JP2003034235A - Vehicle theft prevention device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the switching of a mode requiring the authentication of a vehicle owner's biological characteristic and a mode permitting a vehicle usage with only an ignition key. SOLUTION: In the vehicle theft prevention device comprising the ignition key for starting a vehicle engine, a reading means for reading the biological characteristic of a vehicle user, a storing means for registering the biological characteristic of the vehicle user, a discriminating means for discriminating whether the biological characteristic of the read user matches the biological characteristic of the registered user or not, and a switching means for switching a first state capable of starting the engine with the ignition key and a second state capable of starting the engine when discriminated such that the biological characteristic read by the ignition key and the discriminating means matches the registered biological characteristic, the first state and the second state can be arbitrarily switched during the engine start.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle antitheft device for identifying a user based on the biological characteristics of the user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional device of this type, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2001
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 065211 (referred to as a first related art). In the device disclosed in the first prior art, a reading unit of a fingerprint authentication device that authenticates a fingerprint of a user who attempts to unlock a vehicle door is provided outside the vehicle, and fingerprint authentication is performed due to dirt on the reading unit. If it is not correctly performed and the door is not unlocked, the mobile transmitter transmits a personal identification code to unlock the door.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-245771 (second prior art), only a mode requiring fingerprint authentication and a key are required when unlocking a door of a vehicle or starting an engine. It is disclosed that the mode can be switched depending on the situation. In the second conventional technique, for example, when the vehicle is to be moved by a person other than the owner, such as repairing or refueling the vehicle, the door lock can be released and the engine can be started only by the ignition key. If security is required, the device setting can be changed to a crime prevention mode that requires fingerprint authentication at each of unlocking the door and starting the engine.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned first problem
In the prior art, the engine can be started only when fingerprint authentication is performed. Therefore, the engine can be started only by the person who has registered the fingerprint in advance. For example, when a vehicle is parked on the road shoulder and the engine is stopped in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake or when the vehicle is out of order, there is a possibility that a person other than a person who has registered a fingerprint in advance cannot move the vehicle.

Further, in the above-mentioned second prior art, when the door lock of the vehicle is unlocked or the engine is started, the possession is always made when switching between the mode requiring fingerprint authentication and the mode requiring only the key. There is a problem that the operation is complicated because the fingerprint authentication of the person or the authorized user is required.

Further, in the above-mentioned first and second prior arts, when the owner is changed due to sale or purchase of a vehicle, the fingerprints registered by the previous owner are released, and then the new owner prints the fingerprints. Must be authenticated, and the operation is complicated.

In addition, if the fingerprint authentication system breaks down, it becomes impossible to operate the vehicle. An object of the present invention is to simplify switching between a mode in which a fingerprint of a vehicle user is required to be authenticated and a mode in which the vehicle is permitted to be used only by an ignition key.

[0008]

A first technical means taken to solve the above-mentioned problems is, as shown in claim 1, an ignition key for starting an engine of a vehicle and a user of the vehicle. Reading means for reading biological characteristics, storage means for registering the biological characteristics of the user of the vehicle, biological characteristics of the read user and biological information of the registered user The identification means for identifying whether or not the characteristics match, the first state in which the engine can be started by the ignition key, the ignition key, and the biological characteristic read by the identification means are registered. A vehicle anti-theft device comprising a switching means for switching the engine to a second state in which the engine can be started when the engine is started. Wherein said first state when the second
This means that the state can be switched arbitrarily.

According to the above-mentioned means, when the engine is started, when the first state and the second state are switched, the discrimination means discriminates whether the biological characteristics are coincident or not. Absent. Therefore, since the fingerprint authentication is not performed, the operation becomes simple.

A second technical means taken to solve the above technical problem is as set forth in claim 2, wherein the vehicle antitheft device is the owner and the use registered in the storage means in the previous period. That is, an initializing means for deleting the biological characteristics of the person is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to delete the record of the biological characteristics of the owner who has already been registered by the provision of the initialization means and the user who the owner has approved for use. it can.

A second technical means taken to solve the above technical problem is as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vehicle antitheft device is provided with a failure diagnosing means for detecting a failure of the vehicle. This is because the switching means switches to the first state when the diagnostic means detects a failure of the vehicle.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the failure diagnosis means detects a failure of the vehicle, the switching means turns the first
(1) Since the enabling means is controlled so that the engine is started only by the engine start instruction from the engine start instruction means, the vehicle antitheft device can be set to a state where the engine can be started only by operating the ignition key.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific example of a vehicle theft prevention device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the structure of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 which is a specific example of the present invention will be described.

The vehicle theft prevention device 10 includes an ignition key switch 11 for starting the engine, a fingerprint authentication device 12 described later, a control microcomputer 13 as an engine start enabling means, and a security mode switching device 14 as a switching means. And a master code input device 15 which is an initialization means which is not usually equipped in the vehicle.

The ignition key switch 11 is a switch for turning on a mechanical switch by inserting and turning a generally known ignition key to start the engine.

The fingerprint authentication device 12 comprises a memory 16 which is a storage unit, a fingerprint reading unit 17 which is a reading unit, and an identification unit 18 which is an identification unit. The memory 16 is a medium for preliminarily storing (registering) fingerprint data of the owner of the vehicle or a user (for example, a family of the owner of the vehicle) the owner has permitted to use. The fingerprint reading unit 17 is a device for reading a fingerprint of an occupant of the vehicle, and is configured as the card key 21 shown in FIG. 2 in this embodiment. The card key 21 is provided with a capacitance sensor 22 corresponding to the fingerprint reading unit 17 in FIG. 1 that reads a fingerprint image when a finger is pressed on the top surface. The card key 21 has an internal capacitance sensor 2 inside.
A microcomputer 22 for compressing and encrypting the image data read by 2 and a transmitting unit 2 for transmitting the compressed / encrypted data
4 is provided. It should be noted that the fingerprint reading unit of the microcomputer 22 is used, for example, when the fingerprint reading unit 17 cannot read a fingerprint for a predetermined number of times consecutively, or when the data cannot be transmitted to a receiving unit 28 described below. A failure determination mechanism for determining 17 failures is provided.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle interior dashboard is provided with an authentication panel 25, and the receiving unit 28 of the authentication panel 25 receives the compressed / encrypted data from the transmitting unit 24. The receiving unit 28 is connected to the recognition engine of the fingerprint recognition device 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and the fingerprint read by the fingerprint reading unit 17 of the card key 21 is data compressed and encrypted by the microcomputer 22. It can be sent to a recognition engine for fingerprint matching.

The control microcomputer 13 is a vehicle antitheft device 10
Is a device for controlling in accordance with each operation mode described later. The control microcomputer 13 is a device for receiving an authentication result from the ignition key switch 11 and the fingerprint authentication device 12 and a mode instruction from a security mode switching device 14 which will be described later and transmitting a start signal to the engine ECU 19 to start the engine. . Further, the control microcomputer 13 monitors the operation of the recognition engine of the fingerprint authentication device 12, detects the failure notification issued by the failure determination mechanism of the fingerprint authentication device 12 when the recognition engine fails, and detects the failure diagnosis device 20 (described later). ) To the failure notification signal. The control microcomputer 13 also has a function of transmitting its own failure notification signal to the failure diagnosis device 20.

The failure diagnosing device 20 monitors whether the fingerprint recognition device 12 and the control microcomputer 13 operate normally by a failure notification issued when the failure determination mechanism provided in each device fails. Further, the failure diagnosis device 20 is
It is a device that detects a vehicle failure by receiving a failure notification of the vehicle itself from sensors (water temperature, oil pressure, battery voltage, etc.) of each part of the vehicle.

The security mode switching device 14 can only start the engine with the "fingerprint authentication mode" and the ignition key, so that the engine cannot be started unless both the fingerprint authentication and the ignition key operation are performed. It is a device that switches to a possible "normal mode".
The security mode switching device 14 is a registration / operation button 26 of an authentication panel 25 provided on the vehicle interior dashboard shown in FIG.
By operating the release button 27, the mode instruction by the owner or the user is transmitted to the control microcomputer 13.
Further, the security mode switching device 14 receives a failure notification from the failure diagnosis device 20 which monitors the failure of each part of the vehicle, and transmits a mode instruction to the control microcomputer 13.

