Rf biometric ignition control system

Abstract

An electronic ignition control system includes a keyfob having a biometric sensor that senses an identifying biological characteristic of the user. The keyfob also has a transmitter that transmits an air-borne signal dependent upon the identifying biological characteristic. The ignition has an unlocked state in which the user can cause the ignition to start the motor by actuating a start mechanism. The ignition also has a locked state in which actuation of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor. The vehicle also has a receiver that receives the air-borne signal from the transmitter. The vehicle further has a controller in communication with each of the ignition and the receiver. The system can work independent of a RF transmitter and receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic ignition control system, comprising:
 a keyfob including:   a biometric sensor configured to sense a fingerprint of a user, the keyfob being configured to produce a digital representation of the fingerprint; and   a transmitter configured to transmit an air-borne signal including the produced digital representation of the fingerprint; and   a vehicle including:
 a memory device storing digital representations of fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle; 
 a motor; 
 an ignition configured to start the motor, the ignition having an unlocked state in which the user can cause the ignition to start the motor by actuating a start mechanism, and a locked state in which actuation of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor; 
 a receiver configured to receive the air-borne signal from the transmitter; and 
 a controller in communication with each of the memory device, the ignition and the receiver, the controller being configured to:
 compare the produced digital representation of the fingerprint to the stored digital representations of the fingerprints of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle; and 
 switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state dependent upon the air-borne signal received by the receiver. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state, and unlock a door of the vehicle, if the air-borne signal received by the receiver indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to implement a personalized vehicle setting if the air-borne signal received by the receiver indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the personalized vehicle setting includes a seat adjustment, radio station presets, a suspension system setting, an environmental setting, and/or a steering wheel adjustment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a second biometric sensor configured to sense a second identifying biological characteristic of the user, the controller being configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state dependent upon the sensed second identifying biological characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state if both the air-borne signal received by the receiver and the sensed second identifying biological characteristic are indicative of a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state only if the air-borne signal is indicative of the transmitter being within a predetermined distance of the receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second identifying biological characteristic is an other fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle electronic ignition control arrangement, comprising:
 a keyfob including:
 a first biometric sensor configured to sense a first identifying biological characteristic of a user; and 
 a transmitter configured to transmit an air-borne signal indicative of the first identifying biological characteristic; and 
   a vehicle including:
 a motor; 
 an ignition configured to start the motor, the ignition having an unlocked state in which the user can cause the ignition to start the motor by using a start mechanism, and a locked state in which use of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor; 
 a receiver configured to receive the air-borne signal from the transmitter; 
 a second biometric sensor configured to sense a second identifying biological characteristic of the user; and 
 a controller in communication with each of the ignition, the receiver, and the second biometric sensor, the controller being configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state dependent upon both the air-borne signal received by the receiver and the sensed second identifying biological characteristic. 
   
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state if both the air-borne signal received by the receiver and the sensed second identifying biological characteristic are indicative of an approved user. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state only if the air-borne signal is indicative of the transmitter being within a predetermined distance of the receiver. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state if both the air-borne signal received by the receiver and the sensed second identifying biological characteristic are indicative of a same approved user 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the first identifying biological characteristic is one fingerprint of the user, and the second identifying biological characteristic is an other fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the second biometric sensor is configured to sense a fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         15 . An electronic ignition control system, comprising:
 a keyfob including:
 a biometric sensor configured to sense an identifying biological characteristic of a user, the keyfob being configured to produce a digital representation of the identifying biological characteristic; and 
 a transmitter configured to transmit an air-borne signal including the produced digital representation of the identifying biological characteristic; and 
   a vehicle including:
 a motor; 
 an ignition configured to start the motor, the ignition having an unlocked state in which the user can cause the ignition to start the motor by actuating a start mechanism, and a locked state in which actuation of the start mechanism by the user does not cause the ignition to start the motor; 
 a receiver configured to receive the air-borne signal from the transmitter; and 
 a controller in communication with each of the ignition and the receiver, the controller being configured to:
 compare the produced digital representation of the identifying biological characteristic to stored digital representations of the identifying biological characteristics of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle; and 
 switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state if the produced digital representation of the identifying biological characteristic matches one of the stored digital representations of the identifying biological characteristics of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to switch the ignition from the locked state to the unlocked state, and unlock a door of the vehicle, if the air-borne signal received by the receiver indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the identifying biological characteristic comprises a fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle includes a memory device storing the digital representations of the identifying biological characteristics of pre-approved drivers of the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to implement a personalized vehicle setting if the air-borne signal received by the receiver indicates that the user is a person who has been pre-approved to drive the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the personalized vehicle setting includes a seat adjustment, radio station presets, a suspension system setting, an environmental setting, and/or a steering wheel adjustment.