WO2010116201A1

WO2010116201A1 - Electronic speedometer assembly in safety electronic system for vehicle start blockage in general and redundant relays for vehicle operation in case of electronic system failures

Info

Publication number: WO2010116201A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/051465
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrique José de Faria RAMALHO
Original assignee: Techinvest Ltda
Priority date: 2009-04-07
Filing date: 2009-04-07
Publication date: 2010-10-14

Abstract

ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY IN SAFETY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE START BLOCKAGE IN GENERAL AND REDUNDANT RELAYS FOR VEHICLE OPERATION IN CASE OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FAULURES, which uses the combination, in one electronic circuit board of very reduced sizes, compacted in the shape of a relay box, of specific sensors, controlled by microprocessors or more precisely electronic speedometers (1), (2) and (3) of 1, 2 or up to 3 shafts, in the same encapsulation forming a device (4) through which it is possible to obtain individual information of each shaft, to identify respectively lane motions, such as undulations - sensor (1), acceleration and deceleration of vehicle (V) - sensor (2) and tilting - sensor (3), by using them individually or collectively, to take the decision so as to bring the vehicle to a standstill in general, triggering an alarm, and there is also switching circuit of redundant relays R1 and R2 (5), allowing the decrease of probability of vehicle (V) accidental deactivation in case of alarm electronic circuit failure. The device (4) may perform together with a GPS tracking system (6) to send information to a control central office (C) for monitoring the location where the vehicle (V) is found.

Description

Title of Invention: ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY

IN SAFETY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE START

BLOCKAGE IN GENERAL AND REDUNDANT RELAYS FOR

VEHICLE OPERATION IN CASE OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM

FAILURES

[1] The present description report refers to the invention patent request for a never- seen-before rather compacted alarm system to be installed in motor vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, heavy duty vehicles such as trucks, buses and the like, water vehicles such as boats and the like, agricultural devices such as tractors and the like, road devices such as cargo vehicles and others, forming a system which uses combined presence electronic sensors and electronic speedometers and redundant relays, attached to control board with microprocessors for controlling a specific software, developed for the project.

[2] The system allows the start blockage, performed automatically or by means of manual activation, both with the vehicle parked (in case of robbery) or during vehicle stoppages (in case of theft when the driver is in the vehicle with the engine running, such as a vehicle stopped at a traffic light), allowing the driver in such cases to perform a blockage which shall preserve its physical integrity and further keep intact his own vehicle.

[3] TECHNIQUE STATUS

[4] Systems created to inhibit vehicle robbery are known, particularly seen due to their high cost, whether as consumption goods or as goods required not only for transportation but also for several human segment activities.

[5] Besides mechanical locks, as well as electrical locks, suited so as to lock the steering wheel, electronic systems are currently used to allow the automatic ignition shut-off of such vehicles or by means of actuation performed by the own user, through the combination of sensors fitted to specific software, controlled by microprocessors.

[6] The patent PI 404083-4, called 'BOARD COMPUTER WITH ELECTRONIC

LOCK FOR CARBURETOR OR ELECTRONIC INJECTION VEHICLES', uses a hardware composed by micro-controlled electronic circuit, keypad, display and further a data acquisition circuit, assembled in a cabinet installed into the vehicle panel. Through a password entered by the driver, an electronic lock is activated in the start engine (in case vehicles with carburetor) or in the electronic control module, (in case of electronic injection vehicles). Through such kind of board computer, the sensors working jointly with the electronic control module, inform the user the vehicle's running conditions for action-taken process.

[7] The kind of alarm mentioned above owns as trend the incorporation of components assembled onto the electronic circuit board so that the vehicle start is automatically blocked by a microprocessor, provided the communication is interrupted, through radio-frequency waves emitted by a transmitter (held by the user who is moving away) to the sensor receiver.

[8] Another kind of sensor currently used is a mercury sensor or tilting mechanic sensor

(operating by means of pendulum), which, through displacement inside the capsule, upon the vehicle motion, closes the electronic circuit contacts, displaying the start blockage to the microprocessor, provided the presence sensor is shut-off.

[9] Such procedures present, however, failures both in case of robbery - when the user is far from the vehicle and also problems when a car driver, for instance, is taken at a traffic light during engine running condition.

[10] That is why in case of robberies it has been noted that the robbers attack in couples, when one of them many times stays with the vehicle owner while the other moves around for some minutes with the robbery object to check out that the start shall not be shut-off during the escape.

