Pointing device with biometric sensor
First Claim
1. A pointing device comprising:
- an interface for operably communicating with an electronic system;
a position sensor, responsive to user movement thereof, for conveying user positional information by way of said interface to the electronic system;
a user-depressable button for conveying user selection information by way of said interface to the electronic system; and
a biometric sensor disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner a user'"'"'s hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by said biometric sensor, said location equally well suitable for use by either a right-handed or a left-handed user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pointing device incorporates a biometric sensor at a location such that when operating the pointing device in a normal manner, a user'"'"'s hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by the biometric sensor. In one embodiment, a computer trackball pointing device includes a fingerprint sensor which is equally well suitable for use by either a right-handed or a left-handed user. Along with positional information from a position sensor and user selection information from at least one user-depressable button, the pointing device also conveys to an attached computer system information associated with the user'"'"'s identity detected by the fingerprint sensor. Such a pointing device is well suited to both transparent verification as well as continuous verification, for if a user removes his or her hand from the natural position when using the device, the user'"'"'s fingerprint will no longer be detectable by the fingerprint sensor, and the computer system to which the pointing device is attached can be alerted as to the need to re-authenticate any additional attempts at using the pointing device.
59 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A pointing device comprising:
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an interface for operably communicating with an electronic system;
a position sensor, responsive to user movement thereof, for conveying user positional information by way of said interface to the electronic system;
a user-depressable button for conveying user selection information by way of said interface to the electronic system; and
a biometric sensor disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner a user'"'"'s hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by said biometric sensor, said location equally well suitable for use by either a right-handed or a left-handed user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A pointing device comprising:
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an interface for operably communicating with a computer system;
a base;
a trackball mounted upon the base;
an upper section connected to the base and including at least one button formed substantially on a top surface of the upper section; and
a fingerprint sensor mounted within the upper section and disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner, a user'"'"'s hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by said fingerprint sensor. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A pointing device comprising:
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an interface for operably communicating with a computer system;
a base which is substantially circular in shape when viewed from above, thus having a generally circular perimeter;
a trackball mounted off-center on the base at a location along the generally circular perimeter, an upper section connected to the base and including at least one button formed substantially on a top surface of the upper section; and
a fingerprint sensor mounted within the upper section and disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner a user'"'"'s hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by said fingerprint sensor. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An apparatus comprising:
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an electronic system requiring controlled access to certain capabilities and resources thereof;
a pointing device attached to said electronic system, said pointing device comprising an interface for operably communicating with the electronic system;
a position sensor, responsive to user movement thereof, for conveying user positional information by way of said interface to the electronic system;
a user-depressable button for conveying user selection information by way of said interface to the electronic system; and
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Specification