1. A tire theft detection device comprising:
a tilt angle sensor for detecting a tilt angle of a vehicle and outputting a tilt angle signal indicative of the tilt angle;
a chassis-side communication element disposed on a chassis of the vehicle, the chassis-side communication element communicating with a tire-side communication element responsive to the tilt angle signal output from the tilt angle sensor;
the tire-side communication element disposed on a tire of the vehicle, the tire-side communication element sending a reply signal in response to the communication from the chassis-side communication element; and
a controller for starting the communication between the tire-side communication element and the chassis-side communication element when the tilt angle signal is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, wherein
the controller determines that the tire is stolen when the chassis-side communication element is unable to receive the reply signal.
2. A tire theft detection device comprising:
a tilt angle sensor for detecting a tilt angle of a vehicle and outputting a tilt angle signal indicative of the tilt angle;
a chassis-side communication element disposed on a chassis of the vehicle, the chassis-side communication element communicating with a tire-side communication element responsive to the tilt angle signal output from the tilt angle sensor;
the tire-side communication element disposed on a tire of the vehicle, the tire-side communication element sending a reply signal in response to the communication from the chassis-side communication element; and
a controller for determining that the tire is stolen when the tilt angle signal is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, wherein
the controller starts the communication between the tire-side communication element and the chassis-side communication element when the tilt angle signal is smaller than the predetermined threshold, and determines that the tire is stolen when the chassis-side communication element is unable to receive the reply signal.
3. The tire theft detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the controller causes the communication between the tire-side communication element and the chassis-side communication element for a predetermined period after the tilt angle sensor outputs the tilt angle signal.
4. The tire theft detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the controller causes the communication between the tire-side communication element and the chassis-side communication element while the tilt angle sensor outputs the tilt angle signal.
5. The tire theft detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a memory for memorizing an identification code given to the tire, wherein
the tire-side communication element sends the reply signal, which includes the identification code.
6. The tire theft detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the tire is one of a plurality of tires,
the tire-side communication element is arranged on each of the plurality of tires, and
the chassis-side communication element is located such that distances between the chassis-side communication element and the tire-side communication elements are different from each other.
7. The tire theft detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:
an alarm for raising an alarm of a theft of the tire when the controller determines that the tire is stolen.
8. The tire theft detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the vehicle includes a tire air pressure sensor for detecting an air pressure of the tire and outputting an air pressure signal indicative of the air pressure, and
the tire-side communication element uses the air pressure signal as the reply signal.
9. A method of detecting a tire theft comprising:
detecting a tilt angle of a vehicle by a tilt angle sensor;
outputting a tilt angle signal indicative of the tilt angle from a chassis-side communication element disposed on a chassis of the vehicle;
sending a request signal from the chassis-side communication element to a tire-side communication element disposed on a tire of the vehicle to request a reply to the chassis-side communication element when the tilt angle signal is equal to or larger than a first predetermined threshold; and
determining that the tire is stolen when the chassis-side communication is unable disables to receive a reply signal from the tire-side communication element.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
determining that the tire is stolen when the tilt angle signal is equal to or larger than a second predetermined threshold larger than the first predetermined threshold.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A security system peripheral device comprising a single housing suitable for mounting in a premises, said housing comprising:
a) a primary alarm sensor adapted to monitor a primary protected area and to generate a primary alarm signal when said primary alarm sensor is triggered;
b) an alarm verification unit adapted to selectively provide verification information from at least part of the primary protected area to a central station monitor; and
c) processing circuitry adapted to
(i) generate an alarm enable signal when said primary alarm signal is generated, and
(ii) on the occurrence of an alarm enable signal, to:
generate an alarm detected signal and cause the alarm detected signal to be transmitted to a central station monitor; and
enable operation of the alarm verification unit;
further comprising a secondary alarm sensor adapted to monitor a secondary protected area using an alarm sensing technology different than that of said primary alarm sensor and to generate a secondary alarm signal, said secondary protected area at least partially overlapping with said primary protected area, wherein said alarm enable signal is generated only on the occurrence of both the primary alarm signal and the secondary alarm signal.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further adapted to enable transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor is performed automatically by the device on the occurrence of an alarm enable signal.
4. The device of claim 2 wherein said transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor is optionally performed based on a user-selectable parameter.
5. The device of claim 2 wherein said transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor is optionally performed based on a status condition of an alarm system with which the device is operating.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said alarm verification unit comprises a video camera, and further wherein said verification information comprises video information.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein said alarm verification unit comprises a two-way voice communications device, and further wherein said verification information comprises audio information.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein said primary alarm sensor is a motion detector for sensing motion within said protected area.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein said motion detector is a microwave motion detector.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein said motion detector is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.
11. The device of claim 8 wherein said motion detector is a magnetic field sensing device.
12. The device of claim 8 wherein said motion detector is a gravitational field sensing device.
13. The device of claim 8 wherein said motion detector is an ultrasonic motion detector.
14. The device of claim 1 wherein said primary alarm sensor is a glass break detector for detecting the breakage of glass within said protected area.
