A vehicle key capable of generating electrical energy by itself through energy harvesting, and a method of manufacturing the vehicle key are provided. The vehicle key includes a power generator including an energy generation module configured to generate electrical energy using energy harvesting and an electric condenser configured to store the generated electrical energy; an inputter configured to receive a user input; a communicator configured to communicate with the vehicle; and a controller configured to control the communicator to transmit a control signal corresponding to the received user input to the vehicle. At least one of the inputter, the communicator, and the controller may be configured to receive power from the power generator.

A convenient electronic circuit in which a switch is able to be switched through electric power obtained by weak radio waves is provided. An electronic circuit includes: a power supply configured to output direct current (DC) electric power; a switch connected between the power supply and a load driven by DC electric power supplied from the power supply and configured to switch a connection state between the power supply and the load from a non-conduction state to a conduction state; an power input terminal to which electric power obtained by radio waves received by an antenna capable of receiving the radio waves is input; a DC power output terminal configured to output DC electric power, a power conversion circuit configured to convert electric power input to the power input terminal into DC electric power and output the converted electric power from the DC power output terminal; an input terminal connected to the DC power output terminal of the power conversion circuit; an output terminal connected to the switch and configured to control a connection state of the switch; and a control circuit configured to control a connection state of the switch to be in a conduction state when the power conversion circuit outputs DC electric power due to the reception of radio waves by the antenna.

A vehicle theft-prevention system can include a mobile application that can determine a location of the mobile device. One or more computing devices can be in communication with the mobile application via a network. The mobile application and the at least one computing device configured to determine that the location of the mobile device has moved outside of a geofence associated with a vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The mobile application and the at least one computing device can cause the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus to change from an unarmed mode to an armed mode.

A terminal performs communication with an in-vehicle device to control a vehicle. The terminal includes a controller configured to switch and set a plurality of operation modes, and a vibration detection unit configured to detect vibration of the terminal. The operation modes include a first mode, a second mode different from the first mode, and a third mode where communication with the in-vehicle device is more restricted than in the first mode and the second mode. The controller is configured to, when the first mode is executed, in a case where vibration is not detected in the vibration detection unit for a predetermined time, switch the operation mode to the third mode, and when the second mode is executed, in a case where vibration is not detected in the vibration detection unit for a time longer than the predetermined time, switch the operation mode to the third mode.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a locking mechanism, at least one computing device, 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 at least one computing device can be configured to determine that the locking mechanism has transitioned from an unlocked state to a locked state. In response to determining that the locking mechanism has transitioned to the locked state, the at least one computing device can disable an engaging component of the locking mechanism. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive, via a network, a command to enable the engaging component. In response to receiving the command, the at least one computing device can enable the engaging component of the locking mechanism.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include a locking mechanism, at least one computing device, 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 at least one computing device can be configured to determine that the locking mechanism has transitioned from an unlocked state to a locked state. In response to determining that the locking mechanism has transitioned to the locked state, the at least one computing device can disable an engaging component of the locking mechanism. The at least one computing device can be configured to receive, via a network, a command to enable the engaging component. In response to receiving the command, the at least one computing device can enable the engaging component of the locking mechanism.

A system can include at least one server in communication with a vehicle theft-prevention apparatus that comprises a plurality of sensors and at least one computing device. The at least one server can be configured to receive an authentication request from a particular application executed on a mobile device comprising user credentials. The at least one server can authenticate the authentication request as a particular user account, where the particular user account is associated with the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The at least one server can receive instructions from the particular application that the mobile device has moved outside of a geofence associated with the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The at least one server can send a command to the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus to enter an armed mode.

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 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.

A vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can include at least one computing device and a cylindrical body configured to be positioned within a cup holder of a vehicle, the cylindrical body having a cup holder element on a top side. The vehicle theft-prevention apparatus can further include a fish-eye camera sensor on an upper portion of the body, a passive infrared sensor positioned in the body, and a plurality of legs mechanically connected to a locking mechanism and configured to extend to provide an outward force on the cup holder to prevent removal of the vehicle theft-prevention apparatus. The at least one computing device can comprise a processor and a memory and can be configured to capture a plurality of images from the fish-eye camera sensor, read a plurality of measurements from the PIR sensor, and trigger an alarm based on the plurality of images and the plurality of measurements.