GB2244361A - Vehicle alarm system - Google Patents

Vehicle alarm system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2244361A
GB2244361A GB9110587A GB9110587A GB2244361A GB 2244361 A GB2244361 A GB 2244361A GB 9110587 A GB9110587 A GB 9110587A GB 9110587 A GB9110587 A GB 9110587A GB 2244361 A GB2244361 A GB 2244361A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
alarm system
control unit
signal
traffic lights
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9110587A
Other versions
GB9110587D0 (en
Inventor
Robert Murray Johnson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9110587D0 publication Critical patent/GB9110587D0/en
Publication of GB2244361A publication Critical patent/GB2244361A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/10—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles actuating a signalling device
    • B60R25/102—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles actuating a signalling device a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
    • B60R25/04—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/10—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles actuating a signalling device
    • B60R25/1003—Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/30—Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems
    • B60R25/33—Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
    • G08B25/009—Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/10—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles actuating a signalling device
    • B60R2025/1013—Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/10—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles actuating a signalling device
    • B60R25/1004—Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60W—CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
    • B60W2556/00—Input parameters relating to data
    • B60W2556/45—External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
    • B60W2556/50—External transmission of data to or from the vehicle of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Alarm Systems (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle alarm system comprises an electronic control unit within the vehicle interconnected with the ignition circuit of the vehicle such that, on breaking of the ignition circuit, the unit is primed for activation, and deactivation means operation of which deactivates the alarm system. The arrangement is such that, unless the deactivation means are operated prior to use of the vehicle - for example prior to completion of the ignition circuit or within a predetermined time of a user sitting on the driver's seat - the control unit transmits a signal indicative of unauthorised use of the vehicle, which signal activates receiving means remote from the vehicle. The receiving means may be mounted in traffic lights for relaying information as to vehicle movement to a central control.

