MULTIFUNCTIONAL INPUT DEVICE FOR AUTHENTICATION AND SECURITY APPLICATIONS

• US 20120092127A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ganapathi, Srinivasan Kodaganallur, Griffiths, Jonathan Charles, Buchan, Nicholas Ian, Burns, David William
• Application Number:
  US13/271,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04146 using pressure sensitive conductive elements delivering a boolean signal and located between crossing sensing lines, e.g. located between X and Y sensing line layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a combined sensor device. In some implementations, the combined sensor device may enable a single touchscreen to perform additional functions such as handwriting input and fingerprint recognition. In some implementations, these multiple features allow increased security through user authentication, and allow better capture of handwriting and a more interactive approach to user interfaces. A handheld mobile device such as a cell phone with the combined sensor device can enable an array of applications, such as using the mobile device as a gateway for user authentication to enable transactions and physical access; using the handwriting input function for signature recognition and transmittal for transaction applications; and/or using the handwriting input feature to automatically capture notes and other documents of students in an academic setting or employees in a corporate setting.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an interface configured for wireless communication;

a first substantially transparent substrate;

a first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a first touch and handwriting sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a first fingerprint sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a first memory device; and

a control system configured for communication with the first memory device, the interface, the first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes and the second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes, the control system being configured to;

receive first fingerprint data from the second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes; and

compare the first fingerprint data with second fingerprint data stored in the memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to control access to the apparatus according to whether the first fingerprint data match the second fingerprint data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to transmit an authorization signal via the interface if the first fingerprint data match the second fingerprint data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to receive first handwriting data from the first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes, to compare the first handwriting data with second handwriting data stored in the memory, and to control access to the apparatus according to whether the first handwriting data match the second handwriting data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of electrodes has a smaller pitch than the first plurality of electrodes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured for processing touch sensor data according to electrical signals received from the first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of resistors formed on at least some, but not all, of the first plurality of electrodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a third plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a second touch and handwriting sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate; and

a fourth plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a second fingerprint sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the authorization signal is at least one of a signal indicating that access should be permitted at an access point, a signal authorizing a payment for a commercial transaction, or a signal authorizing access to an enterprise'"'"'s database.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the plurality of resistors is formed on first instances of the first plurality of electrodes;

the plurality of resistors is not formed on second instances of the first plurality of electrodes;

the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes are configured as handwriting sensor electrodes; and

the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes are configured as touch sensor electrodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control system is configured for communication with the third plurality of substantially transparent electrodes and the fourth plurality of substantially transparent electrodes.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control system is further configured to:

receive touch and handwriting sensor data from the third plurality of substantially transparent electrodes; and

receive first fingerprint data from the second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured for processing handwriting sensor data according to electrical signals received from the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured for processing touch sensor data according to electrical signals received from the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control system is configured for processing handwriting sensor data according to changes in capacitance detected by the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control system is configured for processing handwriting sensor data according to changes in resistance detected by the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control system is further configured for processing touch sensor data according to changes in capacitance detected by the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control system is further configured to be switchable from a first configuration for processing the touch sensor data to a second configuration for processing the handwriting sensor data.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display;

a processor that is configured to communicate with the display and with the control system, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a second memory device that is configured to communicate with the processor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to the display; and

a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor, wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, a transceiver, and a transmitter.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

an interface configured for wireless communication;

a first substantially transparent substrate;

a first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a touch and handwriting sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a fingerprint sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a memory; and

a control system configured for communication with memory, the interface, the first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes and the second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes, the control system being configured to;

receive fingerprint data from the second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes;

send, via the interface, at least a portion of the fingerprint data to a fingerprint data authentication device;

receive, via the interface, a first response from the fingerprint data authentication device; and

determine whether to allow access to the apparatus according to the response.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the control system is further configured to determine, according to the response, whether to transmit an authorization signal via the interface.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the control system is further configured to:

receive handwriting sensor data from the first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes;

send, via the interface, at least a portion of the handwriting sensor data to a handwriting data authentication device;

receive, via the interface, a second response from the handwriting data authentication device; and

determine whether to allow access to the apparatus according to the second response.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second plurality of electrodes has a smaller pitch than the first plurality of electrodes.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the authorization signal is at least one of a signal indicating that access should be permitted at an access point, a signal authorizing a payment for a commercial transaction, or a signal authorizing access to an enterprise'"'"'s database.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

substantially transparent substrate means;

first electrode means formed in a touch and handwriting sensor zone of the substrate means;

second electrode means formed in a fingerprint sensor zone of the substrate means;

memory means; and

control means for;

communicating with the first memory device, the interface, the first electrode means and the second electrode means;

receiving touch and handwriting sensor data from the first electrode means;

receiving first fingerprint data from the second electrode means; and

comparing the first fingerprint data with second fingerprint data stored in the memory means.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the control means is further configured to control access to the apparatus according to whether the first fingerprint data match the second fingerprint data.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further including means for wireless communication, wherein the control means further includes means for transmitting an authorization signal via the wireless communication means if the first fingerprint data match the second fingerprint data.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the control means further includes means for:

receiving first handwriting data from the first electrode means;

comparing the first handwriting data with second handwriting data stored in the memory means; and

controlling access to the apparatus according to whether the first handwriting data match the second handwriting data.