Spinning disk ultrasonic transducer array and method
First Claim
1. A fingerprint scanning system comprising:
- an imaging surface capable of receiving a finger;
a rotatable disk, the disk having a pivot-location about which the disk rotates;
an ultrasound transducer joined to the disk and capable of providing information corresponding to a fingerprint of the finger;
a disk driver capable of rotating the disk in order to cause the transducer to move along a substantially circular path;
a linear driver capable of moving the pivot-location linearly;
a measurer capable of measuring linear positions of the pivot-location and arcuate positions of the transducer; and
a coupler capable of producing sets of coupled information, each set comprising one linear position of the pivot-location, one arcuate position of the transducer and information produced from the transducer at the pivot-location and arcuate position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a fingerprint scanning system and a method of scanning a fingerprint. A system according to the invention may have (a) an imaging surface capable of receiving a finger, (b) a rotatable disk, the disk having a pivot-location about which the disk rotates, (c) an ultrasound transducer joined to the disk and capable of providing information corresponding to a fingerprint of the finger, (d) a disk driver capable of rotating the disk in order to cause the transducer to move along a substantially circular path, (e) a linear driver capable of moving the pivot-location linearly, (f) a measurer capable of measuring linear positions of the pivot-location and arcuate positions of the transducer; and (g) a coupler capable of producing sets of coupled information, each set comprising one linear position of the pivot-location, one arcuate position of the transducer and information produced from the transducer at the pivot-location and arcuate position.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fingerprint scanning system comprising:
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an imaging surface capable of receiving a finger;
a rotatable disk, the disk having a pivot-location about which the disk rotates;
an ultrasound transducer joined to the disk and capable of providing information corresponding to a fingerprint of the finger;
a disk driver capable of rotating the disk in order to cause the transducer to move along a substantially circular path;
a linear driver capable of moving the pivot-location linearly;
a measurer capable of measuring linear positions of the pivot-location and arcuate positions of the transducer; and
a coupler capable of producing sets of coupled information, each set comprising one linear position of the pivot-location, one arcuate position of the transducer and information produced from the transducer at the pivot-location and arcuate position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of scanning a fingerprint comprising:
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(A) receiving at least one finger on an imaging surface;
(B) providing (a) a disk that is pivotable about a pivot-location, (b) an ultrasonic transducer joined to the disk, and (c) a disk-driver capable of rotating the disk in order to cause the transducer to move along an arcuate path;
(C) recording a linear position of the pivot-location to provide a linear recording;
(D) recording an arcuate position of the ultrasonic transducer to provide an arcuate recording;
(E) sending an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic transducer toward the finger;
(F) receiving a reflected ultrasonic signal;
(G) recording information about the reflected ultrasonic signal to provide recorded signal information;
(H) coupling the recorded signal information with the linear recording and the arcuate recording;
(I) rotating the disk using the disk driver;
(J) repeating steps D through H;
(K) moving the pivot-location linearly;
(L) repeating steps C through J. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of scanning a fingerprint, comprising:
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providing (a) an ultrasound transducer capable of providing information corresponding to a fingerprint of the finger, (b) a disk attached to the transducer, the disk having a pivot-location, (c) a linear driver capable of moving the pivot-location linearly, the linear driver including a screw, and (d) an arcuate driver capable of moving the transducer arcuately about the pivot-location;
turning the screw to move the pivot-location to a desired linear position;
generating a first set of fingerprint information using the transducer at the linear position and a first arcuate position;
moving the transducer arcuately to a second arcuate position using the arcuate driver;
generating a second set of fingerprint information using the transducer at the linear position and the second arcuate position.
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18. A method of scanning a fingerprint, comprising:
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providing (a) an ultrasound transducer capable of providing information corresponding to a fingerprint of the finger, (b) a disk attached to the transducer, the disk having a pivot-location, (c) a linear driver capable of moving the pivot-location linearly, and (d) an arcuate driver capable of moving the transducer arcuately about the pivot-location;
positioning the transducer in a waiting position;
sending an ultrasonic signal;
receiving a reflected ultrasonic signal;
using the reflected ultrasonic signal, determining whether a finger has been presented for scanning to provide a determination signal;
if the determination signal indicates a finger has been presented for scanning, then generating a first set of fingerprint information using the transducer at a first linear position and a first arcuate position;
moving the transducer arcuately to a second arcuate position using the arcuate driver;
generating a second set of fingerprint information using the transducer at the linear position and the second arcuate position. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification