GB2382205A - System for detecting theft of vehicle wheels - Google Patents
System for detecting theft of vehicle wheels Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2382205A GB2382205A GB0223177A GB0223177A GB2382205A GB 2382205 A GB2382205 A GB 2382205A GB 0223177 A GB0223177 A GB 0223177A GB 0223177 A GB0223177 A GB 0223177A GB 2382205 A GB2382205 A GB 2382205A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- wheel
- tyre
- pressure
- control unit
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60C—VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES
- B60C23/00—Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
- B60C23/02—Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure
- B60C23/04—Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure mounted on the wheel or tyre
- B60C23/0408—Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure mounted on the wheel or tyre transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
-
- 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
- B60R25/1001—Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals
-
- 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
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
Abstract
A system for detecting removal of a vehicle wheel 14 from a vehicle 10, comprising a control unit 16 and a tyre pressure sensor 24 mounted in each tyre 26, such that the control unit is in radio communication with the sensors via transmitter/receivers 28 mounted on the vehicle.. The control unit monitors changes in tyre pressure and if the pressure changes in a manner consistent with the removal of the wheel then an alarm 20 is raised. In an alternative embodiment, an alarm signal is raised when the system detects that the transponder 24 mounted on the tyre has moved out of range of the transmitter/receiver 28 on the vehicle. The system may be combined with a vehicle anti-theft system.
Description
<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
Vehicle Wheel Theft Detection
The present invention relates to vehicle security and in particular to the detection of theft of vehicle wheels.
With the increasing use of alloy wheels, incidences of theft of vehicle wheels are increasing, and it is therefore desirable to provide vehicles with some means of detection of the theft of wheels.
It is known from DE 198 53 696 A 1 to use a proximity sensor for security purposes to detect when a vehicle wheel is removed from a vehicle. However such a proximity sensor will generally need to be fitted specifically for this purpose, and therefore adds to the cost of the vehicle.
It is also known, for example from US 5541574, to provide transponders mounted in vehicle tyres which can transmit data to a receiver on the vehicle regarding the condition of the tyres, such as tyre pressure.
The present invention aims to provide a system for detecting the theft of vehicle wheels which makes use of components which are used on the vehicle for other purposes also.
Accordingly the present invention provides a detection system for detecting removal of a vehicle wheel having a tyre from a vehicle, the system comprising a control unit and wheel movement detection means, wherein the control unit is arranged to monitor signals from the wheel movement detection means to detect theft of the vehicle wheel, and wherein the wheel movement detection means comprises a tyre pressure sensor.
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
The tyre pressure sensor may be arranged to detect a change of tyre pressure as the weight of the vehicle is taken off the wheel and the wheel is removed. Alternatively the tyre pressure sensor may be of the type comprising a transponder mounted in the tyre, and when the wheel is removed out of range of the transmitter/receiver on the vehicle, this can also be detected.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle including apparatus for detecting wheel theft according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows changes of tyre pressure in the vehicle of Figure 1 under various circumstances; and
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle including apparatus for detecting wheel theft according to a second embodiment of the invention.
Referring to Figure 1 a vehicle 10 has a body 12 and four wheels 14. A security system is fitted to the vehicle and includes a security control unit 16, an ultrasonic sensor 18 for sensing movement within the vehicle, and a siren 20. A hand held transmitter unit 22 is also provided for activation and de-activation of the security system.
A tyre pressure sensing system is also fitted to the vehicle and includes a transponder unit 24 mounted in each of the vehicle tyres 26 and a transmitter/receiver unit 28 mounted on the vehicle body near each of the wheels, the transmitter/receiver units 28 are connected to the control unit 16. The transponder units 24 each include a tyre pressure sensor, an accelerometer and an RF transmitter and receiver. They are arranged such that they can transmit to the transmitter/receiver units 28 a tyre pressure
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
signal indicating the tyre pressure at regular time intervals, and also so that they can respond at any time to a request signal from the transmitter/receiver units 28 by transmitting a tyre pressure signal.
During normal operation while the vehicle is running the security system is disarmed, the transponder units 24 detect using their accelerometers when the vehicle is moving and transmit a tyre pressure signal at regular intervals of one minute. The control unit monitors the tyre pressures and warns the driver if the pressure in one or more of the tyres drops due to a puncture, or if variations in the tyre pressure occur which are indicative of some other event, such as imminent delamination of a tyre or over-inflation of the tyres.
When the vehicle is stationary the transponder units 24 detect this using their accelerometers and transmit tyre pressure signals at much greater intervals, such as once every hour. When the driver leaves the vehicle and arms the security system using the transmitter unit 22, the control unit 16 monitors the tyre pressure signals. If movement of one of the wheels occurs this will be detected by the accelerometer and the transponder unit 24 will start to transmit a tyre pressure signal every minute. If the control unit 16 receives tyre pressure signals at this increased rate while the security system is armed then this is taken as an indication that one of the wheels may be being removed. Alternatively the rate of transmission need not be directly measured, and the control unit 16 can be arranged to detect that a tyre pressure signal has been received within a period which is less than the normal one hour period. In either case the change of timing of the tyre pressure signals can either trigger an alarm, or start a checking process described further below.
In an alternative embodiment the actual value of the measured tyre pressure is used to detect movement of one of the wheels. If the pressure of one of the tyres drops by more than a predetermined amount between two consecutive measurements, this
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
indicates that one of the wheels may have been removed. For this to work the interval between measurements would need to be significantly less than one hour, so it would be best suited to a system in which the transponder is polled by the transmitter/receiver unit 28. If the change in tyre pressure indicates that a wheel may be being removed, then, as in the previous embodiment, this can either trigger an alarm, or, more preferably, trigger a further checking process which will now be described.
Firstly, if either one of the transponder units'transmission of tyre pressure signals, or a rapid drop of pressure in one of the other tyres, indicates within a predetermined time period of, for example, 10 minutes, that a second one of the wheels is being removed, then this is taken as an indication that somebody is systematically removing the vehicle wheels and the alarm is activated.
Secondly if the pressure sensor for the tyre which initiated the checking process ceases to respond to polling, which may be arranged to be carried out at a significantly increased rate during the checking process, then this is taken as an indication that that wheel has been removed, and the alarm is activated.
Finally the pressure of the tyre which initiated the checking process, and each of the other tyres also, is monitored over time to check whether changes in the tyre pressure are consistent with removal of one of the wheels, as will now be described with reference to Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 2, which shows the change of tyre pressure P as a function of time t, the pressure in a vehicle tyre, particularly when the vehicle is stationary, will normally remain substantially constant over time. If the tyre has a slow puncture or is leaking for some other reason, then the pressure will fall gradually at a rate which is either constant or which varies in a continuous manner, as shown by lines a and b.
However, of the wheel is removed from the vehicle, firstly the weight of the vehicle
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
must be lifted off the wheel. The effect of this on the tyre pressure is shown by line c.
Firstly between times t1 and t2 the pressure will drop at a relatively rapid rate as the weight of the vehicle is lifted off the tyre. Then when the weight of the vehicle is removed from the tyre, the pressure will remain substantially constant at the unladen pressure, which will obviously be substantially higher than the pressure at which a punctured tyre will level off at, which would be close to atmospheric pressure. The time period between t1 and t2 which is the time taken to jack up the vehicle can obviously vary depending on the method of jacking used. For most methods it is likely to be between 1 second and 1 minute although in some cases it could obviously be outside this range.
The control unit 16 therefore monitors changes of tyre pressure over time and if it detects a drop in pressure of at least a predetermined magnitude within a fixed time, followed by a levelling off of pressure at a level consistent with the wheel being removed from the vehicle, then it takes this as an indication that one of the wheels has been removed and activates the alarm.
Referring to Figure 3, in a further embodiment of the invention the security system is substantially the same as described above, but the mechanism for detecting wheel movement comprises four accelerometers 32 each mounted on the a part 33 of the vehicle suspension close to the hub of one of the wheels of the vehicle. During normal operation of the vehicle the accelerometers 32 are used to monitor movement of the wheels, and their signals are analysed to determine the condition and state of inflation of the vehicle tyres. However, the accelerometers are also connected to the security controller 34 which, when it is armed, is arranged to be alerted by a signal from any of the accelerometers 32. When it has been alerted the controller then monitors the signals from the other accelerometers and, if another one produces, within a predetermined time, a signal indicating movement of the wheel it is associated with, then the security controller issues an alarm signal.
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
This embodiment can be enhanced by including some form of analysis of the signals from the accelerometers. The wheels and the suspension will have various characteristic resonant frequencies of vibration which will vary depending on whether the wheel is carrying the weight of the vehicle or not. Therefore the controller 34 can be arranged to analyse the frequencies of movement detected by the accelerometer and to use only signals indicative of movements at certain frequencies or ranges of frequencies as indications that the vehicle body is being raised and the wheels removed.
Claims (7)
1. A detection system for detecting removal of a vehicle wheel having a tyre from a vehicle, the system comprising a control unit and wheel movement detection means, wherein the control unit is arranged to monitor signals from the wheel movement detection means to detect theft of the vehicle wheel, and wherein the wheel movement detection means comprises a tyre pressure sensor.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the tyre pressure sensor comprises a transponder mounted in the tyre and a transmitter/receiver on the vehicle, and the system is arranged to detect movement of the wheel by detecting when the transponder is moved out of range of the transmitter/receiver on the vehicle.
3. A detection system for according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is arranged to monitor changes in the pressure of the tyre over time and if the pressure changes in a manner consistent with removal of the wheel, produces a signal indicative of removal of the wheel.
4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said manner comprises a relatively rapid reduction in pressure indicating that the weight of the vehicle is being lifted off the tyre, followed by a period of relatively constant pressure.
5. A system according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said period of relatively constant pressure is at a pressure significantly above atmospheric pressure.
6. A vehicle security system including a system according to any one of claims 3 to 5 and alarm means arranged to be activated on detection of removal of the wheel.
7. Apparatus for detecting theft of a vehicle wheel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0124386.4A GB0124386D0 (en) | 2001-10-11 | 2001-10-11 | Vehicle wheel theft detection |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB0223177D0 GB0223177D0 (en) | 2002-11-13 |
GB2382205A true GB2382205A (en) | 2003-05-21 |
Family
ID=9923611
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0124386.4A Ceased GB0124386D0 (en) | 2001-10-11 | 2001-10-11 | Vehicle wheel theft detection |
GB0223177A Withdrawn GB2382205A (en) | 2001-10-11 | 2002-10-07 | System for detecting theft of vehicle wheels |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0124386.4A Ceased GB0124386D0 (en) | 2001-10-11 | 2001-10-11 | Vehicle wheel theft detection |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB0124386D0 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2005023567A1 (en) * | 2003-08-25 | 2005-03-17 | Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation | Tire sensor communication system |
EP1522471A1 (en) * | 2003-06-17 | 2005-04-13 | Tien-Tsai Huang | Multifunction car theft alarm lock with tire pressure sensing device |
WO2007000489A1 (en) * | 2005-06-27 | 2007-01-04 | W-Secure Oy | Alarm system |
EP3156984A1 (en) * | 2015-10-13 | 2017-04-19 | Xiaomi Inc. | Vehicle alarming method and device, computer program and recording medium |
US10131320B2 (en) | 2016-09-27 | 2018-11-20 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle wheel anti-theft system and method |
CN110315915A (en) * | 2018-03-29 | 2019-10-11 | 长城汽车股份有限公司 | Tire burglary-resisting system, method and machine readable storage medium |
GB2603503A (en) * | 2021-02-05 | 2022-08-10 | Jaguar Land Rover Ltd | Method and apparatus for monitoring a vehicle wheel |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5552759A (en) * | 1994-11-02 | 1996-09-03 | Stoyka; David S. | Electronic system for detecting vehicle wheel theft |
EP1044829A2 (en) * | 1999-04-15 | 2000-10-18 | Continental Aktiengesellschaft | Method for monitoring the air pressure of vehicle tyres |
US6208243B1 (en) * | 1996-11-07 | 2001-03-27 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Vehicle having position generators assigned to the wheels |
EP1092570A1 (en) * | 1999-10-12 | 2001-04-18 | Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd. | Transmitter and transmitting method of tire air pressure monitoring apparatus |
DE19962072A1 (en) * | 1999-12-22 | 2001-06-28 | Volkswagen Ag | Motor vehicle theft protection arrangement has computer, wheel sensor, e.g. anti lock brake system wheel sensor and/or tire pressure sensor, and acoustic and/or visual alarm generator |
WO2002009013A1 (en) * | 2000-07-21 | 2002-01-31 | Michael Gilmore | Gasket making system |
-
2001
- 2001-10-11 GB GBGB0124386.4A patent/GB0124386D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2002
- 2002-10-07 GB GB0223177A patent/GB2382205A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5552759A (en) * | 1994-11-02 | 1996-09-03 | Stoyka; David S. | Electronic system for detecting vehicle wheel theft |
US6208243B1 (en) * | 1996-11-07 | 2001-03-27 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Vehicle having position generators assigned to the wheels |
EP1044829A2 (en) * | 1999-04-15 | 2000-10-18 | Continental Aktiengesellschaft | Method for monitoring the air pressure of vehicle tyres |
EP1092570A1 (en) * | 1999-10-12 | 2001-04-18 | Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd. | Transmitter and transmitting method of tire air pressure monitoring apparatus |
DE19962072A1 (en) * | 1999-12-22 | 2001-06-28 | Volkswagen Ag | Motor vehicle theft protection arrangement has computer, wheel sensor, e.g. anti lock brake system wheel sensor and/or tire pressure sensor, and acoustic and/or visual alarm generator |
WO2002009013A1 (en) * | 2000-07-21 | 2002-01-31 | Michael Gilmore | Gasket making system |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1522471A1 (en) * | 2003-06-17 | 2005-04-13 | Tien-Tsai Huang | Multifunction car theft alarm lock with tire pressure sensing device |
WO2005023567A1 (en) * | 2003-08-25 | 2005-03-17 | Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation | Tire sensor communication system |
US7205885B2 (en) | 2003-08-25 | 2007-04-17 | Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation | Tire sensor communication system |
WO2007000489A1 (en) * | 2005-06-27 | 2007-01-04 | W-Secure Oy | Alarm system |
EP1899203A1 (en) * | 2005-06-27 | 2008-03-19 | W-Secure OY | Alarm system |
JP2008546597A (en) * | 2005-06-27 | 2008-12-25 | カクソイスベー−セクレ オサケユイチア | Alarm system |
EP1899203A4 (en) * | 2005-06-27 | 2010-05-19 | Secure Oy W | Alarm system |
US8098144B2 (en) | 2005-06-27 | 2012-01-17 | W-Secure Oy | Alarm system |
EP3156984A1 (en) * | 2015-10-13 | 2017-04-19 | Xiaomi Inc. | Vehicle alarming method and device, computer program and recording medium |
US10102720B2 (en) | 2015-10-13 | 2018-10-16 | Xiaomi Inc. | Vehicle alarming method, device, and storage medium |
US10131320B2 (en) | 2016-09-27 | 2018-11-20 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle wheel anti-theft system and method |
RU2693591C2 (en) * | 2016-09-27 | 2019-07-03 | ФОРД ГЛОУБАЛ ТЕКНОЛОДЖИЗ, ЭлЭлСи | Vehicle and method of preventing vehicle wheels theft |
CN110315915A (en) * | 2018-03-29 | 2019-10-11 | 长城汽车股份有限公司 | Tire burglary-resisting system, method and machine readable storage medium |
CN110315915B (en) * | 2018-03-29 | 2021-08-06 | 长城汽车股份有限公司 | Tire theft prevention system, method, and machine-readable storage medium |
GB2603503A (en) * | 2021-02-05 | 2022-08-10 | Jaguar Land Rover Ltd | Method and apparatus for monitoring a vehicle wheel |
GB2603503B (en) * | 2021-02-05 | 2023-07-19 | Jaguar Land Rover Ltd | Method and apparatus for monitoring a vehicle wheel |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0124386D0 (en) | 2001-11-28 |
GB0223177D0 (en) | 2002-11-13 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |