Fingerprint input devices and electronic devices provided with the same

• US 20030090650A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vista Peak Ventures LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Fujieda, Ichiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,885,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1341 Sensing with light passing through the finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1394 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns

Abstract

To provide a fingerprint input device including a collected fiber member that is brought into intimate contact with a fingerprint surface of a finger, a planar light source for illuminating said fingerprint surface, and a two-dimensional image sensor for detecting a light reflected from the fingerprint surface and a light scattered in the finger and emitted from the fingerprint surface, the two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate. The fingerprint input device detects a fingerprint image and a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram by switching between a mode, in which electric signals produced in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are output simultaneously, and a mode, in which electric signals produced in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are output sequentially. Thus, the fingerprint input device having a simple configuration can detect the fingerprint image or the plethysmogram with high precision.

Claims

1. A finger print input device, comprising:

an optical device that is brought into intimate contact with a fingerprint surface of a finger;

a light source for illuminating said fingerprint surface;

an image pick-up device for detecting a light reflected from said fingerprint surface and a light scattered in the finger and emitted from the fingerprint surface, the image pick-up device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate; and

mode changing means for switching between a first output mode, in which electric signals produced in said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are output simultaneously, and a second output mode, in which electric signals produced in said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are output sequentially.

2. The fingerprint input device according to claim 1, wherein said optical device is a transparent protective layer formed on a surface of said image pick-up device which is brought into intimate contact with the fingerprint surface or a collected fiber member composed of a plurality of optical fibers bound.

3. The fingerprint input device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate of said image pick-up device is made of a transparent material, said light source is constituted by a planar light source, and the planar light source is disposed below said substrate.

4. The fingerprint input device according to claim 1, wherein said light source is disposed at a side of said optical device.

5. An electronic device, comprising:

the fingerprint input device according to claim 1;

and

means for accomplishing personal identification based on comparison between a fingerprint image input from said fingerprint input device and a fingerprint image previously registered therewith.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram from electric signals output in said first output mode; and

a recording element for recording the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram input from the detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram.

7. The electronic device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram from electric signals output in said first output mode,

wherein living body recognition is accomplished based on the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram input from said detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein an emissive display provided in the electronic device serves also as the light source in said fingerprint input device.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

the fingerprint input device according to claim 1;

first personal identification unit for accomplishing personal identification based on comparison between a fingerprint image input in the second mode of said fingerprint input device and a fingerprint image previously registered therewith;

a detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram from electric signals input in the first mode of said fingerprint input device; and

second personal identification unit for accomplishing personal identification based on comparison between the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram input from said detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram and the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram previously registered therewith,

wherein said first personal identification unit and said second personal identification unit are used in conjunction with each other for personal identification.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein an emissive display provided in the electronic device serves also as the light source in said fingerprint input device.

11. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein said plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram is measured and updated at regular time intervals.

12. A finger print input device, comprising:

an optical device that is brought into intimate contact with a fingerprint surface of a finger;

a light source for illuminating the fingerprint surface of the finger in intimate contact with said optical device;

a fingerprint sensor for detecting a fingerprint image by detecting a light reflected from said fingerprint surface and a light scattered in the finger and emitted from the fingerprint surface, the fingerprint sensor having a transparent part for transmitting light formed at a part thereof;

a light detector for detecting a light having transmitted through said fingerprint sensor, the light detector being disposed below said fingerprint sensor; and

a detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram based on an output signal of said light detector.

13. The fingerprint input device according to claim 12, wherein said fingerprint sensor is either an optical image sensor, a capacitive-type fingerprint sensor or a pressure sensitive type fingerprint sensor.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

the fingerprint input device according to claim 12, and

means for accomplishing personal identification based on comparison between a fingerprint image input from said fingerprint input device and a fingerprint image previously registered therewith.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a recording element for recording the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram input from said fingerprint input device.

16. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein living body recognition is accomplished based on the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram input from said fingerprint input device.

17. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein an emissive display provided in the electronic device serves also as the light source in said fingerprint input device.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

the fingerprint input device according to claim 12,

first personal identification unit for accomplishing personal identification based on comparison between a fingerprint image input from said fingerprint input device and a fingerprint image previously registered therewith; and

second personal identification unit for accomplishing personal identification based on comparison between the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram input from said fingerprint input device and the plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram previously registered therewith,

wherein said first personal identification unit and said second personal identification unit are used in conjunction with each other for personal identification.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein an emissive display provided in the electronic device serves also as the light source in said fingerprint input device.

20. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein said plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram is measured and updated at regular time intervals.

21. A fingerprint input device, comprising:

a microprism that is brought into intimate contact with a fingerprint surface of a finger and has a plurality of small prisms formed on a surface opposite to the surface to be brought into intimate contact with the fingerprint surface;

a light source for illuminating said fingerprint surface;

an image pick-up device for detecting a fingerprint image by detecting a light having transmitted through the microprism, the image pick-up device being disposed below said microprism;

a light detector for detecting the light having transmitted through the microprism, the light detector being disposed below said microprism; and

a detecting instrument for detecting a plethysmogram or acceleration plethysmogram based on an output signal of said light detector.

22. A fingerprint input device, comprising:

an optical device that is brought into intimate contact with a fingerprint surface of a finger;

a light source for illuminating said fingerprint surface;

an image pick-up device for detecting a light reflected from said fingerprint surface and a light scattered in the finger and emitted from the fingerprint surface, the image pick-up device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate;

a first switch of two-input one-output type that is connected between said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a vertical driver circuit;

a second switch of one-input two-output type that is connected between said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a horizontal driver circuit;

mode changing means for controlling said first and second switches to switch between a first output mode, in which electric signals produced in said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are output simultaneously, and a second output mode, in which electric signals produced in said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are output sequentially;

a current integrator connected to one of outputs of said second switch; and

a differential circuit connected to the other of the outputs of said second switch.

23. A fingerprint input device, comprising:

an optical device that is brought into intimate contact with a fingerprint surface of a finger;

a light source for illuminating said fingerprint surface;

an image pick-up device for detecting a light reflected from said fingerprint surface and a light scattered in the finger and emitted from the fingerprint surface, the image pick-up device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion element arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate;

a plurality of vertical driver circuits that drives said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements sequentially in a vertical direction; and

a plurality of horizontal driver circuits that drives said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements sequentially in a horizontal direction;

wherein some of said plurality of vertical driver circuits and some of said plurality of horizontal driver circuits are activated to output an electric signal.