Vehicle starting system

June 9, 1964

3,136,307

J. D. RICHARD

VEHICLE STARTING SYSTEM

Filed Dec. 18, 1961

Sheets-Sheet 1

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FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. 4

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RESISTANCE

June 9, 1964

3,136,307

J. D. RICHARD

VEHICLE STARTING SYSTEM

Filed Dec. 18, 1961

Sheets-Sheet 2

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FIG. 8

INVENTOR

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United States Patent Office

3,136,307

Patented June 9, 1964

3,136,307

VEHICLE STARTING SYSTEM Joseph D. Richard, Miami, Fla.

(531 S. Barrancas Ave., Warrington, Fla.) Filed Dec. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 159,944

Claims. (Ci. 123—179)

The present invention relates generally to vehicle ignition and starting systems. More specifically the present invention is directed to a starter locking system for motor vehicles and the like.

A locking system is described in which the electrical current for operating the starter motor is controlled by an electronic circuit which is actuated by a key comprising at least one electronic component of a specific value. In a preferred form, the electronic component of a specific value is molded into a removable key assembly having at least two electrical contacts to which the terminals of the component are connected. By means of suitable contacts mounted on or near the vehicle control panel, the key component may be temporarily connected into an electronic discriminating circuit responsive to electronic components of that specific value. This electronic component discriminator typically could consist of a resistance bridge circuit for resistors or a capacitive bridge circuit for capacitors. A variety of other circuits are known in the art which are responsive only to specific values of resistance, capacitance, or inductance. When the correct valued component is inserted in the key receptacle, the discriminating circuit responds by closing a relay, thereby switching power to the vehicle starter motor. Typically a solenoid switch is interposed between the starter switch and the starter motor to handle the high current required.

Although other circuits may be suitable, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an oscillator circuit the frequency of which is precisely established by the specific value of the electronic component in the removable key assembly. A resonant relay is shown as a convenient method of detecting when the oscillator frequency is of the correct frequency. Although the removable key assembly obviously may have any shape, in the preferred form the electronic component of a specific value is mounted in a ring suitable for wearing on the finger. The ring key containing the electronic component is fitted with electrical contacts which are arranged and spaced to mate with corresponding contacts on the control panel or dash board of the vehicle. When the ring contacts are momentarily held against the control panel contacts, the electronic component in the ring is connected in the frequency determining circuit of an oscillator. When the value of the key component is of the correct value, the oscillator frequency will be of the exact value to actuate the starter switch mechanism. Similar rings containing electronic components of all other values would not actuate the unlock mechanism.

In the past, vehicle ignition keys have frequently been left in their receptacles by the vehicle owner. This negligent practice has resulted in the theft of numerous automobiles and other vehicles.

Another objection of the vehicle ignition locks used in the past has been the ease with which conventional keys could be duplicated for nefarious purposes.

The present invention provides a vehicle starter lock which is devoid of the abovementioned disadvantages and which at the same time is economical and otherwise practical.

An object of my invention is to provide a vehicle starting system in which the key may not be duplicated by conventional means. Any desired number of identical keys may be made originally but none may be later duplicated without exact knowledge of their construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle starter locking system which utilizes a key which may be constructed in any desired form, such as a ring suitable for wearing on the finger. When worn on the 5 finger, the key assembly cannot be misplaced, forgotton, or lost.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of following specifications and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic drawing and block diagram showing the method and apparatus of my invention. The relative organization between the component key, the key receptacle, oscillator, reed relay, control relay, and conventional ignition and starter circuits is shown.

j- FIGURE 2 shows the top view of the ring key assembly shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3 shows the. relative organization between the body of the ring, the electronic component mounted within the ring, the ring contacts, and the corresponding 2Q contacts mounted on a vehicle control panel.

FIGURE 4 shows the relationship between the specific value of the electronic component in the ring key and the control frequency of the locking system shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

FIGURE 5 shows, in more detail, a practical vehicle starter locking system including a ring component key wherein a resistor is the critical valued component. A transistor oscillator circuit, reed relay, power relay, and conventional ignition and starting system are also shown.

FIGURE 6 shows the relationship between the specific value of resistance and the resulting specific oscillator frequency needed to switch the starter solenoid of the system shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 shows a practical starter switch assembly 35 mounted behind the control panel of a vehicle. The ignition switch and conventional starter mechanism are also shown.

FIGURE 8 shows a view of the control panel or dash board of a vehicle showing both the ring component key 40 receptacle and the ignition toggle switch.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, a ring component key 1 is shown with its integral electrical contacts 2 and 3 mated against corresponding receptacle contacts 4 and 5. The electronic component mounted within the compo45 nent key 1 is thus connected into the frequency determining network of the oscillator 6 thereby causing an oscillator frequency which coincides with the resonant frequency of the reed relay 7. When the reed relay 7 is driven at its resonant frequency by signals from the 50 oscillator 6, the relay 10 contacts are closed thereby actuating the solenoid 16 and closing the solenoid contacts 17. The above sequence can take place only when the ignition switch 12 is closed. When the ignition switch 12 is closed and the ring component key 1 is pressed 55 against the receptacle contacts 4 and 5, the solenoid contacts 17 connect the battery 14 to the starter motor 15/ for a period of time corresponding to the time the ring key 1 is held against the receptacle contacts 4 and 5.

FIGURE 2 shows the top view of the ring component 60 key 1 with the two beveled contacts 2 and 3 separated by the insulator 21.

FIGURE 3 shows the ring 1 with the electronic component 26 mounted within the insulated body 27. A pair of beveled contacts 2 and 3, which are electrically 65 separated by the insulated spacer 21, are mounted on the insulated body 27. The terminals of the electronic component 26 are connected to the beveled contacts 2 and 3, which are shown pressed against the receptacle contacts 4 and 5 which are mounted on the control panel 20 of a 70 vehicle. Conducting wires 18 and 19 connect the receptacle contacts 4 and 5 to a suitable oscillator circuit.

FIGURE 4 shows the relationship 23 between the

3,1SS,3O7 value of the component 26 in the ring key 1 and the corresponding oscillator frequency. It can be seen that a specific component value 24 will cause a specific oscillator frequency 25 which is the resonant frequency of the reed relay 7. Obviously only suitable ring keys having components of the specific value 24 can effectuate the operation of the starter motor 15.

FIGURE 5 shows a transistor oscillator circuit in which the three resistors and three capacitors in the feedback circuit of the transistor 39 determine the frequency of oscillation. This is a transistor version of the well known phase shift oscillator. The phase shift circuit is between the collector lead 40 and the base lead 38 of the transistor 39. One of the resistors 31 is in the circuit only when the component ring 30 contacts 32 and 33 are placed against the receptacle contacts 34 and 35. The resistor 31 is then connected across the contacts 34 and 35 thereby completing the phase shift circuit. When the ring is thus inserted, the frequency of the oscillator coincides exactly with the resonant frequency of the reed 43 of the reed relay. The oscillator signal is coupled to the base lead 41 of the amplifying transistor 42 which drives the coil 44 of the resonant reed relay. When the coil 44 is driven at the resonant frequency of the reed 43, intermittent contact is made with the fixed contact 46 thus actuating the coil 49 of the control relay and closing the contacts 50. The capacitor 48 allows the control relay contacts 50 to be held down continuously despite the intermittent closure of the reed contacts 43 and 46. The above sequence of events can, of course, only take place when the ignition switch 51 is closed. When the control relay contacts 50 are closed, the solenoid coil 55 is actuated thereby closing the solenoid contacts 56 which connect the battery 53 to the starter motor 54. It can be seen then that the vehicle starter motor 54 can be actuated by first turning on the ignition switch 51 and then pressing the ring component key 30 against the key receptacle contacts 34 and 35. Only the proper ring component key can be successful in effectuating the operation of the starter motor.

