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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A portable remote controller for a security system that is adapted to
transmit, from a remote location, to a local security unit installed in an
automobile, the local security unit being connected to a plurality of
security devices located on the automobile said portable remote controller
comprising:
means for setting multiple security data signals regarding security actions
of said local security unit, wherein each security data signal corresponds
to a control state of one of said plurality of security devices;
means for storing the multiple security data signals in said portable
remote controller; and
means for transmitting to said local security unit the multiple security
data signals together with data commanding an arming or disarming of said
local security unit, wherein the multiple security data signals and data
commanding an arming or disarming are transmitted by sending one or more
control signals from the means for transmitting at one time, and wherein a
control state of the plurality of control devices is set in said local
security unit in response to the multiple security data signals.
2. A security system portable remote controller according to claim 1,
further comprising means for displaying a current setting of the multiple
security data.
3. A security system portable remote controller according to claim 1,
further comprising means for continuously and interchangeably displaying a
time of day and a data.
4. A security system remote controller that is adapted to transmit from a
remote location to a local security unit installed in an automobile, said
remote controller comprising:
means for setting multiple security data regarding security actions of said
local security unit;
means for storing the multiple security data;
means for transmitting to said local security unit the multiple security
data together with data commanding an arming or disarming of said local
security unit;
means for setting a prescribed alarm generating time;
means for measuring a length of time that has passed after an arming of the
local security unit;
means for comparing said prescribed alarm generating time to the length of
time that has passed after the arming; and
means for sounding a buzzer at the location of the remote controller when
the length of time that has passed after the arming exceeds said
prescribed alarm generating time.
5. A remote controller for a security system including a plurality of local
security units installed in a plurality of automobiles, said remote
controller being adapted to specify one of the automobiles and transmit,
from a remote location, to the local security unit installed in the
specified automobile, said remote controller comprising:
means for setting multiple security data regarding security actions of each
of said local security units;
means for storing the multiple security data in said remote controller such
that the multiple security data for each local security unit is identified
as corresponding to the automobile in which that local security unit is
installed; and
means for transmitting, to the local security unit installed in the
specified automobile, the multiple security data corresponding to the
specified automobile together with data commanding an arming or disarming
of the particular local security unit, wherein the multiple security data
corresponding to the specified automobile and data commanding an arming or
disarming of the particular local security unit are transmitted by sending
one or more control signals from the means for transmitting at one time.
6. A security system remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the
security actions include turning on or off a siren connected to the
system.
7. A security system remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the
security actions including turning on or off a sensor scanning of the
security system.
8. A security system remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the
security actions include turning on or off a horn connected to the
security system.
9. A portable remote controller for a security system that is adapted to
transmit, from a remote location, to a local security unit installed in an
automobile, the local security unit being connected to a plurality of
security devices located on the automobile, said portable remote
controller comprising:
means for setting multiple security data signals regarding security actions
of said local security unit, wherein each security data signal corresponds
to a control state of one of said plurality of security devices;
means for storing the multiple security data signals; and
means for transmitting to said local security unit the multiple security
data signals together with data commanding an arming or disarming of said
local security unit, wherein a sensor scanning operation of the security
system is activated or deactivated in response to the multiple security
data signals.
10. A remote controller for a security system that is adapted to transmit,
from a remote location, to a local security unit installed in an
automobile, the local security unit being connected to a plurality of
security devices located on the automobile, said remote controller
comprising:
means for setting multiple security data signals regarding security actions
of said local security unit, wherein each security data signal corresponds
to a control state of one of said plurality of security devices, and
wherein the security actions include turning on or off a sensor scanning
operation of the security system;
means for storing the multiple security data signals in said remote
controller; and
means for transmitting to said local security unit the multiple security
data signals together with data commanding an arming or disarming of said
local security unit, wherein the multiple security data signals and data
commanding an arming or disarming are transmitted in response to a single
activation of the means for transmitting, and wherein a control state of
the plurality of control devices is set in said local security unit in
response to the multiple security data signals. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote controller for a security system
and, more particularly, to a security system remote-controller that allows
the programming of various data regarding security actions which may be
performed by the system.
2. Description of the Related Art
An anti-theft device (security system) of an automobile serves to prevent
the automobile from being stolen. For instance, if a would-be burglar
opens a door or trunk, the activated system gives a considerable shock to
the automobile, sounds a siren, repeatedly turns on and off the
headlights, and/or effects a starter cut (i.e., an action to disable the
engine start) so as to render the driving of the automobile impossible.
