STEERING WHEEL WITH BIOMETRIC SENSORS AND METHOD FOR CHECKING THE IDENTITY AND/OR THE PSYCHOPHYSICAL STATE OF A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE USING SAID STEERING WHEEL

摘要

Driving wheel (1) for a vehicle comprising a central part (2) that is fixable to the steering column of the steering of the vehicle and a rim (3) that is suitable for being grasped by a driver of the vehicle to drive the steering, said central part (2) and said rim (3) are defined in a base body (4) constituting the supporting structure of the steering wheel (1), said base body (4) being provided with a cladding consisting of two opposite half moulds (5, 6), fixed to said base body (4) so as to constitute the outer surface of the steering wheel (1), said half moulds (5, 6) are made of conductive plastics and on said base body (4) electric contacts are provided for connecting electrically said half moulds (5, 6) to control means of said vehicle. Method for checking the identity and/or the psychophysical state of a driver of a vehicle using said steering wheel comprises the following steps: detecting a fingerprint of the driver of the vehicle by said first sensor (7) or said second sensor (8); comparing said fingerprint with fingerprints stored in a control means of the vehicle; enabling the engine of the vehicle to be started if said fingerprint corresponds to one of the fingerprints stored in said control means of the vehicle; detecting the pulse rate of the driver of the vehicle by said first sensor (7) or said second sensor (8) and storing said pulse rate in said control means of the vehicle.