FIGURE 6 shows the relationship 58 between values of resistance which may be inserted between the receptacle contacts 34 and 35 and the corresponding oscillator frequencies which would result. The precise resistance value 59 results in the specific oscillator frequency 60 which precisely coincides with the resonant frequency of the reed 43 of the reed relay.

FIGURE 7 shows the ring key receptacle mounted on the control panel 70 of a vehicle. The oscillator 84 and the relay control circuits are mounted within the housing 71. The ignition switch 100 is also shown mounted on the control panel 70. The housing 71 is held against the back of the control panel 70 by means of the lock nut 72 which is screwed onto the threaded member 73. A Teflon sleeve 82 is fitted within the hollow threaded member 73. A plastic cylindrical member 75 slides smoothly within the Teflon sleeve 82. A spring 83 keeps the plastic cylinder 75 in the extended position so that the contact 81 is kept away from the grounded metal housing 71. When the cylindrical member 75 is pressed inward against the spring 83, the contact 81 is pushed against the grounded metal housing 71 thereby grounding the oscillator circuit 84 and the relay coil 91. The oscillator circuit 84 and the relay coils 86 and 91 are operative only when the cylindrical member 75 is pressed back against the spring 83. None of the circuits are operative unless the ignition switch 100 is on. When the proper ring component key is pressed against the receptacle contacts 76 and 77, the electronic component in the ring key is connected into the oscillator 84 circuit by means of the wires 78 and 79, a specific oscillator frequency thereby resulting. The contact 81 is grounded against the metal housing 71 so that the oscillator 84 and relay coil 91 are grounded through the wire 80. It is assumed that the ignition switch contacts 99 are closed. When the oscillator 84 is made to oscillate at the resonant frequency of the reed 83, intermittent contact is made with the fixed contact 87 thereby actuating the coil 91 of the control relay. The capacitor 90 and the resistor 89 allow the control relay contacts 92 to remain closed steadily as long as the reed is vibrating against the fixed contact 87. Pressure of the correct ring component key contacts against the receptacle contacts 76 and 77 therefore result in the closure of the control relay contacts 92. When the relay contacts 92 are closed, the solenoid coil 94 is actuated thereby closing the contacts 95. The battery 97 is thus connected to the starter motor 96 thereby starting the vehicle. It may be readily seen therefore that this particular vehicle may be started by turning on the ignition switch 100 and then pressing the appropriate component ring key against the receptacle contacts. The use of improper keys or other manipulations cannot be successful in attempting to start the vehicle.

FIGURE 8 shows a portion of the control panel 70 of a vehicle. The lock nut 72, the receptacle contacts 76 and 77, and the ignition toggle switch 100 are shown.

In these specifications and drawings an oscillator is used as the control circuit and the frequency of the oscillator is determined by the value of one or more components in the removable ring key assembly. A resonant reed relay is shown as the preferred frequency discriminator because of its selectivity and stability and because it can perform simultaneous switching and discriminating functions. Other types of frequency discriminator could also be used such as the band pass filter.

Resonant reed relays are well known in the art and are commercially available over the frequency range of 20 cycles per second to 1600 cycles per second or greater. Power levels of a few milliwatts are sufficient to actuate them. Typical bandwidths are around 0.2%. Resonant reed relays have extremely high selectivity; they are reliable, inexpensive, and require a minimum of associated electronic circuitry. The length of the vibrating reed may be set so that it responds to a specific narrow band of frequencies corresponding to the mechanical resonance of the reed. When energy is applied magnetically from the relay coil at the resonant frequency, the reed vibrates with sufficient amplitude so as to make intermittent contact with a closely spaced second contact member. The reed relay contacts make only intermittently contact and can pass a limited electrical current and for these reasons the reed relays are usually used to actuate an auxiliary relay which controls the power circuits.

As can be seen from the foregoing specifications and drawings I have provided a vehicle starting system which is secure and convenient and which overcomes the serious disadvantages of ordinary vehicle locking systems. While I have described particular embodiments of my invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.