Virtual keypad for vehicle entry control
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorClark E. Mc Call
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus are provided for vehicle entry control using an imaged keypad. The apparatus includes a virtual interface for entry control of a vehicle having an imaging surface that defines a field of view. The interface includes a projected keypad image on the imaging surface having at least one image of a reconfigurable key within the field of view and a gesture detector and translator having a scope of operation within the field of view. The image of the reconfigurable key may have a configuration based on a user preference.
Claims20
An entry control system for providing a passenger with access to a vehicle having an imaging surface, said entry control system comprising:
- an image generator located within the vehicle and configured to produce a keypad image on the imaging surface;
- a camera configured to detect a gesture made by the passenger proximate to the keypad image;
- and
- a processor configured to interpret the gesture and to thereby grant or deny access to the vehicle.
A virtual interface for entry control of a vehicle having an imaging surface, the imaging surface defining a field of view, said interface comprising:
- a projected keypad image on the imaging surface having at least one image of a reconfigurable key within the field of view, said at least one image of a reconfigurable key having a configuration based on a user preference;
- and
- a gesture detector configured to:
- recognize a gesture corresponding to the projected keypad image;
- and
- generate a vehicle entry sequence based at least in part on the gesture.
A method of controlling entry to a vehicle having an image projection surface, said method comprising the steps of:
- projecting a keypad image onto the image projection surface;
- detecting a keypad gesture within a vicinity of the keypad image;
- interpreting the keypad gesture;
- determining an authorized keypad sequence;
- and
- permitting entry into the vehicle upon receipt of the authorized keypad sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.