Steering device, method of authenticating a driver, and vehicle

• US 20030086588A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takiguchi, Kiyoaki, Maeyama, Koichi, Shinada, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns

Abstract

A steering device, a method for authenticating a driver, and a vehicle are disclosed. The steering device is equipped with an identification information acquisition unit. When a driver takes a position for operating the steering device, namely, a home position to the steering device, the identification information acquisition unit acquires a venous pattern of the driver as identification information. The steering device then outputs the identification information.

Claims

1. A steering device operated by a driver when the driver drives a vehicle, comprising:

an identification information acquisition unit which acquires identification information of the driver when the driver takes a position for operating the steering device, and

an identification information output unit for outputting the identification information.

2. A steering device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information acquisition unit detects the running pattern of blood vessels and acquires the blood vessel running pattern as the identification information.

3. A steering device according to claim 2, wherein the identification information acquisition unit comprises an infrared emitter for emitting an infrared light beam, and an infrared detector for detecting infrared light reflected in response to the infrared light beam emitted from the infrared emitter.

4. A steering device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information acquisition unit is mounted in a position which the wrist or the palm of the hand of the driver faces when the driver operates the steering device.

5. A steering device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information in a non-contact state thereof with the driver.

6. A method of authenticating a driver, comprising the steps of:

acquiring, as identification information of the driver, the running pattern of blood vessels of the driver based on infrared light that is reflected from a predetermined portion of the body of the driver when an infrared light beam is directed to the predetermined portion of the body of the driver who operates an operation device of a vehicle, and

authenticating the driver based on the identification information.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of performing a particular process on a per driver basis in response to the result of the authentication.

8. A vehicle comprising:

operation means which receives an operation input by a driver,

identification information acquisition means which is mounted on the operation means, and acquires, as identification information of the driver, the running pattern of blood vessels of the driver based on infrared light that is reflected from a predetermined portion of the body of the driver when an infrared light beam is directed to the predetermined portion of the body of the driver, and

authenticating means for authenticating the driver based on the identification information.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising processor means for performing a particular process on a per driver basis in response to the result of the authentication provided by the authenticating means.

10. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the operation means is a steering device which converts an operational amount into an electrical signal,

fixed means mounted close to the position of operation,

and movable means which is shaped to receive the palm of the hand of the driver for gripping, and is movably attached to the fixed means so that the displacement of the movable means is the operational amount.