Quick-start system for a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a quick-start system for a vehicle (V), wherein said vehicle (V) is equipped with an anti-theft device (1) using authorizations coming from more than one biometric detection device belonging to a plurality of biometric detection devices included in said vehicle (V) in order to authorize, in combination with a starting key (K), the starting of an engine that propels said vehicle (V), wherein said system comprises: - a starting-key detection device (I) configured to detect a presence of said starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V), - a first biometric detection device (14) belonging to said plurality of biometric devices, wherein said first biometric detection device (14) is configured to detect a biometric datum of a person who has brought said starting key (K) into the vehicle (V), - user interface means (15) configured to allow said person to enter an unlock code, wherein said anti-theft device (1) comprises also: • communication means (13) connected to said starting-key detection device (I), to said user interface means (15), and to said first biometric detection device (14), and • a processing unit (11) connected to said communication means (13). The main feature of the present invention lies in the fact that said processing unit (11) is configured for executing the following steps: - detecting, via said starting-key detection device (I), whether the starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V) is valid, - detecting, via said user interface means (15), whether a function has been selected for entering said unlock code, when the starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V) has been considered valid, - verifying whether said unlock code has been entered and is valid, - acquiring, via said first biometric detection device (14), the biometric datum of the person who has entered the valid unlock code, and verifying whether said biometric datum belongs to a person authorized to use the vehicle (V), - enabling the operation of said engine of said vehicle (V) if said biometric datum obtained from said first biometric detection device (14) belongs to a person authorized to use the vehicle (V), without requesting any further authorization for starting said engine from other biometric detection devices included in said vehicle (V). The present invention further relates to a quick-start method for a vehicle (V).

Description

[0001] QUICK-START SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a quick-start system for a vehicle comprising an anti-theft device using authorizations coming from a plurality of biometric detection devices included in said vehicle in order to authorize, in combination with a starting key, the starting of an engine that propels said vehicle.

[0004] The present invention further relates to an associated quick-start method for a vehicle.

[0005] As is known, in addition to facing other problems (including, for example, road safety), vehicle owners also have to make sure that their vehicles do not get stolen. Vehicles are normally protected against theft by the fact that only authorized drivers carry a traditional (mechanical) or electronic key that allows starting the vehicle. This safety level often proves to be insufficient; as a matter of fact, in the event that an ill-intentioned person comes into possession of the vehicle's key, then said vehicle can be stolen very easily. It is therefore necessary to improve the anti-theft safety system so that it can offer enhanced safety compared with systems simply relying on the vehicle's key.

[0006] Several advanced systems are known for protecting vehicles against theft. For example, Chinese patent CN106314368 describes a progressive method of recognition of the driver authorized to start the vehicle, wherein said method comprises the following three recognition steps: face recognition, voice recognition, and fingerprint recognition.

[0007] Many other anti-theft systems for vehicles are known which are based on simultaneous acquisition of several biometric data of the driver by, for example, fingerprint reading, iris reading, voice recognition and face recognition.

[0008] All such anti-theft system types are disadvantageously complex to use and, most importantly, require the execution of a long driver recognition process to allow starting the vehicle.

[0009] For example, iris recognition requires the user to take, inside the vehicle, an unnatural posture in order to place the iris in front of a camera, so as to facilitate the iris recognition process. A similar situation occurs during the face recognition process. In some situations it may be necessary to start the engine very quickly, e.g. in case of an emergency. When a driver wants to chase a thief or needs to move the vehicle in an emergency, e.g. earthquake or flood, the delayed start of the vehicle caused by the necessity of providing a number of biometric data may have disastrous consequences. Moreover, some anti-theft systems according to the current state of the art require the installation of expensive sensors aboard the vehicles.

[0010] The present invention aims at solving these and other problems by providing a quick-start system for a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device with a safety level that depends on engine start authorizations coming from a plurality of biometric detection devices included in said vehicle. In particular, the quick-start system must allow the vehicle to be started in a very short time once the driver has gotten into the vehicle.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention concerns a quick-start system for a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device using authorizations coming from a plurality of biometric detection devices included in said vehicle in order to authorize, in combination with a starting key, the starting of the engine that propels said vehicle. In order to attain a quick start of the vehicle, an unlock code needs to be entered which requests authorization from only one biometric detector among those included in said plurality, in addition to authorization from the starting key.

[0012] For simplicity and rapidity of use, the single biometric detector which is used when a quick start is necessary is a fingerprint detector that gives the final authorization to start the engine.

[0013] Just like the other biometric data associated with the remaining plurality of biometric detection devices included in the vehicle, the biometric data associated with the fingerprint detector and concerning the person authorized to start the vehicle quickly are advantageously stored in a specific memory section dedicated to the vehicle's settings. In order to access such data and enter new data, it is necessary to know a safety code supplied by the manufacturer, which allows entering into the memory biometric data about people authorized to start the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle manufacturer is in possession of a further safety and reset code which is unique for each individual vehicle, to be used in the event that a theft attempt has occurred during which a thief has tried to force the safety system based on starting key and biometric data reading, thus causing the vehicle to be definitively locked. In such a case, this further code will have to be used in order to restore the normal functionality of the vehicle.

[0014] It must be pointed out that, in the description that follows, any reference to "an embodiment" will indicate that a particular configuration, structure or feature is comprised in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, expressions such as "in one embodiment" and the like, which may be found in different parts of this description, will not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, any particular configuration, structure or feature that solves the same technical problem at the basis of the present invention may be combined as deemed appropriate in one or more embodiments. The references below are therefore used only for simplicity's sake, and shall not limit the protection scope or extension of the various embodiments.

[0015] Further advantageous features of the present invention are set out in the appended claims.

[0016] These features as well as further advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the light of the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the annexed drawings, which are provided herein merely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

[0017] - Fig. 1 shows a block diagram representing a quick-start system for a vehicle according to the invention;

[0018] - Fig. 2 shows a top view of a vehicle comprising the system of Fig. 1;

[0019] - Fig. 3 shows an image representing a portion of a dashboard of a vehicle featuring a display and a fingerprint reader comprised in the system of Fig. 1.

[0020] The quick-start system for a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device, that normally uses authorizations coming from a plurality of biometric detection devices included in said vehicle in order to permit starting the vehicle, operates as follows. When it is not necessary to start the vehicle quickly, the sequence of steps for deactivating the anti-theft device is as follows. After it has been assessed that the starting key has been validly activated (by verifying its presence inside the vehicle or because it has been inserted into the starting switch), a sequence of biometric data tests is carried out through a plurality of detection devices, such as fingerprint reading, face recognition, and voice recognition. Optionally, the sequence of checks for verifying if the detected biometric data belong to a person authorized to start the vehicle may be integrated with an iris check or further biometric tests.

[0021] If, on the contrary, it is necessary to start the vehicle quickly because of a catastrophic event and / or an emergency situation, then the sequence of steps for deactivating the anti-theft device is drastically shortened: after the starting key has been validly activated, the engine of the vehicle can be started immediately after checking just one of the biometric data provided by the detection devices, particularly the datum obtained from the fingerprint validation test.

[0022] It must be pointed out that, in situations where the vehicle needs to be started quickly, the other steps of the biometric data validation sequence are not executed, and the vehicle can be started right away.

[0023] Moreover, it should be noted that, if the vehicle could always be started immediately after passing just one biometric data validation test, the safety level of the anti-theft device would be reduced. Therefore, the condition that allows the use of just one biometric data validation test to start the engine must be recognized by the system as an exceptional condition (state) related to the need for starting the vehicle quickly. Thus, in order to switch to this exceptional condition, the person who wants to start the vehicle quickly will have to enter an unlock code via the user interface means (e.g. a keypad appearing on the display on the vehicle's dashboard). Only in the presence of a valid unlock key will it be possible to override all biometric data validation tests but one (preferably, the fingerprint recognition test).

[0024] The requirement that, in order to start the engine of the vehicle, a validation test (preferably, fingerprint recognition) must also be passed after entering the unlock code is due to the fact that the starting key can be stolen, whereas the unlock key can be somehow retrieved. Therefore, the necessity of entering an unlock code and also passing even just one biometric data validation increases (considerably) the safety level of the anti-theft device.

[0025] With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a quick-start system according to the invention for a vehicle V comprising an anti-theft device 1 using authorizations coming from more than one biometric detection device belonging to a plurality of biometric detection devices included in said vehicle V in order to authorize, in combination with a starting key K, the starting of an engine that propels the vehicle V.

[0026] The system according to the present invention comprises the following elements: - a starting-key detection device I, for example a switch comprising a code reader connectable to an immobilizer or an RFID reader, configured to detect a presence of said starting key K inside the vehicle V;

[0027] - a first biometric detection device 14, for example a fingerprint reader, belonging to said plurality of biometric devices, wherein said first biometric detection device 14 is configured to detect a biometric datum of a person who has brought the starting key K into the vehicle V;

[0028] - user interface means 15, for example a touchscreen, configured to allow said person to enter an unlock code, e.g. a four-digit or five-digit numerical code;

[0029] - the anti-theft device 1.

