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World first: Continental integrates face authentication invisibly behind driver display console

The camera hardware for Continental's new facial recognition technology can be found behind the screen of the driver display console, so the integrated technology is invisible and does not affect the interior design. [Credit: Continental]

 

 

 

 

Continental's new Face Authentication Display is a two-stage access control system based on biometric user recognition that uses special camera systems mounted externally on the vehicle's B-pillar and invisibly behind the driver display console. It may be coming to new cars in the U.S. soon.

Thanks to biometric face authentication, the vehicle opens and starts up as soon as it detects a registered user. The system reliably detects attempted deception thanks to unique "liveness detection" from trinamiX, a leading provider of biometric solutions and a subsidiary of BASF SE.

In order keep the design of the vehicle interior extra clean, Continental has positioned the necessary camera technology behind the driver display console for the first time, which enables a frameless screen surface. The design of the screen area is an evolution of technology that won an Innovation Award at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Las Vegas in 2023.

How it works
A camera with biometric authentication in the interior checks whether the person in the driver's seat is authorized to start the vehicle. Other digital services, such as a payment function, also have this feature. The high-contrast and bright OLED display has been specially adapted so the optical components can detect people through the pixels of the activated display. In addition, the sensors integrated into the system include the functionality of reliable attention and fatigue detection.

"For us, user experience is defined not only by functional and technical aspects, but also by aesthetic appeal. Sophisticated convenience and safety functions, which are not visually noticeable when in use, are a complete success for us in this respect," said Dr. Boris Mergell, head of the User Experience (UX) business division of Continental Automotive.

The advanced facial authentication technology, which Continental also integrates into the vehicle's B-pillar, makes it possible to open the driver's door without a key or other means of access. Thanks to this system from trinamiX, the vehicle can be unlocked solely by secure authentication of the driver.

A special camera integrated into the B-pillar not only checks the visual match with a known user, but also allows for the recognition of real skin -- so images of a person's face or even someone wearing a rubber mask will not be authenticated. The double authentication in the exterior and interior not only represents a further level of security to protect against theft, but it also makes it possible, for example, to grant all family members access to the car at any time, while preventing children from starting the engine.

Continental's Face Authentication Display makes it possible to unlock the vehicle safely and conveniently using biometric facial recognition. A display seamlessly integrated into the B-pillar provides additional information such as vehicle charging status. [Credit: Continental]

 

 

 

 

In addition to unlocking the doors, the charging progress of an electric car can also be displayed intuitively and in a visually impressive manner on the exterior as a driver approaches the vehicle. When not in use, the display, which is seamlessly integrated into the B-pillar, is not visible and can therefore be fully integrated into any design concept. This means that the "In2Visible" technology developed by Continental is also being used in vehicle exteriors for the first time.

"Transferring our technologies from the interior to the exterior is a logical next step if this allows us to incorporate additional safety aspects and convenience functions," said Mergell. "By extending our UX portfolio to the exterior, vehicle manufacturers and end users will benefit in equal measure from intuitive new interaction options."

Source: Continental

Published April 2024

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