Anti-theft sysem for a removable accessory of an automotve vehicle

Claim 2

An anti-theft system for a removable accessory of an automobile comprising: a transponder located in said removable accessory, said transponder having a transponder security code; a remote sensing coil operatively coupled to said transponder, wherein said remote sensing coil is adjacent said transponder when said removable accessory is in an unremoved position; a memory storing a stored security code corresponding to said transponder; a control module coupled to said remote sensing coil and said memory, said control module generating an interrogate signal and receiving a response signal through said remote sensing coil, said transponder generating said response signal in the form of a transponder security code in response to said interrogate signal, said control module comparing said transponder security code to said stored security code, and then if said transponder security code is not equal to said stored security code, disabling a predetermined function; and output means coupled to said control module for providing an indication to a vehicle operator of said disabled predetermined function.

Claim 3

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 further comprising triggering means connected to said control module for triggering said control module to generate said interrogate signal.

Claim 4

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 2 wherein said triggering means comprises an ignition sensor.

Claim 5

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 3 wherein said triggering means triggers said control module when an ignition switch is placed in an on position.

Claim 6

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 wherein said output means comprises an on-board diagnostics interface.

Claim 7

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a timing means for measuring time, said control means storing an installation time and serial number of said removable accessory in said memory.

Claim 8

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 wherein said output means comprises a powertrain control module and an internal combustion engine, said disabled function comprises degrading the performance of said internal combustion engine by altering a control strategy within said powertrain control module.

Claim 9

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 wherein said removable accessory comprises a radio.

Claim 10

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 wherein said removable accessory comprises an airbag.

Claim 11

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 wherein said airbag transmits a deployed signal to said control module when said airbag is deployed, said control module invalidating said transponder security code.

Claim 12

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an illuminated indicator, said illuminated indicator illuminating if a function has been disabled.

Claim 13

An anti-theft system for a plurality of removable accessories of an automobile comprising: a plurality of transponders, each of said transponders associated with one of said removable accessories, each transponder having a respective transponder security code; a remote sensing coil means operatively coupled to said transponders, wherein said remote sensing coil means comprises a single remote sensing coil, each of said transponders having a respective address and said control module emitting an interrogation signal having an address to interrogate each respective transponder; a memory storing a stored security code for each of said transponders; a control module coupled to said remote sensing coil means and said memory, said control module generating an interrogate signal and receiving a response signal through said remote sensing coil, said transponder generating a response signal in the form of a transponder security code in response to said interrogate signal, said control module comparing said transponder security code to said stored security code, and then if said transponder security code is not equal to said stored security code, disabling a predetermined function; and output means coupled to said control module for providing an indication to a vehicle operator of said disabled predetermined function.

Claim 14

An anti-theft system for a plurality of removable accessories of an automobile comprising: a plurality of transponders, each of said transponders associated with one of said removable accessories, each transponder having a respective transponder security code; a remote sensing coil means operatively coupled to said transponders, wherein said remote sensing coil means comprises a single remote sensing coil, each of said transponders having a respective address and said control module emitting an interrogation signal having an address to interrogate each respective transponder; a memory storing a stored security code for each of said transponders; a control module coupled to said remote sensing coil means and said memory, said control module generating an interrogate signal and receiving a response signal through said remote sensing coil, said transponder generating a response signal in the form of a transponder security code in response to said interrogate signal, said control module comparing said transponder security code to said stored security code, and then if said transponder security code is not equal to said stored security code, disabling a predetermined function; and output means coupled to said control module for providing an indication to a vehicle operator of said disabled predetermined function.

Claim 15

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 12 wherein said disabled function comprises degrading said performance of said engine.

Claim 16

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a multiplexer coupled to said control module, said control module communicating through said multiplexer to said remote sensing coil means.

Claim 17

An anti-theft system for an airbag of an automobile comprising: a transponder located in said airbag, said transponder having a airbag transponder security code; a remote sensing coil operatively coupled to said transponder; a memory storing a stored security code associated with said transponder; a control module coupled to said remote sensing coil and said memory, said control module generating an interrogate signal and receiving a response signal through said remote sensing coil, said transponder generating a response signal in the form of a transponder security code in response to said interrogate signal, said control module comparing said transponder security code to said stored security code, if said transponder security code is not equal to said stored security code, disabling a predetermined function; triggering means coupled to said control module for triggering said control module to generate said interrogate signal; and output means coupled to said control module for providing an indication to a vehicle operator of said disabled predetermined functions; wherein said airbag transmits a deployed signal to said control module when said airbag is deployed, and wherein said control module invalidates said transponder security code in response to said deployed signal.

Claim 18

An anti-theft system for an airbag of an automobile comprising: a transponder located in said airbag, said transponder having a airbag transponder security code; a remote sensing coil operatively coupled to said transponder; a memory storing a stored security code associated with said transponder; a control module coupled to said remote sensing coil and said memory, said control module generating an interrogate signal and receiving a response signal through said remote sensing coil, said transponder generating a response signal in the form of a transponder security code in response to said interrogate signal, said control module comparing said transponder security code to said stored security code, if said transponder security code is not equal to said stored security code, disabling a predetermined function; triggering means coupled to said control module for triggering said control module to generate said interrogate signal; and output means coupled to said control module for providing an indication to a vehicle operator of said disabled predetermined functions; wherein said airbag transmits a deployed signal to said control module when said airbag is deployed, and wherein said control module invalidates said transponder security code in response to said deployed signal.

Claim 19

An airbag anti-theft system as recited in claim 15 wherein said triggering means comprises an anti-theft system monitoring the presence of said airbag.

Claim 20

An anti-theft system as recited in claim 15 further comprising a timing means for measuring time, said control means storing an installation time and serial number of said removable accessory in said memory.