[0030] In more detail, the anti-theft device 1 comprises also the following elements:

[0031] - communication means 13 (for example a USB controller, one or more GPIO ports, or the like) connected to said starting-key detection device I, to said user interface means 15, and to said plurality of biometric detection devices 14;

[0032] - a processing unit 11, for example a CPU, a microcontroller, or the like, connected to said communication means 13 and configured to execute a set of instructions;

[0033] - input and / or output (1 / O) means 16, which can be used for connecting an electronic computer to the anti-theft device 1, for example in order to execute diagnostic operations, update the set of instructions stored in the memory means comprised in the processing unit 11, or the like. These input / output means 14 may comprise, for example, a CAN-bus interface, a USB™, IEEE 1394, RS232, RS485, IEEE 1284 adapter, or the like;

[0034] - a communication bus 18 allowing information to be exchanged among the processing unit 11, the communications means 13a, and the input and / or output (1 / O) means 16.

[0035] The processing unit 11 is configured to execute or carry out the following steps:

[0036] - detecting, via said starting-key detection device I, whether the starting key K inside the vehicle V is valid;

[0037] - detecting, via said user interface means 15, whether a function has been selected for entering said unlock code, when the starting key K inside the vehicle V has been considered valid;

[0038] - verifying whether said unlock code has been entered and is valid;

[0039] - acquiring, via said first biometric detection device 14, the biometric datum of the person who has entered the valid unlock code, and verifying whether said biometric datum belongs to a person authorized to use the vehicle V;

[0040] - enabling the operation of the engine of said vehicle V (e.g. by sending an unlock signal to an engine control unit C, shown in Fig. 2) if said biometric datum obtained from said first biometric detection device 14 belongs to a person authorized to use the vehicle, without requesting any further authorization for starting said engine from other biometric detection devices included in said vehicle V.

[0041] The above steps according to the present invention allow for simpler and faster activation, in emergency situations, of a vehicle V comprising a plurality of biometric authentication devices. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased, despite the presence on the vehicle V of an anti-theft device 1 with more than one biometric authentication level.

[0042] In combination with the above, the processing unit 11 is preferably also configured to detect whether the unlock code entry function has been selected and, if said function has not been selected, to request further authorizations from said other biometric detection devices included in said vehicle V prior to authorizing the starting of said engine.

[0043] This allows for simpler and faster activation, in emergency situations, of a vehicle comprising multiple biometric authentication devices without limiting, in normal conditions, the operation of an anti-theft system with multiple biometric authentication levels. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away quickly from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased, even though the vehicle V in use is equipped with an anti-theft device 1 with more than one biometric authentication level.

[0044] In combination with or as an alternative to the above, the processing unit 11 is preferably also configured to inhibit the possibility of authorizing the entry of any further unlock codes when it detects that a first number, greater than a given threshold, of unsuccessful attempts have been made to enter the unlock code.

[0045] This prevents the quick-start system according to the present invention from limiting the theft protection function of the vehicle V provided by the anti-theft device 1. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased, even though the vehicle V is equipped with an anti-theft device 1 with more than one biometric authentication level.

[0046] In combination with or as an alternative to the above, the processing unit 11 is preferably also configured to inhibit, after a second number of allowable attempts, the entry of any further biometric data via said first biometric detection device 14 if such data belong to a person who is not authorized to use the vehicle V.

[0047] This prevents the quick-start system according to the present invention from jeopardizing the safety of the theft protection function of the vehicle V, provided by the anti-theft device 1, e.g. in the event that a thief comes to know the unlock code. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased, even though the vehicle V is equipped with an anti-theft device 1 with more than one biometric authentication level.

[0048] In combination with the above-described inhibition functions, the processing unit 11 is preferably configured to allow the entry, via said user interface means 15, of a total unlock and reset code (which is preferably in possession of the manufacturer and which can only be communicated to the rightful owner of the vehicle V) in the event that the anti-theft device 1 goes into a fully locked state (for example, because of an attempted theft), thus making it impossible to enter any valid unlock codes or valid biometric data via said first biometric detection device 14.

[0049] In emergency situations, this allows for simpler activation of the vehicle V, even though the latter comprises multiple biometric authentication devices, without however jeopardizing the robustness of the theft protection functions provided by the anti-theft device 1 in normal situations. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased.

