Steering device, method of authenticating a driver, and vehicle
First Claim
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1. A steering device operated by a driver when the driver drives a vehicle, comprising:
- an identification information acquisition unit, which automatically acquires identification information of the driver when the driver takes a home position for operating the steering device without need for a particular action of the driver for authorizing acquisition of identification information, mounted in a position at which an inside of a forearm of the driver, leading to the palm of a hand of the driver, faces when the driver assumes the home position to operate the steering device so that the identification acquisition unit detects the venous pattern of the inside of the forearm of the hand and acquires the venous pattern as the identification information, movable means shaped to receive the palm of the hand of the driver for gripping means so that the displacement of the movable means so that said steering device converts a displacement of said steering device to an electrical signal representative of said identification information;
and an identification information output unit for outputting the identification information.
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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.
22 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A steering device operated by a driver when the driver drives a vehicle, comprising:
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an identification information acquisition unit, which automatically acquires identification information of the driver when the driver takes a home position for operating the steering device without need for a particular action of the driver for authorizing acquisition of identification information, mounted in a position at which an inside of a forearm of the driver, leading to the palm of a hand of the driver, faces when the driver assumes the home position to operate the steering device so that the identification acquisition unit detects the venous pattern of the inside of the forearm of the hand and acquires the venous pattern as the identification information, movable means shaped to receive the palm of the hand of the driver for gripping means so that the displacement of the movable means so that said steering device converts a displacement of said steering device to an electrical signal representative of said identification information; and an identification information output unit for outputting the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of authenticating a driver, comprising the steps of:
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automatically acquiring, as identification information of the driver, the running pattern of a venous pattern of blood vessels of the inside of a forearm of the hand of the driver based on infrared light that is reflected from the inside of the forearm of the driver when an infrared light beam is directed to the inside of the forearm of the driver who assumes a home position to operate an operation device of a vehicle, without need for a particular action of the driver for authorizing acquisition of identification information; providing movable means shaped to receive the palm of the hand of the driver for gripping means so that the displacement of the movable means is an operational amount for producing an electrical signal related to said identification information, and authenticating the driver based on the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A vehicle comprising:
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a steering device which receives an operation input by a driver to convert an operation amount into an electrical signal, identification information acquisition means which is mounted on the steering device, at a position at which an inside of a forearm of the driver, leading to the palm of a hand of the driver, faces when the driver assumes a home position to provide the operation input to said steering device, and, as identification information of the driver, detects a venous pattern of blood vessels of the inside of a forearm of the hand of the driver based on infrared light that is reflected from the forearm of the hand of the driver when an infrared light beam is directed thereto, without a need for a particular action of the driver for authorizing obtaining said identification information, movable means shaped to receive the palm of the hand of the driver for gripping means so that the displacement of the movable means is operational amount, and authenticating means for authenticating the driver based on the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification