Title of Invention

KEY LOCK-IN WARNING AND VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract The invention relates to key lock-in warning and vehicle security system consists of a vehicle key with a passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag/transponder, an RFID transmitter/receiver mounted inside the vehicle, at least two Infrared Trip wires mounted on the front and rear doors to sense the presence of any person in the vehicle, a control unit to process the signals and execute the logical events, a master actuator to lock and unlock the driver side door and actuators on the door locks of all the other doors connected to the master actuator. The invention also provides a method for key lock-in warning in a vehicle and securing the vehicle from theft using the system as mentioned above.
Full Text FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
(COMPLETE SPECIFICATION)
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Key Lock-In Warning and Vehicle Security System and Method
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company having its registered office at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTOR
Mr. Sachin Thakur and Mr Tukaram Shetty
both Indian nationals of TATA MOTORS LIMITED,
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India





PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following Complete specification particularly describes the invention and the manner
in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION;
The invention relates to a key lock-in warning and vehicle security system to warn a person against leaving his vehicle keys inside the vehicle and further prevent chances of theft by taking preventive action.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION;
It is a common situation with vehicle owners wherein they forget to take out the keys from the ignition or even if they do, they leave it on the dash board or on their seat and get out of the vehicle, lock the door lock (may not lock also) and shut the door. If the keys are left inside the locked vehicle, the only solution is to get the spare keys. Otherwise if the doors are not locked then there are chances of theft. The present invention proposes a system that covers all situations under which a person may forget the vehicle keys inside the vehicle and also prevents a possible theft situation that may arise under such circumstances. Previous inventions tackle this problem but have limitations as mentioned below.
US 4,572,320 (Feb 1986) describes a system that prevents the driver from locking the door if the key is in the barrel in the off position, but there is no provision for any alarm or warning also the system is limited to the key being left behind in the ignition barrel, however in actual conditions key may be left anywhere inside the vehicle putting a limitation on the system.
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Also, US 5,831,520 describes an anti-lockout smart key system which needs the key to have a transmitter/receiver powered by a battery or capacitor. This system gives a warning only when the doors have been locked from inside with the keys left inside the vehicle, whereas in actual conditions a person may not lock the door at all while forgetting the vehicle keys inside the vehicle thereby putting a limitation on the system.
US 5,451,928 describes a method and apparatus for preventing a person from leaving an enclosed space having a door while leaving an article behind, such as preventing a driver from leaving an automobile while leaving the ignition keys within the automobile. Sensing elements are mounted on opposite sides of the door and a sensing device is located with the person. A shield which is adapted to cover the sensed element is attached to the ignition key. When the driver leaves the car without the ignition key, and without the shield covering the sensed element, the sensing device sounds an audible or visual alarm. This system assumes that the driver will always have the sensing device with him but usually a vehicle may be driven by more than one person and all may not carry the sensing element all the time and this puts a limitation on the system.
US 5,438,312 describes a system having a transmitter key which causes an alarm if the seat belt is unbuckled and the doors are then closed. The driver must unlock the door with the transmitter, not manually, to get the system to function. The driver must put the key in the ignition lock and/or buckle the seat belt before closing the door. Before closing the door, the driver must lock it using the transmitter, not the manual lock, to avoid an alarm and to avoid discharging the transmitter battery. Once the unlock button has been pressed,
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the transmitter continues to transmit until the lock button has been pressed or the key has been put in the ignition. This system is based on a sequence of events for it to work, however the events may not occur at all e.g. the driver may not be wearing the seat belt, and/or the driver may use the manual locking and unlocking function on the door instead of the one in the transmitter, thus putting a limitation on the system.
Objects of Invention:
The main object of this invention is to prevent a person from leaving behind the vehicle keys unattended inside the vehicle.
Another object of this invention is to secure the vehicle from theft if the keys are kept inside the vehicle unattended.
Another object of this invention is to provide a system to prevent accidental lock-in of the vehicle keys.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The key lock-in warning and vehicle security system consists of a vehicle key with a passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag/transponder, an RFID transmitter/receiver mounted inside the vehicle, at least two Infrared Trip wires mounted on the front and rear doors to sense the presence of any person in the vehicle, a control unit to process the signals and execute the logical events, a master actuator to lock and unlock the driver side door and
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actuators on the door locks of all the other doors connected to the master actuator.
If the driver leaves the said key inside the vehicle unattended, then first the doors will be unlocked if it had been locked by the driver and then an audiovisual alarm warning will be given, after warning for a pre-determined time, if the key is still sensed inside the vehicle then the doors of the vehicle will be locked automatically and/or the engine may be immobilized. The system can be either stand alone or incorporated with the central locking system and will have the following logic; when the control unit inside the vehicle gets signal from the RFID transmitter in the key, and from both the Infrared Trip sensors in the vehicle, then the master door lock actuator which is connected to the said control unit, unlocks the driver side door and subsequently all the other doors and an audio-visual alarm is raised indicating that the keys are inside the vehicle and after a certain time interval, alarm is turned off and all the doors are locked. Alarm can be deactivated by opening the door.
The invention provides a key lock-in warning and vehicle security system comprising a vehicle key having a passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag/transponder; an RFID transmitter/receiver mounted inside the vehicle; at least two infrared trip wires sensors mounted on front and rear doors of the vehicle to sense the presence of any person inside the vehicle; a control unit provided to process the signals received from the infrared trip sensors and the signals received from the RFID transmitter and to execute the logical events; and a master actuator to lock and unlock the driver side door, said master actuator also being connected to actuators on the door locks of all
