GB2249649A

GB2249649A - Vehicle theft indication

Info

Publication number: GB2249649A
Application number: GB9027289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Lake
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-06
Filing date: 1990-12-17
Publication date: 1992-05-13
Also published as: GB9024967D0; GB9024098D0; GB9027289D0

Abstract

A system for the detection of stolen vehicles has an emitter (3) provided on a vehicle (1), controlled by means in the vehicle. The emitter is actuated remotely (5) by the user following discovery of the theft of the vehicle. The emitter (3) then emits a signal that is detectable by persons near to the car, but the signal is not readily noticeable by an occupant of the stolen vehicle. The emitted signal can be of an optical and/or audible nature. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE THEFT INDICATION This invention relates to devices and systems which indicate that a vehicle has been stolen or tampered with.

It is well known to have an anti-theft alarm on a car which emits a loud audio alarm signal when the device detects tampering with the vehicle. It is also known to have the headlights of a vehicle flash on and off in conjunction with the audio alarm. However, it is now sadly the case that People pay little attention to the sound of alarms coming from parked cars because they are prone to be set off falsely, by accident.

Thus known siren alarms are more of an irritant to the neighbours than a deterrent to would-be car thieves.

The aim of this invention is to provide an alternative system for the detection of stolen vehicles.

According to one aspect of the invention a system for the detection of stolen vehicles comprises an emitter provided on a vehicle, control means on the vehicle which controls the operation of the emitter, and remote operation means provided remote from the vehicle, the remote operation means being actuated by a user following the discovery of the theft of the vehicle and causing the emitter to be operated, the emitter emitting a signal which is detectable by the user, but which is not readily noticed by an occupant of the stolen vehicle.

The thief does not know that the vehicle is indicating that it has been stolen, which avoids the thief packing and noway result in more car thieves been caught in their stolen vehicles. Furthermore, since the emitter is actuated by the user, via the remote operation means, only when he wishes, the problem of alarms going off accidentally is virtually eliminated.

Preferably the emitter sends out a signal unique to the car. The user may have de-coding means which translates the signal to the registration number of the car to which that signal relates. This can be used to check that the number plate of a car has not been changed.

The control means is preferably controlled by electromagnetic control signals from the remote operation means. The emitter preferably emits an electromagnetic signal, which may not be in the visible spectrum.

The system may include optical means, such as light-emitting means, provided in the vicinity of a number plate of the vehicle, the optical means indicating that the vehicle has been stolen upon actuation of the control means. The optical means may flash on and off. Again, an occupant of the vehicle cannot see that the optical means is indicating that the vehicle is stolen, but the general public can.

The optical means may be a light disposed adjacent a number plate of the vehicle. Both number plates may have optical means.

The optical means may comprise a part of the number plate, or may be provided on the vehicle separate from the number plate, for example in the vehicle's body panels.

The optical means alerts the public to the fact that the vehicle is wanted and tends to draw their eye to the number plate of the vehicle.

The system may also include audible means which may be set off remotely by the user and which emit a relatively quiet audible signal which can be detected by a pedestrian standing next to the vehicle, but which is too quiet to be heard by the driver of the vehicle whilst the vehicle's engine is running.

The system may preferably be deactivated remotely, for example by the remote operation means.

Thus the audible means can alert people who come close to a parked vehicle that it is stolen, but will not annoy people further away, for example in their homes.

I propose to provide add-on units incorporating the emitter means, and possibly the visual and/or audible means for attachment to existing vehicles, and that vehicles be manufactured with such systems as original equipment.

A vehicle fitted with a system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention comprises a second aspect of the invention, and an add-on unit for attachment to a vehicle, the unit incorporating an emitter which can be remotely operated to emit a signal which is not readily noticed by an occupant of the vehicle comprises a third aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention a method of identifying a stolen vehicle comprises the steps of providing the vehicle with an emitter which can be remotely actuated to emit a signal; deliberately actuating the emitter when the vehicle is thought to be stolen, using manually controlled remote operation means; and detecting the emitted signal; the emitted signal being such as not to be readily detectable by the driver of the stolen vehicle.