Among such security systems, there is a type which includes a portable
remote controller and a local security unit to be installed in a
particular automobile. The remote controller can command from a remote
location the start or termination of the local security unit (i.e., should
be armed or disarmed). The remote controller may remote-control the arming
and disarming of a plurality of local security units installed in a
plurality of automobiles. In this case, the remote controller is provided
with certain keys which are operated to issue a command to arm or disarm
the unit in a particular automobile among the set of automobiles, and to
specify the particular automobile.
In a remote-controlled security system, it is possible to program various
data regarding security actions which may be performed by the system. Such
data is suitably set with respect to each particular local security unit
(and automobile) concerned. For instance, data concerning the following
factors may be set:
(a) data indicating whether or not a siren is to be sounded when a would-be
burglar intrudes (hereinafter referred to as "siren on/off data");
(b) data indicating whether an intrusion is to be determined on the basis
of a single input from a sensor which has sensed an abnormality or on the
basis of at least two inputs from such sensors (hereinafter referred to as
"sensor scanning on/off data"); and
(c) data indicating whether or not a horn is to be sounded in response to
an arming or disarming command (hereinafter referred to as "beep on/off
data"). The local security unit performs security actions in accordance
with the settings. These settings make it possible to restrain sirens from
being sounded too many times, or to vary the sensitivity with which an
abnormality is sensed.
The conventional remote-controlled security system entails a problem,
however, when there are a plurality of local security units. Because
programming data must be performed by setting the local security unit in
each and every automobile, the operation is very time-consuming and
tedious.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller for a
security system that allows the programming of data regarding security
actions (such as siren on/off data, sensor scanning on/off data and beep
on/off data) which may be performed by the system.
To this end, according to the present invention, a remote controller for a
security system comprises: means for programming data for a given group of
local security units which are installed in a given set of automobiles;
means for storing the set data in correspondence with each of the
automobiles; and means for transmitting, to the local security unit
installed in a specified automobile, the set data corresponding to the
specified automobile together with data commanding an arming or disarming
of the particular local security unit.
With this construction, the remote controller operates as follows. Various
data regarding security actions (such as siren on/off data, sensor
scanning on/off data and beep on/off data) are set by operating the remote
controller, then stored in memory incorporated in the remote controller in
correspondence with each of the automobiles. When a particular local
security unit is to be armed or disarmed, the automobile equipped with the
particular unit is specified through a key operation, and the set data
corresponding to the specified automobile are transmitted to the
particular local security unit together with a command to arm or disarm
the unit. Then, the unit performs security actions in accordance with the
settings indicated by the control data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote controller for a security system in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the remote controller showing its exterior
appearance;
FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a display on an LED;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a mode controller;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing procedures for setting control data; and
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the steps performed by a control data
determining mode function upon the depressing of a key for commanding an
arming or disarming.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the remote controller includes a loop antenna 11, a
transmission section 12 having a modulating circuit 12a for
amplitude-modulating the input codes with a carrier of a predetermined
frequency, and an LC oscillating circuit 12b for performing power
amplification of the modulated signal and radiating the electric wave
through the loop antenna connected for transmission. The remote controller
also includes a console 13 having a liquid crystal display (LCD) 13a for
displaying such information as the date, the time, the mode and an alarm
time, and a keypad 13b with various keys.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a control section having a mode controller
14a, an arming time monitor 14b and a code generator 14c. The mode
controller 14a sets the state (mode) in which the remote controller
operates, and controls the operation of the remote controller in the set
mode. The arming time monitor 14b keeps track of the time that has passed
after an arming to check whether this post-arming time has reached a
prescribed alarm generating time (which is also referred to as "wake-up
reminder time"). The code generator 14c inputs data (in code strings) to
the modulating circuit 12a of the transmission section 12.
The remote controller further includes a memory 15 for storing data such as
the set alarm generating time (wake-up reminder time) Ta, the currently
effected mode MD, the number of the specified automobile CNO equipped with
the local security unit to be remote-controlled, the data DT (month and
date), the time TM (hour and minute), and the set control data CTD.
Control data CTD are set for each of the automobiles involved. CTD include
siren on/off data, sensor scanning on/off data, and beep on/off data. When
an arming/disarming (TX) key, which is among the various keys in the
keypad 13b, is depressed while in program memory mode (to be described
later.) The set data CTD that correspond to a particular,
separately-specified automobile are read from the memory 15. The read data
CTD are then transmitted, together with an arming/disarming (TX) command,
to the local security unit installed in the specified automobile. If a
program one time mode (also described later) is currently in effect, fixed
control data CTD's are transmitted as the control data CTD to a particular
local security unit upon the depression of the TX key together with a TX
command. The fixed control data CTD' are pre-programmed, fixed data
indicating the settings of "siren on" (to sound a siren upon sensing an
abnormality), "sensor scanning off" (to determine the occurrence of an
abnormality on the basis of a single sensor output), and "beep on" (to
sound a horn in response to an arming/disarming command).
