A tethered device for prevention and recovery of a vehicle component (e.g., a catalytic converter) is provided herein. The tethered device comprises a housing having an exterior surface and defining an interior cavity. The tethered device further comprises an electronic component disposed within the interior cavity. The tethered device further comprises a plurality of spacers extending from the exterior surface and configured to be adjacent to the vehicle component. The plurality of spacers defines a channel configured to promote airflow between the tethered device and the vehicle component thereby minimizing heat transfer between the tethered device and the vehicle component.

The present invention is a vehicle or trailer anti-theft device including electro-mechanical means and a temporary electrical power supply. The temporary electrical power supply acts momentarily upon the electro-mechanical device, thereby causing it to move into an activated condition. In its activated condition, it acts upon either on at least one wheel of the trailer, or the vehicle's parking brake system, to lock the at least one wheel, and remains in its activated condition without the need for any external power supply until such time as the electro-mechanical device is activated or re-connected to the temporary electrical power supply whereby the power supply is able to act momentarily upon the electro-mechanical device, and return said device to its deactivated condition, thereby causing the at least one wheel to be unlocked or the vehicle park brake to deactivate.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a first sensor, a second sensor, and at least one computing device coupled to the first and second sensors. The first sensor and second sensors can be configured to sense a first type and a second type of measurement, respectively. The at least one computing device can be configured to read a plurality of measurements of the first type at a predetermined frequency from within a vehicle. In response to one of the plurality of measurements meeting a predetermined threshold, the at least one computing device can read, from the second sensor, at least one measurement of the second type from within the vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to determine, based on the at least one measurement from the second sensor, that the one of the plurality of measurements that met the predetermined threshold corresponds to a false positive.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include at least one computing device coupled to at least one sensor and a wireless transceiver. The at least one sensor configured to sense measurements proximate to a vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to read a plurality of first measurements of the at least one sensor at a predetermined frequency, where the at least one sensor is located in a first position of the vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive a plurality of second measurements from at least one additional theft-prevention apparatus, where the at least one additional theft-prevention apparatus is located at a second position in the vehicle. The at least one computing device can determine that a person has entered the vehicle based on at least one of: the plurality of first measurements and the plurality of second measurements.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include at least one computing device couple to a plurality of sensors and a wireless transceiver. The plurality of sensors can be configured to sense measurements proximate to a vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to read a plurality of first measurements of a first sensor of the plurality of sensors. Based on the plurality of first measurements from the first sensor, the at least one computing device can determine that a key fob moved outside of a range of the first sensor. In response to the key fob moving outside of the range of the first sensor, the at least one computing device can transition to an armed state. The at least one computing device can read a plurality of second measurements from a subset of the plurality of sensors. Based on the plurality of second measurements, the at least one computing device can determine that a person has entered the vehicle.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a first sensor, a second sensor, and at least one computing device coupled to the first and second sensors. The first sensor and second sensors can be configured to sense a first type and a second type of measurement, respectively. The at least one computing device can be configured to read a plurality of measurements of the first type at a predetermined frequency from within a vehicle. In response to one of the plurality of measurements meeting a predetermined threshold, the at least one computing device can read, from the second sensor, at least one measurement of the second type from within the vehicle. The at least one computing device can be configured to determine, based on the at least one measurement from the second sensor, that the one of the plurality of measurements that met the predetermined threshold corresponds to a false positive.

A vehicle communicates with a remote key fob while ensuring an RF environment is sufficient to maintain adequate power from an RF-harvesting power supply that allows the fob to operate without a battery. The vehicle has a receiver adapted to detect a backscatter communication signal from the fob. A harvesting emulator in the vehicle is responsive to ambient RF around the vehicle to duplicate a concurrent response of the fob power supply. A vehicle-powered RF transmitter is activated to broadcast energizing RF radiation around the vehicle when the duplicated response is below a threshold.

A tamper detection system is disclosed. The tamper detection system may include an electronic control module (ECM) of a machine and a tamper detection module. The tamper detection module may detect, while the machine is powered off, an opening of a switch that is associated with a component of the machine. The opening of the switch may indicate tampering with the component of the machine. The tamper detection module may set, while the machine is powered off, a state of a latch based on detecting the opening of the switch. The state, while set, may indicate that the switch was opened. The tamper detection module may cause, when the machine is powered on, the ECM to provide an indication that tampering with the component of the machine has occurred based on the state.

A vehicle access system is disclosed having the plurality of system nodes for localizing a target portable device. The plurality of system nodes includes a master ECU that is asymmetrically installed at a predetermined location within the vehicle. The plurality of system nodes includes a plurality of slave system nodes. The plurality of slave system nodes includes an assigned system node that is asymmetrically installed at a predetermined location within the vehicle and a plurality of unassigned system nodes that are installed arbitrarily at any one of a plurality predetermined possible installation locations within the vehicle. The known installation locations of the assigned system node and the master ECU are used to self-learn the unknown installation location of each unassigned system node, for example after manufacturing assembly or repair of the vehicle access system.

A vehicle access system is disclosed having the plurality of system nodes for localizing a target portable device. The plurality of system nodes includes a master ECU that is asymmetrically installed at a predetermined location within the vehicle. The plurality of system nodes includes a plurality of slave system nodes. The plurality of slave system nodes includes an assigned system node that is asymmetrically installed at a predetermined location within the vehicle and a plurality of unassigned system nodes that are installed arbitrarily at any one of a plurality predetermined possible installation locations within the vehicle. The known installation locations of the assigned system node and the master ECU are used to self-learn the unknown installation location of each unassigned system node, for example after manufacturing assembly or repair of the vehicle access system.