The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2000
Hirofumi Tatsukawa, Tokyo, JP;
Hisashi Ishikura, Tokyo, JP;
Toru Morita, Tokyo, JP;
Keiichi Enoki, Tokyo, JP;
Masaru Fuku, Tokyo, JP;
Fumitaka Satou, Tokyo, JP;
Koji Nagao, Tokyo, JP;
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A vehicle key system comprises a transmitter including a fingerprint information capturing unit for capturing fingerprint information from a user's fingerprint, and a transmit unit for transmitting the fingerprint information captured by the fingerprint information capturing unit. The system also includes an attaching unit disposed in a vehicle, for attaching the transmitter thereto, and a receiver disposed in the vehicle, including a receive unit for receiving the fingerprint information transmitted from the transmit unit of the transmitter, a fingerprint verification unit for verifying the fingerprint information against a list of pieces of previously stored fingerprint information, an attaching detection unit for determining whether or not the transmitter is attached to the attaching unit, and a control unit for controlling pieces of equipment in the vehicle according to a verification result from the fingerprint verification unit and a detection result from the mounting detection unit. The user can manipulate the pieces of equipment, e.g. start the engine, by actuating a switch, only when the electronic key transmitter is attached to the attaching unit.