Preferably the method includes the further step of the vehicle being adapted to emit a visible signal in the vicinity of at least one of its number plates when the remote actuation means is manually activated.

The method may also comprise the vehicle being adapted to emit a relatively quiet audio signal which can be heard by pedestrians near the vehicle, but which cannot be heard by the driver of the vehicle over the noise of the vehicle's engine.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a vehicle fitted with a system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows a number plate region of another vehicle; and Figure 3 shows a number plate region of a further vehicle.

A vehicle 1 is shown in Figure 1 having radio controlled emitter means comprising a radio signal emitter 2 and a light and sound emitter 3. The emitter 2 can be located at any convenient position on the vehicle and is shown as being installed in the roof of the vehicle. The emitter 2 cannot be seen using the eye. The emitter 2 is capable of being activated remotely by a radio signal to give out its own radio signal.

The emitter 3 comprises a light unit and a sound unit and is provided adjacent the front number plate 4 of the vehicle. A second, similar, emitter 3' is provided adjacent the rear number plate of the vehicle. The emitters 3 and 3' can be actuated remotely by a radio signal to flash their light units on and off to draw attention to the number plates of the vehicle, and to emit a noise (via their sound units), again to draw attention to the vehicle. The noise is relatively quiet and is such that the driver of a moving vehicle cannot hear it, but a pedestrian passing alongside a parked vehicle can hear it.

The light and sound units of the vehicle are actuated by the same signal, but in a modified version they may be actuated by different remote signals. The radio emitter 2 is actuated by a different signal from that which actuates the emitters 3 and 3', but in a modified version the emitters 2, 3, and 3', may be actuated by the same signal.

If a car owner finds that his car has been stolen he contacts a responsible body (such as the police) who have the control of a remote activation controller 5.

The police then, using a person's conscious decision, activate the remote controller 5 which causes an activating radio signal to be sent out by suitable radio sending means. The activating signal is detected by detection means provided on the vehicle and electronic control circuitry on the vehicle causes the emitters 3 and 3' to be turned on. Thus the light units adjacent the number plates flash on and off, and a noise is emitted by the sound units.

A member of the public, or a policeman, can then see that the vehicle is wanted by the police and report its location to them. Because the flashing lights are at the number plate regions of the vehicle an observer's eye is drawn to them and there is an increased chance of the observer recording the vehicle's registration number. The driver of the vehicle cannot see that there is a flashing light near his number plates and cannot hear the relatively quiet noise of the sound units. There is therefore an increased chance of apprehending the thief whilst he is with the vehicle.

The sound unit is helpful in catching the attention of pedestrians when the vehicle is parked such that its number plates, and therefore the flashing lights near them, are not visible. For example if a stolen car is parked right up against a tree, or wall, with another car parked right behind it so that neither of its number plates can be seen, a passing pedestrian can still hear the sound unit going off.

If a policeman sees a car with its emitters 3 and 3' flashing, or even just a suspicious car, and wants to check its number plate he can activate a vehicle-identification radio pager which sends out an interrogation signal to the suspect vehicle which triggers the radio emitter 2 to emit a radio signal in response. The emitter 2 sends out a signal which is unique, the unique signal having a one-to-one correspondence with the vehicle's registration number (although it will be appreciated that the emitter signal is akin to a chassis number in that it cannot be changed simply by changing the number plate of the vehicle). The policeman then checks that the registration corresponding to the radio signal is the same as that shown on the number plate of the suspect vehicle and if it is he may decide that the vehicle was stolen by joyriders and simply reclaim the vehicle.If the radio signal does not correspond with the number plates on the vehicle the policeman knows that the number plates have been changed and that this may be an indication that the vehicle has been, or will be, involved in a serious crime. The policeman could then remotely manually turn off the emitters 2, 3 and 3' (if they are on) and the vehicle can be watched to see who comes for it. Automatic means for informing the user of the registration number corresponding to the unique radio signal may be provided.

