Automobile controller using biological information, and system and method which use the automobile controller

• US 7,141,889 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Miyatake, Takafumi, Miura, Naoto, Nagasaka, Akio, Takezaki, Jiro, Kuragaki, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US10/292,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.3, 307/9.1, 307/10.2, 180/287, 340/5.1, 340/5.2
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• 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: B60R 25/257 Voice recognition

Abstract

Highly convenient automobile engine starting uses an individual authentication device which utilizes biological information and provides a security function required when starting the engine, while protecting a sensor for receiving the biological information. An engine starting system can comprise an ignition switch for controlling a state of an automobile; a key for changing a state of the ignition switch; a registration key for registering biological information; a switch for starting an engine; a sensor for inputting biological information; a device for storing biological information; a collating unit for collating the inputted biological information with the stored biological information; and a lid for covering the sensor of an authentication device.

Claims

1. An engine starting system comprising:

an ignition switch unit for controlling a state of an automobile;

a key for changing a state of the ignition switch;

a biological information input unit for receiving individual biological information;

a biological information authenticating unit including at least a biological information storing unit for holding the individual biological information which has been registered prior to use of the engine starting system to authenticate the inputted biological information; and

a biological information registration unit for registering the individual biological information;

wherein the key is used to start the biological information input unit, and the biological information authenticating unit authenticates the inputted individual biological information by referencing the registered individual biological information before the key is used to start an engine,

wherein a cover unit of said biological information input unit is unlocked when the ignition switch is in an ON state, and

when the ignition switch is in a state other than the ON state, or when individual authentication is completed, the cover unit is locked.

2. An engine starting system according to claim 1, wherein the biological information is a finger-vein pattern.

3. An engine starting system comprising:

an ignition switch unit for controlling a state of an automobile;

a key for changing a state of the ignition switch;

a biological information input unit for receiving biological information;

a biological information authenticating unit including at least a biological information storing unit for holding biological information which has been registered prior to use of the engine starting system to authenticate the inputted biological information; and

a biological information registration unit for registering biological information;

wherein the key is used to start the biological information input unit, and the biological information authenticating unit authenticates the inputted biological information by referencing the registered biological information before the key is used to start an engine;

wherein said biological information input unit includes at least a sensor unit for receiving biological information, a selectably movable and lockable cover unit for covering and preventing access to the sensor unit, and a trigger unit for instructing reception of the biological information;

wherein said trigger unit starts the biological authentication, and the biological information is subsequently obtained to collate the obtained biological information with the registered biological information before the engine is started; and

wherein said cover unit is configured to prevent at least infrared rays from passing therethrough.

4. An engine starting system comprising:

an ignition switch unit for controlling a state of an automobile;

a key for changing a state of the ignition switch;

a biological information input unit for receivina individual biological information;

a biological information authenticating unit including at least a biological information storing unit for holding the individual biological information which has been registered prior to use of the engine starting system to authenticate the inputted biological information; and

a biological information registration unit for registering the individual biological information;

wherein the key is used to start the biological information input unit, and the biological information authenticating unit authenticates the inputted individual biological information by referencing the registered individual biological information before the key is used to start an engine, and upon the ignition switch being in an ON state, the system is configured to provide a term of validity as a result of the authentication by the authenticating unit so that during the term the engine, if stopped without using the key, can be restarted without performing biological authentication, and

wherein the term of validity resulting from the authentication performed by the biological information authenticating unit is effective for a given period of time only while the key is in the ON state.

5. An engine starting system according to claim 4, wherein when the ignition switch enters a state other than the ON state, the term of validity is ended and individual authentication is thereafter required.

6. An engine starting system according to claim 4, wherein if engine start time is within the term of validity, the engine is started without performing individual authentication.