GB2264188A

GB2264188A - A portable vehicle burglar alarm device

Info

Publication number: GB2264188A
Application number: GB9202957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Chen
Original assignee: Advance Security Inc
Current assignee: Advance Security Inc
Priority date: 1992-02-12
Filing date: 1992-02-12
Publication date: 1993-08-18
Also published as: GB9202957D0

Abstract

A burglar alarm device for a vehicle comprises a portable base unit which can be transferred from vehicle to vehicle and which is armed/disarmed by a remote controller. The base unit has an alarm siren 6, 7 and sensors 4, 5 for detecting tampering with the vehicle. The base unit is provided with a light 8 which is turned off and on under control of a CPU control system 3. Both the alarm arm/disarm function and the light ON/OFF function are controlled by actuation of keys on the remote controller. <IMAGE>

Description

"A PORTABLE VEHICLE BURGLAR ALARM DEVICE" The present invention relates to a portable vehicle burglar alarm device which can be moved from one vehicle to another and has a base unit powered by connection to the vehicle's power supply for example by plugging a supply lead into a cigar lighter socket of the vehicle.

It is known to provide remote control in such devices whereby the base unit can be armed or disarmed by actuation of a hand held remote controller.

It is an object of the present invention to additionally provide the vehicle with a movable and switchable light for illuminating the interior of the vehicle for convenience of a driver at night for example to locate the key slot or check a map or look for something.

According to the present invention there is disclosed a burglar alarm device for a vehicle comprising a portable base unit having connection means for connection to a power supply of the vehicle, detection means for detecting tampering with the vehicle, a CPU control system operable in an armed mode to actuate an alarm means in response to such detection of tampering and a receiver for receiving alarm setting signals from a remote controller in response to which the CPU control unit may be selectively set in the armed mode or in a disarmed mode in which the alarm means is not actuated, wherein the device further comprises a light mounted on the base unit for illumination of the interior of the vehicle and which is turned on and off under the control of the CPU control system in response to light actuating signals received via the receiver from the remote controller whereby the light is controllable by actuation of the remote controller.

An advantage of such a device is that a movable light is provided within the vehicle which can be switched on and off without the need for providing an additional switch on the base unit.

It is also useful to be able to remotely control operation of the light for example from outside of the vehicle.

Preferably the CPU control system is programmed to turn on the light for a predetermined interval in response to the CPU control system being reset from disarmed mode to armed mode and/or in response to the CPU system being reset from armed to disarmed mode.

The turning on and off of the light thereby signals to the user the change in status of the alarm function of the device.

Conveniently the remote controller comprises a first key actuatable to generate an alarm setting signal and a second key actuatable to generate a light actuating signal.

Such an arrangement enables the user to independently actuate the alarm and light functions of the device.

Conveniently the CPU control unit is programmed to turn on the light for a predetermined period following the resetting of the CPU control unit from armed mode to disarmed mode and to respond to further actuation of the first key during the predetermined period by turning off the light.

The predetermined period may conveniently be thirty seconds during which time the vehicle user is reminded by the light being turned on to attend to the condition of the vehicle.

Conveniently the signals transmitted by the remote controller are digitally encoded radio frequency signals in which the alarm setting signals and light actuating signals are distinguished from each other by operation of a programme in the CPU control system.

The detector means may comprise a current sensor responsive to any change in the current drawn on the vehicle power supply. The detector means may comprise alternatively or additionally a shock sensor.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, which is a schematic block diagram of a host control system of a burglar alarm device in accordance with the present invention.

A burglar alarm device in accordance with the present invention includes a base unit containing a host control system 1 having an RF (radio frequency) receiver system 2 and a CPU (central processor unit) control system 3 both of which are controlled by an RF remote controller (not shown). The CPU will process digital signals received from the remote controller to set an alarm function of the CPU programme to ARM or DISARM and a light controlling function to DOMELIGHT ON or DOMELIGHT OFF.

When pressing an upper key (not shown) of the remote controller, the burglar alarm device goes into ARM mode. When pressing the upper key again, the burglar alarm device goes into DISARM mode. Under the ARM mode, the burglar alarm device will detect any change in the current drawn on the vehicle power supply by means of a current sensor 4 and will also detect any movement of the vehicle by means of a shock sensor 5. If the vehicle door is opened for example, then the current sensor is triggered by the turning on of the vehicle's interior light (if the vehicle has a door actuated switch for automatically turning on the interior light). Similarly, if the vehicle receives an impact from a collision for example, then the shock sensor is triggered.In the above two conditions, the burglar alarm device will sound an alarm and a light 8 in the form of a domelight mounted on the base unit will flicker.

