Facial-recognition vehicle security system

• US 7,602,947 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson, Louis J. Hofffman
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson, Louis J. Hofffman
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H., Hoffman, Louis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang; Duy M
• Application Number:
  US11/538,438
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/118, 382/100, 382/104, 382/117, 382/124, 340/426.1, 340/426.24, 340/426.31, 340/5.53, 340/5.83, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.5, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 382/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation

Abstract

A movable-vehicle security system includes a facial-recognition system including a scanner such as a television or infrared camera directed at the face of a person in the driver'"'"'s seat, which system produces output control signals that are applied to enable or disable operation of the vehicle, with or without a key or other supplemental security system. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a camera mounted on the “third taillight” assembly (which is preferably mounted below the roof and inside the rear window), directed at the rear-view mirror, and coupled to a facial-recognition computer, which in turn is coupled (with appropriate security precautions) to an enabling element for the vehicle, such as a starter motor. In a further embodiment, the system can be coupled to various elements of the motive system to create an auto-starting car.

Claims

1. A security system for a movable vehicle provided with an enabling system, the security system comprising:

(a) an electronic camera positioned to scan at least a portion of the face of a person located at the driver'"'"'s station of the vehicle and structured to produce image signals;

(b) an electronic facial-recognition system responsive to the image signals and controllably coupled to the enabling system; and

(c) an electronic storage device coupled to the facial-recognition system to store a set of image signals, such that the facial-recognition system activates the enabling system only if signals representative of select characteristics of the scanned face of the person derived from the image signals produced on the camera'"'"'s output match a member of a set of signals stored in the electronic storage device, each member representative of select characteristics of the scanned face of an authorized operator.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is an infrared scanner.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising another electronic camera that is a scanner sensitive to visible light, wherein both cameras are positioned to scan at least a portion of the face of the seated person and are coupled to the facial-recognition system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the portion of the face scanned by the camera includes an iris of an eye of the person at the driver'"'"'s station, and wherein the electronic facial-recognition system is structured to recognize characteristics of features within the iris.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is mounted in front of the driver'"'"'s seat and directed at the driver'"'"'s face, the camera being supported by a mount for an interior rear-view mirror of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is mounted in front of the driver'"'"'s seat and directed at the driver'"'"'s face, the camera including an autofocus lens control.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is mounted in front of the driver'"'"'s seat and directed at the driver'"'"'s face, the camera being mounted on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the camera is mounted at the center of the steering wheel.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is structured to automatically become deactivated upon expiration of a predetermined period of time after it is first activated or upon recognition of an authorized driver by the facial-recognition system, whichever occurs first.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is activated by closure of an ignition key switch of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera is responsive to activation of a sensor switch by a person sitting at the driver'"'"'s station of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor switch is an in-seat sensor.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the camera is structured to become deactivated upon opening of the sensor switch.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic storage device contains a personal code associated with each authorized operator, and wherein the facial-recognition system is further coupled to an electronic control of the vehicle so as to alter a personal setting automatically based on the code associated with the operator recognized by the facial-recognition system, said electronic control structured to control an operating setting of at least one of the following elements of the vehicle:

(a) an audio system;

(b) an electronic seat;

(c) a window;

(d) a temperature controller;

(e) a mirror; and

(f) the angle of the steering wheel column relative to the dashboard.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the facial-recognition system is structured to trigger an audible alarm upon failure of the facial-recognition system to effect the match after a predetermined time.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the facial-recognition system is structured to transmit alarm signals to a remote location upon failure of the facial-recognition system to effect the match after a predetermined time.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the facial-recognition system is structured to retain in non-volatile storage information derived from the signals on the camera output upon failure of the facial-recognition system to effect the match after a predetermined time.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the facial-recognition system is structured to activate a signal light upon failure of the facial-recognition system to effect the match after a predetermined time.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the facial-recognition system is further coupled to a key-operated switch that, when activated, stores in the electronic storage device, as representative of a member of the set of authorized operators, selected signals representative of select characteristics of the scanned face of a person located at the driver'"'"'s station of the vehicle and derived from the signals on the camera output.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the key-operated switch is structured to become activated by a coded sequence of turns.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the facial-recognition system is structured to become disabled for a predetermined period of time upon activation of the key-operated switch.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the facial-recognition system issues an authorization control signal upon determining said match;

(b) the system further comprises a second personal-identification system; and

(c) the authorization control signal is produced only in response to identification of an authorized operator by both the facial-recognition system and the second personal-identification system.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the second personal-identification system includes a fingerprint reader.

24. A method for maintaining security of a powered vehicle, the method comprising:

(a) producing image signals by electronically scanning at least a portion of the face of a person located at the operator'"'"'s station of the vehicle;

(b) computer analyzing the image signals and generating code signals representative of a set of predefined facial characteristics;

(c) comparing the code signals with a set of previously stored reference signals representative of the predefined facial characteristics of an authorized operator; and

(d) generating signals enabling operation of the powered vehicle if and only if the code signals electronically match the reference signals.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the scanning is with respect to infrared radiant emissions from the face of the person.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising initiating scanning by determining that the person has pressed a brake pedal of the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising automatically repeating acts (a) through (d) until the earlier of (i) expiration of a predetermined length of time and (ii) generation of the enabling signals.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising detecting when a person is located at the operator'"'"'s station and effecting such scanning only when a person is so located.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the preliminary act of activating a key-operated switch in the passenger cabin coupled to the facial-recognition system to store the reference signals.