U.S. patent number 3,803,551 [Application Number 05/178,703] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-09 for vehicle operator identification system.
Invention is credited to Howard E. Jordan.
United States Patent |
3,803,551 |
Jordan |
April 9, 1974 |
VEHICLE OPERATOR IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A vehicle operator identification system consists of a card
reader into which the vehicle operator inserts his coded
identification card. The coded card contains an array of logically
coded information which is compared against a preferred code and
operation of the vehicle is enabled only when the two codes are
identical. This operator identification system eliminates the
necessity for ignition keys and renders theft of the vehicle by
tampering with the wiring virtually impossible.
Inventors: |
Jordan; Howard E. (Euclid,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
22653605 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/178,703 |
Filed: |
September 8, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/10.5;
180/287; 340/5.6; 340/5.72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
25/04 (20130101); B60R 25/24 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
25/04 (20060101); B60r 025/04 (); B60r
025/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/63,64,149A
;180/114 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Caldwell; John W.
Assistant Examiner: Swann, III; Glen R.
Claims
1. A vehicle operator identification system comprised of a card
reading means, capable of receiving a coded operator identification
card; a decoding means, said decoding means and said card reading
means capable of functioning in combination to compare the operator
identification card code with a preferred code, said combination of
decoding means and card reading means capable of communicating a
logical state to an enabling means, said logical state to assume
one state when operator identification code coincides with
preferred code and complement state otherwise, said decoding means,
said enabling means and vehicle's ignition coil being housed in a
single enclosure, said ignition coil primary is electrically
connected to vehicle's battery and breaker points, said enabling
means comprised of a switching means opening a ground connection to
said primary when said logical state is in said one state and
closing said ground
2. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said decoding means is
comprised
3. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said card reading means
is an
4. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said card reading means
is a
5. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said enabling means is
comprised of a first part and a second part, said first part of
said enabling means comprised of a switching means opening a ground
connection to said primary when said logical state is in said one
state and closing said ground connection when said logical state is
in the complement state, said second part of said enabling means
comprised of at least two switching means, first of said switching
means being closed when the vehicle's hood is open, otherwise said
first switching means being open, second of said switching means
being open when said logical state is in said one state and closed
when said logical state is in the complement state, and further
comprising an alarm which is activated when said first and
second
6. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said enabling means also
inhibits or enables the opening of the vehicle's hood depending
upon the logical state communicated to the enabling means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
There are numerous schemes in the prior art to prevent theft of
vehicles. Most of these schemes disable the ignition circuit and
alarm when an unauthorized person attempts to operate the vehicle.
However, since some means must be provided for the rightful owner
of the vehicle to operate it, a second key operated switch is
usually provided which switches the protection system on or off.
Professional car thieves have learned to identify these systems and
disable the alarm prior to attempting to start the vehicle. They
then start the vehicle by jumpering around the ignition switch. The
prior art still relies on the owner having to carry keys as both a
means of starting the vehicle and a means of preventing operation
by unauthorized users. Tampering with ignition switch wiring to
start and operate the vehicle without inserting the proper key is a
well developed technique among vehicle thieves. This invention
overcomes the shortcomings of prior vehicle protective systems by
incorporating a coded identification card reader in the vehicle in
such a manner as to enable operation of the vehicle only when a
card with the preferred code is inserted into the card reader.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A vehicle operator identification system eliminates the use of an
ignition key and replaces it with a coded identification card.
Since a logical code consisting of a large number of true or false
states can be compactly arranged on a small card, the possibility
of an unauthorized person starting and operating the vehicle by
tampering with the wiring and selecting the preferred code on a
trial and error basis is virtually nil.
An object of this invention is to provide a vehicle operator
identification system comprised of a card reader, a decoding unit
and an enabling unit. The enabling unit will permit operation of
the vehicle only when a properly coded card is inserted into the
card reader.
A further object of this invention is to provide a vehicle operator
identification system in which the enabling unit disables the
breaker points in the vehicle ignition system and enables the
breaker points only when the properly coded card is inserted into
the card reader.
A further object of this invention is to provide a vehicle operator
identification system in which the enabling unit disables the
vehicle's fuel system until a properly coded card in inserted into
the card reader.
