent the engine from operating.

The motor vehicle is thus protected against theft and tampering.

In order to switch off the anti-theft device and prevent operation of the alarm for normal use of the vehicle by the user all that is necessary is to transmit a number of pulses, which when added to the number of pulses provided in order to switch it on adds up to the number ten, to the central electronic unit via the pulse counter, again using activator 3.

The anti-theft device is then "reset" and wholly inactivated.

Claims

1. An electronic anti-theft device controlled by magnetic pulses, comprising a central electronic unit (1) which includes at least one electronic continuous pulse counter, a magnetic pulse detector (2) connected to the continuous counter of the said central electronic unit (1), and a magnetic activator (3) which can be carried in the pocket and is used to transmit pulses to the said central unit via detector (2), the said central electronic unit (1) being connected to various units and/or parts which are to be protected and being designed to count up to a predetermined number of pulses and then reset to control the switching on and off of the anti-theft device on the basis of the pulses transmitted to it by the magnetic activator and to activate an acoustic and/or luminous warning if any of the units and/or parts protected are tampered with.

2. An anti-theft device according to claim 1, in which the central electronic unit is connected to an electrical power source and includes a timer to regulate the duration of the alarm signals.

3. An anti-theft device according to claims 1 and 2, in which the said pulse detector includes a warning light two render visible the pulses transmitted via the detector itself.

4. An electronic anti-theft device according to the foregoing claims, in which the said magnetic activa torwhich can be kept in the pocket (3) consists of a magnetic block enclosed in and preferably kept within a key fob which can be brought close to the pulse detector intermittently in order to transmit on and off switching pulses to the central electronic unit.