The master code input device 15 is not normally mounted on a vehicle, but is a device stored by a vehicle dealer or the like. The master code input device 15 is a portable terminal including a key input device 31, a terminal 32, and a liquid crystal screen 33 as shown in FIG. The master code input device 15 connects the terminal 32 of FIG. 3 to the terminal to the control microcomputer 13 in a fuse box (not shown) in the vehicle, and inputs a master code consisting of alphanumeric characters (later) with the key input device 31. As a result, the initialization instruction is transmitted to the control microcomputer 13. As a result, the control microcomputer 13 causes the fingerprint authentication device 12 to
The recognition engine memory 16 is initialized. The master code input device 15 also receives a history of failure notifications from the recognition engine stored in the internal memory 16 of the control microcomputer 13, a history of failure notifications from the failure diagnosis device 20, and a history of previously input master codes. However, a liquid crystal screen 32 for displaying them is provided.

Next, the operation of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 will be described.

The operation state of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 is divided into four states: "normal mode", "fingerprint authentication mode", "registration mode" and "initialization mode". The operation of the vehicle antitheft device 10 will be described with reference to the correspondence table of the state of the vehicle from the production line to the scrapped car, the mode of the vehicle antitheft device 10 and the state of the memory 16 shown in FIG.

Further, the operation procedure for transitioning between the above four modes shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will also be described.

<Normal Mode> The normal mode is an operating state of the vehicle antitheft device 10 in which the engine can be started only by the operation of the ignition key by the occupant. When the occupant inserts the ignition key into the key hole of the key cylinder in the vehicle and turns it, the ignition key switch is mechanically turned on in the key cylinder, and as shown in FIG. 1, an electric signal ("the shape of the key matches The authentication result) is transmitted to the control microcomputer 13. When the vehicle theft prevention device 10 is in the normal mode, the fingerprint authentication device 12 is not operated by the security mode switching device 14 and the control microcomputer 13. Therefore, the control microcomputer 13 transmits an engine start permission signal to the engine ECU 19 in response to a start instruction signal from the ignition key, so that the engine is started.

In the normal mode, anyone having an ignition key can start the vehicle engine.

In this normal mode, there is a risk that the vehicle itself will be stolen due to theft or forgery of the ignition key, or the direct connection of the ignition key switch.

However, as shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle anti-theft device is set in this normal mode from the production line to the delivery through the dealer, inspection, vehicle inspection, repair, land transportation, and so on. It is time to request a move. Therefore, the vehicle is sufficiently stored against theft, and since the vehicle is moved by a plurality of persons during the above-mentioned period, it is more convenient that the engine can be started only by operating the ignition key.

<Fingerprint Authentication Mode> In the fingerprint authentication mode, vehicle occupancy prevention in which the occupant's fingerprint matches the fingerprint registered in the memory of the fingerprint recognition device 12 and the engine of the vehicle can be started by the occupant's ignition key operation. The operating state of the apparatus 10. This fingerprint authentication mode is used when the owner or user feels uneasy about the safety of the parking space when parking the vehicle at home, or when the owner or user parks for a long period of time. Is an operating state of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 which is set by the user's own will (corresponding to the case where the vehicle state in FIG. 4 is parking).

The operation procedure for shifting to the fingerprint authentication mode and the operation of the anti-theft device 10 will be described below.

Normally, the vehicle antitheft device 10 is in the normal mode. When the occupant desires to switch from the normal mode to the fingerprint authentication mode, the occupant pushes the registration / operation button 26 on the authentication panel 25 provided on the in-vehicle dashboard. When the registration / operation button 26 is pressed, the security mode switching device 14 sends a mode instruction to the control microcomputer 13 to shift to the fingerprint authentication mode. As a result, the control microcomputer 13 starts voice guidance through the in-vehicle speaker.
Voice guidance is given to the passenger by the capacitance sensor 2 of the card key 21.
Suggest that you put your finger on 2. When the occupant's finger is placed on the capacitance sensor 22, the capacitance sensor 22 recognizes the image data of the occupant's fingerprint. The recognized image data is compressed by the microcomputer 22 in the card key 21.
It is encrypted and transmitted from the transmission unit 24 to the reception unit 28 on the vehicle side (FIGS. 1 and 2). The reception unit 28 sends the received image data of the fingerprint to the identification unit 18 of the fingerprint authentication device 12. In the fingerprint authentication device 12, the compressed / encrypted image data is decompressed / decrypted. Then, the identification unit 18 performs feature point extraction processing and collates with the fingerprint data registered in the memory 16. If the results match, the fingerprint authentication device 12 sends the control microcomputer 13 an authentication result indicating that “the fingerprint of the occupant matches the registered fingerprint data”. As a result, the control microcomputer 13 notifies the fingerprint authentication device 12 of the shift to the fingerprint authentication mode, and the fingerprint authentication device 12 operates. The control microcomputer 13 simultaneously operates the security mode switching device 1
The security mode switching device 14 recognizes that the vehicle anti-theft device 10 is in the fingerprint authentication mode by notifying the fingerprint authentication mode transition to 4 as well.

