JP4994795B2 - Biometric authentication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a biometric authentication system installed in an automobile or the like, and relates to a technique for smoothly performing use of an automobile by a temporary user while ensuring high security.

  To improve convenience and security in recent automobiles, a smart key that unlocks a door lock or allows the engine to be started just by a driver carrying a smart key (electronic key) approaching the vehicle body. The one equipped with the keyless entry system (smart key system) used has appeared. However, even if the smart key system is installed, if the smart key is stolen or if the driver leaves the car with the smart key left in the car, theft by a malicious third party Could not be prevented. As a keyless entry system that solves such problems, after the in-vehicle device performs biometric authentication using finger veins, etc., only the person who has been registered in advance (for example, a registered driver or their family) unlocks the door or engine Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Registered drivers, on the other hand, temporarily use a mechanical key (baret key) that cannot open the glove box or trunk when leaving a car equipped with a keyless entry system in a hotel parking lot or maintenance shop, etc. It is common to hand them over. However, if the mechanical key is entrusted to a temporary user, there is a risk that the third party or the like will make a copy, so that the significance of mounting the keyless entry system will be diminished. In addition, when the smart key itself is left to a temporary user, there is anxiety that a glove box or trunk is opened and valuable items are stolen. Therefore, the image data created by the registered driver is stored in the mobile phone of the service person, and temporary use registration data consisting of this image data and the e-mail address is transmitted from the mobile phone, thereby unlocking the door and the engine. A system capable of starting is proposed (see Patent Document 2).
JP-A-2005-262 JP 2005-226438 A

  However, in the keyless entry system of Patent Document 2, for the purpose of sending an email from a mobile phone, the temporary user is restricted to the owner of the mobile phone in addition to forcing the temporary user to use an email address that is personal information. There was a problem. In addition, if the temporary user stops the engine in a place where the cellular phone radio waves do not reach, the engine cannot be restarted. And this is the same as the conventional mechanical key, but if you have the mobile phone, the temporary user (or a third person) can drive the car without any restrictions on distance or time. It was inevitable that the owners felt anxious.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a biometric authentication system capable of smoothly using a vehicle by a temporary user while ensuring high security. .

The biometric authentication system according to the invention of claim 1 is mounted on a vehicle and determines whether or not the person is a registered driver by comparing the biometric information of the person with the registered biometric information, and the person is registered. A biometric authentication system that permits driving of the vehicle when the driver is a driver, a mechanical temporary key that is used for temporary driving of the vehicle, and a driving permission means that permits driving by the temporary key. And a key switch that is installed on the instrument panel and is operated by the temporary key; and an electric lid that covers the key switch, and the operation permission unit is operated by the registered driver determined by the biometric authentication system. based on the input, use authorization and operation by the temporary key, set preferences and running permission distance by the temporary key, after opening the electric lid, the temporary key It is determined whether or not the travel distance exceeds a predetermined value. If the determination is affirmative, a warning message is displayed to the user of the temporary key, and the travel distance using the temporary key indicates the travel permission. It is determined whether or not the distance is within the distance, and when the determination is negative, the use of the temporary key is not permitted and the electric lid is closed .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible for a service person or the like to move the vehicle by using the temporary key, and driving by the temporary key is not permitted unless the registered driver inputs an operation. Vehicle theft due to loss of the vehicle will not occur. Further , even when a temporary key is stolen by a third party, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from being removed from a remote place or used for a long period of time.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a front part of a vehicle interior of an automobile according to the embodiment, and FIG.

<< Configuration of Embodiment >>
As shown in FIG. 1, an automobile (vehicle) V according to the embodiment is a so-called four-door sedan type passenger car, and four fingers excluding the right thumb are attached to a portion corresponding to the outer handle 2 of the driver side door 1 (see FIG. 1). A first vein sensor (infrared CCD camera) 3 that captures an image of the back side vein pattern (not shown) is provided. Also, a second vein sensor 6 that images the surface side vein pattern of the right index finger 5 and a start switch (push button) 7 that is used for switching and starting the engine are installed at the right end of the instrument panel 4. ing.

  The instrument panel 4 is provided with a display (touch panel) 8 such as a navigation system or a television at the center upper portion, and various settings are made by the driver touching the display on the display 8. The driver's seat side door 1 is provided with a key cylinder (mechanical key) 10 for door lock operated by a bullet key (mechanical key) 9 behind the outer handle 2. Further, on the left side of the steering column 11, a key switch 12 operated by a bullet key 9 and an electric lid 13 that covers the key switch 12 are installed. A biometric authentication ECU 14 is built in the lower center of the instrument panel 4.

<Biometric ECU>
The biometric authentication ECU 14 includes a microcomputer, ROM, RAM, peripheral circuits, various drivers, and the like, and is connected to each of the above-described devices via a communication line such as a CAN (Controller Area Network).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the biometric authentication ECU 14 includes an input interface 21, a biometric authentication unit 22, a bullet key setting / permission unit (operation permission unit) 23, a drive signal generation unit 24, and an output interface 25. ing.

  The input interface 21 is connected to the first and second vein sensors 3 and 6, the display 8, and the key switch 12. The biometric authentication unit 22 performs biometric authentication by comparing the input data from the first and second vein sensors 3 and 6 with the registered data. The bullet key setting / permission unit 23 switches between valid / invalid of the input signal from the key switch 12 based on the permission condition input from the display 8. The drive signal generation unit 24 generates a drive signal to a door lock, an engine ECU (both not shown) or the like based on the authentication result or the permission signal input from the biometric authentication unit 22 or the bullet key setting / permission unit 23. . The output interface 25 outputs signals from the drive signal generation unit 24 and the bullet key setting / permission unit 23 to the electric lid 13 in addition to the door lock and the engine ECU.

<< Operation of Embodiment >>
<Biometric authentication>
When a person approaches the parked automobile V and grasps the outer handle 2 of the driver's seat side door 1 with his hand, the first vein sensor 3 images the back side vein pattern of the four fingers of the right hand and is not shown in the figure. A detection signal from the handle sensor is sent to the biometric authentication ECU 14, and the biometric authentication ECU 14 starts biometric authentication control whose procedure is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  When biometric authentication control is started, the biometric authentication ECU 14 first captures input data (imaging result) from the first vein sensor 3 in step S1 of FIG. Determine whether you are a registrant. If this determination is No, the biometric authentication ECU 14 ends biometric authentication control without performing the subsequent processing. In general, when a person is a registrant, input data matches a single registration data existing in a storage device (RAM) with a predetermined degree of coincidence. The first vein sensor 3 images the back side vein pattern of the four fingers of the right hand, but the collation in step S2 may be performed only on the middle finger or the like.

  If the person is a registrant and the determination in step S2 is Yes, the biometric authentication ECU 14 outputs an unlock command to the door lock, the trunk lock, etc. of the driver side door 1 in step S3. As a result, the driver and passengers can get in the passenger compartment of the automobile V, and can load luggage on a trunk (not shown).

  When the unlock command is output in step S3, the biometric authentication ECU 14 takes in the input data from the second vein sensor 6 in step S4, and then determines whether or not the person is a registered driver in step S5. If the determination is No, the biometric authentication control is terminated without performing the subsequent processing. If the person is a registered driver and the determination in step S5 is Yes, the biometric authentication ECU 14 outputs an engine start permission command to the engine ECU in step S6. This prevents driving of the vehicle V by a passenger (such as a child) who does not have a driver's license, while the registered driver can start the engine by operating a start button (not shown). If the person is a registered driver, the driving position (seat or steering wheel position, door mirror angle, etc.) corresponding to the registered driver may be called from the memory and reproduced.

<Baret key setting>
When the registered driver performs the menu operation of the display 8 a plurality of times and selects “Bullet key setting” when depositing at a hotel parking lot, a maintenance shop, etc., the biometric authentication ECU 14 shows the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. Start key setting control.

  When the bullet key setting control is started, the biometric authentication ECU 14 first displays a screen for selecting use / nonuse of the bullet key 9 on the display 8 in step S11 of FIG. Next, the biometric authentication ECU 14 determines whether or not the use of the bullet key 9 is selected in step S12. If this determination is No, the subsequent processing is not performed and the bullet key setting control is terminated.

