Input device

• US 20040068660A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujita, Yasushi, Matsumoto, Shigeo, Endo, Katsumi, Kadonaga, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 7,298,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0336 Mouse integrated fingerprint sensor
• 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 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger

Abstract

An input device having a fingerprint detection function is provided with operating portions for carrying out operations of a host device. The input device includes a device body connected to the host device, a fingerprint detecting portion provided in an upper surface of the device body and serving to detect the fingerprint of the user, and an opening portion for exposing the fingerprint detecting portion to the exterior.

Claims

1. An input device including:

a device body provided with an operation unit for carrying out operation of a host equipment, and connected to the host equipment;

a fingerprint detecting portion provided at the operation surface side of the device body and serving to detect fingerprint of user; and

an opening portion for facing the fingerprint detecting portion toward the external.

2. The input device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the fingerprint detecting portion is provided at an IC card;

and

wherein a loading portion having a connecting portion for carrying out connection to the IC card, which is continuous to an insertion hole of the IC card, is provided at the device body, whereby when the IC card is loaded with respect to the loading portion, the fingerprint detecting portion of the IC card is faced from the opening portion toward the external.

3. The input device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein side surface which constitutes the opening portion is constituted by projected curve.

4. The input device as set forth in claims 1 to 3,

wherein a shutter portion which opens or closes the opening portion is provided at the opening portion.

5. The input device as set forth in claim 4,

wherein the shutter portion is comprised of a conductive plate-shaped body.

6. The input device as set forth in claim 4, comprising:

a holding member disposed within the device body, a button projected toward the device body outside being provided at one end portion thereof, a projected portion for holding the shutter member being formed at the other end portion thereof, the holding member being rotatably supported,

wherein the shutter portion is biased in a front surface direction of the device body by a biasing member disposed at the rear surface side of the device body; and

wherein the holding member holds the shutter member by the projected portion when the shutter member is moved toward the device body rear surface side to thereby open the opening portion, and the button is pressed in the state where the shutter member is held so that holding state with respect to the shutter member is released to automatically close the opening portion.

7. The input device as set forth in claim 4,

wherein the shutter portion is engaged with a biasing member at the side surface thereof, and

wherein the biasing member biases the shutter member in feed direction as the result of the fact that the shutter member is caused to undergo feed operation in an opening direction or in a closing direction of the opening portion to open or close the opening portion.

8. The input device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the fingerprint detecting portion measures difference of electrostatic capacity corresponding to pattern of finger to thereby detect fingerprint.