FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a unique security system for vehicles and,
more particularly to a lockable vehicle information display instrument and thus
engine for the vehicles, which can subsequently enhance the security of the vehicles
at a reduced cost. r
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The statements in this section merely provide background information related
to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
Generally, the vehicles are provided with various lock systems such as door
locks, a lockable ignition switch, a lockable steering mechanism, and a lockable
vehicle information display instrument. However, with the strong intention and
advance methods of intruding the security of the vehicles by thieves, present security '
systems do not protect a vehicle completely against a determined thief who wishes to
drive away the vehicle or remove contents or fittings fiom the vehicles at any cost. Its
notable that in devising or evaluating a security system it is useful to consider the
ways in which a thief would intend to by-pass or neutralize a security system because
the degree of difficulty for the thief is a measure.of the effectiveness of the security
system.
Hence, various methods have already been incorporated to resist unauthorized
access to the vehicles 'such as informing the rider with alarms. Typical knowledge of
this feature discloses that the alarm does not get triggered until after a time delay,
giving the thieves sufficient time to disable the alarm before it is triggered. Other
method discloses a vehicle security system in which a signal fiom a hand held
transmitter is received and checked by a first microprocessor unit, which, if the signal
is correct, sends a signal to a control unit which checks that signal and, if it is correct,
enables a function of the vehicle. Recently, the researchers have come up with a new
password protected vehicle access system that discloses a microcontroller based
vehicle lock that allows only a specific user to access the vehicle. This password
protected vehicle access system comprises of a touch screen module and an LCD
display which is fixed to the vehicle. However, such method discloses only the
security of the vehicle and that too on higher cost parameters such as extremely high . .
costs of LCDs and touch screen module. Additionally, standard tact type switches are
also available in the market to provide a way of entering the password for the vehicle
information display instrument. Yet, the complexity involved with the normal usage
of standard tact type switch drift its user friendly requirements too.
Hence, there is an urgent need of a less costly system that assures the security.
of the vehicle information display instrument as well as that of the vehicle without
losing the basic requirements of reliability, easy assembling, compactness, less cost,
customers' satisfaction and the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF. THE INVENTION
The present subject matter relates to a programmed password protected
vehicle security system through a vehicle information display instrument for a vehicle
powered by an engine that importantly comprises of a liquid crystal display (LCD)
provided on the vehicle information display instrument displaying a flashing cursor
for entering the password. The vehicle information display instrument is also
configured with a joystick switch provided to. move UP, DOWN, RIGHT and LEFT
for respective functions in entering the password. For instance, the LEFT and RIGHT
movements of the jpystick is to move the position (leftward and rightward) of the
flashing cursor for feeding a four digit password in the LCD of the vehicle
information display instrument ,of the vehicles. Similarly, the UP and DOWN
movement of the joystick respectively increases (0 to 9) and decreases (9 to 0) the
password value by a unitary value. This subject matter also discloses an electronic
circuit structure to govern the operation of password protected vehicle information
display instrument of the vehicles wherein a correct password unlock the vehicle
information display instrument and subsequently the engine of the vehicle. The
subject matter further explains if the password entered ,may be incorrect for three
consecutive trials, the vehicle information display instrument would get locked for at
least thirty minutes. .JEs leads to warning the user with a buzzer in addition to
sending a message on user's cell phone via a GSM module.
An object of the present ibvention is to provide a panel with the liquid crystal
display.
An object of the present invention is to provide the electronic circuit stiucture
with a microcontroller to authenticate the password entered by a user.
An object of the present invention is to program the password of the vehicle
information display instrument in a four digits.
/
'An object of the microcontroller of the present invention is to send signals to
an electronic control unit via a communication protocol.
An object of the present invention is to send the signals from the electronic
control unit to the engine on receiving authentication from the microcontroller.
An object of the present invention is to provide a switch to manually turn OFF
the password application system.
An object of the present invention is to provide the communication protocols
such as K-LINE, CAN, LIN, digital signals, relays, and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary narrated above and the following detailed description of the
invention can be understood with the drawings appended to this claim. The
illustrations provide the details of the invention. However, it should be understood
that the invention is not limited to the arrangements shown. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 show a perspective view of the motor vehicle in an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a vehicle information display instrument of the
motor vehicle in an embodiment of the present subject matter:
FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit structure governing the password protected vehicle
information display instrument of the m. o.t or vehicle in an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
FIG. 4A shows a pattern of the password to be entered in the vehicle information
display instrument of the motor vehicle in an embodiment of the present subject
matter.
FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the joystick switch whose movement enters the
password in the protected vehicle information display instrument of the motor vehicle
in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present subject matter are described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not
limited to these embodiments which are only provided to explain 'more clearly the
present subject matter to the ordinarily skilled ili the art of the present disclosure. In
the accompanying drawings, like reference 'alphabets and numerals are used to
indicate like components.
The present invention relates to security system for vehicles and, more
particularly to a lockable vehicle information display instrument and thus engine for
the vehicles. The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not
intended to limit the present disclosure, application, .or uses. The present invention
will hereinafter be described in detail below as applied to a motor cycle 100.
