Input devices incorporating biometric sensors

• US 10,402,617 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2016
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cao, Robert Y., McCord, Michael K., Lancaster-Larocque, Simon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Md Saiful A
• Application Number:
  US15/239,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20170091436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/52 : the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 : characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/08 : composed of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 : with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 : portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02

Abstract

A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.

Claims

1. A laptop computing device operable in a standby power state and an on power state, the laptop computing device comprising:

an upper portion comprising;

an upper housing; and

a primary display positioned at least partially within the upper housing;

a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion and comprising;

a lower housing defining an upper surface and an aperture that extends into the upper surface;

a keyboard extending along the upper surface and positioned at least partially within the lower housing;

a touch-sensitive display positioned within the aperture; and

a power button positioned within the aperture and adjacent to the touch-sensitive display, the power button comprising;

a button cap defining an exterior surface and configured to pivot away from the touch-sensitive display when pressed;

a biometric sensor coupled to the button cap and positioned below the exterior surface; and

an electrical switch positioned below the biometric sensor; and

a processor in communication with the biometric sensor and the electrical switch, the processor configured to;

detect a first press of the power button using the biometric sensor when the electronic device is in the on power state and, in response, trigger an operation to transition the electronic device to the standby power state from the on power state; and

detect a second press of the power button using the electrical switch when the electronic device is in the standby power state and, in response, trigger an operation to transition the electronic device to the on power state from the standby power state if biometric data obtained from the biometric sensor matches template data.

2. The laptop computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is a dedicated processor of the power button.

3. The laptop computing device of claim 1, wherein obtaining biometric data from the biometric sensor occurs after the power button is pressed beyond a threshold distance.

4. An electronic device comprising:

an upper housing;

a display positioned at least partially within the upper housing;

a lower housing coupled to the upper housing by a hinge and defining an upper surface and an opening extending into the upper surface;

a keyboard extending along the upper surface and positioned at least partially within the lower housing;

a touch-sensitive display positioned in the opening of the lower housing;

a power button comprising a biometric sensor and positioned within the opening and adjacent to the touch-sensitive display and configured to pivot away from the touch-sensitive display when pressed; and

a processor in communication with the power button, the processor configured to;

detect a first press of the power button using an electronic switch positioned below the biometric sensor;

obtain biometric data from the biometric sensor in response to the detected press;

perform a first operation in response to determining that the obtained biometric data matches template data and that the electronic device is in a first power state; and

detect a second press of the power button using the biometric sensor;

perform a second operation, different from the first operation, in response to the second press and in response to determining that the electronic device is in a second power state different from the first power state.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the second operation is a power state transition operation and the first operation is an electronic purchase operation.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein:

the processor is further configured to authorize the electronic purchase operation in response to determining that the biometric data matches the template data.

7. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to obtain biometric data only when the electronic switch is closed.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a third operation in response to determining that the obtained biometric data does not match template data.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to transition the electronic device to a standby power state upon determining that the obtained biometric data does not match template data.

10. A laptop device comprising:

an upper assembly portion having a primary display;

a lower assembly portion having a keyboard along a top surface and an opening that extends into the top surface and is positioned along a side of the keyboard;

a touch-sensitive display positioned within the opening;

a processor; and

a button in communication with the processor and positioned within the opening adjacent to the touch-sensitive display, the button configured to pivot away from the touch-sensitive display when pressed and comprising;

an electrical switch; and

a biometric sensor positioned above the electrical switch;

wherein the button is configured to operate in;

an unrestricted mode associated with a first function of the processor; and

a restricted mode associated with a second function of the processor;

wherein;

when the button is in the unrestricted mode, the processor is configured to perform the first function in response to the electrical switch being closed or a press of the button being detected by the biometric sensor; and

when the button is in the restricted mode, the processor is configured to;

obtain biometric data from the biometric sensor in response to the electric switch being closed; and

determine that the obtained biometric data matches template data associated with a limited set of authorized users, and in response, perform the second function.

11. The laptop device of claim 10, wherein the first function is a power function and the second function is an electronic purchase function.

12. The laptop device of claim 10, wherein the first function is performed in response to the biometric sensor detecting the presence of a user'"'"'s finger.

13. The laptop device of claim 10, wherein:

the lower assembly portion includes a lower housing enclosing the processor; and

an input surface of the button is along an exterior surface of the housing.

14. The laptop device of claim 13, wherein the input surface is substantially aligned with the touch-sensitive display.

15. The laptop device of claim 10, wherein the button is a power button of a laptop computing device.

16. The laptop device of claim 10, wherein the electrical switch comprises a capacitive sensor.

17. The laptop device of claim 10, wherein the electrical switch comprises a force magnitude sensor.

18. The laptop device of claim 10, wherein the touch-sensitive display is operable to perform functions associated with a function row of the keyboard.

19. The laptop device of claim 18, wherein the touch-sensitive display is operable to display an indicia related to the button.