GB2272787A - Identifying and controlling e.g. Vehicles. - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for automatic vehicle identification and possible subsequent stopping comprises a base station and a mobile unit. The mobile unit (10) has a receiver (11), a decoder (12), two switches (13 and 22), a memory (14), a coder (15), a transmitter (16) and a bypass unit (28). The base station (operated by the police, say) sends a question (Q) signal towards a vehicle equipped with the mobile unit (10). The mobile unit (10) responds with a signal (R) identifying the vehicle. This R signal is received by the base station (20), processed and displayed and compared to database information about the vehicle. The inspecting body can decide to stop the vehicle automatically if it is discovered the vehicle is stolen. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS This invention relates to an electronic apparatus and more particularly but not exclusively to an electronic apparatus for automatically identifying and checking remote objects, such as vehicles.

Recent micro electronic components allow for the building of relatively sophisticated devices at a reasonable cost, with relatively high reliability in operation.

Nowadays the procedure for registration and identification of motor vehicles is usually by means of a registration number plate being fastened to the vehicle.

More detailed inspection of a vehicle can be done by checking a driver's log book where there are details of engine and chassis number, colour, owner's name, date of manufacture etc. This procedure is tedious, time consuming and not efficient. Moreover, false documents and number plates make the checking even more complicated and permit circumvention of this checking and authentication procedure.

An attempt to stop a vehicle suspected of being stolen can lead to a subsequent chase which can be dangerous.

Sometimes it is not just dangerous for drivers of vehicles but also innocent pedestrians or other third parties. In addition if a vehicle is stolen it can be very difficult to trace if the vehicle's documents are forged, the vehicle's colour is changed and a new engine is put in the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for preventing or reducing the risk of vehicle theft and which is one embodiment may be used to prevent car chases.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising means capable of transmitting an interrogation signal to a receiver; the apparatus further comprising: means for receiving and processing a response signal from the receiver; the receiver having means for receiving and processing said interrogation signal and means arranged to provide a response signal thereto; the response signal carrying information capable of identifying the receiver.

Means may also be provided which is adapted to compare said information capable of identifying the receiver with a store of information about a particular receiver in order to indicate a receiver's status. Receivers which are arranged to transmit a response signal are preferably fitted to vehicles and are hereinafter referred to as mobile units.

Apparatus capable of transmitting an interrogation signal may be fitted to either vehicles or be permanently located and are hereinafter referred to as base stations.

Preferably automatic disabling devices are fitted to vehicles which permit an authorised person to transmit a disabling signal to a mobile unit. The disabling signal may for example cause an electronic ignition to cut-out thereby disabling the vehicle.

An additional authorisation facility may be incorporated into the mobile unit which authorisation facility requires a password, number code or key to be input before a vehicle, say, is taken. On failure to input this information an automatic "unauthorized removal signal"or distress signal may be transmitted, possibly without the knowledge of the driver. This signal may either disable the vehicle per se, or automatically transmit an alarm signal which may be detected by a base station. Such transmitted information may be stored in the base station for subsequent comparison with stored information (as aforesaid) or otherwise it may be relayed to a police car or police station in the vicinity of the stolen vehicle.

This facility in effect enables the authorised driver to avoid being immobilised by remote action from the base station.

The mobile unit is one aspect of the invention. Another aspect is the base station. The mobile unit is fastened, connected or attached to a relatively inaccessible place on the vehicle Its removal may be easily identified by close eye inspection or by an automatic alarm connected to a tamper detector. This tamper detector may be arranged to transmit automatically the same or a different type of distress signal indicating that the vehicle is being stolen or tampered with at that moment.

The base station, (situated for instance in a police car), can be arranged to transmit an interrogation signal on demand by a policeman in the police car. If a vehicle is equipped with the mobile unit, on reception of the interrogation signal, it sends all the necessary information to the base station. The base station may be arranged to process and display the information together with data base information related to the received information. It can be vehicle's details e.g. type of vehicle, colour, copy of the registration plate etc. or simply "STOLEN" or "MISSING". All this may be done automatically without knowledge of the driver of the vehicle. In case the vehicle is not equipped with the mobile unit or if it was purposely removed, the police, say are able to make a closer check by stopping the vehicle because no response signal has been received.

They may also be able to verify, with a central computer, whether the vehicle should have a mobile unit. If the vehicle is equipped with the mobile unit and the display in the base station says it is a stolen vehicle, the police can stop the vehicle. This operation is performed by transmitting a STOP signal, from the base station to the suspected vehicle. The STOP or immobilise signal is arranged to switch off the vehicle's engine ignition system. An alarm may sound in the vehicle giving the authorised driver a chance to avoid this forced immobilisation by inputting the appropriate code.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a mobile unit; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a base station; Figure 3 is an example of a timing diagram; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatical representation of different transmission formats.

