Method and Apparatus for Two-Dimensional Finger Motion Tracking and Control
First Claim
1. A finger motion tracking apparatus used to control a cursor or a menu on the display screen of a microprocessor or computer controlled device (navigation), comprising:
- at least one finger position sensor array; and
at least one partial fingerprint imager;
wherein the at least one finger position sensor array and the at least one partial fingerprint imager is present on the same unitized electrical component.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Enhanced accuracy finger position and motion sensors devices, algorithms, and methods are disclosed that can be used in a variety of different applications. The sensors can be used in conjunction with partial fingerprint imagers to produce improved fingerprint scanners. The finger motion sensors may also be used (either with or without a partial fingerprint imager) to control electronic devices. When several of these finger motion and position sensors are aligned in different directions, finger motion over a two dimensional surface may be detected. This creates a finger controlled “mouse” computer input device. Motion of a finger along the surface of such sensors may allow a user to control the movement of an indicator on a display screen, and control a microprocessor device. Such techniques are particularly useful for small space constrained devices, such as cell phones, smart cards, music players, portable computers, personal digital accessories, and the like.
238 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A finger motion tracking apparatus used to control a cursor or a menu on the display screen of a microprocessor or computer controlled device (navigation), comprising:
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at least one finger position sensor array; and at least one partial fingerprint imager; wherein the at least one finger position sensor array and the at least one partial fingerprint imager is present on the same unitized electrical component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fingerprint motion tracking apparatus used to control a cursor or a menu on the display screen of a microprocessor or computer controlled device (navigation), comprising:
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a linear sensor array configured to sense features of a fingerprint along an axis of finger motion, the linear sensor array including a plurality of substantially contiguous sensing elements configured to capture segments of image data; a buffer configured to receive and store image data from the linear sensor array; and
a processing element configured to generate fingerprint motion data for use in navigation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of tracking motion of a fingerprint with respect to a sensor for use in the control of a cursor or a menu on the display screen of a microprocessor or computer controlled device (navigation) comprising:
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sensing at least two consecutive overlapping line segments of a fingerprint image features located along an axis of motion of the fingerprint surface with respect to the sensor surface; storing digital data corresponding to the line segments of a fingerprint image features sensed by the sensing elements; and processing the digital data to generate fingerprint motion data and navigation data relative to an object being navigated. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of tracking motion of a fingerprint with respect to a sensor for use in navigation operations, comprising:
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collecting a time sequence of image samples from a linear sensory array, wherein each sample has a series of pixel values corresponding to substantially contiguous fingerprint image features; generating a list of similarity match scores by comparing each image sample with a previous sample; determining the pixel shift of two image samples having the highest similarity match score; estimating the distance traveled by multiplying the number of pixels in an image sample times the physical distance between pixels; computing a velocity estimate by dividing the estimated distance by the time expended between collecting the two samples with the highest match score; and navigating an object relative to the velocity estimate.
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24. A method of tracking motion of a fingerprint with respect to a sensor for use in electronically navigating an object, comprising:
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collecting a time sequence of images values from each of a plurality of linear image sensor arrays; generating separate lists of similarity match scores for each linear image sensor array by comparing successively shifted versions of each image sample with a previous sample; determining which linear sensor array produced the highest similarity match score to represent the principal axis of motion; determining the pixel shift of the linear sensor array that has the highest similarity match score; estimating the distance traveled along the principal axis by multiplying the number of pixels times the physical distance between pixels; computing the velocity of the fingerprint surface with respect to the sensor surface; and
computing the relative movement of a fingerprint with respect to an object being navigated. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A fingerprint motion tracking apparatus for producing navigation information, comprising:
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a linear sensor array configured to sense features of a fingerprint along an axis of finger motion, the linear sensor array including a plurality of substantially contiguous sensing elements configured to capture a plurality of segments of fingerprint image data; a buffer configured to receive and store image data from the linear sensor array; and
a processing element configured to generate motion data for use in navigation operations. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A fingerprint motion tracking system for producing navigation information, comprising:
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means for sensing features of a fingerprint along an axis of finger motion, said means having a plurality of substantially contiguous sensing elements configured to capture a plurality of segments of fingerprint image data; buffer means for receiving and storing image data from the means for sensing features of a fingerprint; and processing means for generating navigation data. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification