FR2695365A1 - Protection of motor vehicle against theft - using relay activated by secret code to activate second self-latching relay that connects supply to equipment essential to vehicle operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The anti-theft method involves using contacts which are fitted in the electric supply circuit to one or more devices necessary to the operation or starting of the vehicle to be protected. The anti-theft method involves using two relays, the first relay (R1) being activated by a secret authorisation code (C11) to close a contact (C1) that activates the second relay (R4). The second relay has a latching contact (C4) in parallel with the first contact (C1), and a contact that delivers supply to the equipment on the vehicle. USE/ADVANTAGE - Simply constructed and installed to protect against theft of motor vehicle.

Description

Vehicle theft protection method and device.

 The present invention relates to a method and a device for protection against theft or unauthorized use of vehicles such as motor vehicles.

 This method and this device make it possible to prohibit the operation of the vehicle by cutting off the supply voltage diau at least one member necessary for its use or its start such as, for example, starter, coil, etc., in the case of '' a petrol engine, or the supply of the solenoid valve in the case of a diesel engine.

 Many theft protection devices are known. These devices are generally complex, difficult to install, often unreliable and expensive.

 The object of the invention is in particular to remedy these various drawbacks.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a method and a device according to which there is available on the supply circuit at least one operating member necessary for starting or operating the vehicle, a set of relays to contact comprising: at least one first relay with closing contact actuated by a secret authorization command; - And at least one second relay with closing and self-sustaining contact which can be energized via the closed contact of said first relay; these relays being arranged in a circuit according to which
The activation of the secret authorization command is essential to authorize the closing of the closing and self-sustaining contact of said second relay, via the closing contact of said first relay, and to allow current to flow to said operating member.

According to another important arrangement characteristic of the method and of the device according to the invention, the relay assembly comprises a third contact opening relay actuated by a prohibition command, for example constituted by the key contact of the vehicle, these various relays being placed in a circuit according to which the priority actuation of the secret authorization command then makes it possible to supply the vehicle using the vehicle, the priority actuation of the secret authorization command in effect allowing The excitation of said first contact closure relay via the closed contact of said third contact opening relay, then the power supply of said operating member, via the closed contact of said first relay and the closed contact of the second contact relay at closing, the excitation of which is the consequence of the closing of said first contact, while the priority actuation of the command ban causes
The opening of the contact of the opening contact relay, so that the closing contact relays cannot be energized and that the operating element in question cannot be energized and that said vehicle cannot start or be used.

According to another characteristic arrangement of the method and of the device according to the invention, a fourth contact closure relay actuated by a second secret authorization command, is arranged in the anti-theft circuit, so that this relay can be energized via the closing contact of the first relay after the priority actuation of the latter, this fourth relay controlling The excitation of the second relay with closing contact and automatic maintenance
The method and the anti-theft system according to the invention provide several important advantages - 1) They are effective. Indeed, the large number of accessories that can be used to constitute the authorization commands making it possible to energize the closing contact relays associated with these controls (interior lighting, door opening, main beam, dipped beam, pilot lights, hazard warning lights, front or rear windshield washer, front or rear wiper, card reader, ventilation, brake lights, air conditioning, etc.), plus The possibility of mounting switches (push button or other), for example concealed near the driver's seat, means that the number of combinations that can be implemented to be able to obtain start-up and / or The use of the vehicle is considerable, therefore it is virtually impossible to start the vehicle for anyone who does not know the location of the utility control (s) ilisation and the order of actuation of these.

In the event that the power is cut off
The solenoid valve (Diesel) or the excitation of the coil, the starter turns without result. The more the thief insists, the less unnoticed will his intervention be.

On the other hand, the small size of the housing containing
The components of the lock make it easy to conceal.

- 2) They are reliable. In fact, the anti-theft device comprises a small number of simple components, which can be limited to two, three or four relays (three relays with a closing contact and a relay with an opening contact).

 In this way, the risks of breakdown are very low, especially since these components can be chosen from a range of known components, more specifically intended for motor vehicles.

- 3) Their cost price is very moderate, due in particular to the reduced cost of the components used and the ease of installation.

The aims, characteristics and advantages above, and others still, will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and from the appended drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a very simplified mode of implementation of the method and of the device according to the invention.

 FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another very interesting embodiment of this method and of this device.

 FIG. 3 is an electrical diagram of another very advantageous embodiment of the anti-theft device for a vehicle according to the invention, shown in a rest situation.

Figure 4 illustrates the situation resulting from
Priority actuation of the key contact of the vehicle resulting in the impossibility of starting or using the latter.

Figure 5 illustrates the situation resulting from
Correct actuation of the various commands allowing start-up or use.

 Figure 6 is an electrical diagram of another alternative embodiment of the lock according to the invention, shown in the rest position; the dotted lines represent the positions of the contacts after correct actuation of the various commands allowing start-up or use.

 FIG. 7 illustrates an arrangement similar to that of FIG. 6 and including a system for maintaining the prohibition after releasing the prohibition command.

 Figure 8 shows an arrangement similar to that of Figure 6 and including an alarm device.

 Reference is made to said drawings to describe interesting examples, although in no way limiting, of implementation of the method and execution of the theft protection system according to the invention.

 A more particularly interesting application of the invention to the protection of motor vehicles is described below, but it is emphasized that the invention can also be implemented on other types of vehicle such as boats, aircraft, etc.

 According to the simplified embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the anti-theft device comprises - a first relay R1 with closing contact C1, actuated by a secret authorization command C11 (ceiling light, windshield washer, pilot lights, etc.) - a second relay R4 with closing contact and self-sustaining Ç4.

 The contacts C1 and C4 are on the excitation circuit of the relay R4 and are placed on the supply circuit of at least one UT member necessary for starting and / or operating the vehicle.

 The excitation of the relay R1 is obtained by means of the secret authorization command C11 and causes the closing of the contact C1 which allows the excitation of the relay R4 supplied by the key contact C of the vehicle and, consequently, the closing of the contact C4 to self-maintain and power up of said UT member. In this case, the key contact must be actuated before or while the C11 command is actuated.

 According to the advantageous embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the device comprises a third relay R3 with opening contact C3 arranged on the excitation circuit of the first relay Ri.

The priority excitation of this third relay R3 causes the opening of its contact C3 (dashed line in Figure 2) and prohibits the operation of the relay Ri and also, therefore, the excitation of the relay R4 and switching on. tension of the operating member
UT.

 In this case, the prohibition command C13 can be any member and, preferably, a member useful for the use of the vehicle in certain circumstances, for example: headlights for night driving, overhead light, etc., but it cannot be the voltage delivered by the ignition key C, which is essential for energizing the relay R4.

According to the advantageous example of implementation and embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the anti-theft system according to the invention comprises four relays, namely - a first control relay RI with closing contact Ci; - a second use relay R4 with closing contact and C4 self-maintenance; - a third R3 prohibition relay with opening contact C3 arranged on the excitation circuit of the relay RI; - a fourth control relay R2 with closing contact
C2
This system, like the previous ones, is placed on the supply circuit of at least one UT member necessary for starting or using the vehicle, this member being able to be the starter, the coil, etc., in the case of '' a petrol engine, or the solenoid valve, in the case of an engine
Diesel.

 The excitation of the first control relay R1 with closing contact Ci is obtained by means of a secret authorization command C11 and causes the closing of said contact C1.

 The excitation of the fourth control relay R2 with closing contact C2 is obtained by means of another secret authorization command C12 and causes the closing of said contact C2, via contact C1, that is to say on condition that the latter is in the closed position.

 The secret controls C11 and C12 can be constituted by various accessories of the vehicle using an electric current, such as: interior lighting, opening of doors, main lights, dipped beam, stop lights, hazard lights, pilot lights, windshield washer front or rear, front or rear wiper, card reader, ventilation, air conditioning, etc., and / or by push button or other switches, for example concealed near the driver's seat.

 Some of these accessories are directly powered (hazard lights, exterior and interior lights, etc.), that is to say that they are directly connected to the vehicle battery; others are powered by the vehicle's ignition key switch C (brake lights, defrost, etc.). Consequently, in the remainder of this description, the first of these commands will be called "direct commands", and the second "contact commands".

 The excitation of the use relay R4 and the closing of the contact C4 of the latter, are obtained by the closing of the contact C2 of the fourth control relay R2 placed on the excitation circuit of said relay R4.

 The excitation of the prohibition relay R3 and the opening of the contact C3 of the latter, are obtained by actuation of the ignition key switch C of the vehicle which, in this case, corresponds to the command of inhibition.

The device according to the invention is a sequential system which is controlled by three different commands
C11, C12, or C-C13.

 Two of these commands, actuated in order, i.e. command C11, then command C12, are necessary to obtain vehicle start-up and / or to be able to use it, the third command C prohibits the operation of the vehicle if activated before Command C11. However, in this case, the command C must be actuated before the command C12 is released.