15. The device of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive a dangerduress RF signal from an external RF transmitter, said dangerduress RF signal causing said processing circuitry to:
enable operation of the alarm verification unit; and
enable transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein said secondary alarm sensor has a variable sensitivity for sensing an alarm condition in the secondary protected area, and wherein the sensitivity of the secondary alarm sensor is adjusted on the occurrence of a primary alarm signal.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein, on the occurrence of only the primary alarm signal and not the secondary alarm signal, a trouble signal is generated and transmitted to a central station monitor.
18. The device of claim 16 wherein the primary alarm sensor is a glass break detector and the secondary alarm sensor is a motion sensor.
19. The device of claim 16 wherein the primary alarm sensor is a motion sensor and the secondary alarm sensor is a glass break detector comprising a microphone, and wherein the motion sensor, when triggered, will cause the microphone to detect sounds in the protected area and transmit said sounds to the central station monitor for evaluation.
20. A method of operating a security system peripheral device contained in a single housing suitable for mounting in a premises, comprising the steps of:
a) monitoring, with a primary alarm sensor, a primary protected area and generating a primary alarm signal when said primary alarm sensor is triggered;
b) generating an alarm enable signal when said primary alarm signal is generated; and
c) on the occurrence of an alarm enable signal,
generating an alarm detected signal and causing the alarm detected signal to be transmitted to a central station monitor; and
enabling operation of an alarm verification unit in the housing, said alarm verification unit adapted to selectively provide verification information from at least part of the primary protected area to a central station monitor;
\u2003further comprising the steps of monitoring, with a secondary alarm sensor using an alarm sensing technology different than that of said primary alarm sensor, a secondary protected area, and generating a secondary alarm signal when said secondary alarm sensor is triggered, said secondary protected area at least partially overlapping with said primary protected area;
wherein said alarm enable signal is generated only on the occurrence of both the primary alarm signal and the secondary alarm signal.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of enabling transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein said transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor is performed automatically by the device on the occurrence of an alarm enable signal.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein said transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor is optionally performed based on a user-selectable parameter.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein said transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor is optionally performed based on a status condition of an alarm system with which the device is operating.
25. The method of claim 20 wherein said alarm verification unit comprises a video camera, and further wherein said verification information comprises video information.
26. The method of claim 20 wherein said alarm verification unit comprises a two-way voice communications device, and further wherein said verification information comprises audio information.
27. The method of claim 20 wherein said primary alarm sensor is a motion detector for sensing motion within said protected area.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein said motion detector is a microwave motion detector.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein said motion detector is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.
30. The method of claim 27 wherein said motion detector is a magnetic field sensing device.
31. The method of claim 27 wherein said motion detector is a gravitational field sensing device.
32. The method of claim 27 wherein said primary alarm sensor is a glass break detector for detecting the breakage of glass within said protected area.
33. The method of claim 27 wherein said motion detector is an ultrasonic motion detector.
34. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of receiving a dangerduress radio frequency signal from an external RF transmitter, said dangerduress RF signal causing said processing circuitry to:
enable operation of the alarm verification unit; and
enable transmission of the verification information from the protected area to the central station monitor.
35. The method of claim 20 wherein said secondary alarm sensor has a variable sensitivity for sensing an alarm condition in the secondary protected area, and wherein the sensitivity of the secondary alarm sensor is adjusted on the occurrence of a primary alarm signal.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein, on the occurrence of only the primary alarm signal and not the secondary alarm signal, a trouble signal is generated and transmitted to a central station monitor.
37. The method of claim 35, wherein the primary alarm sensor is a glass break detector and the secondary alarm sensor is a motion sensor.
38. The method of claim 20 wherein the primary alarm sensor is a motion sensor and the secondary alarm sensor is a glass break detector comprising a microphone, and wherein the motion sensor, when triggered, will cause the microphone to detect sounds in the protected area and transmit said sounds to the central station monitor for evaluation.
39. A security system peripheral device comprising a single housing suitable for mounting in a premises, said housing comprising:
a) a primary alarm sensor adapted to monitor a primary protected area utilizing a first alarm sensing technology and to generate a primary alarm signal when said primary alarm sensor is triggered;
b) a secondary alarm sensor adapted to monitor a secondary protected area utilizing a second alarm sensing technology and to generate a secondary alarm signal, said secondary protected area at least partially overlapping with said primary protected area, said secondary alarm sensor having a variable sensitivity for sensing an alarm condition in the secondary protected area;
c) a video camera unit disposed to monitor a third protected area and generate a video signal representative thereof; said third protected area at least partially overlapping with said primary protected area and said secondary protected area;
d) a two-way voice communications unit; and
e) processing circuitry adapted to
on the occurrence of a primary alarm signal, then adjust the sensitivity of the secondary alarm sensor;
on the occurrence of both the primary alarm signal and the secondary alarm signal, then
generate an alarm detected signal and cause the alarm detected signal to be transmitted to a central station monitor;
enable operation of the video camera unit; whereby the video signal generated by the video camera unit is transmitted to the central station monitor; and
enable operation of the two-way voice communications unit.