Driver identification system

• US 6,617,707 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott A. Reece
• Original Assignee: Scott A. Reece
• Inventors: Reece, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/997,800
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 307/10.6, 283/73, 283/74, 283/75, 283/79, 283/117, 283/901
• US Class Current: 307/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

A driver identification system for verifying that a driver of the vehicle has insurance. The driver identification system includes a scanner assembly being designed for operationally coupling to the ignition system of the vehicle whereby the scanner assembly selectively disables the ignition system of the vehicle. The scanner assembly has a housing. The housing is designed for coupling to a dashboard of the vehicle. A card member has an identification strip. The identification strip is positioned on a face of the card member. The card member is selectively insertable into the housing of the scanner assembly whereby the identification strip of the card member is read by a scanning unit of the scanner assembly. The identification strip identifies the driver of the vehicle when the identification strip is read by the scanning unit of the scanner assembly whereby the scanner assembly enables the ignition system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A driver identification system for disrupting the ignition system of a vehicle until a driver provides proper identification, the driver identification system comprising:

a scanner assembly being adapted for operationally coupling to the ignition system of the vehicle such that said scanner assembly selectively disables the ignition system of the vehicle, said scanner assembly having a housing, said housing being adapted for coupling to a dashboard of the vehicle such that said scanner assembly is accessible by the driver; and

a card member having an identification strip, said identification strip being positioned on a face of said card member said card member being selectively insertable into said housing of said scanner assembly such that said identification strip of said card member is read by a scanning unit of said scanner assembly, said identification strip being adapted for identifying the driver of the vehicle when said identification strip is read by said scanning unit of said scanner assembly such that said scanner assembly enables the ignition system of the vehicle for permitting the vehicle to be started.

2. The driver identification system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said housing of said scanner assembly having a channel, said channel extending along a length of the housing, said channel being for receiving said card member when said card member is inserted into said housing of said scanner assembly, said scanning unit of said scanner assembly being positioned adjacent said channel for reading said identification strip of said card member.

3. The driver identification system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

said channel of said housing of said scanner assembly having a flared end, said flared end of said channel being for facilitating alignment of said card member with said channel of said housing.

4. The driver identification system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said scanner assembly having a processing assembly, said processing assembly being operationally coupled to said scanning unit such that said processing assembly receives information from said scanning unit when said identification strip of said card member is passed by said scanning unit, said processing assembly being adapted for operationally coupling to the ignition system of the vehicle such that said processing assembly enables the ignition system of the vehicle when said processing assembly receives information for said scanning unit.

5. The driver identification system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

said processing assembly of said scanner assembly having a plurality of buttons, each of said buttons being operationally coupled to said processing assembly, each of said buttons being positioned on a front face of said housing such that said buttons are adapted for being actuated by the driver, said buttons being adapted for permitting the driver to enter a code into said processing assembly for comparison to information received from said scanning unit to enable the ignition system of the vehicle when code entered matches the information read by the scanning unit.

6. The driver identification system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

said scanner assembly having a light member, said light member being operationally coupled to said processing assembly, said light member being coupled to said housing, said light member being adapted for emitting light for indicating confirmation of information received from said scanner unit matching the code entered by the driver.

7. A driver identification system for disrupting the ignition system of a vehicle until a driver provides proper identification, the driver identification system comprising:

a scanner assembly being adapted for operationally coupling to the ignition system of the vehicle such that said scanner assembly selectively disables the ignition system of the vehicle, said scanner assembly having a housing, said housing being adapted for coupling to a dashboard of the vehicle such that said scanner assembly is accessible by the driver;

a card member having an identification strip, said identification strip being positioned on a face of said card member, said card member being selectively insertable into said housing of said scanner assembly such that said identification strip of said card member is read by a scanning unit of said scanner assembly, said identification strip being adapted for identifying the driver of the vehicle when said identification strip is read by said scanning unit of said scanner assembly such that said scanner assembly enables the ignition system of the vehicle for permitting the vehicle to be started;

said housing of said scanner assembly having a channel, said channel extending along a length of the housing, said channel being for receiving said card member when said card member is inserted into said housing of said scanner assembly, said scanning unit of said scanner assembly being positioned adjacent said channel for reading said identification strip of said card member;

said channel of said housing of said scanner assembly having a flared end, said flared end of said channel being for facilitating alignment of said card member with said channel of said housing;

said scanner assembly having a processing assembly, said processing assembly being operationally coupled to said scanning unit such that said processing assembly receives information from said scanning unit when said identification strip of said card member is passed by said scanning unit, said processing assembly being adapted for operationally coupling to the ignition system of the vehicle such that said processing assembly enables the ignition system of the vehicle when said processing assembly receives information for said scanning unit;

said processing assembly of said scanner assembly having a plurality of buttons, each of said buttons being operationally coupled to said processing assembly, each of said buttons being positioned on a front face of said housing such that said buttons are adapted for being actuated by the driver, said buttons being adapted for permitting the driver to enter a code into said processing assembly for comparison to information received from said scanning unit to enable the ignition system of the vehicle when code entered matches the information read by the scanning unit; and

said scanner assembly having a light member, said light member being operationally coupled to said processing assembly, said light member being coupled to said housing, said light member being adapted for emitting light for indicating confirmation of information received from said scanner unit matching the code entered by the driver.