# US 10,769,874 B2 · Variable height exterior keypad > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,769,874 B2 - Document ID: US10769874B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/216,380 - Filed: 2018-12-11 - Published: 2020-06-11 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-11 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stuart Salter; Kristopher Brown; David Brian Glickman; Paul Kenneth Dellock; Pietro Buttolo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769874B2 ## CPC - B60R 25/23: using manual input of alphanumerical codes - G07C 9/00563: {using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G07C 9/00658: {operated by passive electrical keys} - G07C 9/33: by means of a password - G07C 2209/63: Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A vehicle access control system is disclosed and includes a touch sensitive display for generating an input image and controller configured to control the input image generated on the touch sensitive display responsive to information regarding a height of an operator. The system controls a lock actuatable responsive a signal from the controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An external keypad for a vehicle comprising: a display accessible from an external surface of the vehicle; and a controller receiving information indicative of a characteristic of an operator, wherein the controller governs operation of an input image generated on the display in response to the received information indicative of a characteristic of the operator and generates an access signal responsive to a predefined code input onto the input image, wherein the controller determines a height of the operator by determining an area of high contact on the display and an area of low contact and a hand shadow ratio between the areas of high contact and the area of low contact and uses the determined height information to govern operation of the input image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The external keypad for a vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the input image is a keypad generated on the display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The external keypad for a vehicle as recited in claim 2, wherein the keypad is generated with alphanumeric characters disposed in a non-sequential order. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The external keypad for a vehicle as recited in claim 2, wherein the keypad is generated with alphanumeric characters positioned in a non- rectilinear shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The external keypad for a vehicle as recited in claim 2, wherein keypad includes alphanumeric characters and at least one blank key. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The external keypad for a vehicle as recited in claim 2, wherein each key of the keypad includes a background color and an alphanumeric color that are selectable by the operator for reducing observability of a code input into the keypad other than the operator inputting a code. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The external keypad for a vehicle as recited in claim 2, wherein a height of the input image is adjusted according to the information indicative of the characteristic of the operator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The external keypad for a vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller receives an image of an operator's face and determines a height of the operator based on the image of the operator's face. ### Claim 9 A method of authorizing access to a vehicle comprising: mounting a touch sensitive display in a location accessible from an exterior of the vehicle; determining an area of high contact on the display and an area of low contact and determining the height of the operator based on a hand shadow ratio between the area of high contact and the area of low contact; generating an input image on the touch sensitive display with a controller responsive to information regarding a height of an operator; and enabling access to the vehicle responsive to inputting a proper code into the input image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9, including generating the input image on the display based on the height of the operator corresponding with the hand shadow ratio. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9, including generating the input image to include alphanumeric characters disposed in at least one of a non-sequential order, a non-rectilinear shape and/or to include at least one blank key. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9, including generating the input image to include a keypad that includes a background color and a character color that are selectable for reducing undesired observance of input into the keypad.