IES20150046A2 - Anti-intruder vehicle door locking system - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) comprising at least one sensor (102) for detecting a presence of at least one object in close proximity, connecting means for interfacing the sensor (102) to a vehicle locking system and an alarm means for generating an alarm signal. The sensors (102) are installed into the at least one door handle (112) of the vehicle (110) to detect the presence of the at least on object in close proximity. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) is activated when hands of the intruder comes closer to the door handles (112) installed with the sensors (102) and a signal will be send to the central vehicle locking system of the vehicle (110) and to the at least one alarm through the connecting means. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) is simple, cost effective, easy to install.

Description

ANTI-INTRUDER VEHICLE DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM TRUE COPY AS LODGED Field of Invention The invention relates to the field of vehicle security systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic door locking system to detect and alert an intruder’s attempt to open the door of a vehicle.

Background of the Invention The definition for carjacking is simply the taking of a vehicle from the authorized occupant by an unauthorized occupant who by force or coercion obtains the keys and attempts to possess or possesses the vehicle of the authorized occupant. Some carjacking involves hostages, but more definitively, it is where an unauthorized occupant forcibly seizes or commandeers the vehicle while taking the authorized occupant hostage during the carjacking. Carjacking take on many scenarios, such as, confronting the authorized occupant before entering the vehicle or shortly after exiting the vehicle, confronting the authorized occupant at a stop light or other stopping situation and taking the authorized occupant hostage during the carjacking. These are just some of the many scenarios the carjacker uses.

The carjacker, usually, by force, coercion and intimidation obtains possession of the vehicle keys from the authorized occupant at which point the carjacker makes an easy getaway. The prime directive of the carjacker is to possess the keys to a carjacked vehicle for a quick and easy getaway. As an example, an authorized occupant is confronted by a carjacker as they approach their parked vehicle, the carjacker demands the authorized occupant's keys, before the authorized occupant enters the vehicle, at gunpoint, and makes an easy getaway. A carjacker may attempt to take an authorized occupant hostage in their own vehicle and force them to drive or the carjacker may force the authorized occupant into the trunk of their own vehicle.

Carjacking has become a very popular crime among the criminal element because there is no need for technical knowledge, such as, hotwiring the vehicle's ignition or manipulating the steering column to obtain the vehicle, they need only a weapon, such as a gun, to coerce and OPEN TO PUBLIC MISPE CTI0N UNDER SECTION 28 ANO RULE 23 JNL No. of .^1'5 IE 1 5 0 04 6 intimidate the authorized occupant of the vehicle to relinquish control of the vehicle keys. Many attempts have been made to provide vehicle security systems to protect against carjacking. No present vehicle security systems have been made to provide full preventive protection against a multitude of different carjacking scenarios. Further, many systems which have attempted to provide an effective anti-carjacking system include drawbacks and disadvantages.

There exist several systems to prevent carjacking. Some existing systems employ a remote battery switch for the remote disconnection and connection of the vehicle electrical system. One disadvantage of this system is that it does not offer automatic operation of its anticarjacking functions. The system must be manually operated. Thus, many carjacking attempts will still be successful where the operator may forget to activate the device or the carjacker has the element of surprise and prevents the operator from activating the device.

Another anti-carjacking device discloses an anti-carjacking circuit for disabling a motor vehicle after the driver of the vehicle has been unwillingly forced to exit the vehicle. A disadvantage of this system is that it is activated after the carjacking and the intruder gets access to the inside of the vehicle. Further this system requires a hidden switch, which must be manually operated by the driver. Thus many carjacking will still be successful where the driver forgets to lock the vehicle or just after he/she enters the vehicle and before closing the doors of the vehicle.

All the existing systems do not prevent the intruders from getting to the vehicle. Most of them work once the car hijacker gets access to the vehicle. Some existing systems should be operated manually and some other automated systems activates once the unauthorized user gets into the vehicle. Thus there exits a need for an anti-car hijacking system, which would prevent the carjacking even before the intruder gets access into the vehicle. The system would activate when the intruder comes closer to the.vehicle for carjacking. The needed system would protect the drivers from intruders soon after he/she sits onto the driver’s seat and before locking the doors. The needed system would be able to produce an alert using the existing alarm system and would be able to activate the central locking system for locking all the doors automatically. The needed system would be concealed from the view of the intruder. The IE 1 5 0 04 6 needed system would protect the vehicle from carjacking even if the driver forgets to lock the vehicle. The needed system would allow the driver to allow friendly passengers to get into the vehicle without activating the system. The needed system would be easy to install to new vehicles as factory installed accessory and to existing vehicles. The needed system would be simple and cost effective and would provide sufficient protection to the users of the vehicle from carjacking. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is an anti-intruder vehicle locking system comprising at least one sensor for detecting a presence of at least one object in close proximity, at least one connecting means for interfacing the least one sensor to at least one vehicle locking system and at least one alarm means for generating an alarm signal. The at least one sensor includes an infrared proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, a radio frequency signal based sensor and a capacitive proximity sensor capable of detecting the presence of the at least one object in close proximity. The sensors are installed into the at least one door handle of the vehicle to detect the presence of the at least one object in close proximity. The at least one object can be the hands of an intruder. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system is activated when the intruder comes closer to the doors and tries to open any of the doors by pulling the door handles installed with the vehicle the sensors. The ultrasonic proximity sensor is capable of measuring a distance of at least one object from the at least one door handle of the vehicle. Thus when the hands of the intruder comes closer to the doors the sensors will detect the presence of the intruder’s hands and a signal will be send to the at least one central locking system of the vehicle and to the at least one alarm through the connecting means. This will lock the vehicle and will trigger the alarm even before the intruder touches the door handles of the vehicle.

The anti-intruder vehicle locking system is simple, cost effective, easy to install onto new and existing vehicles, can be easily integrated with existing locking systems and alarm systems and also includes provisions to add additional locking and alarm systems. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system prevents the intruders even before they touch the vehicle. The antiintruder vehicle locking system is safe and provides added security even if the driver parks the vehicle and forgets to lock and arm the alarm system of the vehicle.

IE 1 5 0 0 4 6 Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 shows a side view of a vehicle installed with an anti-intruder vehicle locking system in the door handles of the vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the vehicle installed with the anti-intruder vehicle locking system in a boot door handle of the vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

There is a need for an anti-intruder system for detecting and preventing the intruders from getting into a vehicle soon after the driver unlocks and opens the doors of the vehicle. The anti-intruder system would detect all kinds of intensions such as to rob the driver, hijack the vehicle etc. by the intruders. The anti-intruder system would work with existing locking and alarm systems of the vehicles and would provide additional protection to the drivers and passengers to the vehicle from intruders. The anti-intruder system would be able to seamlessly communicate with current electronic devices in the vehicle to provide protection to the driver IE 1 5 0 046 and passengers of the vehicle. The various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the present disclosure address these and other needs. Also, while the disclosure is presented in terms of exemplary and optional embodiments, it should be appreciated that individual aspects of the disclosure can be separately claimed.

The present invention is an anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) for detecting and preventing an intruder’s attempt to open the door of a vehicle (110). Figure 1 shows a side view of the vehicle (110) installed with the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) mainly comprises at least one sensor (102) for detecting a presence of at least one object in close proximity, at least one connecting means for interfacing the least one sensor (102) to at least one vehicle locking system and at least one alarm means for generating an alarm signal. In certain embodiments, the alarm means can be an alarm provided with the central locking system of the vehicle (110). The at least one sensor (102) includes an infrared proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor and a capacitive proximity sensor capable of detecting the presence of the at least one object in close proximity. The sensors (102) are installed into the at least one door handle (112) of the vehicle (110) to detect the presence of the at least one object in close proximity. The at least one object can be the hands of an intruder. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) is activated when the intruder comes closer to the doors and tries to open any of the doors by pulling the door handles (112) installed with the vehicle the sensors (102). The ultrasonic proximity sensor is capable of measuring a distance of at least one object from the at least one door handle (112) of the vehicle (110). Thus when the hands of the intruder comes closer to the doors, for example by a distance of 4 inches or less, the sensors (102) will detect the presence of the intruder’s hands and a signal will be send to the at least one central locking system of the vehicle (110) and to the at least one alarm through the connecting means .

In certain embodiments, the at least one connecting means connecting the at least one sensor (102) installed in the door handles (112) to the at least one vehicle locking system associated with the vehicle (110) can be a wired connection. The connecting means connects the sensors (102) in the door handles (112) of the vehicle (110) with the central locking system and to the alarm system thereof. In a yet another embodiment, the at least one connecting means IE 1 5 0 04 6 connecting the at least one sensor (102) installed in the door handles (112) to the at least one vehicle locking system can be a wireless connection. Thus improving the security of the vehicle by minimizing the chances of faults and tampering by the intruders with the wired connection. The sensors (102) can be fitted concealed within the door handles (112) of the vehicle (110). When the driver unlocks the vehicle’s locking system and enters into the vehicle (110), the system (100) remains temporarily in a suspended mode. Soon after the driver gets into the vehicle, the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) becomes operational and the sensors (102) will detect the presence of any intruder if his/her hands comes near the door handles (112). Then the sensor (102) of the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) sends signal to the vehicle locking system via the at least one connecting means for locking the vehicle (110) and to activate the at least one alarm means for generating the alarm signal. Upon receiving the signal from the sensor (102), the central processor of the vehicle locking system triggers the door closing actuators and the doors will be immediately locked. Thereby the possible access to the interior of the vehicle (110) by the intruders can be prevented by locking the doors of the vehicle (110) quickly, i.e. even before the intruder touches his/her hands on the door handles (112).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the alarm means can be the sound alarm associated with the central locking system of the vehicle (110). In some other instances, the sensors are connected to the horn and lights system of the vehicle (110) in addition to the at least one alarm means for generating visual and sound alarm and for alerting people nearby the vehicle (110) about the intruder presence.

In a preferred embodiment, the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) will work even if the driver of the vehicle forgot to lock the vehicle and to activated the central locking and associated alarm system . When the driver leave the vehicle forgetting to lock the door and to switch on the monitoring and alarm system and if the intruder tries to open the door of the vehicle, the sensors (102) installed in the doors handles (112) of the vehicle (110) will detect the presence of the hands of the intruder and the above described process will take place. Thus the vehicle doors will be locked and alarm will be triggered alerting others.

IE 1 5 0 046 In a preferred embodiment, the sensors (102) will be installed in all the door handles of the vehicle. Figure 2 shows a rear view of the vehicle (110) installed with the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) in a boot door handle (112) of the vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All the sensors (102) are integrated to the existing central locking system and the alarm system of the vehicle (110). For new vehicles the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) can be provided as a factory attachment. For other vehicles, the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) will be available in form of components for easily installing into the door handles (112) of the vehicles and integrating to the existing central locking system and the alarm system of the vehicle (110) using the at least one connecting means . In both types of installation, the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) will be invisible to anyone as it is mounted within the door handles (112) of the vehicle (HO).

The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) comes with a deactivate switch to allow the driver to allow other passengers to get into the vehicle (110) without triggering the alarm system . The switch may be positioned inside the vehicle (110) besides the driver side. The driver of the vehicle (110) can disable the sensor (102) using the switch positioned inside the vehicle (110) and at a reachable distance to the driver. The switch can be positioned anywhere convenient to the driver and also can be placed at a secret location, which is only known to the driver. Thus the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) will not block friendly personal from getting into the vehicle (110). Once the doors are closed after all the passengers are inside the vehicle (110), the sensors (102) will automatically get activated, thereby preventing the intruders from getting into the vehicle (110).

