GB2445046A

GB2445046A - Vehicle security device monitoring presence of a signal returned from a vehicle responder

Info

Publication number: GB2445046A
Application number: GB0714293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-21
Filing date: 2007-07-21
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Also published as: GB0714293D0

Abstract

An anti-theft device suitable for monitoring a parked motor vehicle 12 comprises a monitoring unit 2, which may be remotely located from the vehicle such as at an owner's home 14. The monitor unit 2 is configured to transmit 4 a sensing signal to the vehicle and a responder 3 attaching to the vehicle for returning a signal. If the sensing signal is an optical beam, the responder may be a retro-reflective element 3 attached to the vehicle and may be preferably incorporated with a headlight unit 15. If the sensing signal is a radio signal, the responder may be a radio repeater and the responder may be coupled to an engine immobiliser. The monitor unit may by activated remotely and may have alarm means including a lamp, a sounder, and a telephone dialler.

Description

ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

The present invention relates to vehicle security and in particular relates to an anti-theft device for a parked motor vehicle.

In recent years the security of motor vehicles has become an important issue for the owners and drivers of such vehicles. Many motor manufacturers have addressed these concerns by providing factory installed alarms and/or engine immobilisers, which offer a high degree of protection against theft and may also serve as appropriate deterrents against vandalism of the vehicle. However, it is generally the case that factory alarms and immobilisers are not fitted as standard features and therefore may only be installed as an optional extra, which many vehicle buyers decide against due to the additional cost.

Therefore, there are many vehicles which do not have any form of appropriate anti-theft device, which typically renders such vehicles more susceptible to theft and/or vandalism.

Of course, vehicle alarms and immobilisers may be retro-fitted to a vehicle after purchase by the owner, which can be particularly useful for earlier and older models of cars etc. However, the fitting of such devices typically requires at least a partial knowledge of the vehicle's electrical system, which may prove to be too complicated for the average owner. Moreover, most conventional retro-fit alarms and immobilisers are relatively expensive and due to the possible difficulty involved in fitting the device (e.g. within the engine compartment of the vehicle) may require the assistance of a mechanic or skilled technician. Hence, the retro-fitting of an alarm and/or immobiliser may be a costly affair for a vehicle owner More simple anti-theft devices do exist in the art, such as wheel clamps, steering wheel locks and gear stick locking clamps etc., which are relatively cheap and require no knowledge of the vehicle's systems in order to fit. However, although such devices offer a reasonable degree of protection against theft, they are generally cumbersome and/or heavy to manoeuvre during fitting and removal.

I

Hence, such devices have the disadvantage that they may not be universally suitable for all vehicle owners, as for instance, elderly drivers, disabled drivers and pregnant mothers etc. may not be able to manipulate the devices in order to fit them to their vehicle. In addition, a further drawback of using such devices is that they are generally not able to alert or warn the owner that their vehicle is at risk, as these devices usually have no form of audible and/or visual alarm.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a simple and cheap anti-theft device that can notify the owner of a threat to their motor vehicle and which may be used with most, if not all, types of vehicle, while being fitted and/or operated by all owners and drivers without any specialist knowledge or ability.

References herein to "motor vehicle" are intended to include vehicles such as cars, vans, heavy goods vehicles and motorcycles etc. However, the anti-theft device of the present invention may also be used with any other suitable type of vehicle, without sacrificing any of the advantages or benefits of the invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti-theft device for a parked motor vehicle, comprising a monitoring unit configured to transmit a sensing signal to the vehicle; and a responder for attaching to the vehicle; wherein the responder is arranged to provide a return signal to the monitoring unit in response to receiving the sensing signal so as to indicate the presence of the vehicle Provision of a monitoring unit which can transmit a sensing signal to the vehicle and monitor the return signal from a responder attachable to the vehicle, allows the vehicle to be remotely monitored. The remote monitoring of the vehicle enables the monitoring unit to be physically independent from the vehicle, which avoids placing any demand on the vehicle's power supply (e.g. car battery) in order to operate the monitoring unit.

The independence of the monitoring unit also has the advantage that no physical connection is required between the unit and the vehicle's electrical system, which avoids the need to have any a priori knowledge or understanding of the electrical wiring or internal circuitry of the vehicle.

Provision of a responder that is attachable to the vehicle, allows an owner to attach the responder at any location on the vehicle which is suitable for providing a return signal to the monitoring unit. Preferably, the return signal includes part or some component of the sensing signal that is transmitted from the monitoring unit, such that the return signal may have the same nature and/or form as the sensing signal.

in some embodiments, the return signal from the responder may be a repeating signal, e.g periodic or cyclic, such that in response to receiving the sensing signal the responder sends one or more return signals to the monitoring unit Alternatively, in other embodiments the return signal may be a substantially constant signal However, it is to be appreciated that the return signal may take any form that is suitable for indicating the presence of the vehicle.

In other embodiments, both the sensing signal and the return signal may be constant or repeating signals, such that the return signal may substantially lag the phase of the sensing signal due to the responder's finite delay in responding to the signal from the monitoring unit.

An advantage of providing a repeating or substantially constant return signal in response to the sensing signal is to enable a pseudo feedback loop' to be established, such that detection of the one or more return signals indicates to the monitoring unit that the vehicle is still in the location at which the owner or driver parked it. In this way, the combination of the original sensing and return signals provides a diagnostic probe that is able to remotely monitor the status (e.g. presence) of the vehicle and to notify the owner or driver should the loop be interrupted for some reason, e.g. due to attempted theft of the vehicle.

The monitoring unit preferably comprises a transceiver, which in an exemplary embodiment is an optical transceiver for transmitting and receiving light signals, while in another embodiment, is a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals. However, it is to be appreciated that any suitable form of transceiver or separate transmitter/receiver arrangement may be used in the monitoring unit of the invention.

In the optical transceiver embodiment, the sensing signal and the one or more return signals are preferably light signals, which may be visible or ultra-violet (UV), or most preferably infra-red (IR). The optical transceiver may transmit the sensing signal as a narrow (i e. collimated) beam or as a broad beam subtending a predetermined solid angle. An advantage of using a broad beam is that the alignment between the monitoring unit and the responder need not be so accurate.

The optical transceiver may include a light emitting diode, photodiode or laser diode etc. having a peak transmission and sensitivity in the particular wavelength band of choice. It may also include optical components, such as focusing and/or collimating lenses, to control the direction and/or illumination pattern (e g. beam width etc.) of the sensing signal.

Where the sensing signal is a light signal, the responder preferably comprises a reflector that reflects at least part, if not all, of the sensing signal as a return light signal. The reflector may operate on the known principle of total internal reflection, such that the sensing signal is re-directed substantially along or parallel to its reverse direction of incidence as the return signal. In some embodiments, the reflector is a prism or an array of neighbouring prisms, and in other embodiments, the reflector comprises one or more plane (flat) mirror surfaces. However, it is to be appreciated that any suitable reflection device may be used in conjunction with the invention.

There are many advantages associated with using a reflector as a responder in the anti-theft device of the invention, namely, that the responder does not require any external power in order to provide a return signal to the monitoring unit, and fitting of the reflector does not require any specialist knowledge or skill. The former advantage therefore enables the anti-theft device to be used without draining any power from the vehicle's internal power supply (e.g. car battery etc.), which is in contrast to most existing car alarm systems that drain power from the vehicle when in use.

The reflector includes a fastening means for attaching it to a component of the vehicle. The component may form part of an external surface of the vehicle, e.g. bumper, front grille, wing mirror, body panel, windscreen etc., or else be an integral unit, such as a front headlight and/or indicator assembly etc. In some embodiments, the reflector may be attached to the vehicle's front headlight, either by fixing it to the external lens of the headlight or by attaching it to the inside of the external lens or parabolic reflector of the headlight etc. The reflector may be fastened to the vehicle using any suitable fastening means, including adhesives, clips, screws, magnets or other fixing means depending on the particular implementation. In retro-fitting applications, it is preferred that the reflector be fastened to an external surface of the vehicle, most preferably, the external lens of a front headlight, as this requires little or no skill. However, it is also envisaged that the reflector may be retro-fitted inside the headlight by an owner having more mechanical ability and/or knowledge than a typical owner.

Moreover, it is also consistent with the invention that headlight assemblies may be manufactured to include the reflector of the invention as an integral part of the headlight, thereby avoiding the need for the owner to fit the reflector themselves.

it is to be appreciated that where the reflector is fitted to a front headlight and/or indicator assembly, the dimensions of the reflector are such that they do not significantly obscure the illumination pattern of either the headlight or indicator flasher unit, in other words, the reflector is appropriately sized so as to not block any significant light from these lighting components.

In embodiments where the transceiver is a wireless transceiver, the responder is preferably a wireless repeater. The repeater may be a conventional radio transceiver, that may be configured to provide some degree of amplification to the received sensing signal before sending it back as a return signal to the monitoring unit. This amplification can be useful if the repeater and monitoring unit are separated by a relatively large distance, e.g. where the vehicle is parked at the end of a long driveway etc. The repeater is preferably a self contained unit that may have its own internal power supply, e.g. a cell or battery, to avoid burdening the vehicle's power supply.

In one embodiment, the repeater is configured to derive most, if not all, of its power from the power of the received sensing signal, as known in the art.

Preferably, the repeater may be fastened to the vehicle using any suitable fastening means, either to an external surface of the vehicle (e.g front grille) or alternatively within the interior of the vehicle, e.g. on the dashboard, attached to the driver's rear view mirror or inside the glove box etc. In this way, no specialist knowledge or skill is required to attach the repeater to the vehicle.

Any suitable radio frequency may be used between the monitoring unit and the repeater of the invention, which is preferably in the microwave band, and in one embodiment is around 2.4 GHz The repeater is intended to have a relatively short range of operation (notwithstanding any signal amplification that may occur), so that loss of the signal will indicate that the vehicle has been moved from its parked location. The range of operation preferably extends out to about 20m from the vehicle, and is most preferably about lOm from the vehicle. Hence, the monitoring unit has to be placed within the operating range of the repeater for correct use of the anti-theft device.

The monitoring unit of the invention further comprises an alarm circuit that may be microprocessor based, which is preferably configured to drive one or more transponders in response to an alarm condition. By alarm condition' we mean that an attempted theft and/or vandalism of the vehicle has occurred, or is expected to imminently occur, resulting in the interruption or cessation of the return signal to the monitoring unit.

The provision of transponders allows the owner of the vehicle to be alerted or warned that their vehicle is at risk during an attempted theft and/or act of vandalism Any suitable conventional transponder may be used with the anti-theft device of the invention, such as any one or more of the following audible or visual indicators: a lamp, a strobe, a LED, a buzzer, a siren and a klaxon Hence, should the vehicle be subjected to an act of theft and/or vandalism, the owner may be notified via an audible sound and/or a flashing light, so that he/she may take appropriate action To reduce false alarm conditions from occurring unnecessarily (e.g due to the interruption of the return signal by a passing animal or wind blown debris etc.), the monitoring unit may be configured to wait for a predetermined interval after the return signal is interrupted before triggering one or more of the transponders.

In this way, should a return signal then be re-established within the predetermined interval, an alarm condition can be avoided allowing vehicle monitoring to continue as before. Preferably, the predetermined interval is around 3 seconds in length, but may be shorter or longer depending on the particular application and desired implementation Should one or more transponders be triggered by the alarm circuit, the monitoring unit may then automatically re-set itself after a period of time, preferably around minutes in length. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the transponders may be triggered indefinitely until the monitoring unit is manually re-set by the owner or other authorised individual.

The monitoring unit may also include a communications device, such as a telecommunications dialler, that is configured to automatically dial one or more predetermined telephone numbers (e.g. landline and/or mobile etc) in response to an alarm condition. Therefore, the owner or any other designated individual or entity (e.g. local police station or neighbourhood watch operatives) may be contacted should the anti-theft device be triggered, which can be particularly advantageous if the owner is some distance away from the vehicle at the time of the attack (e.g. on holiday or shopping etc.).

The communications device may also, or alternatively, be a modem in some embodiments, so that an electronic message may be automatically sent to predetermined recipients. It is also possible that the communications device may be configured to send SMS or short text based messages to notify predetermined recipients that the vehicle is potentially at risk.

The monitoring unit may have its own internal power supply, e g. a cell or battery, or preferably, is mains operated via a suitable lead and optional adaptor. In some embodiments, the monitoring unit may also be remotely activated (i.e. turned on/off) using an hR or radio key fob device. It is envisaged that later modifications may allow the fob device to be integrated with the remote central locking key fob of the vehicle, such that when the vehicle is parked and remotely locked, the monitoring unit is also activated.

To further improve the vehicle security afforded by the present invention, the anti-theft device may also include an engine immobiliser that is coupled to the responder, which is configured to be activated after the sensing signal is first received. The immobiliser may be coupled to the responder via a hardwire connection or alternatively via a wireless link In its simplest form the engine immobiliser may be a 12V rated switch (e.g. relay) that is connected in series between the vehicle battery and ignition system, which is opened when the sensing signal is received from the monitoring unit. However, any suitable form of engine immobiliser device may be used in accordance with the anti-theft device of the invention Of course, it is to be appreciated that embodiments involving an engine immobiliser device may require the assistance of a mechanic or other skilled technician for fitting, and therefore such embodiments may not be fully consistent with retro-fitting by typical owners. Instead, the engine immobiliser may be fitted during manufacture of the vehicle, which due to its preferred simplicity is a relatively cheaper alternative to conventional electronic immobilisers.

The monitoring unit may be enclosed within any suitable form of housing or case, preferably made from plastic. One or more visual indicators, such as LEDs etc., may be used to indicate whether the unit is powered and/or activated, while depending on the location of the monitoring unit, may also act as a visible deterrent to would-be vehicle thieves. In addition, or alternatively, the monitoring unit may also include a display screen, such as an LCD etc., to inform the owner of the vehicle of the status of the unit and/or vehicle etc. The responder may also include some form of visual indicator, such as a flashing LED etc., to warn thieves of the presence of the anti-theft device and to deter potential attacks on the vehicle.

Although the present invention is ideally suited for safeguarding against the theft and/or vandalism of a motor vehicle, it will be recognised that one or more of the principles of the invention could also be used in other anti-theft or security applications, such as for monitoring bicycles, gardening equipment (e.g. lawnmowers, strimmers etc.), outdoor furniture and other household or garden items.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a particularly preferred arrangement of an anti-theft device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an illustration of an exemplary arrangement of the present anti-theft device implemented in a motor vehicle security application.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle headlight modified in accordance with a particularly preferred arrangement of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a schematic representation of one example of an anti-theft device 1 according to the present invention. The anti-theft device I comprises a monitoring unit 2 and a responder 3, which are arranged for bi-directional communication therebetween (shown by the arrowed lines). The monitoring unit 2 includes an optical transceiver 4 of conventional design that is configured to transmit a sensing signal to the responder 3 as an infra-red (IR) light signal. The optical transceiver 4 is under the control of a microprocessor based controller 5 (hereinafter referred to as the controller'), which is also responsible for controlling the overall operation of the monitoring unit 2.

The microprocessor based controller is a PlC based controller that includes predefined operating instructions and commands in an associated non-volatile memory, e.g. flash memory, as conventional in the art.

In the example of Figure 1, the responder 3 is in the form of a reflector comprising an array of neighbouring prisms, arranged to reflect most, if not all, of the IR sensing signal as a IR return signal. The JR sensing signal is totally internally reflected by the prismatic array, so that the JR sensing signal is reflected back towards the optical transceiver 4 of the monitoring unit 2.

The monitoring unit 2 has been configured to transmit a constant JR signal from the optical transceiver 4 to the responder 3, which in turn reflects a constant return JR signal back to the monitoring unit 2 that is comprised of the original sensing signal. The use of constant signals allows a pseudo feedback loop' or closed communications circuit' to be established between the monitoring unit 2 and the responder 3, which allows for monitoring the presence of a vehicle when the responder 3 is attached thereto. However, a similar result may also be achieved by way of periodic or cyclic signals, which can be transmitted/reflected at pulsed intervals as required.

The optical transceiver 4 of Figure 1 includes a JR diode (not shown) that transmits a relatively collimated signal towards the reflector, which therefore must be approximately aligned with the optical axis of the JR diode in order for the return signal to be incident on the receiving element, i.e. JR photodiode, in the optical transceiver 4.

The monitoring unit 2 includes an alarm circuit 6 that comprises conventional components for driving a visual transponder 7 and an audible transponder 8 in response to the constant return signal being interrupted or halted while the anti-theft device is activated (i.e. turned on). In this example, the visual transponder 7 is a flashing strobe light, while the audible transponder 8 is a 120 dB siren.

The controller in the monitoring unit 2 is configured to minimise false activation of the alarm circuit 6 by waiting for a predetermined interval after the return signal is interrupted before triggering the strobe 7 and the siren 8. In this way, problems caused by passing animals or wind blown debris etc. are minimised, thereby avoiding unnecessary alarm to the owner and his/her neighbours etc. In the example of Figure 1, the controller has been programmed to wait for 3 seconds before triggering the transponders 7, 8 after interruption of the return ER signal.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown an example implementation of the anti-theft device of Figure 1. In this example, the anti-theft device I has been arranged to monitor a typical family car 12 parked on the driveway 13 of the owner's home.

Due to the remote monitoring functionality of the anti-theft device 1, the monitoring unit 2 is located within the home, behind a window 14 adjacent the driveway 13.

By parked' we mean that the car is stationary and has been left in a state by the owner or driver where the engine has been turned off and the doors of the vehicle have ideally been locked.

It is to be appreciated that for embodiments that use an optical transceiver 4, the monitoring unit 2 needs to be located behind a substantially transparent medium, ideally a window, to allow unimpeded communication between the monitoring unit 2 and the responder 3 attached to the vehicle. Although the monitoring unit 2 is located on a lower floor window in Figure 2, it should be understood that the anti-theft device I also operates in the same manner for higher floor windows (with appropriate positioning of the responder). Moreover, in other example

II

implementations, the monitoring unit 2 can alternatively be securely mounted to an external wall adjacent the driveway 13.

As shown in Figure 2, the monitoring unit 2 is positioned so that the optical transceiver 4 is substantially aligned with the responder 3 attached to the car 12.

The responder 3, comprising the prismatic reflector, has previously been fastened to the front headlight 15 on the left hand side of the car 12 using a waterproof adhesive pad. As the monitoring unit 2 is portable it can be displaced laterally andlor vertically andlor rotated to ensure appropriate alignment with the prismatic reflector. In addition the car 12 itself can be parked in a specific relation to the window 14, so that there is a substantially direct alignment between the monitoring unit 2 and the headlight 15.

To activate the anti-theft device 1, the owner or driver enters the home and switches the monitoring unit 2 on by an integral slide switch (not shown). In the example of Figure 2, the monitoring unit 2 is battery powered, but there is an external input socket 16 for an optional mains adaptor to power the unit from the domestic mains supply. Once the monitoring unit 2 is turned on, a flashing LED 17 is alternately illuminated to notify the owner that the anti-theft is activated and monitoring the car 12.

If at a later time, the return signal is interrupted and an alarm condition is raised, the controller triggers the alarm circuit which in turn drives the strobe 7 and 120 dB audible siren 8. Due to the location of the monitoring unit 2, the siren 8 will not only alert the owner but will also be audible through the window 14, which should also deter the would be thief or vandal from continuing the attack on the car 12 In the example shown, the strobe 7 and siren 8 can only be deactivated by manually re-setting the monitoring unit 2 by turning it off via the slide switch.

Hence, the anti-theft device I of the invention provides a simple and effective technique of enhancing the security of a car, while being easy to fit and use and being universally applicable to all types and models of vehicle.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown an example of a car headlight 15 that has been modified to include a responder 3 comprising a prismatic reflector according to the invention. The reflector has been fastened to the lower surface of the parabolic reflector 18 using an adhesive pad. It is possible for a car owner to retro-fit the reflector themselves, by removing the front lens 19 of the headlight.

However, it is envisaged that motor manufacturers may alternatively include the prismatic reflector as an integral part of the headlight 15, and hence it can be fitted during factory fabrication.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for a parked motor vehicle, comprising: a monitoring unit configured to transmit a sensing signal to the vehicle; and a responder for attaching to the vehicle; wherein the responder is arranged to provide a return signal to the monitoring unit in response to receiving the sensing signal so as to indicate the presence of the vehicle.

2. The device as in Claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit and the responder are located remotely from each other.

3. The device as in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the return signal includes a part of the sensing signal.

4. The device as in any preceding claim, wherein the return signal is periodic.

5. The device as in any preceding claim, wherein the monitoring unit comprises a transceiver.

6. The device as in Claim 5, wherein the transceiver is an optical transceiver for transmitting and receiving light signals.

7. The device as in any preceding claim, wherein the sensing and return signals are light signals.

8. The device as in Claim 7, wherein the responder comprises a reflector for reflecting at least part of the sensing signal as a return light signal.

9. The device as in Claim 8, wherein the reflector is a prism.

10. The device as in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the reflector includes a fastening means for attaching it to a component of the vehicle.

11. The device as in Claim 10, wherein the fastening means is adapted to fix the reflector within a headlight unit of the vehicle.

12. The device as in Claim 5, wherein the transceiver is a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals.

13. The device as in Claim 12, wherein the responder is a wireless repeater.

14. The device as in any preceding claim, wherein the monitoring unit further comprises an alarm circuit to drive one or more transponders in response to an alarm condition.

15. The device as in Claim 14, wherein the transponders include one or more of: a lamp, a strobe, a LED, a buzzer, a siren and a klaxon.

16. The device as in any preceding claim, wherein the monitoring unit further comprises a telecommunications dialler.

17. The device as in any preceding claim, wherein the monitoring unit includes a power supply.

18. The device as in any preceding claim, wherein the monitoring unit is configured to be remotely activated.

19. The device as in any preceding claim, further comprising an engine immobiliser coupled to the responder.

20. The device as in Claim 19, wherein the engine immobiliser is configured to be activated after the sensing signal is received.

21. A headlight assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising a responder according to any of the Claims 8 to 11.

22. An anti-theft device and headlight assembly as substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.