Steering Wheel Fingerprint Sensor for Automatic Mobile Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
A significant percentage of automobile collisions are caused by driver distraction from cell phones, and the process of establishing a Bluetooth connection between a cell phone and a vehicle is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fingerprint recognition sensor into the steering wheel or other vehicle components to automatically recognize the driver and disable the cell phone while driving, enabling a seamless Bluetooth connection without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual Bluetooth connection setup is used between cell phone and vehicle, then connection can be established, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs fingerprint recognition and device identification in advance before the actual connection is needed. The vehicle detects the driver's fingerprint, identifies their mobile device, and pre-establishes the Bluetooth connection before driving begins, eliminating the need for manual pairing during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic self-pairing between the vehicle and the driver's mobile device through biometric authentication. Once the driver's fingerprint is recognized, the system automatically initiates and completes the Bluetooth connection without requiring manual intervention from the driver.
2Ease of operation
If cell phone is accessible during driving, then driver can use it, but driver distraction causes automobile collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system disables the mobile device screen and input functions in advance before the driver begins operating the vehicle. By detecting fingerprint recognition during vehicle operation, the system proactively restricts access to prevent distraction before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies countermeasures in advance by disabling the mobile device's display and input capabilities before the driver can be distracted. This preliminary restriction prevents the harmful effect of distraction from occurring in the first place.
3Extent of automation
If fingerprint sensor is added to steering wheel, then automatic recognition is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel maintains its primary function for vehicle control while incorporating a fingerprint sensor that serves dual purposes: vehicle access authentication and mobile device identification. This multi-functionality allows the added component to justify its presence through multiple uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The fingerprint sensor acts as an intermediary component that bridges the driver's identity verification with both the vehicle's access control system and the mobile device recognition system, enabling automatic operations without significantly complicating the steering wheel's primary functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle controls operation of a mobile electronic device and includes a fingerprint sensor which scans a driver's fingerprint and produces a first electronic representation of the driver's fingerprint. A wireless transceiver receives from the mobile electronic device a first air-borne signal including a second electronic representation of the driver's fingerprint. An electronic processor determines whether the vehicle is in motion, compares the first electronic representation of the driver's fingerprint to the second electronic representation of the driver's fingerprint, and causes the transceiver to transmit a second air-borne signal to the mobile electronic device. The second air-borne signal instructs the mobile electronic device to disable itself. The second air-borne signal is transmitted only if the processor determines that the vehicle is in motion and ascertains as a result of the comparison that the first electronic representation of the driver's fingerprint matches the second electronic representation of the driver's fingerprint.