US 11,990,954 B2
Wearable key device and electronic key system
Yoichi Kato, Kariya (JP); Takeshi Kumazaki, Kariya (JP); and Kenji Kato, Kariya (JP)
Assigned to DENSO CORPORATION, Aichi-pref. (JP)
Filed by DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed on Aug. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/004,866.
Application 17/004,866 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2019/001691, filed on Jan. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-036869 (JP), filed on Mar. 1, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0391696 A1, Dec. 17, 2020
Int. Cl. H04B 5/72 (2024.01); B60R 25/24 (2013.01); B60R 25/25 (2013.01); G06F 18/22 (2023.01); G06F 21/32 (2013.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01); G08B 7/06 (2006.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); G06V 40/12 (2022.01); G06V 40/14 (2022.01)
CPC H04B 5/72 (2024.01) [B60R 25/241 (2013.01); B60R 25/25 (2013.01); G06F 18/22 (2023.01); G06F 21/32 (2013.01); G06V 40/10 (2022.01); G08B 7/06 (2013.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); B60R 2325/103 (2013.01); G06V 40/1341 (2022.01); G06V 40/14 (2022.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wearable key device having a ring shape and configured to be used while being worn on a finger, the wearable key device comprising:
a ring communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with an authentication device provided to a predetermined protection object;
an imaging device disposed on a side portion of an inner surface of a ring and configured to capture an image of a vein of a side surface of the finger;
a user information storage storing both a vein pattern of a right side surface and a vein pattern of a left side surface of the finger of an authorized user as user information; and
a ring controller configured to:
cooperate with the ring communication module and transmit, to the authentication device, authentication information that is information for certifying that the wearable key device is a key of the protection object;
acquire a scan pattern indicating a vein pattern of the side surface of the finger of a wearer who wears the wearable key device based on the image captured by the imaging device; and
compare the scan pattern indicating the vein pattern of the side surface of the finger of the wearer and the user information stored by the user information storage to determine whether the wearer is the authorized user, wherein
the ring controller is further configured to transmit the authentication information in response to a request from the authentication device when determining that the wearer is the authorized user, and not to transmit the authentication information when not determining that the wearer is the authorized user.