FINGERPRINT SCANNING WITH OPTICAL NAVIGATION

• US 20110300830A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: RAMRATTAN, Colin Shiva, LOWLES, Robert James, HOSSEINPOR, Hassan, TOWNSEND, Graham Charles, BEHIN, Rayhan, JACOBS, Gregory William
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

An optical navigation subsystem may be used when obtaining a candidate fingerprint for a mobile communication device (e.g., for authentication purposes). To accommodate such use of the optical navigation subsystem, the optical navigation subsystem may be adapted to automatically adjust a processed image sensor window from a first set of window dimensions (e.g., suitable for optical navigation) to a second set of window dimensions (e.g., suitable for fingerprint capture). Alternatively, a single, static set of window dimension may be employed in conjunction with stitching algorithms, or other methods suitable for forming candidate fingerprint images by combining a plurality of images obtained using the static set of window dimension.

Claims

1. A method of handling images, the method comprising:

receiving a digital image of a finger from an image sensor;

transmitting the digital image;

processing the digital image in a context of a plurality of previously received digital images to determine a finger motion indication; and

transmitting the finger motion indication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the finger motion indication comprises an indication of a position change in a first linear direction.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the finger motion indication comprises an indication of a position change in a second linear direction.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the finger motion indication comprises an indication of a rate of position change.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving windowing instructions from the image processor; and

transmitting the windowing instructions to a suitable module.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to the transmitting, receiving the image; and

combining the image together with the plurality of previously received images to form a candidate digital fingerprint.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

determining that the candidate digital fingerprint is unsuitable for use in an authentication algorithm; and

transmitting a request for further digital images.

8. A biometric and optical navigation subsystem comprising:

an image sensor;

a processor adapted to;

receive a digital image of a finger from the image sensor;

transmit the digital image;

process the digital image in a context of a plurality of previously received digital images to determine a finger motion indication; and

transmit the finger motion indication.

9. The biometric and optical navigation subsystem of claim 8 further comprising:

a windowing module interposing the processor and the image sensor, the windowing module adapted to;

receive instructions from the processor and, based on the instructions, control the image sensor.

10. The biometric and optical navigation subsystem of claim 8 further comprising a communication interface for managing communication with an image processor.

11. The biometric and optical navigation subsystem of claim 8 wherein the communication interface comprises an Inter-Integrated Circuit bus interface.

12. The biometric and optical navigation subsystem of claim 10 wherein the processor is further adapted to receive windowing instructions from the image processor.

13. The biometric and optical navigation subsystem of claim 8 wherein the windowing instructions specify a size for a window on the image sensor, inside which window images are to be captured.

14. The biometric and optical navigation subsystem of claim 8 wherein the windowing instructions specify a placement of a window on the image sensor, inside which window images are to be captured.

15. The biometric and optical navigation subsystem of claim 8 wherein the windowing instructions specify a frame rate for the image sensor on which images are to be captured.

16. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor for a photography subsystem, cause the processor to:

receive a digital image of a finger from an image sensor;

transmit the digital image;

process the digital image in a context of a plurality of previously received digital images to determine a finger motion indication; and

transmit the finger motion indication.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the finger motion indication comprises an indication of a position change in a first linear direction.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the finger motion indication comprises an indication of a position change in a second linear direction.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the finger motion indication comprises an indication of a rate of position change.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to receive windowing instructions from the image processor and transmit the windowing instructions to a suitable module.