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the other doors; said system adapted to unlock and/or lock the vehicle doors, send an audio-visual warning indicating that the key is left inside the vehicle and to further secure the vehicle from theft.
Also, the invention provides a method for key lock-in warning in a vehicle and securing the vehicle from theft using the above said system comprising the steps of: receiving the signals emitted from the at least two infrared trip sensors and the RFID transmitter; unlocking the doors of the vehicle if the signal from the RFID transmitter indicates that the key is left inside the locked vehicle and the infrared trip sensors' signal indicates that no one is inside the vehicle; sending an audio-visual warning signal for a predetermined time indicating that the key is left inside the unattended vehicle; locking the doors of the vehicle if the key is still sensed inside the vehicle at the end of the predetermined time.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.
Fig 1 shows the a schematic layout of the key lock-in warning and vehicle security system
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Fig 2 shows the side view of a typical vehicle with the positions of the Infrared Trip sensors mounted on the doors, with respect to the front and rear seating positions
Fig 3 shows the logic of the control unit
Referring to Fig. 1, the vehicle key will have an embedded passive RFID tag /transponder [1] which will transmit a signal to an RFID transmitter/receiver [3] which is placed inside the vehicle and connected to a Control Unit [2]. The range within which the RFID tag/transponder is able to transmit the signal is chosen such that only the inside of the vehicle is covered as shown by indicative range [6] of the RFID transmitter/receiver.
The vehicle will have Infrared trip wires [4] emitted from the sensors mounted on the doors to sense the presence of people inside of vehicle; the signal will be '0' when the sensor senses someone sitting inside the vehicle in either the front or rear seats and ' 1' when the sensor senses no one inside the vehicle. The Infrared Trip Sensors have two parts. One part is the infrared emitter, which is connected to the battery, and the other part is the sensing element which is activated by the infrared light beam emitted from the emitter. Therefore, as long as someone is sitting inside the vehicle, the path of the emitted Infrared beam is obstructed.
The Driver Side door [5] has a master actuator which is connected to the Control Unit [2] in the vehicle and coupled to the door lock.; The master actuator locks or unlocks the door according to the signal [7] received from
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the Control Unit [2] provided in the vehicle. The master actuator is also connected to actuators of all the other doors for locking and unlocking.
Figure 2 illustrates the vehicle having Infrared trip sensors on the front [8] as well as rear [9] of the vehicle placed on the doors just above and in front of the seats to sense the presence of people inside of vehicle. The signal will be '0' when the sensor senses someone sitting inside the vehicle in either the front or rear seats and ' 1' when the sensor senses no one inside the vehicle. The placement of the sensors is done in this way so as to ensure the obstruction of the path of the Infrared Rays from the emitter as long as anyone is sitting inside the vehicle. Also the Infrared Trip sensor should not be obstructed by any kind of luggage on the seats.
Fig.3 is a table showing the different combinations of the output possible for the three sensors i.e. the Infrared trip sensors on the front as well as rear of the vehicle and the RFID tag/transponder in the vehicle's key. The '0' represents the absence of signal received by the control unit from the sensors and ' 1' represents the presence of signal received by the control unit from the sensors. If the key is not present inside the vehicle the signal will be '0' and if the key is present inside the vehicle the signal will be '1'. The alarm will be raised only when the signals are ' 1' from the RFID tag/transponder in the key and the Infrared trip sensors on the front and rear doors.
For all other combination of signals there will be no alarm and unlocking/locking of door.
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If the driver leaves the key inside the vehicle unattended, then first the doors will be unlocked automatically if it had been locked by the driver and the system raises an audio-visual alarm warning, after warning for a predetermined time, if the key is still sensed inside the vehicle then the doors
of the vehicle will be locked automatically and/or the engine may be immobilized, so that the vehicle is safe from theft.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.
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WE CLAIM:
1. A key lock-in warning and vehicle security system comprising
a vehicle key having a passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag/transponder;
an RFID transmitter/receiver mounted inside the vehicle;
at least two infrared trip wires sensors mounted on front and rear doors of the vehicle to sense the presence of any person inside the vehicle;
a control unit provided to process the signals received from the infrared trip sensors and the signals received from the RFID transmitter and to execute the logical events; and
a master actuator to lock and unlock the driver side door, said master actuator also being connected to actuators on the door locks of all the other doors;
said system adapted to unlock and/or lock the vehicle doors, send an audio-visual warning indicating that the key is left inside the vehicle and to further secure the vehicle from theft.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the RFID tag/transponder is adapted to transmit the signal to the RFID transmitter/receiver within a range covering only the inside of the vehicle.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infrared trip sensors have an infrared emitter connected to the battery of the vehicle, and a
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sensing element activated by the infrared light beam emitted from the emitter.
The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said master actuator is connected to the control unit in the vehicle and coupled to the door lock and is adapted to lock or unlock all doors of the vehicle based on the signal received from the control unit.
The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the infrared trip sensors are placed on the front and rear doors just above and in front of the seats to sense the presence of people inside of vehicle.
The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said system can be either stand-alone or is incorporated with the central locking system.
A method for key lock-in warning in a vehicle and securing the vehicle from theft using a system as claimed in claims 1 to 6 comprising the steps of:
receiving the signals emitted from the at least two infrared trip sensors and the RFID transmitter;
unlocking the doors of the vehicle if the signal from the RFID transmitter indicates that the key is left inside the locked vehicle and the infrared trip sensors' signal indicates that no one is inside the vehicle;
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sending an audio-visual warning signal for a pre-determined time indicating that the key is left inside the unattended vehicle;
locking the doors of the vehicle if the key is still sensed inside the vehicle at the end of the predetermined time.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the alarm is deactivated by opening the door.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the engine is immobilized at the end of the predetermined time, at the same time when the doors of the vehicle are locked.
10. A key lock-in warning and vehicle security system and method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of February 2007
TATA MOTORS LIMITED By their Agent and Attorney


