United States Patent (19)
`Sonders
`
`|||||||||||||
`USOO5307048A
`(11)
`Patent Number:
`5,307,048
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Apr. 26, 1994
`
`54
`
`(75)
`(73)
`
`(21)
`22)
`(51)
`52)
`58)
`
`56)
`
`VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM INCLUDING
`AN ANTI-CARJACKING SYSTEM
`Inventor: David G. Sonders, Fairfax, Va.
`Assignee: Protect & Defend, Inc., Springfield,
`Va.
`Appl. No.: 992,931
`Filed:
`Dec. 18, 1992
`Int. Cl.............................................. B60R 25/10
`U.S. Cl. ................................. 340/426; 340/425.5;
`307/10.2; 180/287
`Field of Search ..................... 340/426,425.5, 428,
`340/430,528,527, 522, 523, 543,576; 307/10.2,
`10.3, 10.4-10.6; 180/287, 271
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,639,897 2/1972 Teich ................................... 340/522
`3,646,515 2/1972 Vodehnal ............................ 340/426
`3,665,386 5/1972 Dosch ................................. 80/4
`3,735,346 5/1973 Fox ...................................... 180/114
`3,781,789 12/1973 Caleskie et al. .
`... 307/10 AT
`3,858,175 12/1974 Kopera, Jr. ......................... 180/14
`4,064,547 12/1977 Zagwyn .............................. 361/72
`4,133,410 1/1979 Krusoe ................................ 180/114
`4, 143,368 3/1979 Route et al. ........................ 340/543
`4,159,466 6/1979 Mengel ................................ 340/545
`4,302,747 1 1/1981 Belmuth.............................. 180/287
`4,354, 189 10/1982 Lemelson ............................ 340/543
`4,383,242 5/1983 Sassover et al. .................... 340/539
`4,438,426 3/1984. Adkins ..............................., 180/287
`4,446,380 5/1984 Moriya et al.
`... 36/172
`4,452,197 6/1984 Weber ................................. 180/287
`4,485,887 12/1984 Morano ............................... 180/287
`4,691,801 9/1987 Mann et al. ......................... 180/287
`4,745,897 5/1988 Tejeda ................................. 80/287
`4,754,255 6/1988 Sanders et al. ...................... 340/539
`4,794,368 12/1988 Grossheim et al. ................. 340/527
`4,804,856 2/1989 Hanisko et al. ..................... 361/172
`4,8ll,013 3/1989 Akutsu ................................ 180/287
`4,838,377 6/1989 Kozaki et al. ....................... 180/287
`4,884,055 1 1/1989 Memnola ...
`... 180/287
`4,887,064 12/1989 Drori et al. ......................... 340/426
`
`De Vaulx ............................ 340/426
`12/1989
`4,888,575
`Tejeda .......
`... 80/287
`1/1990
`4,892, 167
`Waterman .
`... 340/426
`1/1990
`4,901,054
`Chambers et al.
`... 340/426
`3/1990
`4,910,493
`Drori et al. .......
`... 340/428
`1/1990
`4,922,224
`Carlo et al. ...
`... 340/426
`9/1990
`4,958,084
`Newby ......
`... 340/539
`2/1991
`4,990,890
`Gotanda ....
`... 340/426
`8/1991
`5,041,810
`Stouffer .....
`... 340/426
`9/1991
`5,049,867
`Sheffer ......
`... 340/539
`10/1991
`5,055,851
`Chen et al. .......................... 340/426
`7/1992
`5,132,660
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2614640 10/1977 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
`3003887A1 8/1981 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
`2170633A 12/1984 United Kingdom .