The operation procedure up to the engine start and the operation of the vehicle antitheft device 10 in the fingerprint authentication mode will be described below.

The occupant uses the capacitance sensor 2 of the card key 21.
When the user puts his finger on the finger 2 and transmits the image data of the fingerprint to the vehicle side, the card key 21 and the fingerprint authentication device 12 perform the fingerprint authentication of the occupant by the same operation as above. When the result of the fingerprint authentication is the same, the fingerprint authentication device 12 sends the control microcomputer 13 the authentication result that "the fingerprint of the occupant matches the registered fingerprint data", and the control microcomputer 13 is set in advance in the program. Voice guidance is given to the occupants through the in-vehicle speaker to operate the ignition key. When the occupant inserts the ignition key into the key hole of the key cylinder according to the voice guidance and turns it, an electric signal (an authentication result that "the shape of the key matches") is transmitted from the ignition key switch 11 to the control microcomputer 13. The control microcomputer 13 is an ignition key
Upon receiving the authentication results from the switch 11 and the fingerprint authentication device 12, a start signal is output to the engine ECU 19 to start the engine.

After the engine is stopped, the vehicle theft prevention device 10
Remains in fingerprint authentication mode. Vehicle theft prevention device 10
When the engine is started again in the fingerprint authentication mode, the security mode switching device 14 and the control microcomputer 13 recognize that the vehicle antitheft device 10 is in the fingerprint authentication mode, and the control microcomputer 13 notifies the occupant. In response to the voice guidance for fingerprint authentication, the fingerprint authentication is performed by the above operation.

The operation procedure for canceling the fingerprint authentication mode, that is, the shift to the normal mode and the operation of the vehicle antitheft device 10 will be described below.

In the fingerprint authentication mode and the engine is stopped, the occupant can switch the mode by pressing the release button 27 on the authentication panel 25. When the release button 27 is pressed, the security mode switching device 14 sends a mode instruction to the control microcomputer 13 to shift the fingerprint authentication mode to the normal mode. This allows
The control microcomputer 13 performs voice guidance through the in-vehicle speaker, and suggests that the passenger put his / her finger on the capacitance sensor 22 of the card key 21. Card key 21 and fingerprint authentication device 12
Performs fingerprint authentication by the same operation as above (P2 in FIG. 5). When the fingerprint data of the occupant matches the registered fingerprint data as a result of collation, the fingerprint authentication mode of the vehicle antitheft device 10 is canceled and the normal mode is entered. The occupant is informed by voice that the fingerprint authentication mode has been canceled.

When the engine is operating in the fingerprint authentication mode, when the release button 27 on the authentication panel 25 is pressed (P3 in FIG. 5), the fingerprint authentication mode of the vehicle antitheft device 10 is released and the normal mode is entered. become. In this case, fingerprint authentication by the card key 21 and the fingerprint authentication device 12 is unnecessary.

In the fingerprint authentication mode, only the owner who has registered the fingerprint data or the user who has permitted the use of the vehicle can pass the fingerprint authentication and start the engine. Therefore, it is possible to prevent others from starting the engine and stealing the vehicle.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when a vehicle needs to be parked on the shoulder of a road with an ignition key (and can be used by a third party) at the time of a disaster such as an earthquake, The anti-theft device 10 can select between the fingerprint authentication mode and the normal mode. If the engine is operating, the fingerprint authentication mode can be released easily and quickly by simply pressing the release button 27 as described above, and the normal mode can be entered.

In the above mode transition, the mode transition is prevented from being performed by an unintended button operation.
It is preferable that the control microcomputer 13 provides voice guidance so that the button operation is performed again when the normal mode is changed to the fingerprint authentication mode and when the fingerprint authentication mode is changed to the normal mode. Alternatively, the transition from the normal mode to the fingerprint authentication mode may not be performed by a button operation, and only the transition from the fingerprint authentication mode to the normal mode may be performed.

<Registration Mode> In the registration mode, fingerprint data of the owner of the vehicle and a user who is permitted to use the vehicle (for example, the owner's family) is registered in the memory 16 of the fingerprint authentication device 12. The vehicle anti-theft device 10 is in the operating state.

The procedure for shifting to the registration mode and the operation of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 will be described below.

From the state of the normal mode in which the memory 16 has been initialized (corresponding to the case where the vehicle status in FIG. 4 is delivery), the occupant registers the registration / operation button 26 on the authentication panel 25.
Press and hold to shift from the normal mode to the registration mode (when the memory 16 is initialized, that is, when the fingerprint data is not registered in the memory 16 at all, the vehicle antitheft device 10).
Does not enter fingerprint authentication mode. Therefore, there is no mode shift to shift from the fingerprint authentication mode to the registration mode when the memory 16 is initialized).

The fingerprint data of the owner (and the user) is already registered in the memory 16 and is in the normal mode, or in the fingerprint authentication mode but before the fingerprint authentication (for example, when the engine is stopped). When shifting to the mode, the occupant can shift to the registration mode by long-pressing the registration / operation button 26 on the authentication panel 25. In this case, the security mode switching device 14 discriminates the long press of the registration / operation button 26, and the control microcomputer 13
Send a mode shift to shift to the registration mode. The control microcomputer 13 provides voice guidance by the in-vehicle speaker and suggests that the passenger put his / her finger on the capacitance sensor 22 of the card key 21. The fingerprint read by the electrostatic capacity sensor 22 is identified by the fingerprint authentication device 12 as the fingerprint registered in the memory 16, and if they match, the registration mode is entered (P4 and P5 in FIG. 5).

The fingerprint data of the owner (and the user) has already been registered in the memory 16, and the fingerprint authentication mode or the fingerprint authentication completed state (for example, the engine is operating) shifts to the registration mode. In this case, the occupant shifts to the registration mode simply by pressing and holding the registration / operation button 26 on the authentication panel 25 (P6 in FIG. 5).

In registering the fingerprint data, the fingerprint recognition device 12 recognizes the fingerprint data first registered in the initialized memory 16 as the owner's fingerprint data.

The procedure for registering the fingerprint data of the owner and the operation of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 in the registration mode will be described below.

When the fingerprint recognition device 12 recognizes that the fingerprint data is not registered in the memory 16 after the vehicle theft prevention device 10 has entered the registration mode in the above procedure, the control microcomputer 13 notifies the occupant of the "owner". Register your fingerprint data ”. The owner places his / her finger on the capacitance sensor 22 of the card key 21 to perform registration. The control microcomputer 13 instructs the owner to register the fingerprints of a plurality of fingers, which is predetermined in the program, in preparation for a fingerprint reading error due to finger injury or the like. The owner places a plurality of fingers on the capacitance sensor 22 of the card key 21. The image data of the fingerprint read by the capacitance sensor 22 is compressed / encrypted by the microcomputer 13, and is transmitted by the transmitting unit 24.
From the vehicle to the receiving unit 28 on the vehicle side (FIGS. 1 and 2). The receiving unit 28 sends the received image data of the fingerprint to the recognition engine of the fingerprint authentication device 12, and the recognition engine decompresses and deciphers the image data of the fingerprint to extract the feature points. The extracted feature points are sent to the memory 16, and the memory 16 registers fingerprint data. This operation is repeated a predetermined number of times for a plurality of fingerprint image data of the owner.

When the fingerprint recognition device 12 recognizes that a predetermined number of fingerprint data has been registered, the fingerprint recognition device 12 informs the owner by voice through the control microcomputer 13 that "the registration of the owner's fingerprint data has been completed" and then "use". Person's fingerprint data will be registered? ”. Registration card key 2 within a predetermined time
If the user's finger is not placed on the capacitance sensor 22 of No. 1, the control microcomputer 13 automatically shifts from the registration mode to the normal mode (P7 in FIG. 5) and switches between the recognition device 12 and the security mode. The device 14 is notified of the shift to the normal mode.