A further use for the radio emitter 2 is that once activated it can be used to locate or track a vehicle.

The emitters 2, 3, and 3' may be attached to the vehicle after its manufacture or could be incorporated into the vehicle as original equipment.

Figure 2 illustrates the provision of a light unit 20 provided in an integral formation of a rear panel of a vehicle. A number plate 21 is received in a shallow recess 22 and the light unit has lights 23 provided at the recess 22. A separate sound unit 24 is provided. It will of course be appreciated that the sound unit need not be next to the number plate of a vehicle.

Figure 3 shows a light unit 30 comprising a border 31 which is a reflective red border when the unit 30 is unactivated, but which flashes the message "Call Police" around the number plate when activated.

It is preferred to provide the light unit separate from the number plate, but I - also envisage a variable display number plate, such as a LCD display, which normally displays the vehicles registration number, but which when activated alternates between the vehicle's registration number and an alarm signal, such as "Call Police". The visual impact of an activated light unit is enough to attract attention, but no so great as to cause passing motorists to be too distracted and crash.

I may prefer to provide a radio emitter, light unit, and sound unit, as a single add-on housing or unit.

The vehicle theft indication system is set off by a conscious decision of the keeper of the remote controller 5 and this should avoid accidental operation of the system, which would cause the public to take more notice of the "alarm" when it is activated.

Furthermore, even when activated the system does not unduly annoy people in the neighbourhood.

A modified vehicle theft indication system is similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, but has the additional features discussed below.

Similar components will be given similar reference numbers.

The modified system is connected to the vehicles convention loud siren alarm, or is provided with its own loud siren alarm. The loud siren alarm is adapted to be activated remotely by the police using a coded signal (usually a radio signal) independently of the visual and quiet alarm signals, and independently of the vehicle identification emitter 2'. The modified system is arranged to be light-sensitive (by the provision of suitable sensors and control circuitry) so that if a thief tries to mask the light unit 20' by covering it, for example with black tape, the system can recognise this.

When the police activate the system by sending out a signal to active the light and/or quiet sound units the system recognises that its light unit has been covered up and sounds its loud siren alarm. Similarly, if the stolen vehicle were in a very dark place (darker than normal street light at night) and the activating signal for the light unit is sent out by the police the light-sensitive system detects this and sounds the siren alarm as well as activating the light and quiet sound alarm. Thus if the vehicle is left in a locked (dark) garage, or in a quiet country lane at night, when the activation signal goes out the siren alarm sounds.

A further feature is that the system has a time circuit such that if the light unit and/or the quiet sound unit have been activated for more than a predetermined time the siren alarm cuts in and is activated as well. A typical time delay might be around four to ten hours.

When the system incorporates its own siren alarm, in addition to any conventional siren alarm which may be provided on a vehicle, a thief has the problem that even if he disconnects or disarms the vehicle's normal defenses, such as steering lock and normal siren alarm, the system has detectors to check the operational state of the light unit and/or quiet sound unit so that if they are tampered with when the activating signal is received from the police the system recognises that the light or quiet sound units have been damaged and sounds its siren alarm. Thus the thief has to find and disconnect the receiver of the radio activating signal. The siren alarm only sounds when the "stolen" activating signal is sent by the police.

The loud siren of the modified system may be provided in the same unit as either of the emitters 2 or 3, or in a different place or unit. A single add-on device may incorporate a light unit, quiet sound unit, siren, and may also incorporate a radio emitter.

In a further modification the system comprises audible voice-producing means which is operable in response to a remotely transmitted voice-activating signal to speak a message to people outside of the vehicle.