`Primary Examiner-Donnie L. Crosland
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Banner, Birch, McKie &
`Beckett
`ABSTRACT
`57
`A vehicle security system for protecting a vehicle from
`carjacking and from theft while the vehicle is unat
`tended. The portion of the security system which pro
`tects the vehicle from theft while the vehicle is unat
`tended is selectively initiated by pressing a command
`button on a remote control transmitter. In response
`thereto, a first disablement sequence is initiated which
`includes disabling the vehicle. The portion of the secu
`rity system which protects the vehicle from carjacking
`is automatically initiated by the starting of the engine. A
`second disablement sequence is initiated upon either the
`sensing of a door opening while the engine is running or
`upon receipt of a signal transmitted by the remote con
`trol transmitter. The second disablement sequence pro
`vides a warning to persons inside and outside the vehi
`cle prior to engine disablement and the actuation of a
`plurality of sirens. To enable the engine after a disable
`ment, a simultaneous actuation of the remote control
`transmitter and a concealed switch is required.
`25 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`3
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`31
`DOOR
`SENSOR 5
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`CONCEALED
`SWITCH 11
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`RECEIVER
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`25
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`CONTROL
`CRCUITRY
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`SREN
`RELAY 37
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`DISABLEMENT
`
`RELAY 39 is HAZARD
`RELAY t
`
`DOOR LOCK
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`INTERFOR
`SIREN
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`13
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`EXTERIOR
`SEREN
`15
`
`DISABLEMENT
`DEVICE 17
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`HAZARD
`LIGHTS 19
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`POWER DOOR
`LOCK 21
`
`IPR2022-00602
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 26, 1994
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`5,307,048
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`IPR2022-00602
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 26, 1994
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`Sheet 2 of 3
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`5,307,048
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`IPR2022-00602
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 26, 1994
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`IPR2022-00602
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`1
`
`VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM INCLUDING AN
`ANTI-CARJACKING SYSTEM
`
`5
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates in general to vehicle
`security systems. More specifically, the invention re
`lates to an electronic and mechanical system for pro
`10
`tecting a vehicle from theft, regardless whether the
`vehicle's engine is running.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Vehicle thefts are a major problem in today's society.
`In 1991, the United States alone had 1,661,738 vehicles
`which were reported stolen. On a smaller scale, that
`amounts to 1 out every 117 registered vehicles, or a
`single vehicle every 19 seconds. These thefts have an
`aggregate estimated cost of over 8.3 billion dollars.
`Thefts of parked automobiles have been rapidly in
`20
`creasing over the last few decades. These thefts have
`traditionally required the thief to “hotwire' the auto
`mobile before driving away. The advent of alarm sys
`tems have typically protected the vehicle from amateur
`thieves, but most alarm systems have usually only pro
`25
`vided a small obstacle for the professional thief.
`Within the last decade, and more specifically within
`the last few years, many criminals have been resorting
`to a method of stealing cars commonly referred to as
`carjacking. Carjacking is defined as the taking of a
`motor vehicle from the person or presence of another
`30
`by force, violence, or intimidation. In the majority of
`carjackings the use of handheld firearms are the weapon
`of choice to coerce the owner to leave the vehicle.
`Carjackings most frequently occur while the owner is
`driving the vehicle and is temporarily stopped, e.g., at a
`traffic light. However, carjackings can take other
`forms. One such form has been to forcefully confront
`the car owner before the owner enters the car. Once the
`thief gets the owner's keys, the car is easily taken. This
`scenario frequently occurs in gas stations and parking
`40
`lots. Other forms employ a technique of "bumping" an
`intended vehicle or alerting the driver to a possible
`vehicle deficiency, causing the driver to pull over
`thereby facilitating the taking of the vehicle.
`Carjacking has become a very popular crime among
`45
`thieves because of the lack of expertise required to suc
`cessfully perform a carjacking. Stealing a parked auto
`mobile typically requires some form of "hotwiring"
`experience, while carjacking only requires some sort of
`coercion, such as with a gun or other weapon, and a
`50
`propensity to place innocent persons in danger. In 1991,
`a total of 19,012 carjackings were reported in the United
`States. Of these carjackings, 6,800 were performed in
`Los Angeles alone.
