RF BIOMETRIC IGNITION CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130096733A1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Manotas, Jesus Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,043,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

An electronic ignition control system includes a keyfob having a biometric sensor that senses an identifying biological characteristic of the user. The keyfob also has a transmitter that transmits an air-borne signal dependent upon the identifying biological characteristic. A vehicle includes a motor and an ignition that starts the motor. The ignition has an unlocked state in which the user can cause the ignition to start the motor by actuating a start mechanism. The ignition also has a locked state in which actuation of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor. The vehicle also has a receiver that receives the air-borne signal from the transmitter. The vehicle further has a controller in communication with each of the ignition and the receiver. The controller switches the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state dependent upon the air-borne signal received by the receiver.

Claims

1. An electronic ignition control system, comprising:

a keyfob including;

a biometric sensor configured to sense an identifying biological characteristic of a user; and

a transmitter configured to transmit an air-borne signal dependent upon said identifying biological characteristic; and

a vehicle including;

a motor;

an ignition configured to start the motor, the ignition having an unlocked state in which the user can cause the ignition to start the motor by actuating a start mechanism, and a locked state in which actuation of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor;

a receiver configured to receive the air-borne signal from the transmitter; and

a controller in communication with each of the ignition, and the receiver, the controller being configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state dependent upon the air-borne signal received by the receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state, and unlock a door of the vehicle, if the air-borne signal received by the receiver indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying biological characteristic comprises a fingerprint of the use, and the keyfob is configured to produce a digital representation of the fingerprint.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the keyfob includes a memory device storing digital representations of fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle, the keyfob being configured to compare the produced digital representation of the fingerprint to the stored digital representations of the fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle includes a memory device storing digital representations of fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle, the air-borne signal transmitted by the keyfob including the produced digital representation of the fingerprint, the controller being configured to compare the produced digital representation of the fingerprint to the stored digital representations of the fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to implement a personalized vehicle setting if the air-borne signal received by the receiver indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle, the personalized vehicle setting including a seat adjustment, radio station presets, a suspension system setting, an environmental setting, and/or a steering wheel adjustment.

7. A vehicle, comprising:

a motor;

an ignition configured to start the motor, the ignition having an unlocked state in which a user can cause the ignition to start the motor by actuating a start mechanism, and a locked state in which actuation of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor;

a biometric sensor configured to sense an identifying biological characteristic of the user; and

a controller in communication with each of the ignition and the biometric sensor, the controller being configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state dependent upon the sensed biological characteristic.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the biometric sensor comprises a camera and a digital light projector, the digital light projector being configured to receive image data from the camera.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state if a signal from the sensor indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the identifying biological characteristic comprises a fingerprint of the user, the biometric sensor being configured to produce a digital representation of the fingerprint.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle includes a memory device storing digital representations of fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle, the controller being configured to compare the produced digital representation of the fingerprint to the stored digital representations of the fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to unlock the ignition only if the produced digital representation of the fingerprint matches one of the stored digital representations of the fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the biometric sensor is configured to sense a fingerprint a face, a retina, a hand or DNA of the user.

14. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to implement a personalized vehicle setting if a signal from the biometric sensor indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle, the personalized vehicle setting including a seat adjustment, radio station presets, a suspension system setting, an environmental setting, and/or a steering wheel adjustment.

15. A vehicle electronic ignition control arrangement, comprising:

a keyfob including;

a first biometric sensor configured to sense a first identifying biological characteristic of a user; and

a transmitter configured to transmit an air-borne signal indicative of the first identifying biological characteristic; and

a vehicle including;

a motor;

an ignition configured to start the motor, the ignition having an unlocked state in which the user can cause the ignition to start the motor by actuating a start mechanism, and a locked state in which actuation of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor;

a receiver configured to receive the air-borne signal from the transmitter;

a second biometric sensor configured to sense a second identifying biological characteristic of the user; and

a controller in communication with each of the ignition, the receiver, and the second biometric sensor, the controller being configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state dependent upon both the air-borne signal received by the receiver and the sensed second identifying biological characteristic.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the second biometric sensor comprises a camera and a digital light projector, the digital light projector being configured to receive image data from the camera.

17. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state if both the air-borne signal received by the receiver and the sensed second identifying biological characteristic are indicative of an approved user.

18. The arrangement of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state only if the air-borne signal is indicative of the transmitter being within a predetermined distance of the receiver.

19. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to switch, the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state if both the air-borne signal received by the receiver and the sensed second identifying biological characteristic are indicative of a same approved user, the first identifying biological characteristic being one fingerprint of the user, the second identifying biological characteristic being an other fingerprint of the user.

20. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the second biometric sensor is configured to sense a fingerprint, a lace, a retina, a hand or DNA of the user.