초록 ▼

A vehicle includes a rechargeable battery (A) having positive and negative terminals (18, 20). A wiring system (B) connects the battery with various electrical devices of the automobile including a starter motor (92). An access control circuit (C) selectively controls the passage of electric power f

A vehicle includes a rechargeable battery (A) having positive and negative terminals (18, 20). A wiring system (B) connects the battery with various electrical devices of the automobile including a starter motor (92). An access control circuit (C) selectively controls the passage of electric power from the battery to the wiring system. The access control circuit includes a current limiting circuit (70) for limiting the passage of current to a first current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and a high level current passing circuit (60) for passing current at a second level which is sufficiently high to operate the starter motor. A current level selection circuit (80) selectively enables the current limiting circuit and the high level current passing circuit to pass current from the battery to the electrical wiring system at one of the first and second levels. In this manner, when limited current is passed to the wiring system, substantially all vehicular electric devices operate normally. However, because the starter motor receives insufficient current to operate normally, the battery will appear low or dead to one attempting to start the car without causing the current level selection circuit to enable the high level current passing means to pass current to the starting motor. The access control circuit may be disposed within the battery (FIG. 1), be attached to at least one battery terminal (FIGS. 2 and 3), or be otherwise connected between the battery and the starter motor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising: current passing means for selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter mot

1. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising: current passing means for selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor, and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the lstarter motor unimpaired, the current passing means being connected electrically between the battery and the starter motor; current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means including means for determining whether a received access control signal includes a preselected access code and timing means, the access code determining means and the timing means being operatively connected with the current passing means for enabling the current passing means to pass current of the second current level for a preselected duration in response to receiving the preselected access code, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery. 2. The access control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the current passing means includes a high level current passing means for passing current of the second current level and a current limiting means for limiting passed current to said first current level, the high level current passing means and the current limiting means being operatively connected between the battery and the starter motor. 3. An access control for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising: (a) current passing means for selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor, the current passing means including: (1) a normally closed switch means for passing current of the second level between the battery and the starter motor, whereby the starter motor is normally able to draw sufficient current to operate, and (2) a current limiting means for limiting current passed to the starter motor generally to the first current level, the current limiting means including: (i) a current sensor for sensing current passed to the starter motor, and (ii) means for opening the normally closed switch means in response to the sensed current exceeding the first current level, whereby the passage of current to the starter motor through the normally closed switch means is stopped in response to the passed current exceeding the first current level, and then allowing the normally closed switch means to close after the current level has dropped below the first current level, the current passing means being connected electrically between the battery and the starter motor; (b) current level selection means for selective enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means selectively enables and disables the current limiting means from opening the normally closed switch, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery. 4. The access control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the high level current passing means includes a normally open switch means connected in parallel with the current limiting means and wherein the current level selection means selectively opens and closes the normally open switch means to select the first and second current levels, respectively. 5. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising: a tamper resistant housing which is configured to be mounted to the battery enclosing at least one battery terminal, means for securely mounting the housing to the battery, a housing electrical terminal mounted on the exterior of the housing for selective electrical interconnection with the starter motor, a current passing means being mounted within the housing and being electrically connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal, the current passing means selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor, such that the current passing means selectively passes current of the first and second levels between the battery terminal and the housing terminal, and, a current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means being mounted within the tamper resistant housing, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery. 6. The access control system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the current level selection means includes a detecting means operatively connected with the vehicle electrical system to detect superimposed digitally encoded signals superimposed thereon and comparing means for comparing detected digitally encoded signals with a preselected access code, the comparing means being operatively connected with the current passing means for enabling the second current level to be passed in response to the preselected access code. 7. The access control system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the current level selecting means further includes an engine running sensing means for sensing whether the engine is running and a timing means operatively connected with the comparing means and the engine running sensing means, the timing means being operatively connected with the current passing means for causing the current passing means to pass current of the second current level for a preselected duration after the comparing means receives the preselected access code and after the engine stops running. 8. The access control system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the current level selection means includes a radio receiver, a comparing means for comparing received radio signals with a preselected access code, engine running sensing means for sensing whether a vehicle engine is running, a timing means operatively connected with the engine running sensing means and the comparing means for enabling the current passing means to pass current of the second level for a preselected duration following receipt of the preselected access code and after the engine stops running. 9. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a starter motor, the access control system comprising: a battery that includes a battery casing which defines a battery fluid receiving reservoir, a pair of battery terminals, an array of battery plates disposed in the battery fluid reservoir and electrically connected with one of the battery terminals, a current passing means for selectively passing current limited to a first, preselected current level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and current of a second current level which is sufficient current to operate the starter motor, the first current level being sufficiently high to operate vehicle electrical devices which draw less current than the starter motor, the current passing means being sealed within the battery casing and electrically connected between the array of battery plates and the other battery terminal, a current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass one of the first and second current levels, the current level selection means being sealed within the battery casing, whereby when the current passing means is enabled, the battery selectively provides current at the second current level and the vehicle operates normally and, when the current passing means is disabled, the battery passes current at the first current level and the vehicle operates as if it has a low battery. 10. A battery comprising: a sealed battery casing which defines a battery fluid receiving reservoir; first and second battery terminals mounted on the exterior of the battery casing; an array of battery plates disposed in the battery fluid reservoir and electrically connected with the first battery terminal; a current passing means for selectively passing electric current, the current passing means being disposed in the battery casing and operatively connected between the battery plate array and the second battery terminal; and, current selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass current to the second battery terminal, the current selection means being disposed in the battery casing and being operatively connected with the current passing means, the current selection means including comparing means for comparing a received signal with a preselected access code, the comparing means being operatively connected with the current passing means for enabling the current passing means to pass current in response to receiving the preselected code. 11. The battery as set forth in claim 10 wherein the current selection means further includes a detector operatively connected with the second battery terminal for receiving digitally encoded signals received thereby, the detector being operatively connected with the comparing means. 12. The battery as set forth in claim 10 wherein the current selection means includes a radio receiver for receiving encoded radio signals, the radio receiver being operatively connected with the comparing means. 13. The battery as set forth in claim 10 wherein the current passing means includes a current limiting means for limiting current passing therethrough to a first, preselected level and high level current passing means for selectively passing current therethrough at a second level in excess of said first current level, the current limiting means and the high level current passing means being operatively connected between the battery plate array and the second battery terminal such that current is passable therebetween at one of the first and second currents levels. 14. The battery as set forth in claim 13 wherein the high level current passing means includes a switch means connected in parallel with the current limiting means for selectively bypassing current therearound, the switch means being operatively connected with the current selection means. 15. The battery as set forth in claim 13 wherein the high level current passing means includes a switching means for selectively passing current of the second level between the battery plate array and the second terminal and wherein the current limiting means includes current sensing means for sensing the magnitude of current passing therethrough and switching control means for selectively blocking the switching means from passing current therethrough in response to the current sensing means detecting current in access of the first current level, the current limiting means being operatively connected with the current selection means for being enabled and disabled thereby. 16. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising: a tamper-resistant housing; housing mounting means for mounting the housing to the battery such that at least one battery terminal is enclosed in the housing; a housing terminal of substantially the same configuration as the battery terminal mounted on the exterior of the housing such that the vehicle electrical system is adapted to be connected with the housing terminal; current passing means for selectively passing electric current, the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal for selectively passing electric current therebetween; and, current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass current, the current level selection means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected with the current passing means, the current level selection means including comparing means for comparing a received code with a preselected access code and a timing means operatively connected with the comparing means for enabling the current passing means for a preselected duration in response to receiving the preselected access code. 17. The access control system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the current level selection means further includes an engine running sensing means for sensing whether an automotive engine is running, the engine running sensing means being operatively connected with the timing means for causing the timing means to enable the current passing means for the preselected duration in response to the engine being stopped. 18. An access control system for a vehicle having an electrical system including a battery and a starter motor, the access control system comprising: a tamper-resistant housing; housing mounting means for mounting the housing to the battery such that at least one battery terminal is enclosed in the housing; a housing terminal of substantially the same configuration as the battery terminal mounted on the exterior of the housing such that the vehicle electrical system is adapted to be connected with the housing terminal; current passing means for selectively passing electric current, the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal, the current passing means includes a current limiting means for limiting the level of current passing therethrough to a first level which is insufficient to operate the starter motor and high level current passing means for passing current therethrough at a level which is sufficiently high to operate the starter motor, the current limiting means and the current passing means being disposed in the housing and operatively connected between the battery terminal and the housing terminal for selectively passing electric current therebetween, current level selection means for selectively enabling the current passing means to pass current, the current level selecting means disposed in the housing and operatively connected with the current limiting means and high level current passing means such that the current level selecting means selectively enables current to be passed.