Furthermore, the remote controller has an arming timer 16 for measuring the
time Tc that has passed after an arming, as well as a buzzer 17 which is
activated when the post-arming time has reached the alarm generating time
Ta.
The console 13, as shown in FIG. 2, is disposed on the upper surface of the
remote controller. The LCD 13a, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, comprises:
(1) a program mode indicator 21 for indicating that the remote controller
is currently in program mode; (2) first to fourth car indicators 22 to 25
for indicating the numbers of automobiles in the given set of automobiles
(the set comprising, e.g., four automobiles numbered "1" to "4") to enable
specifying; (3) an arming time indicator 26 for indicating the on/off
state of the arming time 16 (when this time is on, it is operating to
measure the post-arming time Tc); (4) a warning beep indicator 27 for
indicating whether a warning beep sound is to be generated when the
post-arming time Tc has reached the alarm generating time Ta; (5) a siren
on/off indicator 28 for indicating whether a siren is to be sounded upon
the occurrence of an abnormality; (6) a beep on/off indicator 29 for
indicating whether a horn is to be sounded in response to an arming or
disarming; (7) a sensor scanning on/off indicator 30 for indicating
whether the occurrence of an abnormality is to be determined on the basis
of a single or at least two sensor outputs; (8) a mode indicator 31 for
indicating the setting of either the program one time mode or the program
memory mode; (9) a pair of indicators 32 and 33 for indicating whether it
is before or after midday; and (10) a time/date indicator 34 for
interchangeably indicating the time and the date.
The key portion 13b, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a mode key 51, a timer
key 52, a car number (car #) key 53, the TX key 54 through which an arming
or disarming command is issued, and first to third extension (EXT1 to
EXT3) keys 55 to 57. The operation of these keys will be described later.
The mode controller 14a is shown in block diagram in FIG. 4. The mode
controller 14a includes a mode selecting function 61 connected with a time
mode section 62, a clock/date adjusting mode section 63, and a program
mode section 64. The time mode section 62 has a time clock mode
sub-section 65, a time date mode sub-section 66, an arming timer mode
sub-section 67, and a wake-up reminder setting mode sub-section 68. The
clock/date adjusting mode section 63 has a clock adjusting mode
sub-section 69, and a date adjusting mode sub-section 70. The mode
selecting function 61 is also connected with a control data determining
mode section 71 having a program one time mode sub-section 71a and a
program memory mode sub-section 71b.
Each time the mode key 51 is depressed briefly (for a period of time less
than 2 seconds; such a depression will hereinafter be referred to as
"brief depression"), the mode selecting function 61 operates to change the
operating mode of the remote controller from time mode to program mode, or
from program mode to time mode. If the time mode is selected, each time
the car # key 53 is depressed for two seconds (such a depression will
hereinafter be referred to as "2-second depression"), the mode selecting
function 61 operates to change the mode from one of time mode to
clock/date adjusting mode and vice versa. Furthermore, the mode selecting
function 61 operates, irrespective of whether the set operating mode is
time mode or program mode, to change the control data-determining mode
from the program one time mode to the program memory mode and vice versa
each time the mode key 51 is subjected to a 2-second depression. The
control data-determining mode is provided to ascertain the type of control
data to be transmitted, upon a depression of the TX key 54, to a
particular local security unit together with a TX command. The control
data to be transmitted are in the following relation with the control
data-determining mode and the operating mode of the remote controller:
(1) If both the program one time mode and the program mode are in effect,
control data CTD programmed in the manner described later is transmitted;
(2) If the program one time mode is in effect and, simultaneously, the
remote controller is not in the program mode (i.e., it is in the time
mode, clock/date adjusting mode, wake-up reminder setting mode or the
like), programmed, fixed data CTD' are transmitted; and
(3) If the program memory mode is in effect, the programmed control data
are transmitted irrespective of whether the operating mode of the remote
controller is in the program mode of the time mode.
If the time mode is in effect, each time the timer key 52 is subjected to a
brief depression, the time mode section 62 operates to change the mode
from the time clock mode, the time date mode or the arming timer mode to
another of the three modes. During the time mode, each time the timer key
52 is subjected to a 2-second depression, the time mode section 62 also
operates, to set the wake-up reminder setting mode. When the time clock
mode is set, the time clock mode sub-section 65 causes the current time to
be displayed on the LCD 13a. When the time data mode is set, the time data
mode sub-section 66 causes an LCD display of the current date. When the
arming timer mode is set, the arming timer mode sub-section 67 causes an
LED display of either the post-arming time Tc or the set wake-up reminder
time Ta. When the wake-up reminder mode is set, the wake-up reminder mode
sub-section 68 causes, upon continuous depression of the time key 52 for
at least 2 seconds, a sequential display of alternating values, such as
0:00.fwdarw.0:15.fwdarw.0:30.fwdarw.0:45.fwdarw.1:00.fwdarw.0:00 . . .