[11] One can imagine the risk suffered by the driver, who might suffer reprisals by the robbers with the vehicle total stop after a few seconds after the robbery.

[12] Another issue is the fact that the start blockage, in case the robber is running in high speed, may cause serious accidents, involving innocent people during the escape besides damaging the vehicle.

[13] In case of tilting, mercury sensors, minimum motions cannot be detected by the sensor, despite its oscillation capacity between the contacts.

[14] PATENT PURPOSE

[15] The system in question brings clear improvements in relation to known procedures, with the combination into an electronic circuit board of much reduced dimensions, compacted into a relay box, containing a combination of specific sensors, controlled by microprocessors .

[16] Thanks to the technologic advances in micro-electronics, nowadays it is possible acquire in the market totally electronic speedometers, of high sensitivity, very low cost and reduced sizes.

[17] Integrated circuits which aggregate speedometers of 1, 2 or up to 3 shafts into one encapsulation may be found in the market nowadays, which may obtain individual information from each shaft.

[18] Through the proper use of such acceleration information, motions such as lane undulations, vehicle acceleration and deceleration may be identified, as well as tilting so that such speedometers may be used thus individually or collectively to take action as to when bring the vehicle to a standstill.

[19] The system in question proposes exactly the foregoing by using electronic speedometer sensors, such as alarm and vehicle stoppage devices and further introduction of switching circuits of redundant relays as safety measure in case of electronic circuit failures which, as safety measure, shall diminish the probability of vehicle accidental deactivation, preventing undesired stoppages. The speedometers are assembled in a box, forming a device which shall work as tracking equipment, connected to a central office for distance monitoring.

[20] Explained superficially, now the system is better detailed through attached drawings:

[21] Figure 1 - Schematic view of shafts direction and the direction in relation to which the electronic speedometers shall be positioned and in operation;

[22] Fig. 2 - Schematic view of a vehicle, in case the car is equipped with box device, containing speedometer installed. The vehicle is in coincident perspective to show and identify, in relation to Figure 1, the shafts and the direction in relation to which the electronic speedometers shall be positioned and in operation;

[23] Figure 3 - Perspective schematic view of device containing the speedometers, assembled next to tracking equipment. In such view the tracking equipment integration, a GPS, with control central office is displayed;

[24] Figure 4 - Redundant relay electrical diagram. In the first condition, 4A, the circuit is normally activated. In the second condition, 4B, the relays are not energized due to electronic circuit failure. In the third condition, 4C, the electronic circuit is deactivated (during vehicle stoppage).

[25] In compliance with attached drawings, the 'ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER

ASSEMBLY IN SAFETY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE START BLOCKAGE IN GENERAL AND REDUNDANT RELAYS FOR VEHICLE OPERATION IN CASE OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FAILURES', object hereof, comprises from one to three electronic speedometers (1), (2) and (3) attached to a software developed for the system, being arranged as per guidance from shafts shown in Figure 1, installed in a relay box forming a device (4), as shown in Figure 2, working jointly with a relay circuit (5), shown in Figure 4.

[26] As shown in Figure 3, the device shall be installed in a vehicle (V) - from general automobiles, motorcycles, heavy vehicles like trucks, buses and the like, water vehicles like boats and the like, agricultural devices such as tractors and the like, road devices such as cargo vehicles and others. The device (4) is assembled with tracking equipment (6) of GPS type, satellite signal receptor to perform calculations of vehicle (V) positioning, being such information sent to a control central office (C). Such information is processed by the central office (C), through the vehicle (V) position shall be monitored, in which location it is found.

[27] As per Figure 1, the electronic speedometer (1) owns free motion of plan X-Z, and such motions show accelerations towards Z shaft direction. For example, when the vehicle passes through obstacles such as holes, undulations and the like on the lane, such irregularities shall cause the motion shown by such electronic speedometer (1).

[28] As per Figure 1, the electronic speedometer (2) owns free motion of plan X-Y, and such motions show accelerations towards X shaft direction. For example, upon acceleration or breakage of the vehicle (V), such speed changes shall be felt and shown by such electronic speedometer (2).

[29] As per Figure 1, the electronic speedometer (3) owns free motion of plan Y-Z, and such motions show accelerations towards Y shaft direction. For example, when the vehicle suffers side tilting, such changes shall be felt and shown by such electronic speedometer (3).