Referring to the Figures the mobile unit 10 consists of a receiver 11, a decoder 12, a switch 13, a memory 14, a coder 15, a transmitter 16, a second switch 17 and a bypass unit.

The receiver 11 of the mobile unit 10 is at all times activated. The memory 14, the coder 15 and the transmitter 16 function when switch 13 is ON. The presence of an interrogation signal Q 101 is detected and decoded and activates switch 13 which in turn switches the memory 14, coder 15 and the transmitter 16 into an active state.

From memory 14 information about the vehicle and its status is coded and sent to the transmitter 16 which transmits it towards a base station 20 shown in Figure 2.

This signal is referred to as a reply signal R.

If the receiver 11 of the Mobile unit 10 receives a STOP signal 103 after decoding it in the decoder 12, it activates switch 22into a state which switches off the vehicle's ignition system 100. This switch 22 can be disabled by a bypass unit 28. This bypassing operation is achieved by using the owner's personal code. In this particular case whenthe bypass unit is activated, the STOP signal 103 does not influence the vehicle ignition system.

Referring to Figure 2 the base station 20 consists of transmitter 110, a receiver (or a multi-channel receiver) 120, one or more decoders 130,131, 132, a memory 140, a processor unit 150 with a display 151, a database 160 and a STOP signal processing unit 170.

The transmitter 110 of the base station 20 transmits a "Q" (question) signal 101 towards the mobile unit 10. The mobile unit 10 responds with the R (reply) signal 102. This R signal is detected by the receiver 120 of the base station 20, it is decoded by the decoder 130 (and/or other decoders 131, 132) and is displayed on display 151 of the processing unit 150.

The information is also stored in memory 140. The information on the display 151 is compared with the information received from a database 160 which is incorporated into the base station 20. Alternatively the information may be retrieved from a remote data base by a hard wire link or by other communication means. In case a decision is made to stop the vehicle, the stop processing unit 170 sends the STOP signal 103 via the transmitter 110 towards the mobile unit 10. All signals Q, 101, R, 102 and STOP 103 can be realised by means of ultrasonic, radio-frequency and/or infra-red waves.

The memory 14 of the mobile unit 10 can be either permanent or erasable for multiple use, amendments and/or updating.

Information from the memory 14 can be converted, for example, into a pulse code modulated signal suitable for transmission to an appropriate receiver 120 of the base station 20. Pulse modulation, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation or their combinations can be used. An example for transmission of the Q and R signals as shown in Fig. 3.

The information in the memory 14 of the mobileunit 10 includes details for example of the registration plate; date of manufacture; type of vehicle, colour, chassis number etc.

To avoid a situation that several mobile units would respond to the same Q signal at the same time it is necessary to limit either the range of the Q signal or to focus the Q signal into a narrow space angle. Another way of avoiding interference would be to distinguish each type of vehicle by a different R signal. In this case an N-Channel Receiver 12 of the base station 20 together with more decoders 131, 132 will have to take care of those signals. Figure 4 illustrates some of these possibilities.

The STOP Signal 103, transmitted from the base station 20 can consist of coded information related to the interrogated vehicle, i.e. its registration number together with any necessary information on -the STOP signal.

It will be appreciated that variation to the above embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. An electronic apparatus comprising means capable of transmitting an interrogation signal to a receiver; the apparatus further comprising: means for receiving and processing a response signal from the receiver; the receiver having means for receiving and processing said interrogation signal and means arranged to provide a response signal thereto; the response signal carrying information capable of identifying the receiver.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein memory storage means is provided capable of providing information identifying the receiver.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means is provided capable of indicating a status of the receiver.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the receiver is adapted to be mounted in a vehicle.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the receiver is adapted to be connected to an inhibitor which inhibitor is adapted to disable the vehicle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the inhibitor is activated on receipt of a signal from the electronic apparatus capable of transmitting an interrogation signal.

7. A receiver for use with the apparatus of claim 1 adapted to receive and transmit information and having means to transmit a signal capable of identifying a vehicle in which the receiver is mounted.

8. A receiver according to claim 7 wherein means is provided for automatically transmitting an alarm signal.

9. A receiver according to claim 8 wherein the alarm signal is transmitted if a vehicle is taken without authorisation.

10. A receiver according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein means is provided for receiving an inhibiting signal which signal causes a vehicle to be disabled.

11. A receiver according to claim 10 having a bypass circuit which may be activated by an authorised person and which when activated prevents an inhibiting signal from disabling the vehicle.

12. Apparatus capable of transmitting an interrogation signal substantially as herein described with reference to the Figures.

13. A receiver for use with apparatus capable of transmitting an interrogation signal substantially as herein described with reference to the Figures.