HYBRID MULTI-SENSOR BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION DEVICE

• US 20090166411A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Upek, Inc. (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Kramer, Alan, Gozzini, Giovanni
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

An improved fingerprint sensing device is provided with multiple sensing apparatus, two or more of which operating on different sensing principles. For example, a capacitive sensor may be integrally formed with an optical sensor on a single substrate. Ideally, the multiple sensing apparatus are disposed such that they may sense nearly identical portions of a fingerprint simultaneously. A primary sensor may be employed to establish the identity of a user based on a fingerprint, while a secondary sensor may be employed to establish that the fingerprint is part of a live human (anti-spoofing). Integrated light sources may be provided to drive an optical sensor. The light sources may also provide visual cues for usage, and enhance the aesthetics of the device.

Claims

1. A hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device comprising:

a first sensor apparatus disposed on a carrier for sensing characteristics, indicative of a fingerprint pattern, of the surface and/or structure of a user'"'"'s skin at or proximate the tip of the user'"'"'s finger;

a second sensor apparatus disposed on said carrier for sensing biometric data associated with said user'"'"'s finger;

wherein said first sensor apparatus and said second sensor apparatus operate on different principles.

2. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 1, wherein said first sensor operates by determining local differences of one or both of through-insulator plate capacitance and plate-to-plate fringing capacitance as influenced by the ridge structures and valley structures of a human finger.

3. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 2, wherein said first and second sensor apparatus are disposed integrally within a unitary body structure.

4. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 1, wherein said first and second sensor apparatus are disposed for operation such that they may simultaneously sense nearly identical regions of the surface and/or structure of the skin.

5. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed on said carrier.

6. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 5, wherein said second sensor apparatus is an optical sensor.

7. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 6, wherein said second sensor apparatus selectively senses in at least one wavelength band emitted by the light source.

8. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 5, wherein said light source is polychromatic.

9. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 1, wherein said second sensor apparatus is capable of sensing characteristics of living human tissue, thereby permitting distinguishing between living human tissue and non-living and/or non-human material.

10. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 1, wherein said first sensor apparatus and said second sensor apparatus are each formed from in a single substrate by common processing steps.

11. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 1, wherein said first sensor apparatus is a capacitive sensor, said second sensor apparatus is an optical sensor, and said first sensor apparatus and said second sensor apparatus are each formed in a single substrate by common processing steps.

12. A hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device comprising:

a capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus disposed in a carrier body for sensing characteristics, indicative of a fingerprint pattern, of the surface and/or structure of a user'"'"'s skin at or proximate the tip of the user'"'"'s finger;

a second fingerprint sensor apparatus integrally disposed in said carrier body with said capacitive fingerprint sensor for sensing biometric data, other than said characteristics, associated with a human finger;

wherein said first sensor apparatus and said second sensor apparatus operate on different principles.

13. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 12, wherein said capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus and said second fingerprint sensor apparatus are disposed for operation such that they may simultaneously sense nearly identical regions of the surface and/or structure of the skin.

14. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 12, wherein said second fingerprint sensor apparatus is an optical sensor.

15. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 12, wherein said carrier body is a molded unitary structure.

16. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 15, further comprising a light source integrally disposed in said carrier body.

17. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 16, wherein said second fingerprint sensor apparatus selectively senses in at least one wavelength band emitted by the light source.

18. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 15, wherein said light source is polychromatic.

19. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 15, wherein said carrier body is transmissive at the wavelengths emitted by said light source.

20. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 12, wherein said second fingerprint sensor apparatus is capable of sensing characteristics of living human tissue, thereby permitting distinguishing between living human tissue and non-living and/or non-human material.

21. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 12, wherein said second fingerprint sensor apparatus is an optical sensor, and said capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus and said second fingerprint sensor apparatus are each formed in a single substrate by common processing steps.

22. A hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device comprising:

a capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus formed in a substrate for sensing characteristics, indicative of a fingerprint pattern, of the surface and/or structure of a user'"'"'s skin at or proximate the tip of the user'"'"'s finger;

an optical fingerprint sensor apparatus integrally formed in said substrate with said capacitive fingerprint sensor for sensing biometric data associated with a human fingerprint;

said capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus and said optical fingerprint sensor apparatus disposed within a unitary carrier body; and

a light source emitting at a wavelength capable of being sensed by said optical fingerprint sensor disposed in said carrier body with said capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus and said optical fingerprint sensor apparatus.

23. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 22, wherein said capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus and said optical fingerprint sensor apparatus are positioned within said substrate for operation such that they may simultaneously sense nearly identical regions of the surface and/or structure of the skin.

24. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 22, wherein said light source is polychromatic.

25. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 22, wherein said carrier body is transmissive at the wavelengths emitted by said light source.

26. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 22, wherein said substrate is crystalline silicon.

27. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 22, wherein said second sensor apparatus is capable of sensing characteristics of living human tissue, thereby permitting distinguishing between living human tissue and non-living and/or non-human material.

28. A hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device comprising:

a silicon substrate having integrally formed therein;

a capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus for sensing characteristics, indicative of a fingerprint pattern, of the surface and/or structure of a user'"'"'s skin at or proximate the tip of the user'"'"'s finger;

an optical fingerprint sensor apparatus for sensing characteristics of living human tissue, thereby permitting distinguishing between living human tissue and non-living and/or non-human material;

a unitary carrier body transmissive at selected wavelengths, in which is disposed said silicon substrate and

a polychromatic light source emitting within said selected wavelengths disposed within said substrate such that said optical fingerprint sensor apparatus is capable of sensing at least a portion of the light emitted therefrom;

wherein said optical fingerprint sensor is capable of sensing said selected wavelengths and further wherein said capacitive fingerprint sensor apparatus and said optical fingerprint sensor apparatus are disposed within said substrate for operation such that they may simultaneously sense nearly identical regions of the surface and/or structure of the skin.

29. The hybrid multi-sensor biometric identification device of claim 28, wherein said substrate is a molded structure.