Car handle fingers criminals

Hitachi has developed a finger-vein-detecting security system for use on car door handles and steering wheels.

The biometric technique could provide drivers with a highly secure, keyless entry and ignition system.

A working version fitted to a vehicle is being displayed at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. When a hand grips the car handle, the embedded unit emits light to capture a clear image of the dorsal vein patterns on the outside of the finger.

The results are compared to computerised records of vein patterns of registered vehicle users.

The handle has been designed so that the same part of the finger is always placed in contact with the vein-detecting unit to allow identification to take place.

The system also includes image correction technology to ensure stable authentication.

The company claims that the vein-pattern technology has an extremely high accuracy rate, giving few false readings.