User Indentification with Capacitive Touchscreen
First Claim
1. A method of authorizing a user to use an electronic device comprising a capacitive touchscreen system, the method comprising:
- placing at least one of a user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers in contact with or in proximity to a capacitive touchscreen forming a portion of the capacitive touchscreen system;
generating, with capacitive electrodes in the capacitive touchscreen and a touchscreen controller operably connected to the electrodes, at least one acquired image of the user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers;
extracting from the acquired image, with the touchscreen controller, a first set of characteristics corresponding to the user'"'"'s first hand, hand portion, or plurality of fingers;
comparing, with the touchscreen controller, the first set of characteristics to a second set of characteristics, the second set of characteristics being stored in a memory, firmware, hardware circuitry, or in a storage device operably connectable to or forming a portion of the touchscreen controller, the second set of characteristics corresponding to at least one authorized user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers;
determining, with the touchscreen controller, whether the first set of characteristics meets or exceeds a predetermined degree of similarity with respect to the second set of characteristics, andif the first set of characteristics meets or exceeds the predetermined degree of similarity, verifying the user as at least one of the authorized users of the device and permitting the user to use the device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of means and methods for verifying or authorizing one or more verified or authorized users to operate or use an electronic device containing a capacitive or other type of touchscreen or touch panel. Images are acquired from the touchscreen or touch panel and processed to determine first characteristics corresponding to fingers, hands or hand portions placed thereon. If the first characteristics match stored second characteristics with a sufficient degree of similarity, the user is identified as an authorized or verified user and then permitted to operate or use the electronic device.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of authorizing a user to use an electronic device comprising a capacitive touchscreen system, the method comprising:
-
placing at least one of a user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers in contact with or in proximity to a capacitive touchscreen forming a portion of the capacitive touchscreen system; generating, with capacitive electrodes in the capacitive touchscreen and a touchscreen controller operably connected to the electrodes, at least one acquired image of the user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers; extracting from the acquired image, with the touchscreen controller, a first set of characteristics corresponding to the user'"'"'s first hand, hand portion, or plurality of fingers; comparing, with the touchscreen controller, the first set of characteristics to a second set of characteristics, the second set of characteristics being stored in a memory, firmware, hardware circuitry, or in a storage device operably connectable to or forming a portion of the touchscreen controller, the second set of characteristics corresponding to at least one authorized user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers; determining, with the touchscreen controller, whether the first set of characteristics meets or exceeds a predetermined degree of similarity with respect to the second set of characteristics, and if the first set of characteristics meets or exceeds the predetermined degree of similarity, verifying the user as at least one of the authorized users of the device and permitting the user to use the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile electronic device.
-
13-1. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device is one of a computer, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a smart phone, an electronic book reader, a radio, an MP3 player, and a portable music player.
-
14. An electronic device comprising a capacitive touchscreen system, comprising:
-
a capacitive touchscreen; a touchscreen controller operably connected to the capacitive touchscreen, the touchscreen controller being configured to detect at least one of a user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers placed in contact with or in proximity to the capacitive touchscreen, the touchscreen controller further being configured to generate in conjunction with capacitive electrodes in the capacitive touchscreen at least one acquired image of the user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers, the touchscreen controller further being configured to extract from the acquired image a first set of characteristics corresponding to the user'"'"'s first hand, hand portion, or plurality of fingers, compare the first set of characteristics to a second set of characteristics corresponding to at least one authorized user'"'"'s first hand, first hand portion, or plurality of fingers, determine whether the first set of characteristics meets or exceeds a predetermined degree of similarity with respect to the second set of characteristics, determine whether the first set of characteristics meets or exceeds the predetermined degree of similarity, and verify the user as at least one of the authorized users of the device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification