GB2283276A

GB2283276A - Vehicle security system

Info

Publication number: GB2283276A
Application number: GB9414314A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Hyman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-15
Filing date: 1994-07-15
Publication date: 1995-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-15
Also published as: GB9414314D0; GB2283276B; GB9314686D0

Abstract

A vehicle security system provides for the automatic operation of the door locks and boot locks of the vehicle upon activation of anyone of the vehicles, ignition system, transmission system or braking system. A sensor 10 with outputs LK and UNLK has an input IN which connects at an interface A with e.g. the vehicle ignition circuit. The sensor is designed so that when the vehicle ignition circuit has been operated to start the engine, the input IN and the output LK will assume a high of "1" logic value while the output UNLK will assume a low or "0" value. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM The present invention relates to a vehicle security system for automatically locking the doors of a vehicle.

Central locking systems are known but hitherto these are operated manually when a key is used in an external door lock or when a knob is depressed from the inside of the vehicle or upon actuation of a remote control signal. In many vehicles it is not possible to lock the doors while the vehicle is being driven other than manually. However, to ensure the safety of the vehicle driver and other occupants, particularly in case of lone females, there is a need for a system which will ensure that the vehicle doors are always maintained automatically in a locked condition whilst the vehicle is being driven normally.

In one aspect the invention provides a system which operates in dependence on the state of a vehicle ignition circuit, transmission system or brake system hereinafter referred to as the vehicle operation systems either alone or in any combination to lock the doors of the vehicle automatically after the respective operating system is operated and to unlock the doors of the vehicle automatically when the respective operating system is disabled.

According to the present invention there is provided in or for a vehicle door locking system, an arrangement operable to lock the doors of the vehicle automatically upon operation of at least one of the vehicle's operation systems.

Preferably the doors are locked after a timed delay from the moment the at least one of the vehicles operation systems is generated.

Preferably the vehicle operation systems comprise an ignition system, a transmission system and a braking system and sensors are provided to detect the operation of at least one of these systems.

Preferably the arrangement further comprises a lock signal generator for providing a lock command signal to the door locking circuit of the vehicle in order that the doors are locked when some or all of the vehicle operation system sensor are in an operative state and an unlock signal generator for providing an unlock command signal to the vehicle door locking circuit in order that the doors are unlocked when the sensing means senses a non-operative state of the vehicle operation sensors.

Preferably there is provided switch means operable by a driver to cause the unlock command signal to be provided and to override the generation of the locking command signal. This can be supplemented by further switch means which return the lock system to normal operation.

Conveniently the driver operated switch means can be a push button switch readily accessible to the driver and this is the only control which needs to be manually activated. Otherwise when the driver inserts the ignition key and starts the engine of the vehicle the system in accordance with the invention will automatically lock the vehicle doors either after a short delay, of say up to five seconds, or after gear or drive selection has taken place, or by operation of some other vehicle operation system.

In order to further enhance the safety of the occupants in the event of an emergency there is preferably provided a crash sensor which may be of a proprietary type which will cause the unlock command signal to be generated in the event of an impact.

When the ignition is switched off the unlock signal command will be generated immediately to unlock the vehicle doors.

The control system in accordance with the invention can form an interface with all known central locking systems currently fitted to vehicles and the lock and unlock command signals can be adapted to suit particular types of in-built vehicle door locking circuitry. It is preferable that the control system in accordance with the invention be contained in a small housing conveniently fitted to some location of the vehicle to ensure correct functioning of the crash sensor. The door lock system can also be external to the lock of a boot, hatch or bonnet. The door lock system may also be configured such that external operation of the door handles is prevented but normal operation of the internal door release member is not interfered with.

The invention may be understood more readily and various other aspects and features of the invention may become more apparent, from consideration of the following description.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram depicting the functions of an automatic vehicle door locking system constructed in accordance with the invention and Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of an automatic vehicle door locking system constructed in accordance with the invention.

