Multi-biometric finger sensor including electric field sensing pixels and associated methods

• US 20050089202A1
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AuthenTec Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Richard J., Franza, Gordon S., Setlak, Dale R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,358,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1394 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

A multi-biometric finger sensor includes a plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels on an integrated circuit substrate for sensing an image of the user'"'"'s finger, and at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on the integrated circuit substrate for sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the image of the user'"'"'s finger. Each of the electric field fingerprint sensing pixels may include an electric field sensing electrode, a guard shield surrounding the electric field sensing electrode, and an amplifier connected between the electric field sensing electrode and the guard shield. The sensor may also include a finger drive electrode adjacent the plurality of electric field sensing pixels, and a processor connected to the electric field fingerprint sensing pixels and the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor.

Claims

1. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus comprising:

an integrated circuit substrate for receiving a user'"'"'s finger adjacent thereto;

a plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing an image of the user'"'"'s finger, each of said plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels comprising

an electric field sensing electrode,

a guard shield surrounding said electric field sensing electrode, and

an amplifier connected between said electric field sensing electrode and said guard shield,

at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the image of the user'"'"'s finger;

a finger drive electrode adjacent said plurality of electric field sensing pixels; and

a processor connected to said plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels and said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor.

2. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of infrared sensing pixels.

3. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said infrared sensing pixels is for sensing naturally emitted infrared radiation from the user'"'"'s finger.

4. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel for sensing dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger.

5. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising an optical source for directing light into a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent said integrated circuit substrate, the light propagating into and being dispersed by the user'"'"'s finger so that at least a portion of the dispersed light exits the user'"'"'s finger in a direction toward said integrated circuit substrate.

6. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a matcher connected to said electric field finger sensing pixels and said at least one other biometric sensor.

7. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electric field finger sensing pixels and said at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon static placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

8. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electric field finger sensing pixels and said at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon sliding placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

9. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an uppermost dielectric passivation layer over said plurality of electric field sensing pixels and said at least one other biometric sensor and upon which the user'"'"'s finger is positioned.

10. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said integrated circuit substrate comprises single crystal silicon.

11. A multi-biometric finger sensor comprising:

an integrated circuit substrate for receiving a user'"'"'s finger adjacent thereto;

a plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing an image of the user'"'"'s finger, each of said plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels comprising

an electric field sensing electrode,

a guard shield surrounding said electric field sensing electrode, and

an amplifier connected between said electric field sensing electrode and said guard shield; and

a plurality of finger biometric characteristic sensing pixels on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the image of the user'"'"'s finger.

12. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of finger biometric characteristic sensing pixels comprises an infrared sensing pixel.

13. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 12 wherein each of said infrared sensing pixels is for sensing naturally emitted infrared radiation from the user'"'"'s finger.

14. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 11 each of said plurality of finger biometric characteristic sensing pixels comprises a plurality of optical dispersion sensing pixels for sensing dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger.

15. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 14 further comprising an optical source for directing light into a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent said integrated circuit substrate, the light propagating into and being dispersed by the user'"'"'s finger so that at least a portion of the dispersed light exits the user'"'"'s finger in a direction toward said integrated circuit substrate.

16. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 11 wherein said electric field finger sensing pixels and said plurality of finger biometric characteristic sensing pixels operate based upon static placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

17. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 11 wherein said electric field finger sensing pixels and said plurality of finger biometric characteristic sensing pixels operate based upon sliding placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

18. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 11 further comprising an uppermost dielectric passivation layer over said plurality of electric field sensing pixels and said plurality of finger biometric characteristic sensing and upon which the user'"'"'s finger is positioned.

19. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 11 wherein said integrated circuit substrate comprises single crystal silicon.

20. A method for multi-biometric finger sensing comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s finger adjacent an integrated circuit substrate;

sensing an image of the user'"'"'s finger by using a plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels on the integrated circuit substrate, each electric field fingerprint sensing pixel comprising an electric field sensing electrode, a guard shield surrounding the electric field sensing electrode, and an amplifier connected between the electric field sensing electrode and the guard shield; and

sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the image of the user'"'"'s finger by using at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on the integrated circuit substrate.

21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising a finger drive electrode adjacent the plurality of electric field sensing pixels.

22. A method according to claim 20 wherein the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of infrared sensing pixels.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein each of the infrared sensing pixels is for sensing naturally emitted infrared radiation from the user'"'"'s finger.

24. A method according to claim 20 wherein the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of optical dispersion sensing pixels for sensing dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger.

25. A method according to claim 24 further comprising an optical source for directing light into a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the integrated circuit substrate, the light propagating into and being dispersed by the user'"'"'s finger so that at least a portion of the dispersed light exits the user'"'"'s finger in a direction toward the integrated circuit substrate.

26. A method according to claim 20 further comprising a matcher connected to the electric field finger sensing pixels and the at least one other biometric sensor.

27. A method according to claim 20 wherein the electric field finger sensing pixels and the at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon static placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent the integrated circuit substrate.

28. A method according to claim 20 wherein the electric field finger sensing pixels and the at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon sliding placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent the integrated circuit substrate.

29. A method according to claim 20 further comprising an uppermost dielectric passivation layer over the plurality of electric field sensing pixels and the at least one other biometric sensor and upon which the user'"'"'s finger is positioned.