GB2344442A

GB2344442A - Vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2344442A
Application number: GB9826624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Robert Boyce
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-12-04
Filing date: 1998-12-04
Publication date: 2000-06-07
Also published as: GB9826624D0

Abstract

A vehicle 10 includes a security controller 12 which is arranged to receive lock and unlock signals from a remote transponder 14. When the security controller 12 receives an unlock signal, it flashes a high level brake light 16 in order that a user can more easily identify their vehicle 10 in, for example, a crowded car park.

Description

A Vehicle This invention relates to vehicles and in particular to a vehicle which includes a security system.

It is known to provide a vehicle with a security system and some such systems include means to indicate when the security system has been armed and disarmed.

In one prior art system, the vehicle flashes its turn indicator lamps in order to show when the system is being armed or disarmed.

In a car park containing only a few vehicles, the flashing of the turn indicator lamps can be used by an approaching user to identify their vehicle. It is a problem in a crowded car park, however, that the flashing of indicators may often be missed if the vehicle is surrounded by other vehicles. This means that it is may sometimes be more difficult for a user to identify their own vehicle in a crowded car park.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided a vehicle including a security controller which is arranged in use to receive signals from a remote transponder, the vehicle further comprising a high level lamp, wherein the security controller is arranged to cause illumination of the high level lamp on receipt from the remote transponder of a predetermined signal. The predetermined signal may comprise an unlock signal.

The high level lamp may comprise a high level brake light.

The illumination may comprise a single flash or a predetermined sequence of flashes of the high level lamp. The illumination of the high level lamp may be repeated upon receipt of a repeated transmission of the predetermined signal.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle according to the invention.

Referring to the figure, a vehicle 10 includes a security controller 12 which is arranged in use to receive signals from a remote transponder 14. The remote transponder 14 is carried by a user of the vehicle and is used to transmit lock and unlock signals to the vehicle 10.

The vehicle 10 further comprises a high level lamp in the form of a high level brake light 16. The high level brake light 16 is mounted in the region of the upper edge of a rear windscreen 18.

When the security controller 12 receives an unlock signal from the remote transponder 14 it performs a predetermined security function. The predetermined security function includes unlocking a door (not shown) and enabling an engine management system.

After receiving the unlock signal, the security controller 12 flashes the high level brake light 16 for a predetermined number of flashes. The number of times the high level brake light 16 flashes is pre-set in manufacture and may be one or more flashes. The number and the duration of the flashes is not critical and may be alterable, for example by programming and reprogramming the security controller 12, so as to provide a sequence of flashes which is customised for use by a particular user.

What is important is that the high level brake light 16 is illuminated so as to identify the vehicle 10 to its user in a situation where it would be more difficult for the user to spot the flashing of an indicator lamp (not shown). Such a situation can arise in a crowded car park when the vehicle 10 is surrounded by other vehicles.

The high level lamp may be mounted elsewhere other than at the top edge of the rear windscreen 18. The definition of a high level lamp such as the high level brake light 16 is intended to include any exterior facing lamp which is positioned higher up on the vehicle 10 than is the convention (e. g. legislative requirement) for the usual exterior facing lamps such as a rear light cluster. It is because the high level lamp is higher up in the vehicle 10 than its normal exterior lamps that makes it suitable for indicating to a user where the vehicle 10 is located in a crowded car park or at a greater range. The high level lamp could include, for example, roof mounted beacons or marker lights.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A vehicle including a security controller which is arranged in use to receive signals from a remote transponder, the vehicle further comprising a high level lamp, wherein the security controller is arranged to cause illumination of the high level lamp upon receipt from the remote transponder of a predetermined signal.
2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, the predetermined signal comprising an unlock signal.
3. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the high level lamp comprises a high level brake light.
4. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the illumination comprises a single flash or a predetermined sequence of flashes of the high level lamp.
5. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein illumination of the high level lamp is repeated upon receipt of a repeated transmission of the predetermined signal.
6. A vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.