`Due to the rising value of stolen vehicles, the easy
`access of handguns, and troubled economic times, the
`number of carjackings has been rapidly increasing. This
`increase in carjackings has resulted in a national crisis
`for which the United States Congress has even consid
`ered making it a federal crime. Some states have already
`passed laws distinguishing it from grand theft auto in
`attempting to defer carjackings by the imposition of
`stiffer criminal sentences. While the amount of carjack
`ings are still a small percentage of total vehicle thefts,
`they produce devastating effects to the victims which
`65
`may not exist in the theft of unattended vehicles. Armed
`personal confrontations which occur during carjack
`ings frequently leave the owner feeling helpless and
`
`5,307,048
`2
`violated. Further, owners under the threat of a carjack
`ing, who refuse to leave the vehicle or leave the vehicle
`too slowly, may end up suffering serious bodily injury
`or even death.
`Many attempts have been made to provide vehicle
`security systems to prevent automobile thefts, however,
`no present security system can protect a vehicle from all
`the above theft techniques. Further, many systems
`which have attempted to prevent some of the theft
`techniques include drawbacks. A first group of security
`systerns attempt to solve the theft problem by including
`a device for disabling the engine of a car, preventing its
`unauthorized use. After disablement, some systems pre
`vent subsequent starting unless the proper passcode or
`switch has been pressed. Other systems permit engine
`starting as normal, but will disable the vehicle after a
`period of time, if a proper switch is not pressed. How
`ever, none of these systems provide protection against
`carjackings.
`For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,547 to Zagwyn
`incorporates a series of operator controlled switches
`directly connected into the electrical system. Each
`switch must be correctly set for enabling the vehicle's
`engine to start.
`Other attempted solutions are disclosed in U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,485,887 to Morano and U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,747 to
`Belmuth. These patents prevent unauthorized engine
`running by disabling the engine after the ignition switch
`is turned off. In Morano, if a push button mounted on
`the base of the dashboard is not momentarily depressed
`upon engine starting, a relay will not energize and the
`current path for the ignition is interrupted by a circuit
`breaker. According to Belmuth, if a concealed switch is
`not pressed within forty seconds after engine starting,
`the engine is subsequently disabled. While these systems
`help in preventing the theft of unattended vehicles, they
`do not help protect a vehicle during a carjacking. Fur
`ther, a experienced thief would probably realized that a
`concealed button needs to be pressed for engine opera
`tion and could possibly find the button, successfully
`stealing the car in a relatively short amount of time.
`Use of a portable transceiver which fits into a vehicle
`mounted receptacle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
`3,646,515 to Vodehnal. Removal of the transceiver
`from the receptacle disables the vehicle. Any attempt to
`start the engine while the transceiver is not in the recep
`tacle initiates an alarm. Although Vodehnal may pro
`vide satisfactory protection against theft of an unat
`tended vehicle, it provides no protection against car
`jacking.
`A second group of security systems attempt to solve
`only the carjacking portion of the theft problem. How
`ever, many of these device have disadvantages, in addi
`tion to not providing theft protection to the vehicle
`while unattended. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
`3,735,346 to Fox and 3,781,789 to Caleskie et al. each
`disclose disabling a vehicle's engine upon opening a car
`door. Fox delays disablement by 15 minutes to minimize
`danger to the driver, but once disabled the vehicle can
`be restarted by closure of a single switch. A disadvan
`tage of this resetting method is that a carjacker can
`restart the engine and drive away upon finding the
`switch. According to Caleskie et al. a vehicle engine
`cannot be restarted until a non-reversible timer has
`completed its cycle. However, using a non-reversible
`timer may result in instances where the rightful owner
`cannot reset the system and start the engine because the
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`15
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`5,307,048
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`timer has not yet expired. Further, it may result in in
`stances where the thief can wait out the timer period
`and restart the engine without difficulty. Thus, neither
`of these systems provide a safe resetting capability
`which can enable the engine instantly for an authorized
`Se.
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,386 to Dosch prevents a vehicle
`hijacking by monitoring the route of the vehicle, com
`paring it to an expected route, and disabling the engine
`10
`if any deviation from the expected route exceeds a pre
`determined amount. Of course, this arrangement has
`many disadvantages. It is not feasible for use in any
`situation except for vehicles which repeatedly travel the
`same predetermined route, i.e. trucks from a warehouse
`to regular suppliers or purchasers. Additionally, such a
`system forces a driver to take a specific route to the
`destination without possible deviations for traffic condi
`tions. Such a monitoring system would also be prohibi
`tively costly for most vehicle owners.
`20
`A third group of security systems recognizes the need
`for both anti-theft and anti-carjacking systems, how
`ever, these systems do not provide complete protection
`from all possibilities of vehicle theft. For example, U.S.
`Pat. No. 4,892,167 to Tejeda discloses a vehicle security
`system having hijack and theft protection. The system
`includes a vehicle door switch and a door override
`switch. If the door override switch is "off,' and a car
`jacker forces the owner to open the door of vehicle
`30
`while it is running, the owner may freely leave the
`vehicle, but the electronically controlled fuel supply
`system shuts off and in several seconds the motor will
`stop and the hijacker will not be able to restart the
`motor. However, if the door override switch is "on,'
`35
`the Tejeda system provides no protection against car
`jacking. Further, if a thief locates a hidden switch re
`quired for restarting the vehicle, the security system can
`easily be defeated. Another disadvantage of the Tejeda
`security system is that the anti-theft system automati
`cally engages when the engine is turned off unless the
`entire security system is turned off by pressing a second
`override switch. A carjacking attempt will be successful
`if the second override switch is pressed because the
`security system's carjacking protection system is inhib
`ited, permitting the engine to start and the carjacker to
`drive away.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,055 to Memmola discloses a vehi
`cle security system having a remote control device
`50
`which helps to provide hijack and theft protection by
`selectively arming and disarming the system. Use of the
`remote control device when the system is armed, a door
`is open, and the engine running will produce an alarm
`condition. A major disadvantage of this system is that a
`carjacker will most likely close the door before the
`carjacked victim is capable of finding and operating the
`remote control device, thus not producing an alarm
`condition. Further, this carjacking prevention device
`fails to initiate a disablement sequence upon opening a
`door while the engine is running. Thus, many carjack
`ing attempts will be successful in situations where the
`owner cannot use the remote control device, i.e., taken
`by the carjacker.
`The present invention contemplates a new and im
`65
`proved vehicle security system which overcomes these
`problems by providing an effective anti-theft system
`along with an unparalleled anti-carjacking system.
`
`4.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Briefly, the present invention enables a user of a vehi
`cle to protect against all of the aforementioned theft
`techniques without any of the associated drawbacks of
`presently available security systems. Further, the pres
`ent invention minimizes the possibility of injury of the
`owner in a carjacking attempt.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a vehi
`cle security system having different engine disablement
`sequences such that a first disablement sequence is de
`signed for theft protection and a second disablement
`sequence is designed for carjacking protection.
`It is yet another object of the invention to provide a
`carjacking prevention unit which has the flexibility to
`disable the vehicle upon the automatic sensing of the
`opening of the driver's door while the engine is running
`or upon a signal transmitted by a hand held remote
`control.
`A still further object of the invention is to provide a
`vehicle security which protects the vehicle before and
`after disablement, as well as including a device to com
`pel a carjacker from the vehicle immediately after dis
`ablement.
`An additional object of the invention is to provide a
`safe, quick, easy, and reliable system which permits an
`authorized operator to enable the vehicle's engine after
`it has been disabled, while making it almost impossible
`for a thief or carjacker to enable the vehicle's engine.
`These and other objects are achieved by the present
`invention which, according to one aspect, provides a
`vehicle security system having a disablement system for
`disabling a vehicle's engine and an enablement system
`for enabling the engine after it has been disabled. The
`enablement system includes a first input device
`mounted inside the passenger compartment of the vehi
`cle for sending a first signal and a portable second input
`device for sending a second signal. The enablement
`system enables the engine only upon activation of at
`both the first and second input devices.
