EP0924123A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fingerprint actuation of customized vehicle features
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1998-11-26
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2018-11-26
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus, and a corresponding method for its use, for gaining access to and operating a vehicle, such as a car (10), by means of at least one fingerprint sensor (16) installed inside the vehicle at a convenient location and, optionally, outside the vehicle (at 14), in or near a door handle (12). Once an authorized user's identify has been verified in a fingerprint matching device (30), various vehicle subsystems are automatically adjusted to the identified user's preferred settings, which are stored in a memory (98). In addition, starting the vehicle engine is enabled if an interior fingerprint sensor has been used, or the vehicle is unlocked if an exterior fingerprint sensor has been used. Vehicle subsystems that are automatically adjusted to the user preferences include seats (38), mirrors (40), steering wheel (42), climate control (44), airbag (52), telephone (46), radio (50) and onboard computer (54), as well as performance control features (48) such as suspension and transmission adjustment. Door locks (34) and security system features (36) are also automatically controlled, as is a radio transmitter (56) that is automatically customized to open the user's home garage door or office parking entry gate. Features of a number of different fingerprints are stored in the device to allow for operation of the vehicle (10) by different family members, as authorized by a primary user.
Inventors
- 👤 Shi-Ping Hsu
- 👤 Bruce W. Evans
- 👤 Arthur F. Messenger
- 👤 Denes L. Zsolnay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00642; B60H1/00735; B60H1/00764; B60H1/00771; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/0224; B60N2/0226; B60N2/0228; B60N2/0244; B60N2/0278; B60N2/0279; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/20; B60R25/2081; B60R25/25; B60R25/252; G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00563
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
Apparatus for controlling a vehicle using fingerprint
matching, the apparatus comprising: a fingerprint sensor mounted in a convenient interior
location in a vehicle; a high-speed fingerprint matcher, for comparing a sensed
fingerprint image with features of a previously stored
reference fingerprint image, to verify the identity of a user
of the vehicle; a fingerprint match controller, for selecting from a
plurality of stored reference fingerprint images for
presentation to the fingerprint matcher, and having a locked
mode or operation and an unlocked mode of operation; an engine enabling switch, to prevent operation of the
vehicle in the locked mode; means included in the fingerprint match controller, for
switching from the locked mode to the unlocked mode upon
successfully verifying the identity of a vehicle user; means operable in the unlocked mode, for actuating the
engine enabling switch to allow operation of the vehicle; at least one actuator for adjusting a vehicle subsystem
in accordance with users preferred settings; storage means for recording actuator settings associated
with user identities; and means operable in the unlocked mode, for operating the
actuator based on settings retrieved from the storage means for
an identified user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one
actuator is selected from the group comprising: a seat
adjustment actuator, a mirror actuator, a steering wheel
position actuator, a climate control actuator, a mobile
telephone actuator, a vehicle performance control actuator, an
entertainment device actuator, an airbag setting actuator, and
an onboard computer actuator; and/or said apparatus further comprising: a second fingerprint sensor, mounted in a convenient
exterior location on the vehicle; and means for determining which fingerprint sensor has been
used; and means included in the fingerprint match controller, for
unlocking at least one vehicle passenger access door upon
verification of the identity of a user placing a finger in the
second fingerprint sensor and wherein the second fingerprint sensor is preferably
integrated into a door handle, for operation while opening a
door of the vehicle; and/or said apparatus further comprising: means included in the fingerprint match controller, for
switching from the unlocked mode to the locked mode upon
detection of engine non-operation for a selected period of
time; and/or further comprising: a user interface for selection of modes of operation and
user identities; and means included in the fingerprint match
controller, for switching to a new selected mode of operation
upon verification of the identity of a user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein: the selected mode is a "set" mode that permits enrollment
of additional users; and the apparatus further comprises means included in the
fingerprint match controller, for obtaining and storing
reference fingerprint image data pertaining to additional
users, and/or wherein: the selected mode is a "guest" mode that permits
operation of the vehicle without fingerprint verification; and any enrolled user can request transition to and from the
guest mode upon identity verification; and/or wherein: the selected mode is a "combination" mode that permits
operation of the vehicle with a secret combination; and only one user can request transition to and from the
combination mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
213 words
Apparatus for controlling a vehicle using fingerprint
matching, the apparatus comprising: a first fingerprint sensor mounted in a convenient
interior location in a vehicle; a second fingerprint sensor mounted in a convenient
exterior location of the vehicle; a high-speed fingerprint matcher, for comparing a sensed
fingerprint image with features of a previously stored
reference fingerprint image, to verify the identity of a user
of the vehicle; means for storing selected features of the plurality of
reference fingerprint images obtained from enrolled users of
the vehicle; a fingerprint match controller, for selecting from the
plurality of stored reference fingerprint images for
