A vehicle theft-prevention system can include a plurality of sensors configured to sense measurements proximate to a vehicle and a body configured to secure to a window of the vehicle. The body can include a wireless transceiver and at least one computing device coupled to the plurality of sensors and the wireless transceiver. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive, via the wireless transceiver, an indication to enter an armed mode from an unarmed mode. The at least one computing device can be configured to, in response to the indication, transition to the armed mode, wherein transitioning to the armed mode comprises setting a configuration of at least one property of a subset of the plurality of sensors.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a slip clutch mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a cylindrical body including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be configured to rotate about the second portion. The locking mechanism can be configured to engage based on rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion in a first direction, and disengage based on a rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion in a second direction. The slip clutch mechanism can be configured to prevent the locking mechanism from further engaging from rotation in the first direction relative to the second portion based on a magnitude of force applied.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a body, a computing device, sensors, and a speaker. The body can include a first and second portion and a light emitting portion. The first portion can move relative to the second portion. The second portion can include perforations to facilitate sound transmission from the speaker. The light emitting portion can be positioned between the first portion and the second portion. The light emitting portion can be configured to emit light based on a signal from the computing device. A lens can include a concentric structure protruding from the body. The lens can cover the sensor.

A sensing device can include an accelerometer, a transceiver, and a computing device in communication with the accelerometer and transceiver. The computing device can transmit a first set of signals at a first power level to a remote device. The computing device can determine, via the accelerometer, a movement of the sensing device. The computing device can increase a power level for transmission from the first power level to a second power level in response to the movement. The computing device can transmit future signals at the second power level to the remote device.

A vehicle control system (VCS) includes external communication interfaces, such as a Bluetooth interface, for communicating with a user communication and control device, such as a smart phone or a tablet. The user is enabled to operate certain features of the vehicle, such as the remote start, power locks/trunk, climate control, and security features, through the smart phone. The VCS may also communicate with a remote server via the user's smartphone, for example, providing telematics data and receiving service reminders for display to the user on the smartphone, the VCS, or a display built into the vehicle. The VCS may be custom installed in the vehicle using the user's or the installer's smartphone, without a physical connection from the VCS to the smartphone.

A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at an exterior door handle region of a vehicular door of a vehicle, a handle portion, and a sensing module that includes at least one light emitter and at least one light sensor. With the base portion of the vehicular exterior door handle assembly mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, the light emitter, when energized, emits light. With the base portion mounted at the exterior door handle region of the vehicular door, and with the light emitter energized, the light sensor senses light emitted by the light emitter. Responsive to light sensed by the light sensor with the light emitter energized being below a threshold level, the sensing module determines a presence of a person's hand at the handle portion.

The invention relates to an authentication system (10) for a vehicle (100), in particular a motor vehicle (100), for storing an ID-transmitter (80) in the vehicle (100) with an outer housing (11) in which the ID-transmitter (80) can be stored. In this case it is provided that an electronic security unit is provided to monitor at least the secure storage of the ID-transmitter (80) within the outer housing (11).

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 sensing device can include at least one sensor, positioning circuitry, a transceiver, and a computing device in communication with the at least one sensor, the positioning circuitry, and the transceiver. The computing device can determine a location of a vehicle via the positioning circuitry. The computing device can determine that a point of interest (POI) associated with a predefined category of POIs corresponds to the location. The computing device, via the transceiver, can determine that a person is moving away from the vehicle based on a measurement associated with a remote device. The computing device can enter into an armed mode in response to the determinations. The computing device can detect an intrusion into a vehicle while in the armed mode based at least in part on measurements from the at least one sensor. The computing device can generate an alarm in response to the intrusion.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a wireless transceiver, a plurality of sensors configured to sense measurements proximate to a vehicle, and at least one computing device coupled to the plurality of sensors and the wireless transceiver. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive, via the wireless transceiver, an indication to enter an armed mode from an unarmed mode. In response to entering the armed mode, the at least one computing device can set a configuration of at least one property of a subset of the plurality of sensors. The at least one computing device can receive, via the wireless transceiver, a second indication to enter a special mode from the armed mode. In response to entering the special mode, the at least one computing device can alter the configuration of the at least one property of the subset of the plurality of sensors.