As shown in Figure 1 a system for automatically locking and unlocking the doors of a vehicle, employs a sensor 10 with outputs LK and UNLK. The sensor 10 has an input IN which connects at an interface A with the vehicle ignition circuit. The sensor 10 is designed so that when the vehicle ignition circuit has been operated to start the engine the input IN and the output LK will assume a high or "1" logic value while the output UNLK will assume a low or "O" logic value. Conversely when the sensor 10 senses that the ignition circuit is not activated, the input IN and the output LK will be "O" and output UNLK will be "1".In a modified arrangement the sensor 10 not only senses the state of the ignition circuit but also the gear or drive selection, the braking system or any other vehicle operation system, so that only when the vehicle is moving off will the sensor 10 provide the output LK = 1. The system is at least associated with a separate driver operated switch 11 which is operable to override the automatic system and unlock the doors at any time. The switch 11 may form an interface C with the rest of the system which can then be embodied in a small protective housing. A further switch lla provides an output which overrides the driver operated switch 11. The output LK from the sensor 10 is fed to a gate 12 which provides an output "1" only when the output LK from the sensor is "1" and the outputs from the driver unlock switch 11 and a crash sensor 17 are "0".The output LK from the sensor 10 is also fed to circuits 16, 20 which serve to enable the driver unlock control switch 11 and crash sensor 17. The output from the gate 12 is fed through a delay circuit 13 to a lock signal generator 14. The output UNLK from the sensor 10 and the outputs from the sensor 17 and the switch 11 are fed to an unlock signal generator 18.

The generators 14, 18 form an interface B with the inbuilt vehicle door locking circuitry. The existing locking circuitry functions normally so that when one of the doors of the vehicle is locked or unlocked externally by a key all the doors including the rear door or the boot are locked or unlocked and the system in accordance with the invention provides an additional facility from the inside of the vehicle. More particularly, when the ignition is operated by the driver and the sensor 10 provides the signal "1" at the output LK and the driver switch 11 and the crash sensor 17 are not actuated then the generator 14 will generate a lock command signal which operates the door locking circuitry to automatically lock the vehicle doors.Conversely, when the ignition is not operated and the sensor 10 provides the signal "1" at the output UNLK then the generator 18 will generate an unlock command signal which operates the door locking circuitry to automatically unlock the vehicle doors. The crash sensor 17 is a proprietary item which delivers a signal "1" in the event of a sensed impact to the unlock signal generator 18 to cause the door locking circuitry to unlock the vehicle door and to inhibit the gate 12. The protective housing is preferably mounted to a suitable location on the vehicle so that the crash sensor 17 will respond reliably to an impact.

The generator 18 is responsive to the ignition sensor 10, the cash sensor 17 and the control switch 11 so that the unlock command signal will be provided to the door locking circuitry in response to any one of these devices to unlock the vehicle doors. Even if the sensor 10 provides the enabling input to the gate 12 signifying the ignition circuit is operative the gate 12 will not respond should the switch 11 or the sensor 17 operate because of the inhibiting inputs provided to the gate 12.

Thus to summarise, the system as described will respond at least to the ignition circuit being made to lock the vehicle doors automatically without other action being required but the doors will be unlocked when the ignition circuit is broken or if the control switch 11 is operated manually or if the cash sensor 17 is operated.

Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of a system constructed in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. In or for a vehicle door locking system, an arrangement operable to lock the doors of the vehicle automatically upon operation of at least one of the vehicles operation systems.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, in operation, there is provided means for setting a timed delay from the moment the at least one of the vehicles operation systems is operated.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicles operation systems comprise an ignition system, a transmission system and a braking system and sensors are provided to detect the operation of at least one of these systems.

4. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a lock signal generator for providing a lock-command signal to the door locking circuit of the vehicle in order that the doors are locked when some or all of the vehicle operation systems sensors are in an operative state and an unlock signal generator for providing an unlock command signal to the door locking circuit in order that the doors are unlocked when the sensing vehicle operation system sensors are in a -non-operative state.

5. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising switch means to override the generation of the lock command signal.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, further comprising means to countermand the lock command signal override means.

7. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a sensor which causes an unlock command signal to be generated in the event of an impact.

8. An arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to any one or more of the accompanying figures.