[30] By using the information mentioned above, through proper software, it is possible to join specific conditions which complete the actuation of a never-seen-before alarm for bringing the vehicle to a standstill.

[31] By using only the electronic speedometer, for instance, the tilting sensor (3), in case the vehicle (V) is parked, the system has memorized the tilting angle upon its actuation. When the vehicle position is changed, the system may trigger the alarm.

[32] The system may use information deriving from two electronic speedometers, for instance, from the tilting sensor (3) and the sensor (1), which are combined after system actuation, with the transmitter distancing.

[33] In such case, for example, after the robber takes the driver, when the engine is already working, the escape is started, and the sensor (3) shall indicated during motion the vehicle tilting and the sensor (1) shall indicate the lane undulations. In such conditions, the engine shall be stopped only when the vehicle is stopped (fixed tilting) and without undulations recorded, after certain period of time (vehicle parked).

[34] By using three electronic speedometers (1), (2) and (3), for example, in a case similar to the prior one, it would not be necessary to wait for the vehicle total parking or stoppage, because the electronic speedometer (2) shall indicate the vehicle (V) speed change, providing for the engine deactivation right after the stoppage.

[35] Used jointly at brake lights, still with the employment of three electronic speedometers (1), (2) and (3), the vehicle (V) may be stopped immediately when zero acceleration occurs and the brake is actuated, stopped vehicle indication.

[36] As shown in Figure 4, the redundant relay circuit (5) works as follows:

[37] 4A - With the electronic circuit normally activated, R2 shall not be energized and Rl shall be energized. This means that the current shall flow from point (A) to point (B), through two different ways: through the contact normally open (NA) of Rl and through the contact normally closed (NF) of R2, allowing, through two such different ways, the safety that at least one contact shall be closed during eventual shaking or chock; [38] 4B - In case of electronic circuit failure it shall not be possible to energize either relays. As shown by the drawing, the current shall continue flowing from point (A) to

(B), through the contact normally closed (NF) of R2; [39] 4C

[40] - With the electronic circuit normally deactivated (in a state of vehicle stoppage).

When the system decides to bring the vehicle (V) to a standstill, relay R2 shall be activated and Rl shall be deactivated, fully cutting off the current between points (A) and (B).

Claims

[Claim 1] 'ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY', formed by a device (4), characterized by comprising three electronic speedometers (1), (2) and (3) working jointly with relay circuit (5) and devices perpendicularly among themselves, so that the electronic speedometer (1), in free motion of plan X-Z, shows accelerations towards Z shaft direction, comprising a vertical plan in relation to the ground and showing the direction shaft of the vehicle (V) normal motion, being that the electronic speedometer (2), in free motion of plan X-Y shows accelerations towards X direction, comprising the plan perpendicular to the ground and a shaft perpendicular to the vehicle (V) normal motion, while the electronic speedometer (3), in free motion of plan Y-Z, shows accelerations towards Y direction, comprising a plan parallel to the ground and a shaft perpendicular to the ground.

[Claim 2] 'ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY', as per claim 1, characterized by the device (4) being optionally assembled together with a GPS tracking system (6), communicating with a control central office (C) of vehicle (V) monitoring, in which location it is found.

[Claim 3] 'SAFETY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE START BLOCKAGE IN GENERAL', as per claim 1, characterized by using information from 1 or more electronic speedometers (1), (2) and (3), being such information used individually or collectively upon the decision of bringing the vehicle (V) to a standstill.

[Claim 4] 'USE OF REDUNDANT RELAYS FOR VEHICLE OPERATION, IN CASE OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FAILURE', as per claims 1 and 3, characterized by redundant relay electronic circuit (5) normally activated, with R2 relay deactivated and Rl activated, causing the current to flow from input (A) to output (B) through two different ways: through the contact normally open (NA) of Rl and the contact normally closed (NF) of R2, allowing, through those two ways, that at least one contact is closed during an eventual shaking or chock, being that, in case of electronic circuit failure, it is not possible to energize either relays because the current continues flowing from input (A) to output (B), through contact normally closed (NF) of R2, while that, with the electronic circuit normally deactivated (in state of vehicle standstill), where the system decides to bring the vehicle to a standstill, being R2 relay activated and Rl relay deactivated, the current between points (A) and (B) is fully cut.