Continental announced its “Face Authentication Display,” 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.
Thanks to biometric face authentication, the vehicle opens and starts up as soon as it detects a registered user, according to Continental. The system reliably detects attempted deception thanks to unique liveness detection from trinamiX, provider of biometric solutions and a subsidiary of BASF SE.
In order not to spoil the design of the vehicle interior, Continental said it 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 the technology, which won an Innovation Award at CES in 2023, the company said.
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 that 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 area in Continental Automotive.
An additional display integrated into the B-pillar allows the user to interact with the vehicle. 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 you approach 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 the “In2Visible” technology developed by Continental is also being used in vehicle exteriors for the first time, the company said.
“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. By extending our UX portfolio to the exterior, vehicle manufacturers and end users will benefit in equal measure from intuitive new interaction options,” explained Mergell.
Continental will be presenting its latest technologies from Tuesday, January 9, to Friday, January 12, as part of a private exhibition on the Central Plaza located opposite Las Vegas Convention Center.
