Procedure for operating a security system

• US 6,144,293 A
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Telefunken Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Plaschko, Heinrich, Kuhn, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/181,759
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/539, 340/425.5, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 283/69, 427/7, 307/10.2, 382/116
• US Class Current: 340/426.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• 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

Abstract

A security device (2) of a security system which a user can unlock by means of a transmitter unit (1) normally can also be unlocked by unauthorized users utilizing the transmitter unit (1). The new procedure acording to the invention is to allow only authorized users to access the object (4) to be secured by means of a security system, even in the event of the transmitter unit (1) being lost or stolen. To this end, the transmitter unit (1) will generate an identification signal (3) characterizing the user, by means of a detector (10) scanning the user'"'"'s own physical features, preferably a finger print. This identification signal (3) will then be transmitted to the security device (2). This security device can then be unlocked only if there is a match between the identification signal (3) and a stored identification signal provided by a user authorized to unlock the security device. The procedure provides a high degree of theft and/or break-in protection for lockable objects, in particular motor vehicles, and for electric or electronic devices a high degree of protection against unauthorized use.

Claims

1. A method of operating a security system having a security device which the user can unlock by use of a transmitter unit, said method comprising:

at the transmitter unit, scanning a finger print of the user by a detector on the transmitter and generating an identification signal characterizing the user from the detected fingerprint;

transmitting the identification signal from the transmitter unit to the security device via a wireless transmission route; and

, unlocking the security device only if there is a match between the identification signal transmitted by the transmitter unit and a stored identification signal provided by a user authorized to unlock the security device.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of unlocking includes comparing the transmitted identification signal in the security device to identification signals stored within a memory unit of the security device.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising activating the transmitter unit by the user operating a switch to generate and transmit the identification signal.

4. Use of the method according to claim 1 to secure a motor vehicle against unauthorized use.

5. Use of the method according to claim 1 to unlock an electronic drive-away protection system and/or an electrically lockable locking system of a motor vehicle.

6. A security system for implementing the method according to claim 3 comprising:

a security device having stored identification signals corresponding to authorized users and unlockable in response to a received identification signal corresponding to a stored identification signal; and

, a transmitter unit having a fingerprint detector for detecting a fingerprint of a user and for transmitting an identification signal corresponding to the detected fingerprint to the security device via a wireless transmission route.

7. A security system according to claim 6 wherein a lock unlockable by a key is provided as an additional security device.

8. A security system according to claim 7 wherein the transmitter unit is integrated into the grip of the key.