Description

VEHICLE ALARM SYSTEM This invention relates to alarm systems for motor vehicles.
The provision of alarm systems in motor vehicles to deter or prevent illegal entry and/or theft of the vehicle is well-established.
Most current systems provide for an audible and/or visible signal to be transmitted by the vehicle as soon as any unauthorised attempt to enter the vehicle is made.
It is not uncommon for such alarm systems to sound even when no attempt at entry is being made - systems have been known to be triggered by weather conditions, such as excessive wind or heat, and by movements other than by intruders.
Consequently, and in view of the rapidly-increasing number of false alarms associated with such systems, the general public often ignore many actuated systems, all of which tends to be to the potential thief's advantage.
It has been proposed to incorporate into a motor vehicle an alarm system that can be triggered remotely by t?e car orer, or example by a telephonic trans.-. â~iO...
The signal so transmitted serves to activate the alarm system of the vehicle firstly to warn the unauthorised driver of the vehicle that the vehicle is about to be immobilised and, subsequently, to immobilise the vehicle.
However, a major disadvantage of such a system is tat the owner first of all has to realise that his vehicle has been stolen before he activates the alarm, and, unless. he is carrying his own personal 'phone at.the time, he then has to obtain access to a 'phone before he can transmit the necessary activating signal.
It would be desirable to be able to provide a vehicle alarm system less prone to the aforementioned disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle alarm system comprising an electronic control unit within the vehicle interconnected with the ignition circuit of the vehicle such that, on breaking of the ignition circuit, the unit is primed for activation, and deactivation means operation of which deactivates the alarm system, the arrangement being such that, unless the deactivation means are operated prior to use of the vehicle, the control unit transmits a signal indicative of unauthorised use of the vehicle, the alarm system further comprising receiving means remote from the vehicle and adapted for activation by said signal so transmitted by the control unit.
In one embodiment of the invention, the signal indicative of unauthorised use of the vehicle is zransmtze5 by no control unit if the ignition crout G' the vehicle is completed prior to operating the deactivation means.
Preferably the control unit of the one embodiment incorporates a delay circuit whereby, a predetermined time after unauthorised completion of the ignition circuit, the driver is -advised that the vehicle is about to be immobilised, and the vehicle is subsequently immobilised for example by disconnection of the petrol supply to the engine.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the alarm system further comprises, incorporated in one or more of the seats- of the vehicle, preferably the driver's seat, pressure sensitive means, the signal indicative of unauthorised use of the vehicle being transmitted by the control unit unless the deactivation means are operated within a predetermined period after the application of pressure to said pressure sensitive means.
Preferably the control unit of the alternative embodiment incorporates a delay circuit whereby, a predetermined time after the application of pressure to the pressure sensitive means, the user is advised that the vehicle is about to be immobilised, and the vehicle is subsequently immobilised, for example by disconnection of the petrol supply to the engine.
The deactivation means may comprise a digital code to be applied to the control unit and known only to the authorised user - alternatively said means may comprise, for example, a mechanical key or said means may be operated 5 an infra-red cr an ultrasonic signal.
The signal transmitted by the control unit during unauthorised use of the vehicle may be of any suitable frequency, while the receiving means remote from the vehicle may comprise a receiving unit such as a telephone located at any one or more of the owner's residence, a police station, the A.A., the R.A.C., the owner 5 insurance company or any other interested party.
Preferably, however, the receiving means are incorporated in traffic lights and comprise, for each traffic light, a housing containing four light units, one associated with each direction of approach to and departure from the traffic lights, the arrangement being such that, as a stolen vehicle approaches the traffic lights, the signal being transmitted by the control unit activates the light unit associated with that direction of approach, which light unit, in turn, transmits a signal to an associated central monitor, and, as the vehicle moves away from the traffic lights, the signal being transmitted by the control unit activates the light unit associated with the direction of departure from the traffic lights, which light unit transmits a signal to the central monitor.
Thus a viewer at the central monitor can follow the progress of the stolen vehicle.
Thus there is provided a vehicle alarm system which is automatically set as soon as the ignition circuit of the vehicle is broken and which, on unauthorised use and without the necessity for any action by the owner, transmits a signal indicative of the unauthorised nature of tie use, -:hioh sign31 has receiving means associated therewith whereby the progress of the vehicle can be monitored.
As mentioned, the alarm system of the invention may be such as to warn the thief that his unauthorised use is under surveillance and to immobilise the vehicle as and when appropriate.
Clearly the precise construction and operation of the system can vary from that detailed above, and in particular the nature of the deactivation means and the receiving means can be chosen to suit requirements.

Claims (10)

1. A vehicle alarm system comprising an electronic control unit within the vehicle interconnected with the ignition circuit of the vehicle such that, on breaking of the ignition circuit, the unit is primed for activation, and deactivation means operation of which deactivates-the alarm system, the arrangement being such that, unless the deactivation means are operated prior to use of the vehicle, the control unit transmits a signal indicative of unauthorised use of the vehicle, the alarm system further comprising receiving means remote from the vehicle and adapted for activation by said signal transmitted by the control unit.
2. An alarm system as claimed in claim 1 in which the signal indicative of unauthorised use of the vehicle is transmitted by the control unit if the ignition circuit of the vehicle is completed prior to operating the deactivation means.
3. An alarm system as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising, incorporated in one or more of the seats of the vehicle, pressure sensitive means, the signal indicative of unauthorised use of the vehicle being transmitted by the control unit unless the deactivation means are operated within a predetermined period after the application of pressure to said pressure sensitive means.
4. An alarm system as claimed in claim 2 in which the control unit incorporates a delay circuit whereby, a predeterminez time after unauthorise co..pleoLo~. of the ignition circuit, the driver is advised that the vehicle is about to be immobilised, and the vehicle is subsequently immobilised.
5. An alarm system as claimed in claim 3 in which the control unit incorporates a delay circuit whereby, a predetermined time after the application of pressure to said pressure sensitive means, the user is advised that the vehicle is about to be immobilised, and the vehicle is subsequently immobilised.
6. An alarm system as claimed in claim 5 in which the pressure sensitive means are incorporated in the driver's seat of the vehicle.
7. An alarm system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the deactivation means comprises any one of: a digital code to be applied to the control unit; a mechanical key; an infra-red or ultrasonic signal.
8. An alarm system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the receiving means comprise a telephone.
9. An alarm system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the receiving means are incorporated in traffic lights and comprise for each traffic light, a housing containing four light units, one associated with each direction of approach to and departure from the traffic lights, the arrangement being such that, as a stolen vehicle approaches the traffic lights, the signal being transmitted by the control unit activates the light unit associated with that direction of approach, which light unit, in turn, transmits a signal to an aocolatec central monitor, and, as the vehicle moves away from the traffic lights, the signal being transmitted by the control unit activates the light unit associated with the direction of departure from the traffic lights, which light unit transmits a signal to the central monitor.
10. An alarm system substantially as described herein.
GB9110587A 1990-05-24 1991-05-16 Vehicle alarm system Withdrawn GB2244361A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909011594A GB9011594D0 (en) 1990-05-24 1990-05-24 Vehicle alarm system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9110587D0 GB9110587D0 (en) 1991-07-03
GB2244361A true GB2244361A (en) 1991-11-27

