Garage door operator having thumbprint identification system

• US 20030210131A1
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Karasek, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.53
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A movable barrier operator having thumbprint identification in either a remote radio frequency transmitter, or a receiver/barrier operator system or both is provided. A control circuit with a non-volatile memory receives thumbprint information from a fingerprint detector device and stores the information, identifying an authorized user. On subsequent operation of the fingerprint detector, a fingerprint data set is received in the control circuit and an attempt is made to match the incoming data with previously stored data thus establishing the identify of the user according to highly reliable biometric principles. As an option, a variety of different actions can be taken based upon the perceived identity of a particular individual, as well as the type of device communicating with the receiver/barrier operator.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator comprising:

a fingerprint sensor;

a transmitter for emitting a signal representative of a sensed fingerprint from the fingerprint sensor;

a receiver for receiving the signal;

a fingerprint circuit for determining whether the fingerprint is representative of an authorized user; and

a barrier operator circuit for commanding a barrier to assume a particular position.

2. A movable barrier operator according to claim 1 wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises an optical fingerprint sensor.

3. A movable barrier operator according to claim 2 wherein the optical fingerprint sensor is an electroiluminescent fingerprint sensor.

4. A movable barrier operator according to claim 2 wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a charged coupled device for generating a signal from which the signal representative of the sensed fingerprint is produced.

5. A movable barrier operator according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter and the signal representative of the sensed fingerprint is a radio frequency signal.

6. A movable barrier operator according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprise a wall control.

7. A movable barrier operator according to claim 1 further comprising a memory associated with the fingerprint sensor and the transmitter for storing information indicative of the fingerprint.

8. A movable barrier operator according to claim 1 wherein the fingerprint circuit compares a coded identification transmission for operation of the barrier operator circuit.

9. A movable barrier operator according to claim 1 wherein the fingerprint circuit receives a fingerprint identifying signal representative of the fingerprint itself.