presentation to the fingerprint matcher, and having a locked
mode or operation and an unlocked mode of operation; an engine enabling switch, to prevent operation of the
vehicle in the locked mode; means included in the fingerprint match controller, for
switching from the locked mode to the unlocked mode upon
successfully verifying the identity of a vehicle user whose
fingerprint is sensed; means operable in the unlocked mode, for actuating the
engine enabling switch to allow operation of the vehicle if the
fingerprint was sensed by the first fingerprint sensor; and means operable in the unlocked mode, for unlocking at
least vehicle door if the fingerprint was sensed by the second
fingerprint sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, and further comprising: at least one actuator for adjusting a vehicle subsystem
to meet a user's preferences; storage means for recording actuator settings associated
with user identities; and means operable in the unlocked mode, for operating the at
least one actuator in accordance with actuator settings
retrieved from the storage means for an identified user; and/or further comprising: means included in the fingerprint match controller, for
switching from the unlocked mode to the locked mode upon
detection of engine non-operation for a selected period of
time; and/or further comprising: a user interface for selection of modes of operation and
user identities; and means included in the fingerprint match
controller, for switching to a new selected mode of operation
upon verification of the identity of a user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the at least one
actuator is selected from the group comprising: a seat
adjustment actuator, a mirror actuator, a steering wheel
position actuator, a climate control actuator, a mobile
telephone actuator, a vehicle performance control actuator, an
entertainment device actuator, an airbag setting actuator, and
an onboard computer actuator; and/or the selected mode is a "set" mode that permits enrollment
of additional users; and the apparatus further comprises means included in the
fingerprint match controller, for obtaining and storing
reference fingerprint image data pertaining to additional
users; and/or wherein: the selected mode is a "guest" mode that permits
operation of the vehicle without fingerprint verification; and any enrolled user can request transition to and from the
guest mode upon identity verification; and/or wherein: the selected mode is a "combination" mode that permits
operation of the vehicle with a secret combination; and only a principal user can request transition to and from
the combination mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for controlling a vehicle using fingerprint
matching, the apparatus comprising: a fingerprint matching system for verifying the identity
of a person who wishes to use the vehicle; an engine enabling switch coupled to the fingerprint
matching system, to prevent operation of the vehicle until the
identity of the person has been verified; and at least one
actuator for adjusting a vehicle subsystem to an individually
preferred setting; wherein the fingerprint matching system includes means
operable upon successful verification of a user's identity, for
retrieving personal preference data associated with the
identified user and for supplying selected personal preference
data to the actuator, for automatic adjustment of the vehicle
subsystem to the user's preference.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for controlling a vehicle using fingerprint
identification, the method comprising the steps of: sensing a vehicle user's fingerprint image in a
fingerprint sensor mounted in a convenient location in the
vehicle; selecting from a plurality of previously stored reference
fingerprint images of authorized users of the vehicle; comparing the sensed fingerprint image with features of
the selected previously stored reference fingerprint image of
an authorized user of the vehicle; verifying, in a fingerprint matching system, that the
sensed fingerprint image matches the selected reference image; upon verification in the previous step, switching the
fingerprint matching system from a locked mode to an unlocked
mode and enabling operation of the vehicle; and actuating at least one vehicle subsystem to conform with
adjustment settings associated with the identified vehicle
user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
A method as defined in claim 8, and further comprising
the steps of: switching the fingerprint matching system to a guest mode
upon verification of an authorized user's fingerprint, wherein
any driver may operate the vehicle while in guest mode; and switching the fingerprint matching system back to the
unlocked mode upon obtaining another verification of an
authorized user; and/or further comprising the steps of: sensing when the vehicle engine has been inactive for a
prescribed period of time; and then automatically switching the fingerprint matching system
back to the locked mode: and/or further comprising the steps of: switching the
fingerprint matching system to a "set" mode if requested by a
primary authorized user; and enrolling additional users in the set mode, by analyzing
and storing fingerprint features of the additional users;
and/or further comprising the step of: switching the fingerprint matching system to a
combination mode if requested by a primary authorized user,
wherein operation of the vehicle in the combination mode
requires the entry of a secret combination; and/or further comprising the step of: recording usage data pertaining the identified user and
selected parameters of vehicle operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as defined in claim 9, and further comprising
the step of: unenrolling selected users by removing their
stored fingerprint features; and wherein preferably unenrollment of the primary authorized
user places the fingerprint matching system in a cleared mode
in which no fingerprint matching is needed to operate the
vehicle; and/or further comprising the step of: switching the fingerprint matching system from the
combination mode to the unlocked mode upon another verification
of the primary user's identity in the fingerprint matching
system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.