According to this embodiment, if the contact is activated
C before any other operation, no current reaches the user unit UT. In fact, when the control C is energized, the opening contact C3 of the prohibition relay R3 opens and prevents the excitation and operation of the relays R1 and R2 and the closing of their respective contacts C1 and C2 (figure 4). Consequently, the relay R4 cannot be energized and its contact C4 remains open, so that no electric current reaches the user unit UT.

 In this case, the command C11 must be independent of the key contact switch C ("direct command").

To get the vehicle started and / or to allow it to be used, the direct command C11 must be actuated first, that is to say before switching on the ignition, which causes the excitation of the relay R1 and the closing of its contact Ci. Then, the contact is switched on (key C key). The actuation of the authorization command CIZ makes it possible to excite the relay R2, via the closed contact C1 of the relay R1, and The closing of the contact
C2, used to actuate the use relay R4 and to close the self-sustaining contact C4, ensuring the energization of the use member UT (FIG. 5), making it possible to start and / or use of the vehicle.

 The C11 and C12 commands can then be released, the vehicle remaining usable as long as the general contact C is not interrupted.

 According to the example of implementation shown in FIG. 6, the command C12 enables the relay R3 to be energized in all cases and the relay R2 via the contact C1 of the relay R1 if the latter is closed. According to this embodiment, the commands C12 and C13 are combined.

To obtain the energization of the UT user unit, priority must be given to the direct Cli command which, via the contact C3 of the relay
R3 being in the closed position, energize the control relay R1 and close the contact C1 thereof.

Then activate the command C12 allowing
The excitation of relay R3 and the opening of its contact C3; the relay R1 remains supplied by the closed contact C1, the relay R2 is actuated causing the closing of its contact C2 and the excitation of the use relay R4 and the closing of the self-maintenance contact C4 of the latter supplied by the contact to KEY C ensuring the powering of the UT user device, allowing the vehicle to start and / or use.

 As indicated previously, the device will return to the rest position when the ignition C is switched off. It is then necessary, to restart or to be able to reuse the vehicle, repeat the sequence described above.

On the other hand, if command C12 is actuated before command C11, it causes the excitation of relay R3 and
The opening of the contact C3 which keeps the relay R2 at rest and, consequently, the contact C2 of the latter open. The system remains blocked as long as Command C12 is maintained.

FIG. 7 represents a variant of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 6, in which the prohibition following the actuation of the command C12-C13, before the command
C11, remains effective after the release of the command C12-C13, thanks to a self-maintenance system comprising, for example, an opening contact C2 'associated with the contact C2 and placed upstream of the latter, a closing contact C3 " associated with contact C3 and arranged upstream of it, and a concealed switch B1.

With this self-maintenance system, if the command C12-C13 is actuated, it causes the excitation of the relay R3, the closing of the contact C3 "and the opening of the contact C3, which prohibits the excitation of the relay R2 and therefore
The opening of contact C2 '. Relay R3 remains energized via contacts C2 'and C3 "; therefore, Contact C3 remains open and relays R1 and R2 can no longer be energized.

 The prohibition can be stopped by a concealed Bi switch, for example of the push button type, which drops the relay R3.

It is also possible to complete the device according to
The invention by mounting an alarm signal control, for example consisting of an audible warning, hazard warning lights, etc., this control system comprising an opening contact C1 'of the relay R1, a opening contact C4 'of relay R4 and a closing contact C3' of relay R3.

The alarm remains activated as long as R3 is energized, and can be interrupted using the concealed switch B1. The supply voltages of the alarm control system and of the relay R3 via the contacts C2 'and
C2 "will preferably be independent of the key contact.

FIG. 8 represents another variant of the system illustrated in FIG. 6, according to which the anti-theft assembly according to the invention comprises an additional relay R5 with closing contact C5, making it possible to activate an alarm signal (audible warning, distress, etc.). Relay R5 is energized via an opening contact C1 'of relay R1, an opening contact C4' of relay R4 and a closing contact C3 'of relay R3, a closing contact
C5 'of relay R5 The closing contact C5' of relay R5 ensures the self-maintenance of R5.

 The stopping of the tear can be obtained by a concealed switch B2, for example of the push button type, which causes the relay R5 to drop, or by carrying out a normal start-up cycle (opening of the contact C4 ') .

The reference D1 represents a diode whose function is to prohibit the excitation of the relay R2 via the coil of the relay R1 When the command C12 is actuated while the command C11 is grounded (in this case, the contacts C1 and
C3 are open), which would cause Excitation of the relay
R4 and therefore the vehicle start authorization, as well as the inhibition of the alarm.

Similarly, the reference D2 represents a diode whose function is to prohibit the excitation of the relay R1 via the coil of the relay R2 when the command C11 is actuated after the command C12 (figure 7), that C12 has been released (contact C1 and C3 open, C11 is supplied while C12 is grounded);
Indeed, in this case, the abnormal excitation of R1 would close the contact C1, which would authorize the excitation of
R2 and therefore the completion of the cycle,
An inhibition contact I of the anti-theft device can be concealed in the vehicle, this contact making it possible to neutralize the anti-theft device according to the invention, for example to authorize the movement of the vehicle by a person responsible for its guarding, maintenance or its repair.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS 1, - Method for protection against Theft of vehicles, characterized in that there is available on the supply circuit at least one operating member (UT) necessary for starting or operating the vehicle, a set of contact relays comprising :: - at least one first relay (Rî) with closing contact (C1) actuated by a secret authorization command (CI1); - And at least one second relay (R4) with closing contact and with automatic maintenance (C4) which can be excited via the closed contact (C1) of said first relay (R1) these relays being arranged in a circuit according to which the actuation the secret authorization command (C11) is essential for authorizing the closing of the closing and authorizing contact (C4) of said second relay (R4), via the closed closing contact (Ci) of said first relay (R1) and thus enabling the passage of current to said operating member. 2. - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that there is, on the supply circuit of the operating member (UT) and on the excitation circuit of the first relay (R1) with contact closing (Ci), a third relay (R3) with opening contact (C3) actuated by a prohibition command (C13), so that the priority excitation of this third relay (R3) causes the opening of its contact (C3) and prohibits the excitation of the first relay (R1) with closing contact (cry) and also, consequently, the excitation of the second relay (R4) with closing contact and automatic maintenance (C4) and switching on tension of said operating member (UT). 3. - Method according to claim 2, characterized in that There is a fourth relay (R2) with closing contact (C2) actuated by a second secret authorization command (C12), on the anti-theft circuit, so that this relay CR2) can be energized, via the contact closing (C11) of the first relay (Ri), only after the priority actuation of the latter, this third relay (R2) with closing contact (C2) controlling The excitation of the second relay (R4) with closing contact and to automaintien. 4. - Method according to any one of claims i to 3, characterized in that one uses, to control the energization of the first relay (R1) with closing contact (Ci), an accessory of the vehicle (eyelash ) direct control, i.e. directly connected to the vehicle battery, or a direct control switch concealed in the vehicle. 5.- Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that one uses, to control the energization of the fourth relay (R2) with closing contact (C2) a vehicle accessory (C12) to indirect control, i.e. an accessory powered via the ignition key switch (C) of the vehicle, or an indirect control switch concealed in the vehicle. 6. - Device for protection against theft of vehicles, characterized in that it is constituted by a set of contact relays comprising - at least one first relay (R1) with closing contact (C1) arranged so as to be able to be energized by a secret authorization command (CI1), - and at least one second relay CR4) with closing contact and with automatic maintenance cl4), intended to be connected to at least one user device (UT) necessary for starting and / or the operation of the vehicle; these relays being arranged in a circuit so that The excitation of said second relay (R4) can only be obtained via the closed contact (C1) of said first relay (R1) 7. - Device for protection against theft of vehicles, according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises at least a third relay (R3) with opening contact (C3) disposed on the excitation circuit of the first relay (R1) with closing contact (C1), these various relays being arranged in a circuit so that the excitation of the second relay (R4) with closing contact (C4) and with automatic maintenance can only be obtained, via the contact (C3) closed of the third relay (R3) with opening contact, only if the first relay CR1) with contact closing (C1) is energized before said relay (R3) with opening contact (C3). 8. - Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a fourth relay (R2) with closing contact (C2) capable of being actuated by a second secret authorization command (C12), this third relay ( R2) being arranged so as to allow the supply of the second relay (R4) with closing contact (C4) and being itself energized only after closing of the contact (C1) of the first relay (R1) with closing contact and actuation of Vehicle key switch (C).  9; - Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a diode (D1) making it possible to prohibit the excitation of the fourth relay (R2) when the contact CC3) of the relay (R3) with contact to opening is open, 10 = - Device according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that it comprises an inhibition contact (I) making it possible to neutralize said device. 11. - Device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises an additional relay (R5) and / or additional relay contacts (C5, C5 ', C1', C3 ', C4' ) to activate an alarm signal (S).