  When the use of the bullet key 9 is selected and the determination in step S12 is Yes, the biometric authentication ECU 14 displays the setting screen for the permission conditions (travel permitted distance and drive permission period) on the display 8 in step S13, and then step S14. It is determined whether or not a permission condition has been input. And while this determination is No, biometrics authentication ECU14 performs the determination of step S13 repeatedly.

  When the registered driver inputs permission conditions according to the situation of depositing the car V and the determination in step S14 is Yes, the biometric authentication ECU 14 permits the use of the bullet key 9 in step S15, and in step S16, the electric lid 13 Is released.

<Use of bullet key>
When the automobile V is deposited in a parking lot or a maintenance shop and the service person opens the door using the bullet key 9, the biometric authentication ECU 14 starts the bullet key use control whose procedure is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  When the bullet key use control is started, the biometric authentication ECU 14 first determines whether or not the travel distance after permitting the use of the bullet key is within the travel permission distance in step S21 of FIG. In step S22, the use of the bullet key 9 is not permitted, and in step S23, the electric lid 13 is closed. If the determination in step S21 is Yes, the biometric authentication ECU 14 next determines in step S24 whether or not the current time is within the driving permission period, and if this determination is No, step S22 is also performed. In step S23, the electric lid 13 is closed. As a result, when the bullet key 9 is stolen by a third party, the automobile V is not taken away from the remote place, and the automobile V cannot be used for a long period of time.

  When the determinations in steps S21 and S24 are both Yes, the biometric authentication ECU 14 determines whether or not the key switch 12 is turned on in step S25. If this determination is No, the subsequent processing is not performed. Returning to step S21, the bullet key use control is repeated.

  If the driver inserts and rotates the bullet key 9 and the determination in step S25 is Yes, the biometric authentication ECU 14 determines whether or not the travel distance after permitting the use of the bullet key exceeds half of the travel permission distance in step S26. (That is, whether or not the permitted travel distance is 50% or less) is determined. If this determination is No, an engine start permission command is output to the engine ECU. Thus, the driver can start the engine by pressing the start switch 7. The bullet key 9 preferably has an immobilizer function to suppress engine start due to duplication.

  On the other hand, if the permitted travel distance is 50% or less and the determination in step S26 is No, the biometric authentication ECU 14 in step S27, “At the time of further travel, the original A warning message “Cannot return to location” is displayed on the display 8.

  In the present embodiment, by adopting the above-described configuration, the temporary user can smoothly use the vehicle while ensuring high security.

  This is the end of the description of specific embodiments. However, aspects of the present invention are not limited to these embodiments. For example, although the finger vein pattern is used as the biometric information in the above embodiment, a fingerprint, a face, a voiceprint, or the like may be employed. In the above embodiment, a mechanical key is used as a temporary key. However, an IC card or the like that is difficult to duplicate may be used, or these may be used in combination with a password. In addition, as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, the specific configuration of the vehicle and the biometric authentication ECU, the specific procedure of control, and the like can be appropriately changed.

It is a perspective view which shows the vehicle interior front part of the motor vehicle which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of biometrics ECU which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the biometric authentication control which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the bullet key setting control which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the bullet key use control which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 1st vein sensor 6 2nd vein sensor 7 Start switch 8 Display 9 Bullet key 12 Key switch 13 Electric lid 14 Biometrics ECU (operation permission means)
V Automobile (vehicle)

Claims (1)

It is mounted on a vehicle, and it is determined whether or not the person is a registered driver by comparing the biometric information of the person and the registered biometric information. If the person is a registered driver, the vehicle is operated. A biometric authentication system to permit,
A mechanical temporary key for temporary driving of the vehicle;
Driving permission means for permitting driving by the temporary key;
A key switch installed in the instrument panel and operated by the temporary key;
An electric lid for covering the key switch ;
The driving permission means includes
Based on the operation input of the registration driver is determined by the biometric authentication system, and permits operation by the temporary key, Set preferences and running permission distance by the temporary key, after opening the electric lid,
It is determined whether the travel distance using the temporary key has exceeded a predetermined value, and when this determination is affirmative, a warning message is displayed to the user of the temporary key,
It is determined whether the travel distance using the temporary key is within the permitted travel distance. If this determination is negative, use of the temporary key is not permitted and the electric lid is closed. A biometric authentication system characterized by that.

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