A further object of this invention is to provide a vehicle operator
identification system in which the enabling unit, decoding unit and
the vehicle's ignition coil are in a single sealed unit to inhibit
a thief from circumventing the protective system.
A further object of this invention is to provide a vehicle operator
identification system in which the enabling unit inhibits opening
the vehicle's hood.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a burglar
alarm system installed in the vehicle which is disabled by the
operator identification system to permit the authorized user of the
vehicle to operate the vehicle without sounding the alarm.
These and other objects and advantages of this invention will
become more apparent as the vehicle operator identification system
is more fully discribed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle operator
identification system.
FIG. 2 illustrates the three principal logic elements used in
constructing a decoding unit.
FIG. 3 shows in block diagram form an operator identification
system in which the enabling unit operates on the vehicle's fuel
system.
FIG. 4 illustrates the enabling unit, decoding unit, and ignition
coil contained in a single enclosure.
FIG. 5 displays a locking device for the vehicle's hood that can be
unlocked only by means of the operator identification system.
FIG. 6 displays a side view of the locking device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 1 generally
refers to the operator identification unit which is a card reader
into which a coded identification card can be inserted. Card
readers of this type are commonly used with computers and are
commercially available in many forms. One design utilizes a series
of electrical contacts which are closed until a punched data card
is inserted into the card reader. The card then separates the two
sides of each pair of electrical contacts that are not located at a
card position with a punched slot. The contacts are closed when
they are opposite a punched slot in the card. The number and
positions of punched slots in the card thus determine the code
contained on the card. This card code is converted into electrical
signals when the electrical contacts are energized. Those contacts
opposite a punched card slot form a closed electrical circuit and
those opposite a portion of the card which is not punched form an
open circuit. This is called an electrical contact card reader.
Photoelectric card readers operate on a similar principle except
that the slots in the card permit passage of light from one side of
the card through to a photoelectric receiver on the opposite side
of the card. Thus an electric signal is generated at the
photoelectric receivers opposite slots in the card and not at those
receivers opposite unpunched portions of the card.
Numeral 2 designates an operator's identification card inserted in
the reader showing slots 3.
The explanation of operation will be continued using a card reader
with electrical contacts as an example although it is recognized
that other types of readers may be substituted without violating
the spirit of the invention. The state of each contact in the card
reader is transmitted by the electrical multiconductor cable 4 to
the decoding unit 5 which is comprised of a plurality of logic
gates 6. Each pair of contacts is connected by means of a wire in
the multiconductor cable to one input of a logic gate. A common
wire, often called a ground wire, is also contained in cable 4.
These gates compare the punched code in the operator's
identification card with a preferred code in a manner to be
described in more detail below. The results of this comparison are
transmitted to the enabling unit 17 by a second electrical cable 7.
This cable may be comprised of only two wires since it transmits
only one electrical signal. If the code on the operator's
identification card agrees with the preferred code a signal
representative of the true state is transmitted to the enabling
unit. Otherwise a signal representative of the false state is
transmitted.
The enabling unit 17 enables operation of the vehicle only when a
true signal is present on 7. The relay coil 8 in the enabling unit
is energized when a true signal is present on 7 and opens the relay
contacts 9. This action removes the ground connection from the
ignition coil 10. The removal of the ground connection enables the
breaker points 11 to perform the normal function in the vehicle's
ignition system, that of alternately making and breaking the ground
connection to the primary 12 of the ignition coil. The other
elements in FIG. 1 are parts in a conventional vehicle ignition
system. The alternate making and breaking of the breaker points 14
causes a high voltage to be induced in the ignition coil secondary
16. This high voltage is transmitted to the spark plugs 15 to
produce an electrical arc that ignites the engine fuel. When the
enabling unit 17 is not receiving a true signal on cable 7, relay
contacts 9 are closed and the breaker points 14 are disabled from
performing their normal function. Even though the breaker points
may alternately open and close, the primary coil 12 of the ignition
coil 10 remains continuously energized by current from the battery
21 passing through the ignition switch 18, the primary 12 and the
relay contacts 9 to the vehicle electrical ground. When the primary
coil 12 is continuously energized with a dc current from the
battery 21, no high voltage is induced in the ignition coil
secondary 16. Other conventional vehicle ignition system parts are
the distributor which is generally designated by numeral 13 and the
capacitor paralleling the breaker points which is designated by
numeral 14. The spark plugs 15 are connected to the high voltage
secondary 16 of the ignition coil by the rotor 22. An ignition
switch 18 switches the battery 21 onto the primary 12 of the
ignition coil 10. It should be emphasized that with this invention
the vehicle will not start even though the ignition switch is
closed until the operator's identification card with the preferred
code is inserted into the card reader. The ignition switch
therefore need not be a key switch.
The card reader 1 is located in the passenger section of the
vehicle convenient to the driver. The vehicle operator
identification card can be a billfold size card approximately 2
inch/31/2 inches made of plastic or cardboard. The card reader will
be slightly larger than the operator identification card so the
card reader can completely contain the card and the reader can also
contain low current electrical contacts for sensing the presence or
absence of punched holes in the card.
The decoding unit 5 can be located any place in the vehicle since
all signals are transmitted to and from it via electrical cables 4
and 7. It most probably would be located in the engine compartment.
Integrated circuit logic gates are used to construct the decoding
unit.
The enabling unit is comprised of a relay coil 8 and a set of
contacts 9. The enabling unit would normally be located in the
engine compartment close to the ignition coil 10.
The combined operation of the operator identification unit 1 and
the decoding unit 5 is best explained by reference to FIG. 2. In
FIG. 2 the three types of logic elements or gates that are used in
the decoding unit are displayed. FIG. 2A shows an "AND" gate which
implements the Boolean algebraic equation:
W = X .sup.. Y .sup.. Z (1)
where the variables X, Y, Z, and W are Boolean logic variables that
have one or the other of two possible states, true or false.
Equation (1) states that if inputs X and Y and Z are all true, then
the output W will be true. Otherwise W will be false if one or more
of the inputs is false. FIG. 2B shows an "OR" gate which implements
the Boolean equation:
H = E + F + G (2)
Equation (2) states that if one or more of the inputs E, F, or G
are true, the output H will be true, otherwise it will be false.
FIG. 2C shows a "NOT" gate which implements the Boolean
equation:
K = J (3)
Equation (3) states that the output K is the complement of the
input J. If J is true, K is false and if J is false, K is true.
Combinations of the above three gates can be devised to uniquely
select one and only one code on the operator's identification card
as the preferred code. One gate is not restricted to three inputs.
For example, consider one row of an operator's identification card
represented by:
V lumn W X Y 0 de 1 0 0
The 1's represent a punch in the designated column and the 0's
represent the absence of a punch in that column. Then a Boolean
equation for decoding this row is:
Z = U .sup.. V .sup.. W .sup.. X .sup.. Y (4)
where Z is a Boolean variable which has a logically true state only
if columns U and W have punches and columns V, X, and Y have no
punches. FIG. 2D shows a combination of AND and NOT gates combined
to decode this row of five code positions and present a true signal
at the output Z if and only if the card contains the preferred
punch code which is:
1 0 1 0 0
Each code position on the card has the potential of existing in one
of two logical states, namely, true or false. The true state is
represented by a punch and the false state is represented by the
absence of a punch. The number of possible codes which an N
position card can have is 2.sup.N. For example, if there were 10
possible code positions on the card there would be 2.sup.10 = 1,024
possible codes with such a card. It is clearly impractical for
anyone to expect to select the preferred code by guesswork or trial
and error from such a large number of possible codes. Even a small
billfold size card can easily be coded with more than 10 code
positions.
Commercially available integrated circuit logic gates can be used
to construct the decoding unit. For example, Digital Equipment
Corporation's integrated circuits numbers M113 and M119 could be
used to assemble a decoding unit which would perform the logical
decoding function displayed in FIG. 2D. The M113 gates would be
used to perform the NOT functions in FIG. 2D and the M119 would be
used to perform the AND function. In this case a voltage of 3.6
volts would represent a true state and a voltage of 0 volts would
represent a false state.
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram for a vehicle operator
identification system in which the enabling unit 17 is an
electrically operated valve in the fuel line. The valve is moved to
a position which permits passage of fuel into the vehicle's engine
only when a true signal is present at cable 7 at the output of the
decoding unit 5. The operator identification unit 1 receives the
operator's identification card as described in connection with FIG.
