Patent Application
20190225188
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicular access and more specifically relates to vehicular access using biometrics.
Currently, there are various ways to start the engine of vehicle by bypassing the ignition switch, allowing thieves to make off in a car without drivers knowing until they return back to the spot where their car was parked. Additionally, teenagers may take their parents' car without asking. Also, while children may be playing inside a vehicle, they accidentally shift it into drive. A suitable solution is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,671 to Joseph M. DeBono relates to a biometric shifter lock control. The described biometric shifter lock control includes a biometric anti-theft gear shifter lock control for vehicles, equipment, and machinery, and other transmission actuation devices on land, water, and air, using a gear shifter. A biometric sensor scans in biometric information from a user to a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU finding a match for an authorized user deactivates a shift lock which may be built into an automatic shift vehicle or a solenoid or other switch added to a standard shift vehicle. It sounds an alarm for an unauthorized user. The control may be positioned on a gear shift knob with a flip-type protective cover. The biometrics device could be a fingerprint scanner, a retina scanner, a voice recognition system or other device programmed to operate only upon recognition of a unique biometrically measurable characteristic of one or more authorized users whose biometric data is programmed into the system.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known vehicular access using biometrics s art, the present disclosure provides a novel biometric access control system for vehicle shifter. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a biometric fingerprint lock for a vehicle shifter. The device prevents would-be drivers from shifting without proper fingerprint ID. It deters automobile thefts and stops unauthorized drivers, like teenagers, from taking the car. The present disclosure allows primary drivers to deactivate the unit for valet or mechanical work.
A biometric access control system is disclosed herein. The biometric access control system includes a computer which includes a memory, and is configured to store at least one fingerprint-identification profile; a biometric fingerprint reader communicably coupled to the computer, the biometric fingerprint reader configured to be affixed to the transmission shifter handle of the vehicle, and further configured to identify the authorized driver via a finger print of the authorized driver; a transmission shifter handle lock may have a locked state and an unlocked state, the transmission shifter handle lock configured to prevent the transmission shifter handle from operation when in the locked state, and further configured to enable the transmission shifter handle for operation when in the unlocked state, the transmission shifter handle lock communicably coupled to the computer and configured to enter the unlocked state when the authorized driver may be identified by the biometric fingerprint reader; and a master override configured to override the transmission shifter handle lock and maintain the transmission shifter handle lock the unlocked state when engaged and independently of the authorized driver being identified by the biometric fingerprint reader.
A method for using biometric access to a vehicle for an authorized driver is also disclosed herein. The method for providing biometric may comprise the steps of: providing the biometric access control system, as described above; scanning a first fingerprint with the biometric fingerprint reader; authenticating the authorized driver; and the transmission shifter handle lock entering an unlocked state in response to the authenticating the authorized driver.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a biometric access control system for vehicle shifter, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electrical communications and more particularly to a biometric access control system for vehicle shifter as used to improve the biometrics.
Generally, the biometric access control system for a vehicle shifter (also known as “Digital ID Shifter”) may protect vehicles from theft or accidental engagement of the vehicles' drive shaft. This innovative product features a biometric fingerprint lock for a vehicle shifter. The shifter's lock may be configured to store up to four or more fingerprint identification profiles; however, a master override dongle may be engaged by an authorized river to allow for valet and mechanical work. Further, the master dongle may be used outside the vehicle by the authorized driver whose biometric identity corresponded to the identity stored in the vehicle's memory. The disclosure can be adapted to accommodate most makes and models currently on the market.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
The transmission shifter handle lock 130 may have a locked or unlocked state. When in the locked state, the transmission shifter handle lock 130 prevents the transmission shifter handle 20 from operating. When an authorized driver is identified by the biometric fingerprint reader the transmission shifter handle lock 130 enters the unlocked state.
The master override 140 is configured to override the transmission shifter handle lock 130 and maintain the unlocked state when engaged, independently of an authorized driver being identified. The master override 140 may be in the form of a key fob and may have a user interface. The user interface can include at least one button, switch, or touch-screen panel. In certain embodiments the user interface may be integrated with a mobile communication device. In these embodiments, the user interface may include means of authenticating a user using a password, passphrase, personal identification number, swipe pattern, fingerprint reader, or facial recognition.
In some embodiments the computer 110 may be communicably coupled to a mobile communication device. These embodiments allow for the mobile communication device to digitally manipulate the computer 110. Some embodiments may have the computer 110 integrated in a mobile communication device. Additionally, the computer 110 may be communicably coupled to an external personal computer in some embodiments.
According to one embodiment the transmission shifter handle lock 130 may be configured to enter the unlocked state for a specified amount of time based on the fingerprint-identification profile of the authorized driver 10. According to another embodiment the transmission shifter handle lock 130 may be further configured to enter the unlocked state during specific times, for example, the computer 110 may be preprogrammed. According to yet another embodiment, the computer 110 may be further configured to associate a fingerprint-identification profile to only have a temporary authorization for the driver 10.
Referring now to
As above, the computer 110 may include a memory 102 configured to store at least one fingerprint-identification profile. According to one embodiment, the computer 110 may include a receiver 105 which is configured to or otherwise able to receive a signal from at least one of the biometric fingerprint scanner 120 and the master override 140. The computer 110 may be powered by a power supply 30, for example a vehicle battery, an independent energy storage, etc. The computer 110 may be an independent unit, integrated with a vehicle computer, or otherwise configured as a shared resource.
As above, the master override 140 may include a user interface 145. According to one embodiment, the user interface 145 may be integrated into or with a mobile communication device. In operation, when the computer 110 has received the appropriate authorization signal from either the biometric fingerprint scanner 120 or the master override 140, the computer will send a signal to the transmission shifter handle lock 130 to enter the unlocked state and allow the authorized driver 10 (
Referring now to
According to one embodiment, the method 500 may further include the steps of: the transmission shifter handle lock reentering 506 the locked state; scanning 507 a second fingerprint with the biometric fingerprint reader; determining 508 an unauthorized driver; and the transmission shifter handle lock remaining 509 in the locked state in response to the determining the unauthorized driver. According to another embodiment, the method 500 may further include the steps of: the transmission shifter handle lock reentering 510 the locked state; engaging 511 the master override; the transmission shifter handle lock entering 512 an unlocked state in response to the engaging the master override; operating 513 the transmission shifter handle lock with the master override engaged; disengaging 514 the master override; and the transmission shifter handle lock reentering 515 the locked state in response to the disengaging the master override.
It should be noted that steps 506-515 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
The embodiments of the disclosure described herein are exemplary. Numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/619,602 filed Jan. 19, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62619602 | Jan 2018 | US |
