US6232884B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remotely operable vehicle disabling system
Assignee: CHG SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1998-05-19
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Granted: 2001-05-15
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Expires: 2018-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A remotely operable vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle. The system has a remotely operable transmit unit for transmitting a command shutdown message to a command-receiver vehicle unit in a vehicle. The vehicle unit is in communication with at least one operational component and capable of shutting down that component to thereby terminate vehicle operation. The transmit unit can initially transmit a query message prior to the shutdown message to confirm vehicle identity or to confirm the presence of the vehicle disabling system. Correspondingly, the vehicle unit is capable of receiving both the query message and the shutdown message and of responding to the query message, with all such communication activities preferably being encoded with a continuously changing key. The disabling system provides a safe and efficient manner for law enforcement personnel to apprehend criminals attempting to escape in vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H. Gabbard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:45
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08C; G08C23/00; G08C23/04; B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60T7/16; B60W; B60W2556/00; B60W2556/45; B60W2556/50; G08C2201/00; G08C2201/60; G08C2201/61
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a) a remotely operable transmit unit for transmitting a query message and a shutdown message and for receiving a response to the query message; b) a transmitter hand unit for remotely activating the transmit unit; and c) a vehicle unit capable of receiving the query message and the shutdown message and for providing a query message response, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle and capable of shutting down said component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a) a remotely operable transmit unit for transmitting a query message and a shutdown message and for receiving a response to the query message; b) a transmitter hand unit for remotely activating the transmit unit; and c) a vehicle unit capable of receiving the query message and the shutdown message and for providing a query message response, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle and capable of shutting down said component upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmit unit is an infrared transmitter transmitting an infrared laser beam bearing the query message and the shutdown message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the query message, shutdown message and query message response are encoded with a continuously changing key determined by time of day and an algorithm common to the query message, shutdown message and query message response.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the remotely operable transmit unit is mounted within a law enforcement vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the remotely operable transmit unit is handheld.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operational component is a fuel flow termination device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fuel flow termination device is a closable valve disposed in a fuel line leading from a fuel source to an engine, said valve being closable by the vehicle unit upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby close the valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operational component is an electrical power termination device for terminating electrical operating power leading from a power source to an engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the electrical power termination device is a power disconnection switch situated between the power source and a power distributor for the engine, said switch being operable by the vehicle unit upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby shut down electrical power.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising a visually observable tamper-evident indicator in communication with the operational component and disposed at an external site of the vehicle whereby tampering with the operational component activates the indicator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the visually observable tamper-evident indicator is a light disposed at an external site of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the query message and the shutdown message of the transmit unit are encoded and the query message response of the vehicle unit is encoded with a code complimentarily to the code of the query message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the query message, shutdown message and query message response are encoded with a continuously changing key determined by time of day and an algorithm common to the query message, shutdown message and query message response.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a) a remotely operable transmit unit for transmitting a shutdown message; b) a transmitter hand unit for remotely activating the transmit unit; c) a vehicle unit capable of receiving the shutdown message, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle and capable of shutting down said component upon receipt of the shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation; and d) a visually observable tamper-evident indicator in communication with the operational component and disposed at an external site of the vehicle whereby tampering with the operational component activates the indicator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system for terminating operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a) a remotely operable transmit unit for transmitting a shutdown message; b) a transmitter hand unit for remotely activating the transmit unit; c) a vehicle unit capable of receiving the shutdown message, with said vehicle unit being in communication with at least one operational component of the vehicle and capable of shutting down said component upon receipt of the shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby terminate vehicle operation; and d) a visually observable tamper-evident indicator in communication with the operational component and disposed at an external site of the vehicle whereby tampering with the operational component activates the indicator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the transmit unit is an infrared transmitter transmitting an infrared laser beam bearing the shutdown message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the visually observable tamper-evident indicator is a light disposed at an external site of the vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the remotely operable transmit unit is mounted within a law enforcement vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the remotely operable transmit unit is handheld.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the operational component is a fuel flow termination device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the fuel flow termination device is a closable valve disposed in a fuel line leading from a fuel source to an engine, said valve being closable by the vehicle unit upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby close the valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the operational component is an electrical power termination device for terminating electrical operating power leading from a power source to an engine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
A remotely operable vehicle disabling system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the electrical power termination device is a power disconnection switch situated between the power source and a power distributor for the engine, said switch being operable by the vehicle unit upon receipt of a shutdown message from the transmit unit to thereby shut down electrical power.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |