Vehicle unlocking systems, devices, and methods

• US 10,137,857 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Siddiqui, Adil Nizam, Diedrich, Jonathan, Hassani, Ali, Hazebrouck, Laura Viviana, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US15/683,375
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 340 583, 340 31, 340 101- 105, 340 523, 340 526, 340 572, 340505
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/16 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for unlocking a vehicle. An example vehicle includes an ultraviolet keypad coupled to a window. The vehicle also includes a camera directed at the window, configured to capture a key press of the ultraviolet keypad and an iris of a person outside the vehicle. And the vehicle further includes a processor configured to detect the key press and iris, unlock the vehicle based on the detected key press, and modify a vehicle setting based on a profile corresponding to the detected iris.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an ultraviolet keypad coupled to a window;

a camera directed at the window, configured to capture a key press of the ultraviolet keypad and an iris of a person outside the vehicle; and

a processor configured to;

responsive to detecting the iris, activate the ultraviolet keypad;

unlock the vehicle based on the detected key press; and

modify a vehicle setting based on a profile corresponding to the detected iris.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet keypad coupled to the window comprises a layer of ultraviolet reflective material positioned between two layers of glass.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet LED configured to illuminate the ultraviolet keypad, wherein capturing the key press comprises capturing light reflected off a user'"'"'s finger.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a near-infrared (NIR) LED, wherein capturing the key press comprises capturing NIR light reflected off the user'"'"'s finger.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a lighting condition surrounding the camera; and

based on the lighting condition surrounding the camera, select a light source used to detect the iris.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a near-infrared (NIR) LED, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the lighting condition surrounding the camera is below a threshold level; and

responsively select NIR light as the light source used to detect the iris.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that the lighting condition surrounding the camera is above a threshold level; and

responsively select visible light as the light source used to detect the iris.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect the person in proximity to the window; and

responsively activate the camera.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the camera is coupled to a door of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the camera is further configured to:

capture the iris; and

responsive to the processor determining that the detected iris corresponds to an allowed profile, capture the key press.

11. A method comprising:

capturing, by a camera of a vehicle having a window, an iris of a person outside the window;

responsive to detecting, by a vehicle processor, the iris, activating an ultraviolet keypad coupled to the window;

capturing, by the camera, a key press on the ultraviolet keypad;

unlocking the vehicle based on the detected key press; and

modifying a vehicle setting based on a profile corresponding to the detected iris.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ultraviolet keypad coupled to the window comprises a layer of ultraviolet reflective material positioned between two layers of glass.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising an ultraviolet LED configured to illuminate the ultraviolet keypad, wherein capturing the key press comprises capturing light reflected off a user'"'"'s finger.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a near-infrared (NIR) LED, wherein capturing the key press comprises capturing NIR light reflected off the user'"'"'s finger.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a lighting condition surrounding the camera; and

based on the lighting condition surrounding the camera, selecting a light source used to detect the iris.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the lighting condition surrounding the camera is below a threshold level; and

responsively selecting near infrared (NIR) light as the light source used to detect the iris.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the lighting condition surrounding the camera is above a threshold level; and

responsively selecting visible light as the light source used to detect the iris.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting the person in proximity to the window; and

responsively activating the camera.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the camera is coupled to a door of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prior to capturing the key press;

capturing the iris;

determining, by the processor, that the iris corresponds to an allowed profile; and

responsively capturing the key press.