Method and apparatus are disclosed for iris-detection alignment for vehicle entry and feature activation. An example vehicle includes a window, a camera facing the window, a puddle lamp to project an indicator pointing toward the camera, a UV source, and a controller. The controller is to project, via the UV source, a display onto the window upon detecting a user aligns with the indicator. The controller also is to provide directions to the user, via the display, to position an iris in front of the camera and activate a vehicle feature upon identifying the user via iris recognition.

Embodiments are directed to employing various methods and devices to access a vehicle and controlling a level of access granted based on the device and methods employed. Controlling access to a vehicle can comprise maintaining a plurality of security profiles, each security profile associated with a different access device or type of access device. When the presence of an access device in proximity to the vehicle or a request to access the vehicle is detected, a security profile associated with the detected access device or the request to access the vehicle can be retrieved and used to determine whether to grant access to the vehicle. In response to determining to grant access to the vehicle, access to the vehicle can be provided according to an access level for the detected access device or the request to access the vehicle identified in the retrieved security profile.

A memory stores telemetry data for a vehicle. A processor is programmed to send an authorization confirmation request to the vehicle responsive to pattern matching on the telemetry data indicating a potential change in authorization of the vehicle, and send a deauthorization request to an authorization server to deauthorize tokens for the vehicle responsive to a lack of an affirmative response to the authorization confirmation request being received within a predefined time period.

An anti-theft device 10 is operatively connected to a vehicle drivetrain, downstream of a power plant. To this end, a gear 12 is mounted for rotation together with a driveshaft 13. The device 10 further includes a pivotally mounted locking pawl 17 which is movable relative to the gear 12 between an open position in which a profiled head 18 of the pawl 17 is spaced away from a periphery of the gear 12 such that the gear 12 is permitted to rotate freely together with the driveshaft 13, and a locked position, in which the profiled head 18 of the pawl 17 engages the gear 12 and prevents rotation thereof, thereby locking the driveshaft 13 in position. The device includes an actuator 23 and ECU 22 in a tamper-proof casing 27. The ECU controls engagement of the pawl depending upon a position of a handbrake and ignition switch.

A remotely activated vehicle anti-theft device 10 and system 50 for preventing vehicle theft is provided. The device 10 is moved between unlocked, locked and priority locked states using either a wireless vehicle remote 51 or a mobile phone 52. The mobile phone 52 enjoys priority over the remote control 51 and overrides it when the device is in its priority locked state. It includes a pivotal locking member 17 which is movable between an open position (unlocked state) in which the member is spaced away from a gear 12, permitting it to rotate freely, and a locked position (locked and priority locked states), in which the member 17 engages the gear 12 and prevents rotation thereof, thereby immobilising a vehicle. The device 10 includes an ECU 22, wireless communication module 34, actuator 23, GPS 6 and speed sensor 7 housed in a tamper-proof casing 27.

A vehicle control system comprises a portable terminal and a vehicle including a communication device and a drive device. When the drive device is in a non-actuation state and the communication device is in an inactivated state, the vehicle changes a state of the communication device from the inactivated state to an activated state when an activation condition is satisfied. The activation condition is satisfied when a user holding legitimate qualification exists within a communication possible range. When the drive device is in the non-actuation state, the vehicle changes the state of the communication device from the activated state to the inactivated state when an activation stop condition is satisfied. The activation stop condition is satisfied when an activation period in which the communication device is in the activated state reaches a predetermined period.

An information processing apparatus has a controller configured to identify a driver of a vehicle on the basis of at least one of the results of first authentication based on a first part of the living body of a user and second authentication based on a user device. The controller gives higher priority to the result of first authentication than the result of second authentication in the processing of identifying the driver of the vehicle. The user device may include a first communication terminal capable of functioning as an electronic key of the vehicle and a second communication terminal incapable of functioning as an electronic key of the vehicle. The controller gives higher priority to the result of authentication of the first communication terminal than the result of authentication of the second communication terminal.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for iris-detection alignment for vehicle entry and feature activation. An example vehicle includes a window, a camera facing the window, a puddle lamp to project an indicator pointing toward the camera, a UV source, and a controller. The controller is to project, via the UV source, a display onto the window upon detecting a user aligns with the indicator. The controller also is to provide directions to the user, via the display, to position an iris in front of the camera and activate a vehicle feature upon identifying the user via iris recognition.

A keyless entry and start system for a vehicle includes a vehicle subsystem configured to control at least one of access to an interior compartment of the vehicle and starting of the vehicle. The system further includes an actuator movable between first and second positions and a switch coupled to the actuator. The switch assumes a first state when the actuator is in the first position and a second state when the actuator is in the second position. The system further includes a controller coupled to the switch and configured to detect an actuation sequence of the actuator, the actuation sequence corresponding to an access code. The controller is further configured to compare the access code to an authorization code and generate a control signal configured to cause the vehicle subsystem to switch states when the entry code corresponds to the authorization code.

An authentication apparatus for a vehicle can include: a camera; a processor; and a memory comprising stored authentication data. The authentication apparatus can be configured to: detect, by the camera, an identifying object associated with a user, the identifying object having a source of authentication data; read, by the processor, the source authentication data to provide read authentication data; compare, by the processor, the stored authentication data with the read authentication data; and, when the read authentication data matches the stored authentication data, selectively enable one or more functions of a vehicle to which the authentication apparatus is connectable, based on the read authentication data associated with the identifying object.