Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Of burglary or unauthorized use
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-22
2001-11-20
Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Of burglary or unauthorized use
C340S425500, C340S692000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320498
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of security systems, and, more particularly, to a vehicle security system and associated methods that permit silent arming and disarming via the remote transmitter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter vehicle theft, prevent theft of valuables from a vehicle, deter vandalism, and to protect vehicle owners and occupants. A typical automobile security system, for example, includes a central processor or controller connected to a plurality of vehicle sensors. The sensors, for example, may detect opening of the trunk, hood, doors, windows, and also movement of the vehicle or within the vehicle. Ultrasonic and microwave motion detectors, vibration sensors, sound discriminators, differential pressure sensors, and switches may be used as sensors. In addition, radar sensors may be used to monitor the area proximate the vehicle.
The security controller typically operates to give an alarm indication in the event of triggering of a vehicle sensor. The alarm indication may typically be a flashing of the lights and/or the sounding of the vehicle horn or a siren. In addition, the vehicle fuel supply and/or ignition power may be selectively disabled based upon an alarm condition. A typical security system also includes a receiver associated with the controller. The receiver cooperates with one or more remote transmitters typically carried by the user and which are used to arm and disarm the vehicle security system, for example. Other remote control features, such as locking or unlocking vehicle doors may also be performed.
A typical security system switches from armed to disarmed modes responsive to the remote transmitter, and generates an audible chirp as confirmation to the user that the controller has changed modes or has at least received the signal to change modes. A synthesized voice message and/or a flashing of the vehicle lights may also accompany the chirp as confirmation. In some situations, it may be desirable to avoid the audible chirp, such as to avoid disturbing others in the vicinity of the vehicle, for example. This is generally described as “silent” arming or disarming.
A security system sold as the model AL-800 by a leading aftermarket vehicle security system provider, Omega Research & Development, of Douglasville Georgia, provided a version of this enhanced feature of selectable silent arming and disarming. The remote transmitter included an arm/disarm switch which when pressed rapidly twice in succession would cause silent toggling of the controller to the other mode. If pressed once for a normal length of time, that is, about one second, the normal toggling would occur with the audible confirmation chirp. If pressed longer than the fraction of a second, or if the first or subsequent transmission were not received, difficulties could arise in operating the silent arming and disarming. Difficulties can be due to outside radio interference causing an otherwise normal length signal to be received as two separated signals causing the unintentional toggling. Of course, two signals could be transmitted, but only one received due to interference.
Another somewhat more cumbersome approach to silent arming and disarming is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,845 to Issa et al. In this approach, the trunk release is pressed for less than a preset time of 2.5 seconds and then one of the separate arm or disarm switches on the remote transmitter is operated within a five second window for respective silent arming or disarming. Unfortunately, operating multiple switches in such a precise pattern may be difficult for some users. In addition, the user is not always confident that the first short trunk release pulse has been received by the controller. Accordingly, the audible confirmation chirp may be given even when undesired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle security system where selectable silent arming and/or disarming is simplified for the user, and is less likely to result in an inadvertent audible confirmation chirp.
This and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a vehicle security system which can be armed and/or disarmed without sounding the chirp by operation of an auxiliary switch on the remote transmitter two or more times within a predetermined time. More particularly, the security system may include the remote transmitter to be carried by the user and including at least one first switch for transmitting at least one first signal, and a second switch for transmitting a second signal. The system may also include an audible indicator, such as a horn or siren, for sounding an audible indication. The security controller is preferably switchable to one of the armed and disarmed modes responsive to receiving the at least one first signal, and will sound the audible indication as confirmation thereof. In other words, the at least one first switch on the remote transmitter is for normal arming and/or disarming of the controller with the audible indication or chirp.
The security controller also preferably performs an auxiliary function responsive to receiving the second signal based upon the user operating the second switch continuously for greater than a predetermined time. Moreover, the security controller also preferably toggles to an opposite one of the armed and disarmed modes without sounding the audible indication responsive to receiving the second signal based upon the user operating the second switch a plurality of times in less than the predetermined time. The auxiliary function may be release of the trunk, and the predetermined time may be in a range of about two to three seconds, for example.
In slightly different terms, the second switch causes the auxiliary function only when held for greater than the predetermined time. In accordance with the present invention, this auxiliary switch is advantageously also used to provide the ability to silently arm or disarm the controller. Moreover, if the first transmission is not received for some reason, subsequent transmissions will still cause the controller to switch modes without sounding the audible indication.
The security controller may also have a timeout delay, such as in a range of about three to five seconds, after switching modes before being able to again switch modes. This reduces the likelihood of the controller switching more than once based upon multiple operations of the auxiliary switch.
Of course, the system may also include at least one security sensor for causing the security controller to generate an alarm when in the armed mode. The vehicle may also include headlights, and the security controller may operate the headlights responsive to switching between armed and disarmed modes. Alternately or additionally, the vehicle may comprise door locks also operated when the security controller switches between armed and disarmed modes. Accordingly, one or both of flashing of the headlights and movement of the door locks can provide confirmation to the user even when using the silent arming and disarming.
The remote transmitter and the security controller may use changing codes for increased security. In addition, the remote transmitter may include a housing carrying the at least one first switch and the second switch, and a transmitter carried by the housing and connected to the at least one first switch and the second switch.
A method aspect of the invention is for operating a vehicle security system comprising a remote transmitter to be carried by a user and including at least one first switch for transmitting at least one first signal, and a second switch for transmitting a second signal; an audible indicator for sounding an audible indication; and a security controller switchable to one of an armed mode and a disarmed mode. The method preferably comprises switching the security controller between one of the armed and disarmed modes responsive to receivi
Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Lefkowitz Edward
LandOfFree
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