The device 1 produces an audible alarm by means of an output from the CPU control system 4 actuating a siren driver 6 which in turn powers a speaker 7.

The CPU control system 3 turns the light 8 on and off by means of a light driver 9.

When the burglar alarm device goes from ARM mode to DISARM mode, the light 8 will light for thirty seconds automatically. Within the thirty seconds, the upper key of the remote controller can be pressed to turn off the light 8. Under the DISARM mode, the lower key of the remote controller can freely turn on and off the light 8. If the light 8 is on, by pressing the lower key, the light can be turned off. Pressing the lower key again can turn the light 8 on again. By means of such circular control, the light 8 is totally controlled by actuation of the remote controller without the provision of a switch on the base unit. The light 8 may be used within the vehicle for inspection, map reading or other purposes or may be used to signal warning or distress.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A burglar alarm device for a vehicle comprising a portable base unit having connection means for connection to a power supply of the vehicle, detection means for detecting tampering with the vehicle, a CPU control system operable in an armed mode to actuate an alarm means in response to such detection of tampering and a receiver for receiving alarm setting signals from a remote controller in response to which the CPU control unit may be selectively set in the armed mode or in a disarmed mode in which the alarm means is not actuated, wherein the device further comprises a light mounted on the base unit for illumination of the interior of the vehicle and which is turned on and off under the control of the CPU control system in response to light actuating signals received via the receiver from the remote controller whereby the light is controllable by actuation of the remote controller.

2. A burglar alarm device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the CPU control system is programmed to turn on the light for a predetermined interval in response to the CPU control system being reset from disarmed mode to armed mode and/or in response to the CPU system being reset from armed to disarmed mode.

3. A burglar alarm device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the remote controller comprises a first key actuatable to generate an alarm setting signal and a second key actuatable to generate a light actuating signal.

4. A burglar alarm device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the CPU control unit is programmed to turn on the light for a predetermined period following the resetting of the CPU control unit from armed mode to disarmed mode and to respond to further actuation of the first key during the predetermined period by turning off the light.

5. A burglar alarm device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the predetermined period is thirty seconds.

6. A burglar alarm device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the signals transmitted by the remote controller are digitally encoded radio frequency signals in which the alarm setting signals and light actuating signals are distinguished from each other by operation of a programme in the CPU control system.

7. A burglar alarm device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the detector means comprises a current sensor responsive to any change on the current drawn on the vehicle power supply.

8. A burglar alarm device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the detector means comprises a shock sensor.

9. A portable vehicle burglar alarm device with light controlling function, comprising an RF remote controller, a host control system having an RF receiver system and a CPU control system, wherein said RF remote controller includes a transmitter, an upper key and a lower key, whereby when pressing the upper key, the transmitter sends out a digitally coded RF signal A, while when pressing the lower key, the transmitter sends out another digitally coded RF signal B, these signals being decoded by said host of said burglar alarm device and distinguished from each other to be detected by the CPU programme so as to set up the functions of ARM, DISARM and DOMELIGHT ON/OFF.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein when said upper key of said remote controller is pressed, said burglar alarm device goes into ARM mode and when said upper key is pressed again, said burglar alarm device goes into DISARM mode, and under the ARM mode, said device will detect by means of a current sensor any change in the current drawn on the vehicle power supply and detect by means of a shock sensor any movement of the vehicle, whereby if the car door is opened, the current sensor is triggered, while if the car is collided, the shock sensor is triggered, and under the above two circumstances, said burglar alarm device will be activated to sound an alarm and the domelight will flicker.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein when said burglar alarm device goes from ARM mode to DISARM mode, the domelight will light for thirty seconds automatically, and within the thirty seconds said upper key of said remote controller can be pressed to turn of the light, and under the DISARM mode, said lower key of said remote controller can freely control the ON/OFF state of the domelight, whereby when the domelight is in ON state, by pressing said lower key, the domelight can be changed from ON state to OFF state, while by pressing said lower key again, the domelight can be changed from OFF state back to ON state, and such arrangement can be applied to illumination or distress warning light, permitting the domelight to be totally controlled by said remote controller without adding a switch to the host.

12. A burglar alarm device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.