`In a second aspect, the invention provides an anti-car
`jacking system which includes a signal producing de
`vice for producing a signal in response to a theft condi
`tion, a disablement device for disabling an engine a first
`predetermined time period after the production of the
`signal by the signal producing device, and a warning
`device for providing an indication that said signal has
`been produced a second predetermined time period
`after said signal has been produced. The relationship
`between the first and second time periods being such
`that the second predetermined time period is less than
`said first predetermined time period, to provide a warn
`ing before the engine is disabled.
`In another aspect, the invention provides a vehicle
`security system including a theft prevention system and
`a carjacking prevention system. The theft prevention
`system prevents the unauthorized starting of the vehicle
`engine by including a disabling device for disabling an
`engine while the engine is off. The carjacking preven
`tion system includes a disabling device for disabling the
`engine while the engine is running.
`In yet another aspect, the invention provides a vehi
`cle anti-carjacking system including a determination
`device, a visual indication device, an audible indication
`device, and a disablement device. The determination
`device determines whether a theft condition has oc
`curred. The visual and aural indication devices provide
`visual and aural indications, respectively, after the de
`
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`10
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`15
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`5
`termination that a theft condition has occurred. The
`disablement device disables the engine after the deter
`mination that the theft condition has occurred.
`These and other objects and features of the invention
`will be apparent upon the consideration of the follow
`ing detailed description of the preferred embodiment
`thereof, presented in connection with the following
`drawings in which like reference numerals identify like
`numerals throughout.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a security system accord
`ing to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a security
`system installed in a vehicle according to the present
`invention; and
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of
`a security system according to the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`The present invention is a carjacking and theft pre
`vention system for automobiles, trucks, and other simi
`lar vehicles. FIG. 2 shows a vehicle 100 embodying
`such a carjacking and theft prevention system accord
`25
`ing to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the system of
`the present invention including a control module 1, a
`remote control transmitter 3, a door sensor 5, an igni
`tion sensor 7, a valet or door override button 9 (herein
`after valet button), a concealed switch 11, and interior
`and exterior sirens 13 and 15.
`The system interacts with various components of the
`vehicle 100. It interacts with disablement device 17
`which disables and enables the vehicle's engine (not
`shown), as well as hazard lights 19, and power door
`35
`locks 21, if the vehicle is so equipped. Although the
`system utilizes the vehicle's hazard lights 19, it could be
`designed to use other vehicle lights, e.g., brake lights, or
`any other light mounted to the inside or outside of vehi
`40
`cle 100.
`Disablement device 17 is connected to either the
`vehicle's fuel pump (not shown) or ignition wire (not
`shown) for disabling the engine. For simplicity, it is
`preferred that disablement device 17 disables the engine
`by interrupting electrical power supplied to the ignition
`45
`coil. However, disablement device 17 can just as effec
`tively be connected to the fuel pump motor, to a valve
`inserted in the fuel line, or to any device whose opera
`tion is critical to engine operation.
`FIG. 1 shows that control module 1 includes logic
`50
`control circuitry 23 and receiver 25. Receiver 25 re
`ceives signals transmitted from remote control transmit
`ter 3. Details of receiver 25 and logic control circuitry
`23 will be explained hereinafter. Control module 1 is
`powered by the vehicle's battery 27. Control module 1
`may receive power from an alternate source of power,
`such as a backup battery (not shown). Control module 1
`is mounted to vehicle 100 in a location that is very
`difficult for a thief to locate, yet is easily accessible for
`maintenance purposes. FIG. 2 shows control module 1
`mounted behind rear seat 29 of vehicle 100. Alternative
`mounting locations include underneath the dashboard,
`beneath the driver's or passenger's seat, and under the
`rear deck.
`Remote control transmitter 3 is a small hand-held
`65
`battery powered unit and includes two command but
`tons 31. When either command button 31 is actuated an
`encoded signal specific to the security system is trans
`
`5,307,048
`6
`mitted having a maximum range of 150 feet. The trans
`mitted signal is encoded so that several different secu
`rity systems can be operated in the same local area
`without false triggering. Receiver 25 of control module
`1 receives and decodes signals transmitted by transmit
`ter 3. Upon receipt of a valid signal, receiver 25 outputs
`an appropriate signal to logic control circuitry 23 for
`initiating a disablement sequence. Numerous different
`encoding and transmission schemes well-known in the
`art may be used to accomplish the foregoing task. It is
`also well understood that remote control transmitter 3
`may be designed to send signals in excess of 150 feet.
`Actuating either command button 31 transmits the same
`valid encoded signal. Having two command buttons 31
`may confuse a thief who might gain control of transmit
`ter 3, as a thief would be unaware of the existence of
`concealed switch 11, and spend added time pressing
`both command buttons in various sequences in an at
`tempt to defeat the security system. Thus, the incorpo
`ration of a second identical command button 31, creates
`an additional level of theft protection. However, such
`protection can also be provided by including any num
`ber of command buttons 31 in excess of one. Addition
`ally, remote control transmitter 3 can include only one
`command button 31, which would permit the system to
`function without benefitting from the additional level of
`theft protection.
`Door sensor 5 is attached to the inside of driver's
`door 33 for sensing the opening of door 33. When door
`31 opens, door sensor 5 outputs an opened door signal
`to logic control circuitry 23. Since most vehicles al
`ready include a pin switch for completing a circuit to
`illuminate a dome light, door sensor 5 preferably is a
`wire connected to the vehicle's existing pin switch for
`sensing the state of door 33. However, sensors including
`tape switches, reed switches, or other switches known
`in the art, may be used separately from the pin switch
`for sensing door 33. Under certain conditions discussed
`below, when door 33 is opened, a disablement sequence
`will start for disabling vehicle 100.
`Valet button 9 is mounted within interior passenger
`compartment 35 of vehicle 100, and is preferably a
`toggle switch which is selectably movable between a
`normal position ("off") and an override position ("on").
`In the normal position, valet button 9 has no effect upon
`the operation of logic control circuitry 23. When valet
`button 9 is in the override position, logic control cir
`cuitry 23 ignores an opened door signal from door sen
`sor 5 and a disablement sequence is not performed.
`When valet button 9 is in the override position, door 33
`may be opened while the engine is running without
`initiating a disablement sequence. This permits vehicle
`100 to be valet parked or permits the engine of vehicle
`100 to be left running so that the windshield can be
`cleaned or the vehicle engine can be warmed. Further,
`valet button 9 has no effect on the ability to initiate a
`disablement sequence by remote control transmitter 3.
`Valet button 9 is preferably placed in a concealed loca
`tion which is known to an authorized user and within
`reach when driving. Ideal positions for mounting valet
`button 9 include inside the glove compartment, under
`the driver's seat, or under the driver's side of the dash
`board.
`Also located within interior passenger compartment
`35 is concealed switch 11 which is a normally-open
`contact switch. Concealed switch 11 provides logic
`control circuitry 23 with an input upon actuation
`thereofas part of an enablement device for enabling the
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`forms an anti-theft disablement sequence at 49, 51 and
`engine after it has been disabled. Concealed switch 11 is
`53 selectively initiated by the operator.
`preferably a membrane switch located under the vehi
`Before the initiation of the anti-theft disablement
`cle's carpeting or other padded covering, on door 33, or
`sequence at 49, 51 and 53, logic control circuitry 23
`on dashboard to appear invisible. However, placement
`causes hazard light relay 41 to close for an instant and
`of switch 11 need not be concealed from view, but is
`flash hazard lights 19 for an instant at 47 for providing
`preferably inconspicuous to a would-be thief. Con
`visual confirmation that the encoded signal has been
`cealed switch 11 may even be disguised on the dash
`received and that the anti-theft disablement sequence at
`board or radio to appear as a screw, a function button,
`49, 51 and 53 has been initiated. Logic control circuitry
`or even an ornamental feature.
