Fingerprint unlocking system

• US 20100109838A1
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sherard Fisher
• Original Assignee: Sherard Fisher
• Inventors: Fisher, Sherard
• Application Number:
  US12/584,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109838A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.720
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

An apparatus, and a corresponding method for its use, for gaining access to a vehicle, such as a car by means of at least one fingerprint sensor installed at a convenient location outside the vehicle in or near a door handle. The illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a fingerprint sensor mounted in a convenient exterior location on the vehicle. The fingerprint matching controller includes means for unlocking at least one vehicle passenger access door upon verification of the identity of a user placing a finger in the fingerprint sensor. Preferably, the fingerprint sensor is located near, or integrated into a door handle, for ease of operation while opening a door of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A fingerprint unlocking system for controlling access to a vehicle using fingerprint matching, the apparatus comprising:

a fingerprint sensor mounted in a convenient interior location in a vehicle, for generating a two-dimensional fingerprint image of a user of the vehicle;

a high-speed fingerprint matcher, for searching the entire two-dimensional sensed fingerprint image for instances of distinctive features similar to each of a plurality of pattern features that have been extracted from a previously stored reference fingerprint image, to verify the identity of the user of the vehicle;

a fingerprint match controller, for selecting from a plurality of stored reference fingerprint images for presentation to the fingerprint matcher, and having a locked mode of operation and an unlocked mode of operation;

means included in the fingerprint match controller, for switching from the locked mode to the unlocked mode upon successfully verifying the identity of a vehicle user;

means operable in the unlocked mode, for actuating the engine enabling switch to allow operation of the vehicle;

storage means for recording actuator settings associated with user identities; and

means operable in the unlocked mode, for operating the actuator based on settings retrieved from the storage means for an identified user.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator is selected from the group comprising:

a seat adjustment actuator, a mirror actuator, a steering wheel position actuator, a climate control actuator, a mobile telephone actuator, a vehicle performance control actuator, an entertainment device actuator, an airbag setting actuator, and an onboard computer actuator.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is integrated into a door handle, for operation while opening a door of the vehicle.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further comprising:

a user interface for selection of modes of operation and user identities; and

means included in the fingerprint match controller, for switching to a new selected mode of operation upon verification of the identity of a user.