Operation Permission Control Device and Machine Having the Same Mounted Thereon

• US 20090128356A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu Utility Company Limited (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nitta, Shigeru, Kurokawa, Takeshi, Okubo, Shinichiro, Ohtsuki, Kazuaki, Uenosono, Manabu, Iida, Hajime
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.230
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A function for authenticating an operator to control whether to permit them to operate a vehicle (20) can be added to the vehicle by simple modification. An operation permission control device (22) is installed on the vehicle (20). The operation permission control device (22) incorporates a relay inserted in the middle of a start signal line (47) connecting a key switch (46) and vehicle start circuit (48) (starter relay of an engine-powered vehicle or main controller of a battery-powered vehicle) and can open and close the start signal line (47). The operation permission control device (22) reads data of a authentication card (34) carried by the operator, collates the read data with preprogrammed data in a removable set memory a (32). If the data match, the device connects the start signal line (47) to enable start of the vehicle. A vehicle code of one vehicle (20) and codes of a plurality of operators are registered in the set memory (32) by a vehicle management device (26), and a code of a single operator and codes of a plurality of vehicles can be registered in the authentication card (34).

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. An operation permission control device which is provided in a machine that has operating means to be operated by an operator and starting means for starting the machine in response to the operating means, and which exercises control of whether operation of the machine is permitted, comprising:

a casing which is separate from the machine and which can be attached to the machine; and

a control circuit which is provided in the casing, wherein

the control circuit comprises;

authentication means which is capable of communicating with a portable recording medium owned by the operator, and receives data recorded on the portable recording medium from the portable recording medium, and which performs authentication processing by using the data received from the portable recording medium; and

opening and closing means which is inserted in a signal line for transmitting a signal that causes the starting means to operate from the operating means to the starting means, and which opens and closes the signal line in response to the authentication means;

the operation permission control device comprises a setting storage medium which is separated from the portable recording medium;

the setting storage medium is a removable recording medium which is attachable to and detachable from the operation permission control device; and

the authentication means performs the authentication processing only in cases where the setting storage medium is attached to the operation permission control device.

11. The operation permission control device according to claim 9, wherein

operator codes for a plurality of operators are settable in the operation permission control device as machine'"'"'s part authentication data;

an operator code for at least one operator is settable in the portable recording medium as operator'"'"'s part authentication data; and

the authentication means performs authentication processing by judging whether a match is obtained between the machine'"'"'s part authentication data and the operator'"'"'s part authentication data.

12. The operation permission control device according to claim 9, wherein

a machine code for at least one machine is settable in the operation permission control device as machine'"'"'s part authentication data;

machine codes for a plurality of machines are recordable on the portable recording medium as operator'"'"'s part authentication data; and

the authentication means performs authentication processing by judging whether a match is obtained between the machine'"'"'s part authentication data and the operator'"'"'s part authentication data.

13. The operation permission control device according to claim 9, wherein

a setting storage medium which is separate from the portable recording medium is attached securely to the operation permission control device;

arbitrary data are writable and rewritable to the setting storage medium and erasable from the setting storage medium by using wireless communications from a remote device; and

the authentication means performs the authentication processing by using data recorded on the setting storage medium in addition to the data received from the portable recording medium.

14. The operation permission control device according to claim 9, wherein

an operator code for at least one operator is settable in the operation permission control device as machine'"'"'s part authentication data;

an operator code of at least one operator is settable in the portable recording medium as operator'"'"'s part authentication data;

the authentication means performs authentication processing by judging whether a match is obtained between the machine'"'"'s part authentication data and the operator'"'"'s part authentication data; and

the control circuit further comprises usage history recording means that uses an operator code for which a match has been obtained in the authentication processing to create usage history data which indicate which operator has used the machine and records the usage history data.

15. A machine to which the operation permission control device according to claim 9 is attached.

10. An operation permission control device which is provided in a machine that has operating means to be operated by an operator and starting means for starting the machine in response to the operating means, and which exercises control of whether operation of the machine is permitted, comprising:

a casing which is separate from the machine and which can be attached to the machine; and

a control circuit which is provided in the casing, wherein

the control circuit comprises;

authentication means which is capable of communicating with a portable recording medium owned by the operator, and receives data recorded on the portable recording medium from the portable recording medium, and which performs authentication processing by using the data received from the portable recording medium; and

opening and closing means which is inserted in a signal line for transmitting a signal that causes the starting means to operate from the operating means to the starting means, and which opens and closes the signal line in response to the authentication means;

the opening and closing means is inserted in the signal line via electromagnetic coupling and transmits a signal using the electromagnetic coupling.

16. The operation permission control device according to claim 10, wherein

operator codes for a plurality of operators are settable in the operation permission control device as machine'"'"'s part authentication data;

an operator code for at least one operator is settable in the portable recording medium as operator'"'"'s part authentication data; and

the authentication means performs authentication processing by judging whether a match is obtained between the machine'"'"'s part authentication data and the operator'"'"'s part authentication data.

17. The operation permission control device according to claim 10, wherein

a machine code for at least one machine is settable in the operation permission control device as machine'"'"'s part authentication data;

machine codes for a plurality of machines are recordable on the portable recording medium as operator'"'"'s part authentication data; and

the authentication means performs authentication processing by judging whether a match is obtained between the machine'"'"'s part authentication data and the operator'"'"'s part authentication data.

18. The operation permission control device according to claim 10, wherein

a setting storage medium which is separate from the portable recording medium is attached securely to the operation permission control device;

arbitrary data are writable and rewritable to the setting storage medium and erasable from the setting storage medium by using wireless communications from a remote device; and

the authentication means performs the authentication processing by using data recorded on the setting storage medium in addition to the data received from the portable recording medium.

19. The operation permission control device according to claim 10, wherein

an operator code for at least one operator is settable in the operation permission control device as machine'"'"'s part authentication data;

an operator code of at least one operator is settable in the portable recording medium as operator'"'"'s part authentication data;

the authentication means performs authentication processing by judging whether a match is obtained between the machine'"'"'s part authentication data and the operator'"'"'s part authentication data; and

the control circuit further comprises usage history recording means that uses an operator code for which a match has been obtained in the authentication processing to create usage history data which indicate which operator has used the machine and records the usage history data.

20. A machine to which the operation permission control device according to claim 10 is attached.