An apparatus and a method for diagnosing a failure of an ultrasonic detector in a manner that diagnoses whether a failure has occurred in the ultrasonic detector by determining whether a surge voltage is generated based on a waveform received by a receiver of the ultrasonic detector after activation of a transmitter of the ultrasonic sensor, may include an ultrasonic detector transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; a voltage detector measuring a voltage of the received ultrasonic wave; and a controller determining whether a surge voltage is generated based on the measured voltage, and diagnosing whether a failure has occurred in the ultrasonic detector according to whether the surge voltage is generated.

A device directed to providing for a means for a security or alarm system to detect a measured deviation in the ambient decibel level in the monitored area indicating that vehicles or equipment are being cranked and started at a time when they should not be. The measurement of a predetermined variance in the decibel level can invoke notifications, sirens and the video taping of the area in order to deter the theft. This invention may be an option added to any existing security system as an article of intermediate manufacture. In addition to decibel level detector feature, each vehicle's running engine sound can be loaded into the security system which, similar to a voice recognition system, allows the security system to identify which vehicle is being started.

A system, apparatus and method for secure vehicle sharing comprising a computerized client device in the form of a mountable vehicle license plate frame (SLPF) 117 enabled for wireless communication and connection to a wide area network 101 including a server 103. The SLPF 117 device has a processor with an instance of the software 105 executing from memory thereon, Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, power source, and a locking key compartment. The SLPF 117 device may be easily mounted, after market, to the vehicles of registered vehicle owners 107. The server 103 receiving a request from a registered vehicle renter 111 to rent a vehicle, accesses the database and matches the request to at least one registered vehicle 116 including the SLPF 117 located within an area specified by the renter request and sends matching results to the vehicle renter's personal wireless communications device 114 to select an available registered vehicle 116 and sending location data (including GPS data) enabling the vehicle renter to locate the selected vehicle, and security data to enable the renter to unlock the key compartment and remove a key or other item to operate the vehicle. The server may track time of use, vehicle mileage and vehicle location while the vehicle renter is operating the vehicle. Upon completion of vehicle use, the renter replaces the key or other item in the locking compartment, sends notification of completion of use to the server which then completes a financial transaction between the renter and owner.

A method and an apparatus for detecting and classifying sounds around a vehicle via neural network machine learning are described. The method involves an audio recognition system that may determine the origin of the sounds being inside or outside of a vehicle and classify the sounds into different categories such as adult, child, or animal sounds. The audio recognition system may communicate with a plurality of sensors in and around the vehicle to obtain information of conditions of the vehicle. Based on information of the sounds and conditions of the vehicles, the audio recognition system may determine whether an occupant or the vehicle is at risk and send alert messages or issue warning signals.

An in-vehicle electronic system is mounted to a vehicle. The in-vehicle electronic system includes one or more sensors used to determine a security state of the vehicle, an alarm apparatus configured to issue an alarm when the security state is abnormal, and a first ECU directly connected to the sensor and the alarm apparatus without the intermediation of another ECU and also connected to a plurality of other ECUs, in which the first ECU includes a processor configured to determine a security state based on at least information received from the sensor, and cause the alarm apparatus to operate when it is determined that the security state is abnormal.

The present invention relates to a vehicle intrusion detection system and vehicle intrusion detection method, which are capable of effectively detecting various types of vehicle intrusions, minimizing incorrect detections, and lowering manufacturing costs of a system, and the vehicle intrusion detection system comprises: a first sensor unit which detects it signal or light reflected off an object to generate a first detection signal, and which outputs the generated first detection signal; a control unit which controls an operation of the first sensor unit and receives the first detection signal from the first sensor unit; and a second sensor unit which detects a rotation, an inclination, or impact of the vehicle to generate a second detection signal, and which inputs the generated second detection signal to the control unit, wherein the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are mounted on a single module.

A security system for use in a vehicle includes a first device configured for mounting in a first location of a vehicle, and a second device configured for mounting in a second location of a vehicle different from the first location. The first device includes a first image capture sensor facing a first direction and a first object detection module operative to detect the presence of an object exterior to a vehicle in which the first device may be mounted. The second device includes a second image capture sensor facing a second direction and the second direction different from the first direction.

According to some embodiments, a sound sensor is located in an automotive vehicle cabin. A processor coupled to the sound sensor is configured to receive an acoustic signal sensed by the sound sensor and automatically determine a vehicle event that occurred based on an analysis of the acoustic signal. The determined vehicle event may be, for example, associated with an impact to the vehicle and/or vandalism monitoring while the vehicle is parked. In some embodiments, the processor automatically triggers a vehicle action responsive to the determined vehicle event. The acoustic signal may be analyzed through linear signal processing techniques and/or machine learning performed via analog processing.

A security system for use in a vehicle includes a first device configured for mounting in a first location of a vehicle, and a second device configured for mounting in a second location of a vehicle different from the first location. The first device includes a first image capture sensor facing a first direction and a first object detection module operative to detect the presence of an object exterior to a vehicle in which the first device may be mounted. The second device includes a second image capture sensor facing a second direction and the second direction different from the first direction.

A security system for use in a vehicle includes a first device configured for mounting in a first location of a vehicle, and a second device configured for mounting in a second location of a vehicle different from the first location. The first device includes a first image capture sensor facing a first direction and a first object detection module operative to detect the presence of an object exterior to a vehicle in which the first device may be mounted. The second device includes a second image capture sensor facing a second direction and the second direction different from the first direction.