Methods and apparatus for acquiring a swiped fingerprint image

• US 20050244039A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Validity Sensors Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Geoffroy, David J., Buxton, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/126
• 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

Abstract

A method for assisting a user of a fingerprint sensing system includes sensing a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to a swiped fingerprint image sensor, and providing to the user, in response to the sensed finger position, an indication of finger placement relative to the fingerprint image sensor. The indication of finger placement may include a display on a computer monitor of actual finger placement and desired finger placement. The fingerprint sensing system may include an image sensor to sense a fingerprint on a swiped finger, a finger position sensor to sense the position of the finger relative to the image sensor, and processing apparatus to provide the indication of finger placement to the user.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a user of a fingerprint sensing system, comprising:

sensing a position of a user'"'"'s finger relative to a swiped fingerprint image sensor; and

providing to the user, in response to the sensed finger position, an indication of finger placement relative to the fingerprint image sensor.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the indication of finger placement indicates if the finger placement is suitable to begin fingerprint image sensing.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein providing an indication of finger placement comprises providing a visual display of finger placement relative to the fingerprint image sensor.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein providing an indication of finger placement comprises displaying actual finger placement and desired finger placement.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sensing a position of a user'"'"'s finger comprises sensing with a finger position sensor.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein sensing with a finger position sensor comprises determining an angle of the user'"'"'s finger from start and end positions of the user'"'"'s finger on the finger position sensor.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein providing an indication of finger placement includes displaying the angle of the user'"'"'s finger relative to the finger position sensor.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein providing an indication of finger placement comprises providing an audible indication of finger placement.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein providing an indication of finger placement comprises displaying finger placement on a computer monitor.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising displaying a user prompt on the computer monitor.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein displaying finger placement on the computer monitor comprises displaying a side view of finger placement relative to the fingerprint image sensor.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein displaying finger placement on the computer monitor comprises displaying a top view of finger placement relative to the fingerprint image sensor.

13. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein displaying finger placement on the computer monitor comprises displaying a visual cue to start a swipe of the user'"'"'s finger.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein providing an indication of finger placement comprises indicating finger placement with light-emitting devices.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising sensing the position of the user'"'"'s finger multiple times during a swipe of the user'"'"'s finger over the fingerprint image sensor.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising determining swipe speed during the swipe of the user'"'"'s finger over the fingerprint sensor.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising comparing the determined swipe speed with an allowable range of swipe speeds.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising generating a corrective prompt to the user if the determined swipe speed does not meet a predetermined criteria.

19. A fingerprint sensing system comprising:

an image sensor to sense ridge peaks and ridge valleys of a fingerprint on a moving finger;

a finger position sensor to sense a position of the finger relative to the image sensor; and

processing apparatus to provide to a user, in response to the sensed finger position, an indication of finger placement relative to the image sensor.

20. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the indication of finger placement indicates if the finger placement is suitable to begin fingerprint image sensing.

21. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the processing apparatus includes a visual display device and wherein the indication of finger placement comprises a visual display of finger placement relative to the image sensor.

22. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the indication of finger placement comprises a display of actual finger placement and desired finger placement.

23. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the processing apparatus determines an angle of the user'"'"'s finger from start and end positions of the user'"'"'s finger on the finger position sensor and displays the angle of the user'"'"'s finger relative to the finger position sensor.

24. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the processing apparatus comprises an audible output device to provide an audible indication of finger placement.

25. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the processing apparatus includes a computer monitor to display the indication of finger placement.

26. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 25, wherein the processing apparatus generates on the computer monitor a side view of finger placement relative to the image sensor.

27. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 25, wherein the processing apparatus generates on the computer monitor a top view of finger placement relative to the image sensor.

28. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 25, wherein the processing apparatus generates on the computer monitor a visual cue to start a swipe of the user'"'"'s finger.

29. A fingerprint sensing system as defined in claim 19, wherein the processing apparatus includes light-emitting devices to indicate finger placement relative to the image sensor.