Control device for a motor vehicle

• US 6,794,988 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Pettit, Roderick, Weiss, Karl-Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/831,743
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.53, 340/5.64, 340/5.8, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 340/825.69, 340/5.26, 382/124, 382/126, 70/63, 702/782, 702/783, 703/70, 703/81
• US Class Current: 340/553
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns

Abstract

A control device for a motor vehicle having a fingerprint scanning surface via which a fingerprint sensor detects a fingerprint in the form of a fingerprint signal of a user. Motor vehicle functions can be released as a function of the fingerprint signal. The motor vehicle functions can also be released by a key. A control element is provided with the fingerprint scanning surface and a mechanical receptacle for the key.

Claims

1. A control device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a movable control element;

a fingerprint scanning surface;

a fingerprint sensor, the fingerprint sensor detecting a fingerprint as a fingerprint signal via the fingerprint scanning surface, wherein a motor vehicle function is enabled as a function of the fingerprint signal; and

a key to enable the motor vehicle function; and

a mechanical receptacle for the key, wherein the movable control element includes the fingerprint scanning surface and the mechanical receptacle for the key;

wherein the fingerprint sensor is fixedly arranged opposite the movable control element.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a switch, wherein the movable control element has at least one of a rotatable design and movable design for operating the switch.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal detector to detect a key signal transmitted by the key, the signal detector being integrated into the movable control element.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical key receptacle is at least one of a friction-locked connection and a keyed connection with the key in the mechanical key receptacle, enabling the movable control element to be moved by the key.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a further control element is a least one of mechanically locked and unlocked by operating the movable control element.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lock to suppress movement of the movable control element as a function of at least one of the fingerprint signal and the key signal.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an evaluating unit associated with the movable control element; and

a switch to supply signals to the evaluating unit, wherein depending upon a valid identification of at least one of the key and the fingerprint, the evaluating unit generates control signals for the motor vehicle function that is influenced by the switch.