When the timer key 52 is released from continuous depression, the
displayed value is set as the alarm generating time Ta in the memory 15.
Thus, the set wake-up reminder mode is changed to the time clock mode upon
either the depression of the mode key 51 or the depression of the timer
key 52 for at least 2 seconds.
When the clock/date adjusting mode is set, each time the timer key 52 is
depressed, the clock/date adjusting mode section 63 operates to change the
mode from the clock adjusting mode to the date adjusting mode or vice
versa. When the clock adjusting mode is set, the clock adjusting mode
sub-section 69 allows the currently displayed time to be adjusted by
increments of "1" the displayed hour value and minute value upon each
depression of the first and second extension keys EXT1 and EXT2,
respectively. When the date adjusting mode is set, the date adjusting mode
sub-section 70 allows the currently displayed date to be adjusted by
increments of "1" the displayed month value and the date value upon each
depression of the extension keys EXT1 and EXT2, respectively.
When the program mode is set, the program mode section 64 allows control
data CTD indicating the settings on siren on/off, sensor scanning on/off
and beep on/off to be programmed (set) using the first to third extension
keys and the car # key for each of the given set of automobiles, then
allows the programmed control data CTD to be stored in the memory 15.
The procedures for setting the control data will be described with
reference to the flowchart in FIG. 5. First, the operating mode of the
remote controller is set to the program mode (Step 101). Subsequently, the
car # key 53 is briefly depressed to specify the target automobile
equipped with the local security unit to be remote-controlled (Step 102).
Each time the car # key 53 is briefly depressed, the specified automobile
changes among the given set of automobiles with the car indicators 22 to
25 of the LED 13a cyclically changing
1.fwdarw.2.fwdarw.3.fwdarw.4.fwdarw.1 . . . When the number of the target
automobile is finally displayed by the corresponding indicator, the first
to third extension keys 55 to 57 are operated to program siren on/off
data, sensor scanning on/off data and beep on/off data, and then store the
programmed data in the memory 15 (Step 103).
Each time the first extension key 55 is depressed, the setting of the siren
on/off data alternates between "siren on" and "siren off" until the final
setting is made and indicated by the siren on/off indicator 28. Each time
the second extension key 56 is depressed, the setting of the sensor
scanning on/off data alternates between "sensor scanning on" and "sensor
scanning off" until the final setting is made and indicated by the sensor
scanning on/off indicator 30. Similarly, each time the third extension key
57 is depressed, the setting of the beep on/off data alternates between
"beep on" and "beep off" until the final setting is made and indicated by
the beep on/off indicator 29.
When the control data CTD has been set and stored in this way for the
specified automobile, it is then determined whether or not the setting of
control data is necessary for another automobile (Step 104). If another
setting operation is necessary, the procedures in Step 102 et seq. are
repeated, whereas, if not, the execution of procedures for setting the
control data is terminated.
When the program one time mode is in effect as the control data-determining
mode, the program one time mode sub-section 71a of the control data
determining mode section 71 determines the control data which is to be
transmitted together with a TX command. On the other hand, when the
program memory mode is selected as the control data-determining mode, the
program memory mode sub-section 71b determines the control data which is
to be transmitted together with a TX command. The control data-determining
mode section 71 operates as shown in the flowchart of the FIG. 6 when the
TX key 54 is depressed.
The target automobile equipped with the local security unit to be
remote-controlled is specified beforehand through the car # key 53 (Step
201). The number of the specified automobile is indicated by the
corresponding car indicator 22 to 25 of the LED 13a.
At this stage, a determination is made as to whether or not the TX key 54
has been depressed for the purpose of arming or disarming (Step 202). When
key 54 has been depressed, one checks whether the control data-determining
mode in effected is the program one time mode or the program memory mode
(Step 203).
If the program memory mode is currently in effect, the control data for the
target automobile is read from the memory 15 (Step 204). This read control
data is then transmitted, together with the target automobile number and
the TX command, to the local security unit installed in the target
automobile (Step 205). Each of the local security units installed in the
automobiles determines, on the basis of the received automobile number,
whether the transmission is addressed to its unit or not. The units which
are not addressed do not change their state, whereas, the particular unit
that is addressed stores the received con | | |