In some other embodiments, the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) comprises at least one device for delivering an electric shock to temporarily disable an intruder when the intruder touches at least one handle (112) of the vehicle (110). The electric shock producing device can be integrated within the handle of the vehicle and can be power by a battery through an electronic circuitry. In some instances, the electric shock producing device can be powered by the power received from the battery of the vehicle (110). The electric shock is adjusted to have a magnitude for temporarily paralyzing the intruder. In a yet another embodiment, the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) is associated with a remote control IE 1 5 0 0 4 6 so that a driver can utilize the remote control for controlling the operation of the sensors (102). The remote control for controlling the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) includes two modes of operation by controlling an operation of the sensors (102) provided inside the handles of the vehicle (110). In a first mode of operation, the driver can deactivate the sensors (102) at a driver side door of the vehicle (110) and to unlock the driver side door of the vehicle (110). This way the driver can get into the vehicle (110) without activating the sensors (102) of the driver side door handle (112). All the other sensors (102) at remaining doors of the vehicle (110) will be under an active state when the driver presses the remote control for first mode of operation. The sensors (102) at the driver side door of the vehicle (110) will be activated again after the driver closes the driver side door of the vehicle (110). Now all the sensors (102) of the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) will automatically gets activated. A second mode of operation of the remote control allows the driver to unlock all the doors of the vehicle (110) and to deactivate the sensors (102) associated with all the door handles (112) for allowing friendly passengers to enter into the vehicle (110). Once all the doors are closed, all the sensors (102) associated with all the door handles (112) will get automatically activated. Thus the anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) offers complete protection against intruders when a driver or passenger of the vehicle gets into the vehicle (110).

The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) is simple, cost effective, easy to install onto new and existing vehicles, can be easily integrated with existing locking systems and alarm systems and also includes provisions to add additional locking and alarm systems. The antiintruder vehicle locking system (100) prevents the intruders even before they touch the vehicle. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) is safe and provides added security even if the driver parks the vehicle and forgets to lock and arm the alarm system of the vehicle.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

IE 1 50 046 It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification. However, all such modifications are 5 deemed to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. An anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) comprising: at least one sensor (102) for detecting a presence of at least one object in close 5 proximity; at least one connecting means for interfacing the least one sensor (102) to at least one vehicle locking system; and at least one alarm means for generating an alarm signal, whereby the at least one sensor (102) fitted to at least one door handle (112) of a 10 vehicle (110) detects the presence of the at least one object in close proximity and signals the vehicle locking system via the at least one connecting means for locking the vehicle (110) and to activate the at least one alarm means for generating the alarm signal. 15

2. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (102) is selected from a group comprising an infrared proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, a radio frequency operable sensor and a capacitive proximity sensor capable of detecting the presence of the at least one object in close proximity, preferably wherein the ultrasonic proximity sensor is capable of measuring 20 a distance of at least one object from the at least one door handle (112) of the vehicle (110); or wherein the at least one sensor (102) detects the presence of the at least one object in close proximity to activate the at least one vehicle locking system of the vehicle; 25 or wherein the at least one sensor (102) triggers the at least one alarm means for generating the alarm signal in an event of detecting the presence of the at least one object in close proximity.

3. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) of claim 1, which is installed into the at 30 least one door handle (112) of the vehicle (110) to detect the presence of the at least one object in close proximity; or wherein a driver of the vehicle (110) can disable the sensor (102) using at least one switch positioned inside the vehicle (110) and accessible to the driver; JE 1 5 0 0

4. 6 or wherein the system (100) comprises at least one device for delivering an electric shock to temporarily disable an intruder when the intruder touches at least one handle (112) of the vehicle (110)

5. 4. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting means connects the at least one sensor (102) to the at least one vehicle locking system associated with the vehicle (110); or wherein the at least one connecting means can be a wired and wireless means of connection for integrating the at least one sensor (102) with the at least one vehicle

6. 10 locking system, the at least one alarm means and a horn and lights system of the vehicle (110). 5. The anti-intruder vehicle locking system (100) of claim 1 wherein a driver can utilize a remote control having two modes of operation and capable of controlling an

7. 15 operation of the sensors (102), wherein a first mode of operation allows the driver to deactivate the sensors (102) at a driver side door of the vehicle (110) without deactivating other sensors (102) and allows the driver to unlock the driver side door of the vehicle (110), wherein the sensors (102) at the driver side door of the vehicle (110) are

8. 20 automatically activated after closing the driver side door of the vehicle (110), wherein a second mode of operation allows the driver to unlock the doors of the vehicle (110) and to deactivate the sensors (102) for allowing friendly passengers to enter into the vehicle (110), wherein the sensors (102) are automatically activated after closing the doors of

9. 25 the vehicle (110).