Taillight mounted vehicle security system employing facial recognition using a reflected image

An apparatus for securing a movable vehicle comprising a taillight assembly supporting at least the following elements:

• (a) an electronic camera having an output for image signals;
• (b) a facial-recognition system coupled to the output of the camera;
• and
• (c) an electronic storage device coupled to the facial-recognition system;
• (d) wherein the facial-recognition system produces on an output an authorization control signal only if image signals representative of select characteristics of a scanned face match a member of a set of personal identifying signals stored in said electronic storage device, each member of the stored set representative of select characteristics of the scanned face of an authorized operator.

A movable vehicle having a passenger cabin and an engine compartment, comprising:

• (a) a rear-view mirror mounted at the front of the passenger cabin;
• (b) a taillight assembly mounted along the vertical center plane of the vehicle near the rear of the passenger cabin and supporting at least the following elements:
• i) an electronic camera having an output for picture signals, which camera is positioned to be directed at the rear-view mirror;
• ii) a facial-recognition system coupled to the output of the camera;
• iii) an electronic storage device coupled to the facial-recognition system;
• and
• iv) a transmitter;
• v) wherein the facial-recognition system transmits via the transmitter an authorization control signal only if picture signals representative of select characteristics of a scanned face match a member of a set of signals stored in said electronic storage device, each member of the stored set representative of select characteristics of the scanned face of an authorized operator;
• (c) an enabling system structured to enable operation of the vehicle;
• and
• (d) a control unit coupled to the enabling system and supporting a coupled receiver and decoder, which decoder activates the enabling system only if the decoder detects that the authorization control signal has been received by the receiver from the transmitter.

A method of retrofitting a moveable vehicle with a security system, which vehicle has a passenger cabin and an engine compartment, a rear-view mirror mounted along the centerline of the vehicle at the front of the passenger cabin, a brake pedal in the passenger cabin, and an enabling device supported in the engine compartment and structured to enable motive force to the vehicle, comprising:

• (a) mounting a taillight assembly along the vertical center plane of the vehicle near the rear of the passenger cabin, which assembly supports at least the following elements:
• i) a rear-directed light;
• ii) a front-directed electronic camera having an output for a picture signal;
• iii) a facial-recognition system coupled to the output of the camera;
• iv) an electronic storage device coupled to the facial-recognition system;
• and
• v) a transmitter;
• vi) wherein the facial-recognition system transmits an authorization control signal only if picture signals representative of select characteristics of a scanned face match a member of a set of signals stored in said electronic storage device, each member of the stored set representative of select characteristics of the scanned face of an authorized operator;
• and
• (b) positioning the assembly so that the camera is directed at the rear-view mirror;
• (c) coupling the light and the camera of the taillight assembly to a line carrying a control signal that is generated upon operation of the brake pedal;
• and
• (d) coupling a control unit to the enabling device, which control unit supports a receiver and activates the enabling system only upon receipt by the receiver of the authorization control signal from the transmitter of the taillight assembly.