Information device and display control method

• US 20040096086A1
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyasaka, Mitsutoshi, Ikegami, Tomio
• Granted Patent: US 7,233,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing

Abstract

In an information device, a fingerprint image capture section captures a fingerprint image of an operator. When a fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section is referred to as a first fingerprint image and a fingerprint image captured at a given time interval after the first fingerprint image is captured is referred to as a second fingerprint image, a comparison section compares minutiae points of the first and second fingerprint images extracted by a minutiae point extraction section. An image generation section generates image information which is changed while reflecting the comparison results of the comparison section. A display section displays an image based on the image information generated by the image generation section. The information device may be provided with a check section, and display control by the display section may be performed after a fingerprint image is checked by the check section.

Claims

1. An information device comprising:

a fingerprint image capture section which captures a fingerprint image;

a comparison section which compares a first fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section with a second fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section at a given time interval after the first fingerprint image is captured;

an image generation section which generates an image based on the comparison result of the comparison section; and

a display section which displays the image generated by the image generation section.

2. The information device as defined in claim 1, comprising:

a minutiae point extraction section which extracts minutiae points of the first and second fingerprint images, wherein;

the comparison section compares positions of the minutiae points of the first and second fingerprint images; and

the image generation section uses a moving directions, a moving distance, and a rotational angle between corresponding two minutiae points of the first and second fingerprint images and generates an image.

3. The information device as defined in claim 1, comprising:

a check section which checks the first fingerprint image with registration information which has been previously registered,

wherein the comparison section compares the first fingerprint image with the second fingerprint image when the check section has determined that the first fingerprint image is identical with the registration information.

4. The information device as defined in claim 3,

wherein the check section determines whether or not the first fingerprint image is identical with the registration information based on a minutiae point of the first fingerprint image.

5. The information device as defined in claim 1, comprising:

a minutiae point extraction section which extracts a minutiae point of at least the first fingerprint image; and

a check section which checks the first fingerprint image with registration information which has been previously registered, wherein;

the comparison section compares the first fingerprint image with the second fingerprint image when the check section has determined that the first fingerprint image is identical with the registration information;

the registration information includes lengths of two line segments and an angle formed by the two line segments, the line segments connecting one minutiae point of the fingerprint image with another minutiae point closest to the minutiae point, and the minutiae point and still another minutiae secondarily closest to the minutiae point; and

the check section checks the first fingerprint image based on;

the registration information;

lengths of two line segments connecting the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image with a minutiae point closest to the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image, and the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image and another minutiae point secondarily closest to the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image; and

an angle formed by the two line segments drawn from the minutiae point of the first fingerprint.

6. The information device as defined in claim 1, comprising:

a minutiae point extraction section which extracts a minutiae point of at least the first fingerprint image; and

a check section which checks the first fingerprint image with registration information which has been previously registered, wherein;

the comparison section compares the first fingerprint image with the second fingerprint image when the check section has determined that the first fingerprint image is identical with the registration information;

the registration information includes the number of times a line segment connecting minutiae points of a fingerprint image intersects a fingerprint ridge or a fingerprint valley of the fingerprint image; and

the check section checks the first fingerprint based on;

the registration information; and

the number of times a line segment connecting minutiae points of the first fingerprint image intersects a fingerprint ridge or a fingerprint valley of the first fingerprint image.

7. The information device as defined in claim 2,

wherein the minutiae point includes at least one of a ridge bifurcation and a ridge ending of a fingerprint.

8. The information device as defined in claim 1,

wherein a frequency in capturing at least the first fingerprint image is lower than a frequency in capturing the second fingerprint image when the fingerprint image capture section periodically captures a fingerprint image.

9. The information device as defined in claim 1,

wherein the fingerprint image capture section:

has a detection surface for capturing a fingerprint image;

transitions to a high speed mode for operating at a first frequency when a finger is in contact with the detection surface; and

transitions to a low speed mode for operating at a second frequency when a finger is not in contact with the detection surface.

10. The information device as defined in claim 1,

wherein the image generation section generates an image scrolled based on the comparison result of the comparison section.

11. The information device as defined in claim 1,

wherein the image generation section generates an image having a pointer moved based on the comparison result of the comparison section.

