Abstract: An electronic remote control vehicle security system, includes a wireless remote control transmitter for transmitting signals to arm or disarm the system and a receiver is mounted within the vehicle. An audio generator generates audible sounds confirming a change of state of the system. A system controller arms or disarms the system in response to commands received from the remote transmitter. The controller further issues a control signal to the audio generator to generate an audio signal confirming arming or disarming of the system. A means is provided to disable said generation of said confirming audio signal during night conditions, which means includes a photodetector mounted on the vehicle for monitoring the ambient light conditions. The controller is responsive to the photodetector signal to disable said generation when said photodetector output indicates darkness.

Abstract: A multifunction vehicle security system, which includes a receiver connected to a control unit which processes received information and enables various functions. The user can increase or decrease the sensitivity of the system sensor, by merely pressing a button on the remote control to increase the sensor sensitivity, and another button to decrease the sensitivity. A special programming mode resets the system programmable features and values to factory settings, to quickly re-establish to a known state all or only preselected features. The system provides automatic silencing during night conditions of the system's arming/disarming chirping to confirm the change of system state. The security system generates a door unlocking command to the vehicle's power door locking system to unlock the doors in the event of a vehicle collision. A theft warning LED energy management system conserves battery power when the vehicle is left unattended for long periods of time.

Abstract: A remote control access system which may be in the form of a security system or a convenience system for buildings and vehicles to thereby enable access opening and closing of buildings and vehicles. The system is operable on a remote control basis and comprises one or more hand held remote transmitters and a receiver unit located at or near the building or in the vehicle. The receiver is operable in conjunction with a control unit which contains a microprocessor capable of performing control functions and decoding functions. The remote control access system is unique in that it enables the user to electronically program into or delete from the receiver a digital code or so-called encoding signal from any of a plurality of transmitters. Each transmitter may contain not only different numbers of digital codes, but also a code generated by an entirely different method of encoding.

Abstract: A vehicle security siren that includes a rechargeable back-up battery and an electronic circuit that minimizes current drain from the vehicle's battery by controlling the rate at which the siren's back-up battery is charged by the vehicle's battery. The circuit charges the siren's battery at a relatively high rate when the vehicle engine is running or the ignition is on, and by a low charging rate at other times. This multi-level charging rate preserves the vehicle's battery charge particularly if the vehicle is not driven for any extended time period. The circuit includes a back-up battery condition detector that issues a warning signal in the event of failure of the back-up battery. The circuit also limits the maximum siren duration in the event that either the vehicle's battery or the security system is disconnected from the siren.

Abstract: A vehicle security system having a secure valet/programming switch. To either enter the system valet mode, or select a function via the valet/programming switch, the user must first enter a valid personal access code via the switch. To prevent an intruder from deciphering the personal code by trying various codes, the system ignores, after a preset number of successive invalid entries, further switch inputs for a preset period of time. When attempts to decipher the code are detected, the alarm is tripped, and the siren will sound. To accommodate various drivers of the same vehicle, more than one valid code can be stored in the system. Any of the personal access codes may be changed any time, but after the user's present code is entered.

Abstract: A multi-featured electronic vehicle security system is disclosed. The system is controlled by an electronic controller such a microcomputer. To reduce noise pollution due to false alarms caused by repetitive tripping of the system sensor devices, the system will not respond to more than a defined number of successive trippings of the same sensor device to initiate an alarm condition. 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. When the system is passively armed, active sensors and triggers are automatically diagnosed and bypassed, permitting the system to be passively armed even if one or more trigger or sensor is active.

Abstract: An electronically programmable remote control for an vehicle security system. The system remote control comprises one or more hand-held remote transmitters and a receiver unit located in the vehicle. The receiver is operable in conjunction with a control unit which contains a microprocessor capable of performing control functions and encoding functions. The remote control enables the user to electronically program into or delete from the receiver a digital code from any of a plurality of transmitters. It is not necessary for the user or anyone else to know the specific encoded signal which is transmitted from any of the transmitters to the receiver. The receiver is operable with a plurality of transmitters, all of which operate on the same frequency.

Abstract: An interfacing system for integrating a wide variety of cellular communication systems with most vehicle security systems. The system includes a controller and an interfacing arrangement for matching the cellular telephone to the controller. The interfacing arrangement includes a library, stored in memory, having a plurality of unique translation tables corresponding to the protocols of a plurality of unique cellular communication systems. The interfacing arrangement further includes an initializing capability for selecting an operating protocol for the interfacing system from the library which is compatible with the protocol of the cellular communication system. Hardware and software are included for interfacing the vehicle security to the controller and for interfacing the controller to the vehicle. In a specific embodiment, the selection of cellular telephone type or make is made from the keypad of the cellular telephone.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for remote control of a driver's seat in a vehicle equipped with powder seats but without memory seats function. The system is controlled by remote RF transmitter and auto security system which are responsive to a remote control signal disarming the system. Upon receipt of such signal the system will position the driver's seat on a preselected mode to either initial easy access position or a driver position corresponding to the particular transmitter code. In the event an intrusion is detected while the security system is armed, the system automatically moves the driver's seat to an alarm position closest to the vehicle's dashboard to make it difficult or impossible for an intruder to drive the vehicle.

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.

Abstract: A multi-channel remote control transmitter is disclosed for control of apparatus such as vehicle security systems, garage door openers, and the like. The transmitter provides the capability of selecting one of many different channels or codes to be transmitted with a minimum number of control switches. The transmitter includes at least one channel select switch and a transmit switch. The user actuates the channel select switch to select a desired channel, and then actuates the transmit switch to actually transmit the selected channel code. The transmitter includes an audible or visual indicator for confirming to the user the particular channel selected. The transmitter provides an audible "battery low" signal when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A multi-function security system for monitoring access to a protected area such as a vehicle. The system has a self-diagnostic capability for detecting defective sensor or trigger devices and bypassing such devices to allow the system to be armed. The system includes audible and visual message capability for providing an indication when the system is disarmed that an intrusion was attempted and identifying the particular intrusion point. Multiple levels of security are provided by programming the disarming event as either entry of a code via a remote transmitter or entry of the code via the transmitter and then entry of an authorization code manually via a key pad.

Abstract: A user-programmable sensor system for generating an alarm signal upon detection of an alarm event is disclosed. The system is particularly suited for use in vehicle security systems. The system employs a three axes accelerometer as a shock/motion detector, and the transducer outputs are summed and the composite signal filtered to provide several channels, each covering a specific frequency or frequency band. The outputs of the channels are digitized and processed by a microprocessor. An event is characterized by seveal signal parameters with an alarm event triggered by the simultaneous occurrence of several predetermined conditions, and not just one condition. The limit values for the signal parameters which are required to qualify a shock/motion event as an alarm event may be readily programmed by the user at any time or place.