In the registration mode, the fingerprint data of the user who the owner has permitted to use is registered in the following procedure.

When there is a user beside the owner and the registration of the fingerprint data of the user is performed after the registration of the fingerprint data of the owner described above, a voice message "Do you want to register the fingerprint data of the user?" According to the guide, the capacitance sensor 2 of the card key 21
2. Put the user's finger on 2 and register the fingerprint data.

When only the fingerprint of the owner is registered and the mode is changed from the registration mode to the normal mode, the owner puts the finger whose fingerprint data is registered on the electrostatic capacitance sensor 22 of the card key 21 for fingerprint authentication. After that, the registration / operation button 26 is pressed and held to register the fingerprint data of the user.

When the vehicle antitheft device 10 is in the fingerprint recognition mode after fingerprint authentication with the fingerprint data registered by the owner, if the engine is running, the owner's fingerprint authentication is not necessary and the registration / operation is performed. By long pressing the button 26, the fingerprint data of the user can be registered. After the engine is stopped, the owner puts a finger with fingerprint data registered on the capacitance sensor 22 of the card key 22 for fingerprint authentication, and then long-presses the registration / operation button 26 to hold the fingerprint data of the user. To register. In addition, it is desirable that the individual fingerprint data of the user be registered within a predetermined time. Therefore, when the fingerprint data is not registered after a predetermined time, the control microcomputer 13 automatically shifts the vehicle antitheft device 10 to the fingerprint authentication mode (P8 in FIG. 5).

In the case of shifting to the registration mode only by operating the above-mentioned registration / operation button, in order to prevent shifting to the registration mode by an unintended button operation, the control microcomputer 13 outputs a voice when the button operation is performed. It is preferable to provide guidance (indicating to operate the button again when shifting to the registration mode). Alternatively, the modes to be switched by button operation are only the mode to switch from the normal mode to the fingerprint authentication mode and the mode to switch from the fingerprint authentication mode to the normal mode, and the transition to the registration mode should not be performed only by the button operation. Good.

<Initialization Mode> In the initialization mode, only the owner of the vehicle operates the vehicle antitheft device 10 to delete the data of all the fingerprints registered in the memory 16 of the fingerprint authentication device 12. .

The operation procedure for shifting to the initialization mode and the operation of the vehicle antitheft device 10 will be described below.

The fingerprint data of the owner (and the user) is already registered in the memory 16, and the state before fingerprint authentication in the normal mode or the fingerprint authentication mode (for example, when the engine is stopped)
When shifting from the to the initialization mode, the occupant presses the release button 27 on the authentication panel 25 for a long time. Release button 2
When 7 is pressed for a long time, the security mode switching device 14 sends a mode instruction to the control microcomputer 13 to shift to the initialization mode. As a result, the control microcomputer 13 starts voice guidance through the in-vehicle speaker. The voice guidance suggests to the passenger to put his / her finger on the capacitance sensor 22 of the card key 21. If it matches the fingerprint registered in the memory 16 by the fingerprint authentication device 12, the mode shifts to the initialization mode (P in FIG. 6).
9, P10).

The fingerprint data of the owner (and the user) is already registered in the memory 16, and the fingerprint authentication mode or the fingerprint authentication mode is completed and the fingerprint authentication is completed (the engine is running), and then the registration mode is entered. In this case, the occupant shifts to the initialization mode only by pressing and holding the release button 27 on the authentication panel 25 (P11 in FIG. 6).

In the normal mode in which the memory 16 has already been initialized, the control microcomputer 13 recognizes that no fingerprint data is registered in the memory 16, and the occupant releases the authentication panel 25. Even if the button 27 is pressed and held, the mode does not shift to the initialization mode. (Vehicle theft prevention device 10 does not shift to the initialization mode when there is no fingerprint data registered in memory 16.) Operation procedure for registering the owner's fingerprint data and vehicle theft prevention in the initialization mode. The operation of device 10 is described below.