[0050] In combination with or as an alternative to the above, the biometric datum read by said first biometric detection device 14 is preferably a fingerprint, and the first biometric detection device 14 is a fingerprint reader (as already mentioned above), for the purpose of verifying whether said fingerprint belongs to a person who is authorized to use said vehicle V.

[0051] In emergency situations, this allows for faster activation of the vehicle 1, even though it comprises multiple biometric authentication devices, because a first biometric detection device 14, consisting of a fingerprint reader, will allow the driver to prepare the vehicle V for leaving with one hand (i.e. inserting or presenting the starting key K, moving a gearchange lever, disengaging a parking brake, tighten the seatbelt, etc.) and to position one finger of the available hand onto the first biometric detection device 14 while preparing to leave, for example putting one finger of the left (or right) hand on the fingerprint reader while using the right (or left) hand to tighten the seatbelt. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased, even though the vehicle V is equipped with an anti-theft device 1 with more than one biometric authentication level.

[0052] In combination with or as an alternative to the above, the values of the unlock code and of the valid data coming from the first biometric detection device 14, as well as the data coming from the further or other biometric detection devices included in the vehicle V, are stored, for validation control purposes, in a memory contained in said vehicle V.

[0053] This allows the vehicle V to be activated even when said vehicle V is in an area where no connection to a telecommunications network is available. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased.

[0054] In combination with or as an alternative to the above, said communication means 13 may be connected to said starting-key detection device I and to said user interface means 15, which in turn may be configured to acquire said unlock code and / or the data coming from at least said first biometric detection device 14. The function performed by said communication means 13 includes sending the data coming from the peripherals (starting-key detection device I, user interface means 15, first biometric detection device 14) to the processing unit 11, and transmitting commands from the latter to said peripherals.

[0055] This allows for simpler activation, in emergency situations, of a vehicle comprising multiple biometric authentication devices. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away quickly from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased.

[0056] In combination with the above, the processing unit 11 is preferably configured to authorize the entry of at least one further fingerprint into said memory when a second unlock code and the fingerprint of a person already authorized to enable the operation of said engine of said vehicle V have been validly entered.

[0057] This allows for simpler activation of a vehicle V by a larger number of users without jeopardizing the safety of the vehicle protection function provided by the anti-theft device 1. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased, despite the presence on the vehicle V of an anti-theft device 1 with more than one biometric authentication level.

[0058] In combination with the above, the user interface means 15 comprise a screen (preferably, a touch-sensitive one) that can display data and information, wherein said screen is so shaped as to comprise a region where the fingerprint reader is located.

[0059] Such positioning allows for faster activation, in emergency situations, of a vehicle V comprising multiple biometric authentication devices, because one of the fingers used for entering the code on the screen can then be rapidly moved and positioned on the fingerprint reader 14, which, being very close to the screen, advantageously allows the user to complete the vehicle V unlocking process very quickly. In this way, the probability that a driver will succeed in moving away from the place where the emergency situation is occurring is increased, despite the presence on the vehicle V of an anti-theft device 1 with more than one biometric authentication level. Of course, the example described so far may be subject to many variations.

[0060] Some of the possible variants of the invention have been described above, but it will be clear to those skilled in the art that other embodiments may also be implemented in practice, wherein several elements may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The present invention is not, therefore, limited to the abovedescribed illustrative examples, but may be subject to various modifications, improvements, or replacements of equivalent parts and elements without however departing from the basic inventive idea, as specified in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Quick-start system for a vehicle (V), wherein said vehicle (V) is equipped with an anti-theft device (1) using authorizations coming from more than one biometric detection device belonging to a plurality of biometric detection devices5 included in said vehicle (V) in order to authorize, in combination with a starting key (K), the starting of an engine that propels said vehicle (V), wherein said system comprises:- a starting-key detection device (I) configured to detect a presence of said starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V),- a first biometric detection device (14) belonging to said plurality of biometric devices, wherein said first biometric detection device (14) is configured to detect a biometric datum of a person who has brought said starting key (K) into the vehicle (V),- user interface means (15) configured to allow said person to enter an unlock code,15 wherein said anti-theft device (1) comprises also:• communication means (13) connected to said starting-key detection device (I), to said user interface means (15), and to said first biometric detection device (14), and• a processing unit (11) connected to said communication means (13), wherein the system is characterized in that said processing unit (11) is configured20 for executing the following steps:- detecting, via said starting-key detection device (I), whether the starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V) is valid,- detecting, via said user interface means (15), whether a function has been selected for entering said unlock code, when the starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V) has been considered valid,- verifying whether said unlock code has been entered and is valid,- acquiring, via said first biometric detection device (14), the biometric datum of the person who has entered the valid unlock code, and verifying whether said biometric datum belongs to a person authorized to use the vehicle (V),30 - enabling the operation of said engine of said vehicle (V) if said biometric datum obtained from said first biometric detection device (14) belongs to a person authorized to use the vehicle (V), without requesting any further authorization for starting said engine from other biometric detection devices included in said vehicle(V).

2. Quick-start system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit (11) is also configured to detect whether the unlock code entry function has been selected and, if said function has not been selected, to request further authorizations from said other biometric detection devices included in said vehicle (V) prior to authorizing the starting of said engine.

3. Quick-start system according to one or more of claims 1 and 2, wherein said processing unit (11) is also configured to inhibit the possibility of authorizing the entry of any further unlock codes when it detects that a first number, greater than a threshold, of unsuccessful attempts have been made to enter the unlock code.

4. Quick-start system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said processing unit (11) is also configured to inhibit, after a second number of allowable attempts, the entry of any further biometric data via said first biometric detection device (14) if such data belong to a person who is not authorized to use the vehicle (V).

5. Quick-start system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biometric datum read by said first biometric detection device (14) is a fingerprint, and wherein said first biometric detection device (14) is a fingerprint reader, for the purpose of verifying whether said fingerprint belongs to a person who is authorized to use said vehicle (V).

6. Quick-start system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the values of said unlock code and of the valid data coming from said first biometric detection device (14), as well as the data coming from said other biometric detection devices included in said vehicle (V), are stored, for validation control purposes, in a memory contained in said vehicle (V).

7. Quick-start system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means (13) are connected to said starting-key detection device (I) and to said user interface means (15), wherein said user interface means (15) are configured to acquire said unlock code and / or the data coming from at least said first biometric detection device (14).

8. Quick-start system according to claims 5 and 6, wherein said processing unit (11) is configured to authorize the entry of at least one further fingerprint into said memory when a second unlock code and the fingerprint of a person alreadyauthorized to enable the operation of said engine of said vehicle (V) have been validly entered.

9. Quick-start system according to claims 3 or 4, wherein, when it becomes impossible to enter any valid unlock codes or valid biometric data through said first biometric detection device (14) because said anti-theft device (1) has gone into a locked state following a theft attempt, the processing unit requests the entry, via said user interface means (15), of a total unlock code which is in possession of the manufacturer and which can only be communicated to the rightful owner of the vehicle.

10. Quick-start system according to claim 5, wherein said user interface means (15) comprise a screen configured to display data and information, wherein said screen is so shaped as to comprise a region where said fingerprint reader is located.

11. Quick-start method for a vehicle (V) equipped with an anti-theft device (1) using authorizations coming from more than one biometric detection device belonging to a plurality of biometric detection devices included in said vehicle (V) in order to authorize, in combination with a starting key (K), the starting of an engine that propels said vehicle (V), wherein said vehicle (V) comprises:- a starting-key detection device (I) configured to detect the presence of said starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V),- a first biometric detection device (14) belonging to said plurality of biometric devices, wherein said first biometric detection device (14) is configured to detect a biometric datum of a person who has brought said starting key (K) into the vehicle (V),- user interface means (15) configured to allow said person to enter an unlock code, and wherein said anti-theft device (1) comprises also:• communication means (13) connected to said starting-key detection device (I), to said user interface means (15), and to said first biometric detection device (14), and• a processing unit (11) connected to said communication means (13), said method being characterized in that said processing unit (11) executes the following steps:- detecting, via said starting-key detection device (I), whether the starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V) is valid,- detecting, via said user interface means (15), whether a function has been selected for entering said unlock code, when the starting key (K) inside the vehicle (V) has been considered valid,- verifying whether said unlock code has been entered and is valid,5 - acquiring, via said first biometric detection device (14), the biometric datum of the person who has entered the valid unlock code, and verifying whether said biometric datum belongs to a person authorized to use the vehicle,- enabling the operation of said engine of said vehicle (V) if said biometric datum obtained from said first biometric detection device (14) belongs to a person0 authorized to use the vehicle (V), without requesting any further authorization for starting said engine from other biometric detection devices included in said vehicle (V).

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