However, the principles of the present invention are also applicable to other vehicles
such as four and six wheelers. Upward and lower directions (see the upward and
lower directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1) will be described with respect to
directions as seated by the rider on the motorcycle 100.
FIG. 1 illustrates a two wheeler 100 that may include a fuel tank 102 and an
engine mounted ahead of a rider's seat 104 on' a frame 106 and two relatively large
sized wheels 108 on which the frame rides. The structure is necessarily provided with
a pair of left and right front fork members rotatably supported by a head pipe 110 on
the front end of the vehicle franie 106. The steering of the two wheelers 100 is
possible via a front wheel which is mounted on the front fork member whereas the
rear wheel (drive wheel) is at the rear end. FIG. 1 shows a handlebar 112 secured to
an upper portion of the front fork member, and the fiont and rear portion of the
handle bar 112 is covered with a handle cover which is further divided into forward
and backward portions. The two wheeler 100 is further provided with the vehicle
information display instrument 114 (as shown in FIG. 2) (also known as a
speedometer) located between .the handle bars 112 of the two wheeler 100. The
vehicle information display instrument 114,may be viewable by the rider of the motor
cycle 100 when the rider is seated in the seat 104 and operating the vehicle 100. The
vehicle information display instrument 104 may be disposed generally in fiont of the
rider so that the rider can inspect or view a variety of information that form part of
the vehicle information display instrument 114, which information may indicate an
operating condition or conditions of the vehicle. The vehicle information display
instrument 114 may be provided with audio/visual warning indicators' comprising
information such as speed, the fud level, telephone, bluetooth, rpm of the engine, tell
tale symbols, turn signal indicator, hazard warning indicator and 1 or other indicators:
FIG. 1 fhther shows a headlight 116 provided, as an attachment to the top middle of
the handlebar of the motor cycle, to light the road ahead.
In an embodiment of the present subject matter, FIG. 2 discloses a
- % perspective view of the vehicle information display instrument 114 provided with the
motor cycles. It will be appreciated that the Vehicle Information Display Instrument
114 may also include additional components such as but not restricted to, lights,
circuit boards, multiple warning indicators, fasteners, etc, and that may not be shown
or described. The Vehicle Information Display Instrument 114 is also provided with a
liquid crystal display 118 (hereinafter referred as LCD) structured with an LCD panel
for displaying a password provided to secure the vehicle information display device
114 (as discussed later) in a preferred embodiment of the present subject matter. The
vehicle information display device 114 is uniquely provided with a joystick switch
120 (as shown in FIG. 4B later) fkee to move in more thah one axis of motion in an
embodiment of the present subject matter. The joystick switch 120 is generally
actuated by a lever (not shown) wherein one or more of several switch contact
mechanisms are actuated, depending on which way the lever is pushed, and
sometimes by how far it is pushed.
I
I FIG. 3 discloses an electronic circuit structure 200 provided to govern the
operation of said password protected vehicle information display instrument 114 by
the joystick switch 120, in an embodiment of the present subject matter. ,The
electronic circuit structure 200 discloses a battery powered ignition switch which
when turned therein with an ignition key (not shown) activates the engine after
seeking signals in consequence to the correct password entered by the user. The .
authentication of the password is checked .by a rnicrocontroller 202 provided with the
electronic circuit structure 200 in an embodiment of the present subject matter as
shown in FIG. 3. The microcontroller 202 further send signals to ,an electronic
control unit 204 (hereinafter may be referred as ECU) via a communication protocol
206 in an embodiment of the present subject matter. The communication protocols
206 may includes such as but not restricted to K-LINE, CAN, LIN, UART, digital
signals, relays, and the likes. In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the
signals as received by the electronic control unit 204 is subsequently transferred to
the engine for the subsequent operation'of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of
the present subject matter, the electronic circuit structure 200 huther shows the
joystick switch 120 which.can be moved in at least four directions i.e. LEFT, RIGHT,
UP and DOWN, for achieving respective functions, as discussed later. In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, the electronic circuit structure also governs
other functions associated with the vehicle information display instrument such as but
not restricted to fuel level indicator, high beam, illumination, side stand, direction
indicator (lee and right), and the likes.