The vehicle theft prevention device 1 is operated by the above operation procedure.
When 0 enters the initialization mode, the fingerprint recognition device 12 recognizes whether or not fingerprint data is registered in the memory 16. The recognition result is sent to the control microcomputer 13, and when the fingerprint data is registered, the control microcomputer 13 confirms to the owner by voice guidance "whether to delete all the registered fingerprint data". . At this time, it is suggested to “press the release button 27 within a predetermined time when deleting”. When the owner presses the release button 27 within a predetermined time, the control microcomputer 13 initializes the memory 16 and notifies the fingerprint authentication device 12 and the security mode switching device 14 of the mode "to the normal mode". After a predetermined time has passed, the vehicle theft prevention device 10 shifts to the "normal mode" (P in FIG. 6).
12).

On the other hand, if the owner does not press the release button 27 within a predetermined time even after confirming "whether to delete all the registered fingerprint data" to the owner by voice guidance, the control microcomputer 13 Cancels the deletion of the fingerprint data registered in the memory 16 and instructs the fingerprint authentication device 12 and the security mode switching device 14 to "shift to the original mode".
Notify to the effect mode. The original mode at this time is the mode immediately before the initialization mode. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the vehicle theft prevention device 10 shifts to either the "normal mode" or the "fingerprint authentication mode" before shifting to the initialization mode.
(P12, 13 of FIG. 6) Next, the vehicle antitheft device 1 shown in FIG. 4 when the vehicle has an accident or fails.
The operation of 0 will be described below.

The failure diagnosis device 20 of FIG. 1 receives a failure notification from sensors (water temperature, oil pressure, battery voltage, etc.) of various parts of the vehicle and diagnoses the failure. When it is diagnosed that repair is necessary, the safety mode switching device 14 is notified of the vehicle failure. When the vehicle anti-theft device 10 is in the fingerprint authentication mode, the security mode switching device 14 gives a mode instruction to the control microcomputer 13 to shift the fingerprint authentication mode to the normal mode, and also transmits data indicating a failure location. Control microcomputer 1
Reference numeral 3 stores data indicating a failure location in the internal memory, notifies the security mode switching device 14 of the shift to the normal mode after shifting the vehicle theft prevention device 10 to the normal mode.

The fault diagnosis device 20 is the fingerprint recognition device 1.
2 cannot operate due to failure, control microcomputer 1
When it is determined that the operation of No. 3 is abnormal and the vehicle anti-theft device 10 is in the fingerprint authentication mode in response to the failure notification from these, the control microcomputer 13 is set to shift from the fingerprint authentication mode to the normal mode. Give instructions.

With the above operation, when the vehicle is in an accident or fails, the operation mode of the vehicle antitheft device 10 can be immediately and automatically changed to the normal mode. As a result, the driver who has not registered the fingerprint can move the vehicle in the normal mode without performing any complicated operation for the owner and the user. Further, when only the fingerprint recognition device 12 fails, the fingerprint authentication mode immediately shifts to the normal mode, so that it is possible to prevent the engine of the vehicle from being unable to start.

The operation of the vehicle antitheft device 10 shown in FIG. 4 when the vehicle is sold or scrapped, when the owner is dead or missing, or when the owner loses the finger with the fingerprint registered. Will be described below.

First, the terminal 32 of the master code input device 15 of FIG. 3 is connected to the terminal from the control microcomputer 13 in a fuse box (not shown) in the vehicle. Next, a master code consisting of alphanumeric characters is input from the key input device 31 of the master code input device 15.

When this master code is input, the control microcomputer 13 can perform the same operation as when it shifts to the above initialization mode. As a result, the control microcomputer 13 can initialize the memory 16 of the recognition engine.

The master code input device 15 also receives the history of failure notifications from the recognition engine stored in the internal memory of the control microcomputer, the history of failure notifications from the failure diagnosis device 20, and the history of previously input master codes. , LCD screen 3
These are presented in 2.

The master code is also notified to the owner,
Basically, it is desirable that the store stores this. As a result, when the registration of the fingerprint data, which is the personal data of the owner and the user, is deleted from the memory 16, the owner authenticates the fingerprint and does not perform the initialization work.
The fingerprint data from 6 can be deleted.

Furthermore, when the vehicle cannot be fingerprint-authenticated while the vehicle antitheft device 10 is in the fingerprint authentication mode, the fingerprint authentication mode is surely changed without replacing the fingerprint authentication device 12. It can be canceled, and the fingerprint data can be deleted and re-registered.

The vehicle theft prevention device 10 according to the present embodiment.
In the above, the card key 21 is used for fingerprint reading, but as another form, it may be integrated with the ignition key or in the form of a key holder as in the current keyless entry device. Further, the card key 21 may transmit a radio wave to release the door lock by a button operation of an occupant, or may have a function to emit a radio wave when the vehicle approaches the vehicle to automatically release the door lock. May be.

In the vehicle theft prevention device 10 as a specific example, a fingerprint is adopted as a physical feature (more broadly, biological feature) for identifying the owner and user of the vehicle. Using a camera (CCD camera) instead of 17, the skeleton of the face of the person trying to use the vehicle, the iris,
The gesture or the like may be captured as an image and collated with the registered image. In addition, the voice of a person who intends to use the vehicle is captured as voice data by a microphone, and the voice print is collated with the registered voice print, or the pen input device is used instead of the fingerprint reading unit 17 to capture the handwriting and collate. And the like are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0075]

According to the technical means taken in the above-mentioned invention of claim 1, when the engine is started, the first state and the second state can be arbitrarily switched. When switching between the 1st state and the 2nd state, the discriminating means does not discriminate whether or not the biological characteristics coincide. Therefore, since the fingerprint authentication is not performed, the operation becomes simple. This can improve the convenience of the device.

According to the technical means taken in the invention of claim 2 described above, in addition to the technical means described in claim 1, biological characteristics of the owner and the user registered in the storage means. By providing the initialization means for deleting, it is possible to delete the record of the biological characteristics of the registered owner and the user who the owner has approved for use. As a result, the biological characteristic can be mechanically deleted without being deleted by the fingerprint authentication by the owner, which is convenient when reselling the vehicle.

According to the technical means taken in the invention of claim 3 described above, in addition to the invention of claim 1 or 2, the vehicle antitheft device has a failure diagnosis means for detecting a failure of the vehicle. When the failure diagnosis means detects the failure of the vehicle, the switching means switches to the first state, so that when the failure of the vehicle is detected, the vehicle antitheft device is automatically ignited. The engine can be set to a state where it can be started only by operating the keys.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a vehicle theft prevention device 10 which is a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a card key that is a reading unit and an authentication panel that is a switching unit of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 that is a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a master key input device which is an initialization unit of a vehicle theft prevention device 10 which is a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a table showing a relationship between modes of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 as a specific example of the present invention and registration states of the memory 16.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure of shifting to each mode of the vehicle theft prevention device 10, which is a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure for shifting to each mode of the vehicle theft prevention device 10 which is a specific example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Ignition Key Switch (Ignition Key) 12 Fingerprint Authentication Device 13 Control Microcomputer (Enabling Means) 14 Security Mode Switching Device (Switching Means) 15 Master Code Input Device (Initializing Means) 16 Memory (Memory Means) 17 Fingerprints Reading unit (reading means) 18 Identification unit (identification means) 20 Failure diagnosis device (failure diagnosis means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ignition key for starting an engine of a vehicle, reading means for reading biological characteristics of a vehicle user, storage means for registering biological characteristics of the vehicle user, and Identification means for identifying whether or not the read biological characteristics of the user and the registered biological characteristics of the user match; a first state in which the engine can be started by the ignition key; Switching means for switching between the ignition key and the second state in which the engine can be started when the read biological characteristic and the registered biological characteristic are identified by the identifying means as coincident with each other. In the vehicle anti-theft device provided, the switching unit is configured to perform the first irrespective of whether the biological features of the identification unit match or do not match when the engine is started. On purpose vehicle antitheft device being characterized in that a freely switchable between the second state. 2. The vehicle antitheft device according to claim 1, further comprising initialization means for deleting the biological characteristics of the owner and the user registered in the storage means in the previous period. Vehicle anti-theft device. 3. The switching means comprises failure diagnosis means for detecting a failure of the vehicle, and when the failure diagnosis means detects a failure of the vehicle, the switching means switches to a first state. The vehicle antitheft device according to claim 1 or 2.