The message may be pre-recorded and may be held in a memory medium in the system, playing of the message been activated by the voice-activating signal. More than one voice message may be held in memory means, a selected one being played in response to an appropriate identifying and triggering signal key of the voice-activating signal.

Additionally or alternatively the system may comprise speaker means which produces the message spoken to people outside of the vehicle in response to modulation of a carrier signal, for example in the manner of a hi-fi radio (the person sending the voice-activating signal could speak into a radio microphone, or play a suitable tape into it).

The system may be arranged to produce the voice message at predetermined intervals, or at intervals controlled by the controller of the activating signal.

One specific example of audible voice-producing means is a tape playing device having a pre-determined voice message on a tape, playing of the tape being triggered by the receipt of an appropriate voice-activating radio signal. A typical voice message may be "Please telephone the police. This vehicle is wanted by the police".

It will be appreciated that the audible voice producing means may comprise the audible means set of remotely by the user which emits a relatively quiet audible signal detectable by a passer-by but not readily detectable by the occupant of the vehicle.

Alternatively, voice-producing means may be provided in addition to the audible means. The speech voice emitted by the voice-producing means may be quiet or it may be loud, and may even become loud after it has been sounding for a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A system for the detection of stolen vehicles comprises an emitter provided on a vehicle, control means on the vehicle which controls the operation of the emitter, and remote operation means provided remote from the vehicle, the remote operation means being actuated by a user following the discovery of the theft of the vehicle and causing the emitter to be operated, the emitter emitting a signal which is detectable by the user, but which is not readily noticed by an occupant of the stolen vehicle.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which the emitter sends out a signal unique to the vehicle.

3. A system according to claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the user has de-coding means which translates the signaL to the registration number of the car to which that signal relates.

4. A system according to any preceding claim in which the control means is Zit controlled by electromagnetic control signals from the remote operation means.

5. A system according to any preceding claim in which the emitter emits an electromagnetic signal.

6. A system according to any preceding claim which has optical means, such as light-emitting means which indicate that the vehicle has been stolen upon actuation of the control means.

7. A system according to claim 6 in which the optical means are provided in the vicinity of a number plate of the vehicle.

8. A system according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the optical means flashes on and off.

9. A system according to anyone of claims 6 to 8 in which the optical means comprises a light disposed adjacent a number plate of the vehicle.

10. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 9 in which the optical means is a part of the number plate.

11. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 10 in which the optical means is provided on the vehicle separate from the number plate.

12. A system according to any preceding claim which also comprises audible means which may be set off remotely by the user and which emit a relatively quiet audible signal which can be detected by a pedestrian standing next to the vehicle, but which is too quiet to be heard by the driver of the vehicle whilst he is driving the vehicle.

13. A system according to any preceding claim which can be deactivated remotely.

14. A unit adapted to be attached to a vehicle, the unit comprising emitter means, control means, and visual and/or audible means so as to enable a stolen vehicle fitted with the unit to be detected in accordance with claim 1 and claim 6 and/or claim 11, the emitter emitting a signal which is not readily noticed by the occupant of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle provided with an emitter, control means, and visual and/or audible means operable in accordance with claim 1 and claim 6 and/or claim 12.

16. A method of identifying a stolen vehicle comprising the steps of providing the vehicle with an emitter which can be remotely actuated to emit a signal; deliberately actuating the emitter when the vehicle is thought to be stolen, using manually controlled remote operation means; and detecting the emitted signal; the emitted signal being such as not to be readily detectable by the driver of the stolen vehicle.

17. A method according to claim 16 which comprises the further step of the vehicle being adapted to emit a visible signal in the vicinity of at least one of its number plates when the remote actuation means is manually activated.

18. A -method according to claim 17 or claim 18 which further comprises the vehicle being adapted to emit a relatively quiet audio signal which can be heard by pedestrians near the vehicle, but which cannot be heard by the driver of the vehicle over the noise of the vehicle's engine.

19. A system substantislly as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of identifying a stolen vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.