`23 then causes door lock relay 43 to close and automati
`The security systern includes an ignition sensor 7
`cally lock power door lock 21 at 49, if the vehicle is so
`which determines when ignition is on as an additional
`equipped. A first delay at 51, internal to logic control
`input to logic control circuitry 23. Ignition sensor 7 is
`circuitry 23, is started. First delay at 51 is preferably 90
`preferably a wire connected on the ignition side of the
`seconds in duration, however, this delay may be de
`vehicle's fuse box (not shown) for providing a first
`signed for longer or shorter than 90 seconds. At the
`voltage when the ignition is on and for providing no
`expiration of the first delay at 51, logic control circuitry
`voltage when the ignition is off. However, other sensing
`23 controls disablement relay 39 at 53 to close and dis
`devices for determining whether the ignition is on
`able the engine by way of disablement device 17.
`would be realized by one of ordinary skill in the art as
`For increased theft protection, the engine can only be
`providing the same purpose.
`enabled, once disabled, at 55 by a simultaneous combi
`Logic control circuitry 23 receives inputs from re
`20
`nation of operator actions. This combination of actions
`ceiver 25, concealed switch 11, valet button 9, door
`includes pressing of either command button 31 on re
`sensor 5, ignition sensor 7, as well as a determination of
`mote control transmitter 3 and simultaneous pressing of
`a connection to battery 27. Logic control circuitry 23
`concealed switch 11. Upon the simultaneous operator
`processes these inputs and, if necessary, controls system
`actions, logic control circuitry 23 controls disablement
`devices 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 by controlling correspond
`25
`relay 39 to open at 55 and disablement device 17 to
`ing relays 37, 39, 41 and 43 located inside control mod
`enable the engine, and returning to the theft standby
`ule 1. Logic control circuitry 23 preferably includes
`mode at 45. Although, it is preferable that logic control
`well-known sequential or combination logic circuitry,
`circuitry 23 be designed such that the combination of
`however, a microprocessor or programmable logic
`the operator actions be done simultaneously for en
`array can also be used. Although FIG. 2 designates
`abling the engine at 55, a predetermined actuation se
`relays 37, 39, 41 and 43 as being internal to control
`quence of either command button 31 and concealed
`module 1, one of ordinary skill in the art would recog
`switch 11 may be required for restarting the engine.
`nize that any or all of relays 37, 39, 41 and 43 could be
`If the simultaneous operator actions are performed at
`located outside control module 1 without affecting the
`any point in the anti-theft disablement sequence prior to
`function of the security system.
`35
`engine disablement at 53, i.e., at 47, 49 or 51, the alarm
`While disablement device 17, hazard lights 19, and
`system is returned to the theft standby mode at 45,
`power door lock 21, each have their own respective
`without disabling the engine at 53.
`controlling relay 39, 41 and 43, interior siren 13 and
`Upon the operator turning the ignition on when in the
`exterior siren 15 share a common controlling relay 37.
`theft standby mode at 45, the system automatically
`Thus, sirens 13 and 15 are always controlled together.
`provides carjacking protection and is designated by the
`Although FIG. shows disablement device 17 as a
`carjacking standby mode at 57. From this mode, car
`separate device from its relay 39, it is understood that
`jacking disablement sequence at 61, 63, 65, 67 and 69
`disablement device 17 can simply be its relay 39 located
`can be initiated by pressing either command button 31
`in series with the vehicle's ignition circuit, if the design
`on transmitter 3, or the opening of door 33, as sensed by
`of vehicle 100 permits such a configuration. However,
`45
`door sensor 5, while the valet button 9 is in the normal
`disablement device 17 could be a device which is con
`position at 59. This dual method of initiation provides
`trolled by relay 39 without changing the function of the
`protection against carjackings which can occur under
`system.
`various scenarios. Once the anti-carjacking disablement
`Relays 37, 39, 41 and 43 are normally open and their
`sequence at 61, 63, 65, 67 and 69 is initiated, logic con
`operation are described below in conjunction with the
`SO
`trol circuitry 23 starts a second delay