WO2003019480A1

WO2003019480A1 - Electronic scanners and applications thereof to vehicle security

Info

Publication number: WO2003019480A1
Application number: PCT/AP2002/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vance Richard Wells; Christopher Anthony
Original assignee: D.P.I. Imaging (Private) Limited
Priority date: 2001-08-30
Filing date: 2002-08-29
Publication date: 2003-03-06

Abstract

The invention proposes a system for scanning features of a person who has activated the detector(s) in the system and passing these scanned features to a processor to be compared with a data bank of authorised persons as opposed to un-authorised persons in relation to a vehicle. Once compared, a course of action will be decreed by the system to restrict use of the vehicle only to authorised persons.

Description

ELECTRONIC SCANNERS AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF TO

VEHICLE SECURITY

TECHNICAL FIELD:-

The invention relates to applications of electronic scanning techniques to secure unauthorised uses of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND:-

Unauthorised attempts to use vehicles has become a serious concern in the past decade or so. So called "car-jacking", with or without violence to the occupants of the vehicle, has become almost endemic in some countries resulting, not only in injuries or even death, but to multi-millions in losses of property to the growing criminal element.

Many " security" devices are both proposed and in use but, so far, no total solution to these vexing problems has been devised to the knowledge of the inventors here concerned. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION: - It is a principal object of the invention to provide method and means to identify persons in relation to vehicular property with intent to control access to or exit from said property or unauthorised use thereof by such persons.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION:-

According to the invention a scanning system for use in conjunction with a vehicle comprises means to detect motion; means adapted to focus on the source of the motion; means adapted to scan the focused source for identifiable features and to compare these features with data stored in the system; discriminatory means within the system adapted to decree a course of action dependant upon the result of the comparison and means adapted to implement the decided course of action within a predeterminable period of time from first detection of motion.

Also according to the invention a scanning system further includes a mechanism whereby the decreed course of action is commenced only after a warning has been given to an intruder and the warning has been ignored.

In one aspect of the invention the motion detector is a ultra-sonic type camera which is adapted to scan at least the head of a person responsible for the detected motion and to transmit details of the features of the person to a data bank within the system for comparison with stored information in the data bank. Generally, the features of greatest importance in making a comparison include the shape of the skull, nose and ears, all of which are difficult to disguise or to alter. Additional features that may be taken into consideration include eyes, mouth and teeth of the person being scanned.

In a further aspect of the invention a method for controlling access to and exit from a vehicle includes the installation of a scanning system as herein disclosed, at a point of surveillance within the vehicle. EXAMPLES OF THE LNVENTION:-

In a first example, the aspect of "car-jacking" is addressed. Here a ultra-sonic type camera, preferably a miniaturized version, is mounted in a vehicle in a hard-to- detect position such as behind an internal rear- view mirror, which mirror may be made of "one-way" glass. The camera is focused on the drivers position within the vehicle and has a sufficient field of view to enable a scan of the head(and possibly shoulders also) of the person in the drivers seat at any given time to be accomplished.

Pick up from the camera is routed to an onboard computer/processor, which is loaded with file details of all authorised drivers of that vehicle. Scanned images received in the processor from the camera would be compared with stored data on an ongoing basis. Should an anomaly be detected by the system, then, after a predeterminable time from scan, the processor would activate an immobilisation/warning sequence of predeterminable choice. This could include a "silent alarm" transmission to a reaction unit which, in conjunction with a Global Positioning System(GPS) or similar tracking facility, could be guided to the scene to intervene in the theft.

In a further example, the camera may be movable, preferably by remote means, to focus on a passenger seat, preferably the front passenger seat next to the driver. This is sometimes required because a car-jacker might force the front passenger door and compel the 'authorised' driver to continue to drive the vehicle thus seeking to obviate the reaction system. Movement of the security camera could be by a mechanism similar to that installed in most cars where adjustment to a "side- mirror" may be effected at any time. However, as criminals become aware of the existence of the system herein proposed, it may be necessary to install, say, a foot operable mechanism which would not be quite so obvious when used . Additionally, a dual system could be used which scans both front seat positions simultaneously requiring either the authorised driver on his or her own or, if the second front seat is occupied that it be occupied by an authorised person. In the event of the passenger seat being occupied by an un-authorised person, the hijacking sequence could be activated as aforementioned. A driver operated temporary over-ride system could be incorporated if required.

Yet another example of the system includes a facility to take a "photograph" or scanned image of an intruder for later identification or, in more sophisticated installations, to make a photograph or image immediately available to a reaction unit and /or to a central control or police post.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

Claim 1. A scanning system for use in conjunction with a vehicle comprising means to detect motion; means adapted to focus on the source of the motion; means adapted to scan the focused source for identifiable features and to compare these features with data stored in the system; discriminatory means within the system adapted to decree a course of action dependant upon the result of the comparison and means adapted to implement the decided course of action within a predeterminable period of time from first detection of motion.

Claim 2. A scanning system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the decreed course of action is commenced only after a warning has been given to the intruder and the warning has been ignored.

Claim 3. A scanning system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the motion detector is a ultra-sound camera.

Claim 4. A scanning system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the motion detector is adapted to scan at least the head of a person responsible for the detected motion and to transmit details of the features of the person to a data bank for comparison with stored information.

Claim 5. A scanning system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the features of the person responsible for the detected motion include the shape of the skull, nose and ears which are difficult to alter or to disguise.

Claim 6. A scanning system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the features also include eyes, mouth and teeth of the person being scanned.

Claim 7. A method for controlling access to or exit from a vehicle including installation of a scanning system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 within a vehicle to be controlled.

Claim 8. A method as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the scanning system is arranged and functions substantially as disclosed in the examples.