12. An information device comprising:

a fingerprint image capture section which captures a fingerprint image;

a comparison section which compares a minutiae point of a first fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section with a minutiae point of a second fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section at a given time interval after the first fingerprint image is captured;

an image generation section which generates an image, the comparison result of the comparison section causing the image to be scrolled or a pointer on the image to move; and

a display section which displays the image generated by the image generation section.

13. An information device comprising:

a fingerprint image capture section which captures a fingerprint image; and

a comparison section which compares a minutiae point of a first fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section with a minutiae point of a second fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section at a given time interval after the first fingerprint image is captured,

wherein a function of the information device is controlled based on the comparison result of the comparison section.

25. The display control method as defined in claim 13,

wherein an image having a pointer moved based on the comparison results is generated.

14. An information device comprising:

a fingerprint image capture section which captures a fingerprint image;

a check section which checks registration information which has been previously registered with a first fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section; and

a comparison section which compares a minutiae point of a first fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section with a minutiae point of a second fingerprint image captured by the fingerprint image capture section at a given time interval after the first fingerprint image is captured, when the check section has determined that the first fingerprint image is identical with the registration information,

wherein a function of the information device is controlled based on the comparison result of the comparison section.

26. The display control method as defined in claim 14,

wherein an image having a pointer moved based on the comparison results is generated.

15. A display control method which controls a display section by means of a captured fingerprint image, the display control method comprising:

capturing a first fingerprint image and then a second fingerprint image at a given time interval after the capture of the first fingerprint image;

comparing the first and second fingerprint images; and

changing a display image based on the comparison result of the first and second fingerprint images.

16. The display control method as defined in claim 15, comprising:

extracting minutiae points of the first and second fingerprint images; and

using a moving directions, a moving distance, and a rotational angle between corresponding two minutiae points of the first and second fingerprint images and changing the display image.

17. The display control method as defined in claim 15, comprising:

checking the first fingerprint image with registration information which has been previously registered; and

comparing the first and second fingerprint images when the first fingerprint image has been determined to be identical with the registration information.

18. The display control method as defined in claim 17, comprising:

determining whether or not the first fingerprint image is identical with the registration information based on a minutiae point of the first fingerprint image.

19. The display control method as defined in claim 15, comprising:

extracting a minutiae point of at least the first fingerprint image;

checking the first fingerprint image with registration information which has been previously registered; and

comparing the first and second fingerprint images when the first fingerprint image has been determined to be identical with the registration information, wherein;

the registration information includes lengths of two line segments and an angle formed by the two line segments, the line segments connecting one minutiae point of the fingerprint image with another minutiae point closest to the minutiae point, and the minutiae point and still another minutiae secondarily closest to the minutiae point; and

the first fingerprint is checked based on;

the registration information;

lengths of two line segments connecting the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image with a minutiae point closest to the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image, and the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image and another minutiae point secondarily closest to the minutiae point of the first fingerprint image; and

an angle formed by the two line segments drawn from the minutiae point of the first fingerprint.

20. The display control method as defined in claim 15, comprising:

extracting a minutiae point of at least the first fingerprint image; and

checking the first fingerprint image with registration information which has been previously registered, wherein;

the registration information includes the number of times a line segment connecting minutiae points of a fingerprint image intersects a fingerprint ridge or a fingerprint valley of the fingerprint image; and

the first fingerprint image is checked based on;

the registration information; and

the number of times a line segment connecting minutiae points of the first fingerprint image intersects a fingerprint ridge or a fingerprint valley of the first fingerprint image.

21. The display control method as defined in claim 16,

wherein the minutiae point includes at least one of a ridge bifurcation and a ridge ending of a fingerprint.

22. The display control method as defined in claim 15,

wherein a frequency in capturing at least the first fingerprint image is lower than a frequency in capturing the second fingerprint image when a fingerprint image is periodically captured.

23. The display control method as defined in claim 15, wherein:

an operating mode is transitioned to a high speed mode for operating at a first frequency when a finger is in contact with the detection surface, and transitioned to a low speed mode for operating at a second frequency when a finger is not in contact with the detection surface.

24. The display control method as defined in claim 15,

wherein an image scrolled based on the comparison result is generated.

27. The display control method as defined in claim 15,

wherein an image having a pointer moved based on the comparison results is generated.