Family

ID=10676456

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB909011594A Pending GB9011594D0 (en) 1990-05-24 1990-05-24 Vehicle alarm system
GB9110587A Withdrawn GB2244361A (en) 1990-05-24 1991-05-16 Vehicle alarm system

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB909011594A Pending GB9011594D0 (en) 1990-05-24 1990-05-24 Vehicle alarm system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9011594D0 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2259390A (en) * 1991-09-05 1993-03-10 Nicholas English Vehicle alarm system
WO1994029147A1 (en) * 1993-06-15 1994-12-22 Akers Benelux S.A. Vehicle anti-theft device
FR2733194A1 (en) * 1995-04-21 1996-10-25 Gatineau Jacques Gustave Andre Anti-theft alarm device for motor vehicle

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4067411A (en) * 1976-05-27 1978-01-10 Conley Thomas R Vehicle emergency alarm and stop system
GB2119552A (en) * 1982-04-27 1983-11-16 Carlos Tinoco Gutierrez Anti-theft and retrieval for vehicles
GB2143977A (en) * 1983-07-15 1985-02-20 Chin Chuan Chang Burglar alarm system for a vehicle or the like
US4821309A (en) * 1985-07-09 1989-04-11 Alpine Electronics Inc. Method of alarm to prevent vehicle thefts
GB2218243A (en) * 1988-05-02 1989-11-08 Lionel Leslie Newby Vehicle security system
US4904983A (en) * 1986-06-05 1990-02-27 Steven Mitchell Alarm system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4067411A (en) * 1976-05-27 1978-01-10 Conley Thomas R Vehicle emergency alarm and stop system
GB2119552A (en) * 1982-04-27 1983-11-16 Carlos Tinoco Gutierrez Anti-theft and retrieval for vehicles
GB2143977A (en) * 1983-07-15 1985-02-20 Chin Chuan Chang Burglar alarm system for a vehicle or the like
US4821309A (en) * 1985-07-09 1989-04-11 Alpine Electronics Inc. Method of alarm to prevent vehicle thefts
US4904983A (en) * 1986-06-05 1990-02-27 Steven Mitchell Alarm system
GB2218243A (en) * 1988-05-02 1989-11-08 Lionel Leslie Newby Vehicle security system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2259390A (en) * 1991-09-05 1993-03-10 Nicholas English Vehicle alarm system
WO1994029147A1 (en) * 1993-06-15 1994-12-22 Akers Benelux S.A. Vehicle anti-theft device
FR2733194A1 (en) * 1995-04-21 1996-10-25 Gatineau Jacques Gustave Andre Anti-theft alarm device for motor vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9011594D0 (en) 1990-07-11
GB9110587D0 (en) 1991-07-03

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)