Patent Document ID: 6100811
Application ID: 08995564
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. Apparatus for controlling a vehicle using fingerprint matching, the apparatus comprising: a fingerprint sensor mounted in a convenient interior location in a vehicle, for generating a two-dimensional fingerprint image of a user of the vehicle; a high-speed fingerprint matcher, for searching the entire two-dimensional sensed fingerprint image for instances of distinctive features similar to each of a plurality of pattern features that have been extracted from a previously stored reference fingerprint image, to verify the identity of the user of the vehicle; a fingerprint match controller, for selecting from a plurality of stored reference fingerprint images for presentation tb the fingerprint matcher, and having a locked mode of operation and an unlocked mode of operation; an engine enabling switch, to prevent operation of the vehicle in the locked mode; means included in the fingerprint match controller, for switching from the locked mode to the unlocked mode upon successfully verifying the identity of a vehicle user; means operable in the unlocked mode, for actuating the engine enabling switch to allow operation of the vehicle; at least one actuator for adjusting a vehicle subsystem in accordance with the user's preferred settings; storage means for recording actuator settings associated with user identities; and means operable in the unlocked mode, for operating the actuator based on settings retrieved from the storage means for an identified user.