As the battery powered ignition switch is tuned on during operation, the
power froni the battery activate the microcontroller 202 to decide the authenticity of
the password entered by, the user in the LCD 118 provided with. the vehicle
information display instrument 114 of the vehicles. If the password entered by the
user is correct, the microcontroller 202 send signals to the electronic control unit-204
via communication protocols. The electronic control unit 204, on sensing the correct
signals, unlock the vehicle information display instrument 114 and parallelly sends
actuating signals to the engine of the vehicle 100, in an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the password is a four digit
character required to be entered on a flashing cursor 208 on the four space bars in the
LCD 118 of the vehicle information display instrument 114 to unlock the vehicle
information display instrument 114 and the engine of the vehicle 100 as shown in
I FIG. 4A. In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the password is
I programmed with the vehicle information display instrument 114 and is designed to
store password from a permutation and combination of all digits, for instance from
0000 to 9999. Therefore, the vehicle information display instrument 114 and the
engine will remain locked unless the user apply the correct password. In a unique
embodiment of the present subject matter, the password is entered to the LCD 118 by
the joystick switch 120. The joystick switch 120'is movable in at least four directions
i.e. LEFT, RIGHT, UP and DOWN for achieving respective functions. For instance,
the LEFT and RIGHT movements of the joystick switch 120 is to move the position
(leftward and rightward) of the flashing cursor 208 for feeding the four digit
password in the LCD 118 of the vehicle information display instrument 114 of the
vehicles 100. Similarly, the UP and DOWN movement of the joystick switch 120
respectively increase (0 to 9) and decrease (9 to 0) the password value by a unitary
value in an embodiment of the present subject matter. In another embodiment of the
present subject matter, the joystick switch 120 provided on the vehicle information
display instrument 114 can be kept inactiveIOFF, may. be by 'a manual switch (not
shown). In an embodiment of the present .subject matter, the password for the vehicle
information display instrument may be reset by the microcontroller.
In another embodiment of the present subject matter, if the entered password
by the joystick switch 120 is wrong, then firstly there is always an option to move the
joystick switch 120 in required direction to modifl the password by correcting it.
Secondly, if the password entered may be incorrect for three consecutive trials, the
vehicle information display instrument 114 would get locked for at least thirty
minutes. In a different embodiment of the present subjkct matter, the intimation of
incorrect password may be conveyed by a warning buzzer to the user and its
surroundings. Further, if the vehicle information display instrument is well connected
to the user's cell phone (via GSM module), the aforesaid intimation may be combined
with sending a warning message. to the user's cell phone about the
intentionallunintentional entering ,of incorrect password.
The present subject matter advantageously facilitates a tact-switch free way of
entering the password in the vehicle information display instrument of the vehicle.
The presence of joystick switch for entering the password not only secures the
vehicle information display instrument from thieves, tampering and the like but also
guarantees the security of the engine as the engine 'cannot be unlocked before
unlocking the vehicle information display instrument. Further, the joystick switch
avoids the additional cost that earlier security systems were implying using touch
screen LCD and its panel, and the like. Moreover, the operation of the joystick switch
is simple in operation and thus user fiendly too. Furthermore, the absence of
extraneous panel reduces the numb& of components in the vehicle information
extraneous panel reduces the number of components in the vehicle. information
display instrument which subsequently reduces the complexity and weight also. In
other words, the invention truly targets the basic requirements of a secured vehicle
information display instrument and engine such as reliability, easy .assembling, less
cost, customers' satisfaction and the like.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to
the embodiments described above without departing fiom the broad inventive concept
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all variations,
substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency
I of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

WE CLAIM:
1. A programmed password protected vehicle security system through a vehicle
information display instrument 114 for a vehicle 100 powered by an engine
. . comprising:
a liquid crystd display 118 provided on the vehicle information
I display instrument' 114 displaying a flashing cursor 208 for entering
I the password;
I a joystick s ~ t c h12 0 provided, on the vehicle information display
I instrument 114 to move UP, DOWN, RIGHT and LEFT for respective
I functions in entering the password;
an electronic circuit structure 200 to govern the operation of password
. protected vehicle information display instrument 114; a.
wherein a correct password unlock the vehicle information display
instrument 114 and subsequently the engine of the vehicle 100. ' .
2 . The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the
:vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
password is a four digit character ranghg fiom any combination fiom 0000 to
3. The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the
vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
electronic circuit structure 200 is provided with a microcontroller 202 to
authenticate the password entered. by a user and to sends signals to an
electronic control unit 204 via a communication protocol 206:
4. The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the
vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
communication protocol 206 may includes K-LINE, CAN, LIN, digital
signals, relays, and the like.
5. The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the
vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
LEFT and RIGHT movement of the joystick switch 120 is to move the
position of the flashing cursor 208 for entering the password in the liquid
crystal display 118 of the vehicle information display instrument 114 of the
vehicle 100.
6. The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the
vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
UP and DOWN movement of the joystick switch 120 respectively increases
(0 to 9) and decreases (9 to 0) the password vaIue by a unitary value.
7. The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the.
vehicle information display instrument 114 asdaimed in claim 1, wherein the
engine of the vehicle 100 will remklocked unless ,the vehicle information
display instrument 114 gets unlocked.
8. The programmed protected vehicle security system through the
vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein
three trial of incorrect password may lock the vehicle information display
instrument 114 for thirty minutes.
9. The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the
vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
three trial of incorrect password on the liquid crystal display 118 of the
vehicle information display instrument 114 activates a warning buzzer.
10. The programmed password protected vehicle security system through the
vehicle information display instrument 114 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
said warning from the vehicle information display instrument 114 may be
informed on the user's cell phone via GSM module.