1.
The dotted lines in the enabling unit 17 show the position of the
plunger in the enabling unit when a true signal is present on 7. In
this condition the solenoid coil is energized, the plunger is
retracted and fuel is allowed to pass through the enabling unit as
shown by the arrows. When a false signal is present on 7, the
plunger is in the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 3 and
fuel is inhibited from passing through the enabling unit.
FIG. 4 shows a vehicle operator identification system similar to
the one displayed in FIG. 1 except that the decoding unit 5, the
enabling unit 17 and the ignition coil 10 are all contained in a
single enclosed and sealed enclosure 29. The electrical leads
entering the sealed enclosure 29 are the cable 4 from the operator
identification unit 1, the battery lead 20, the primary lead 31
from the ignition coil 10 to the breaker points 11 and the ignition
coil high voltage lead 19. No combination of opening or shorting
the leads external to the sealed unit 29 will get the vehicle
started. The only way the ignition system can be enabled is by
means of a card with the preferred code inserted into the operator
identification unit. As already explained it is virtually
impossible for a person to guess the preferred code from the many
possible code combinations.
A burglar alarm system can be added to further protect the vehicle
from theft. The alarm system is comprised of an electrically
operated horn which is sounded upon the simultaneous occurrence of
two events. One event is the closing of a switch which is held in
an open position when-ever the vehicle's hood is closed and the
second event is the presence of a false signal at the output of the
decoding unit. This set of conditions can be implemented in an
electrical circuit as described below.
The enabling unit is constructed in two parts. The first part
serves to inhibit the operation of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 1.
The second part enables the alarm system and consists of two
switches which are in series with the electrically operated horn.
One switch is held open whenever the vehicle's hood is closed and
the second switch is the normally closed contacts of a relay
operating from the output of the decoding unit. Thus when the
decoding unit output is false the relay is deenergized and the
alarm system is enabled. If the hood of the vehicle is opened the
alarm will sound. Whenever the authorized operator of the vehicle
desires to open the hood he places his identification card
containing the preferred code in the card reader thereby
establishing a true state at the output of the decoding unit and
disabling the alarm system. The vehicle hood encloses the enabling
system including the ignition circuit as well as the vehicle's
engine. An unauthorized person desiring to tamper with the enabling
system must open the hood thereby sounding the alarm.
An alternative means for implementing an alarm system is to replace
the switch held open by the hood with a second set of contacts
mechanically linked to the ignition switch, numeral 18 in FIG. 1.
This set of contacts interlocks with the contacts shown at 18 in
FIG. 1 and closes whenever the ignition switch is closed. If the
enabling unit's output is false at that time, the alarm will sound.
An unauthorized person trying to start the vehicle without the
proper operator identification card would naturally close the
ignition switch thereby sounding the alarm.
The vehicle operator identification system can also be used as a
means for locking the hood of a vehicle shut to all but authorized
persons. FIG. 5 displays such a system. The latch 25, which is
shown in the locking position, engages a molding 28 attached to the
inside of the hood. The latch keeps the molding and the hood from
being raised to an open position. When the latch is moved to the
open position which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, the hood is
free to be raised. A plunger 23 fitted into a solonoid 30 inhibits
the latch 25 from moving to the open position when the solonoid 30
is deenergized. When the solonoid is energized, the plunger 23
retracts permitting the latch 25 to be moved to the open position.
Numeral 24, FIG. 5, designates the end of the plunger in the
retracted position. The solenoid-plunger assembly 17 comprises the
enabling unit of the vehicle operator identification system when it
is used to lock the vehicle's hood. The other elements of the
system, namely, the operator identification unit 1, the decoding
unit 5, the electrical cable 4 interconnecting elements 1 and 5,
the electrical cable 7 interconnecting elements 5 and 17 all serve
the same functions as explained in the discussion of FIG. 1.
The foregoing description is illustrative of the principles of this
invention. Numerous modifications and changes will occur to those
skilled in the art and accordingly such modifications and changes
fall within the spirit of this invention as defined in the
following claims.
* * * * *