Responsive To Changes In Voltage Or Current In A Vehicle Electrical System Patents (Class 340/428)
  • Patent number: 5182541
    Abstract: A theft deterrent device (10) is provided for enclosures such as dwellings, motor vehicles and the like, having one or more entranceways. The device is adapted to be quickly and easily installed within such enclosures and is connected electrically with pre-existing electrical circuitry of the enclosure, causing the device to emit a noxious gas, upon unauthorized entry into the enclosure via one of the entranceways. The noxious gas renders the enclosure temporarily uninhabitable. The device may be activated or deactivated remotely from outside the enclosure. The device also includes other safety features to prevent accidental discharge of the noxious gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Concept Five, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay E. Bajorek, Austin E. Cox, Eugene S. Kovack, Michael S. Lionetti, Joe Smisko
  • Patent number: 5181010
    Abstract: A vehicle security system provided with a plurality of environmentally sensitive sensors determines the number of environmentally sensitive sensors that are activated, and generates an attack alarm signal when at least a predetermined number of environmentally sensitive sensors are activated, the predetermined number being greater than one, and generates a tamper alarm signal when a number of environmentally sensitive sensors less than the predetermined number are activated. In a system having one or more environmentally insensitive sensors and a plurality of environmentally sensitive sensors, an attack alarm signal is generated when an environmentally insensitive sensor is activated or at least a predetermined number of environmentally sensitive sensors are activated, the predetermined number being greater than one, and a tamper alarm signal is generated when no environmentally insensitive sensor is activated and a number of environmentally sensitive sensors less than the predetermined number are activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Inventor: James S. Chick
  • Patent number: 5166661
    Abstract: An automobile alarm system with noise reduction function utilizes a built-in function in a single-chip computer, which is adapted to control the alarm system, to prevent the system being damaged by the noise, while the noise is presented in the form of high voltages, occurring during the operation of the engine. The alarm system has a current detector circuit to sense the presence of noise, and a one-shot circuit to selectively activate/inactivate the single-chip computer temporarily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Advance Security Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Chen
  • Patent number: 5153558
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft system is equipped with a circuit to produce a pulse signal when a disconnected vehicle battery is reconnected, and a normally asleep microcomputer based controller is programmed to wake up upon receipt of the pulse signal or another detector signal, and to evaluate the status of each detector signal and the armed, disarmed and alarm state of the controller to sound an alarm, if appropriate, in response to the battery reconnect signal. The armed, disarmed or alarm state of the controller is stored in a non-volatile memory so that information will be kept indefinitely during power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Robinson, Curtis R. Balka, Ronald H. Jaeger
  • Patent number: 5146407
    Abstract: A vehicle stop detecting apparatus including a detecting device for detecting a parking brake inoperative condition in a vehicle, and a signal generating device for generating a vehicle stop signal when a parking brake operative condition is generated after detection of the parking brake inoperative condition by the detecting device. Accordingly, in the case where a wiring is not properly connected, causing that the parking brake lever is in a position corresponding to the parking brake inoperative condition, the generation of the vehicle stop signal can be prevented. Further, a vehicle stop condition can be reliably determined with a simple construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Motohashi
  • Patent number: 5132551
    Abstract: An anti-theft device that is adapted to be connected adjacent to or on a battery of a motor vehicle and including a power switch for disconnecting the battery from its standard battery cable when current flowing through the cable exceeds a preselected substantial amount of current associated with an attempt to start the vehicle. A lockout circuit is actuated by a remote transmitter for generating an external command signal to override the operation of the power switch. This device can be attached directly to a battery without external wiring and still provide the passive or self-arming anti-theft device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: James E. Winner
    Inventors: Louis D. Carlo, Joey B. Adkins
  • Patent number: 5132660
    Abstract: A vehicle security system includes a transmitter, a receiver, a timer, a controller and an alarm circuit. The transmitter transmits selectively an encoded signal when activated by the user. The receiver develops a decoded signal in response to reception and recognition of the encoded signal. The decoded signal has a reception time duration commensurate with a transmission time duration of the encoded signal. The timer develops a momentary timer output signal. The timer output signal is developed in response to initial application of the decoded signal to the timer in the absence of ignition voltage and is developed after a selected timer duration in response to continuous application of decoded signal to the timer and the presence of the ignition voltage only if the reception time duration exceeds the selected time duration. The controller develops a binary signal. The binary signal switches states in response to each occurrence of the timer output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Nutek Corporation
    Inventors: Chau-ho Chen, Chih-hung Shee
  • Patent number: 5128650
    Abstract: An alarm system for an automotive vehicle including direct coupled input connections which provide a voltage proportional to the amount of current interchanged between, the battery and the electrical system of the vehicle. An arming circuit is responsive to the voltage and arms the burglar alarm only when less than a predetermined current is interchanged between the battery and the electrical system. An alarm circuit produces an alarm when the alarm system is armed and more than a predetermined amount of current is drawn from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Ever-gard vehicle Security Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Peters, Paul F. Wyar
  • Patent number: 5121102
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting the occurrence of an event and for providing an output signal upon the detection of the event includes a sensor for detecting the occurrence of the event. A programmable voltage source is interconnected to the sensor for generating the output signal of a predetermined voltage value. The predetermined voltage value is generated by the programmable voltage source when the programmable voltage source is activated by the sensor. Circuitry is interconnected to the programmable voltage source for preventing identification of the preselected voltage value when the programmable voltage source is not activated by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Optek Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Stricklin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5119065
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft device includes a lock body carried on the vehicle and having a key receiving a slot. A pair of bore holes are spaced apart from each other in a predetermined pattern and extend through the lock body, which is transparent to a particular frequency of electromagnetic radiation. The key includes a first radiation reflective area aligned with one of the bore holes and a second non-reflective area aligned with the other bore hole. A systems controller includes a pair of radiation emitters and associated radiation detectors. A pair of fiber optic cables connect the radiation emitters and the radiation detectors to the bore holes. The systems controller generates control signals in response to radiation reflected from the key through the optic cables. If a proper pattern of radiation is reflected through the optic cables, the vehicle will be operated in a normal manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Fred A. Wiehagen
  • Patent number: 5059945
    Abstract: A remote alarm module and an alarm system. The remote alarm module has a base which defines a passage. A transient generator is joined to the base. The transient generator is generally non-conducting of electricity after transmission of a single electric transient following the connection of the transient generator to an electrical circuit. A switch has a body and a lever. The body is joined in rigid relationship to the base. The switch has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is connected electrically in series with the transient generator. The lever has an inner end and an outer end. The inner end is pivotably connected to the body. The outer end has a line receiver. The line receiver adjoins the passage. The lever pivots between a second position, in which the terminals are electrically isolated from each other and a first position, in which the terminals are in electrically conductive relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Allen Protection Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Scheele, Max R. Ginther
  • Patent number: 5003287
    Abstract: An alarm system for an automotive vehicle including direct coupled input connections which provide a voltage proportional to the amount of current interchanged between the battery and the electrical system of the vehicle. An arming circuit is responsive to the voltage and arms the burglar alarm only when less than a predetermined current is interchanged between the battery and the electrical system. An alarm circuit produces an alarm when the alarm system is armed and more than a predetermined amount of current is drawn from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Ever-Gard Vehicle Security Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Peters, Paul F. Wyar
  • Patent number: 4980666
    Abstract: The invention is a two-step alarm disarming device with automatic rearming which uses sensors and buffer circuits to detect the condition of the car doors, hood, and trunk. It can disarm an alarm in two steps--with a signal input to an exterior key switch buffer for temporary disarming and a signal input to the ignition for permanent disarming. It is comprised of two-step alarm disarming circuits, a flip-flop, a timer, and a buffer for alarm disarming so that the burglar alarm can operate at maximum effectiveness without failure due to external interference or user negligence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Inventor: Shih-Ming Hwang
  • Patent number: 4975678
    Abstract: A vehicle alarm control system built into a single integrated circuit, which includes a number of inputs including M/D-, INO-, INO+, H/T-,C.S+, and INC- which monitor a plurality of sensors strategically placed around an automobile; a fail safe/override/memory circuit which prevents the alarming of the alarm should any of the inputs become defective but allows the user to temporarily disable the defective input; and instant trigger override control which allows the user to cause the sensors to instead trigger the alarm after a delay upon the opening of the door; a main power cut warning control which triggers to provide an audible warning signal should the alarm be removed; a per-entry alert control which triggers an audible warning immediately should the automobile's door handle be touched while the alarm is armed; and a headlight on warning control which causes the alarm to give an audible warning if the automobile's headlights are on after the automobile's engine is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventor: Shih-Ming Hwang
  • Patent number: 4958084
    Abstract: An anti-theft device that is adapted to be connected adjacent to or on a battery of a motor vehicle and including a power switch for disconnecting the battery from its standard battery cable when current flowing through the cable exceeds a preselected substantial amount of current associated with an attempt to start the vehicle. A lockout circuit is actuated by a remote transmitter for generating an external command signal to override the operation ofthe power switch. This device can be attached directly to a battery without external wiring and still provide the passive or self-arming anti-theft device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Mr. Gasket Co.
    Inventors: Louis D. Carlo, Joey B. Adkins
  • Patent number: 4922224
    Abstract: A multi-featured electronic vehicle security system includes an output device protection feature, to prevent damage to output devices such as power transistors from damage due to improper installation or miswiring. The system can be user-programmed so that second and subsequent trippings of the same sensor device will result in an alarm condition only if a system trigger device has also been tripped. The system includes a user-enabled feature wherein a first alarm signal generator is activated by a sensor tripping, and a second, distinct alarm signal generator is activated when a trigger device has been tripped. A further user-enabled feature is useful with vehicles having a courtesy light delay timer, with the door trigger wired to the interior light, to permit the system to be actively armed even while the interior light is still turned on. The system entrance delay is automatically bypassed if a sensor device has been tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Clifford Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ze'ev Drori, Amir Abrishami
  • Patent number: 4901054
    Abstract: A computerized alarm system for an automobile, which is also capable of rendering the vehicle useless to anyone making a forced entry is disclosed. The invention includes a computer panel which is equipped with a keyboard for entering a secret code. The alarm system of the present invention further includes a voice synthesizer which verbally warns intruders not to take further action in an attempt to deter theft or vandalism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Serville Waterman
  • Patent number: 4852681
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which operates by cutting off the electrical supply to the ignition by a relay supplied by a central electronic unit which is connected in series with the "on" contact of the anti-theft steering lock of the vehicle characterized in that the relay is connected to the central unit through at least one transistor and to ground by a switch device which is maintained open while the engine is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Neiman
    Inventor: Jean Bombled