EP0372741A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security system for a vehicle
Assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
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Filing: 1989-11-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A security system for a vehicle V powered by an internal combustion engine 11 is disclosed having a vital function 13 such as the ignition circuit controlled by an electronic control unit 14. The security system includes a signal unit 20 or 23 which can only be activated by an authorised user to send a coded signal 15 to the electronic control unit 14 thereby enabling said vital function 13 and allowing for the supply of high tension pulses to the engine 11.
Inventors
- 👤 Terence Jack Kershaw
- 👤 Darren Wright
- 👤 Andrew Ashworth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:34
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P11/00; F02P11/04; B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04; G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A security system for a vehicle (V) powered by an internal combustion engine (11) and having a vital function (13) controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) (14), wherein the ECU generates a control signal (15) for driving the vital function of the engine, characterised in that the security system comprises a signal unit (20 or 23) which can be operated by an authorised user to send a coded vital function enable signal to the ECU to allow the control signal (15) to be supplied to the engine (11) but in which the ECU inhibits supply of the control signal to the engine in the absence of the enable signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A security system for a vehicle (V) powered by an internal combustion engine (11) and having a vital function (13) controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) (14), wherein the ECU generates a control signal (15) for driving the vital function of the engine, characterised in that the security system comprises a signal unit (20 or 23) which can be operated by an authorised user to send a coded vital function enable signal to the ECU to allow the control signal (15) to be supplied to the engine (11) but in which the ECU inhibits supply of the control signal to the engine in the absence of the enable signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vital function is the generation of appropriately timed and routed sparks for a spark ignition engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vital function controlled is the supply of and/or metering of fuel to the engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enable signal is generated as a password or number code to be entered from a keyboard (23).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enable signal is derived from an infra red or ultra sonic generator (20) issuing a coded signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a second ECU (22) is provided in the vehicle and the two ECUs (14, 22) form a mutually compatible pair in that the engine ECU is not operative to generate its signal for driving the vital function of the engine, until a parity check has been effected between the engine ECU and the second ECU.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also incorporating an alarm to be triggered by a criterion indicative of a breach of vehicle security.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein an alarm signal generated by triggering the alarm is also fed to the engine ECU, disabling the vital function for the engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A security system for a vehicle incorporating an ECU comprising a storage facility in the ECU which can not readily be overwritten or erased and which incorporates a unique security code associated with the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A security system for a vehicle incorporating an ECU comprising a storage facility in the ECU which can not readily be overwritten or erased and which incorporates a unique security code associated with the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the unique code is a vehicle identification number (VIN) which is attributed to the vehicle on manufacture and is marked visibly on the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the unique code is a code capable of translation into the VIN.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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