(KARUNA GOLERIA)
of DePENNING & DePENNING

Documents:

278-MUM-2007-ABSTRACT(13-12-2010).pdf

278-mum-2007-abstract(13-2-2007).pdf

278-mum-2007-abstract(granted)-(11-1-2011).pdf

278-mum-2007-cancelled pages(13-12-2010).pdf

278-MUM-2007-CLAIMS(AMENDED)-(13-12-2010).pdf

278-mum-2007-claims(granted)-(11-1-2011).pdf

278-mum-2007-claims.doc

278-mum-2007-claims.pdf

278-mum-2007-correspondance-received.pdf

278-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE(11-1-2011).pdf

278-mum-2007-correspondence(13-12-2010).pdf

278-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE(23-9-2010).pdf

278-mum-2007-correspondence(5-4-2007).pdf

278-MUM-2007-CORRESPONDENCE(7-12-2010).pdf

278-mum-2007-correspondence(ipo)-(11-1-2011).pdf

278-mum-2007-correspondence(ipo)-(11-12-2009).pdf

278-mum-2007-description (complete).pdf

278-mum-2007-description(granted)-(11-1-2011).pdf

278-mum-2007-drawing(13-2-2007).pdf

278-mum-2007-drawing(granted)-(11-1-2011).pdf

278-mum-2007-form 18(5-4-2007).pdf

278-mum-2007-form 2(granted)-(11-1-2011).pdf

278-mum-2007-form 2(title page)-(13-2-2007).pdf

278-mum-2007-form 2(title page)-(granted)-(11-1-2011).pdf

278-MUM-2007-FORM 8(23-9-2010).pdf

278-mum-2007-form 9(5-4-2007).pdf

278-mum-2007-form-1.pdf

278-mum-2007-form-2.doc

278-mum-2007-form-2.pdf

278-mum-2007-form-26.pdf

278-mum-2007-form-3.pdf

278-mum-2007-general power of attorney(13-2-2007).pdf

278-MUM-2007-MARKED COPY(13-12-2010).pdf

278-MUM-2007-REPLY TO HEARING(13-12-2010).pdf

278-MUM-2007-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(13-12-2010).pdf

abstract1.jpg


Patent Number 245260
Indian Patent Application Number 278/MUM/2007
PG Journal Number 02/2011
Publication Date 14-Jan-2011
Grant Date 11-Jan-2011
Date of Filing 13-Feb-2007
Name of Patentee TATA MOTORS LIMITED
Applicant Address BOMBAY HOUSE, 24 HOMI MODY STREET, HUTATMA CHOWK, MUMBAI 400 001
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SACHIN THAKUR BOMBAY HOUSE, 24 HOMI MODY STREET, HUTATMA CHOWK, MUMBAI 400 001
2 TUKARAM SHETTY BOMBAY HOUSE, 24 HOMI MODY STREET, HUTATMA CHOWK, MUMBAI 400 001
PCT International Classification Number B60Q9/00,G07C9/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA