FINGER RECOGNITION METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20120133603A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Sip, Kim Yeung
• Application Number:
  US13/303,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/107 Static hand or arm

Abstract

Finger recognition methods and systems for use in an electronic device are provided. First, a contact corresponding to an input tool is detected via a touch-sensitive device, and a shape corresponding to the input tool is obtained according to the contact. It is determined whether the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to a shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in a database. If so, the input tool is determined to be a finger.

Claims

1. A finger recognition method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

providing a database, wherein the database records a shape corresponding to at least one finger;

detecting a contact corresponding to an input tool via a touch-sensitive device;

obtaining a shape corresponding to the input tool according to the contact;

determining whether the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database; and

when the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database, determining the input tool to be a finger.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing at least one predefined transformation with the shape corresponding to the input tool; and

determining whether the transformed shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined transformation is used to rotate the shape corresponding to the input tool in various angles, or to simulate the shapes corresponding to the input tool while contacting the touch-sensitive device in various angles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database further records at least one predefined transformation of the shape corresponding to the at least one finger, wherein the predefined transformation is used to rotate the shape corresponding to the at least one finger in various angles, or to simulate the shapes corresponding to the at least one finger while contacting the touch-sensitive device in various angles, and the method further comprises:

determining whether the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the predefined transformation of the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database; and

when the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the predefined transformation of the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database, determining the input tool to be a finger.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor resolution of the touch-sensitive device equals to or is less than 4 mm, and the sample rate of the touch-sensitive device is not less than 60 Hz.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a function or activating an application when the input tool is determined to be a finger.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the application comprises a dial application.

8. A finger recognition system for use in an electronic device, comprising:

a storage unit comprising a database, wherein the database records a shape corresponding to at least one finger;

a touch-sensitive device detecting a contact corresponding to an input tool via a touch-sensitive device; and

a processing unit obtaining a shape corresponding to the input tool according to the contact, determining whether the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database, and when the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database, determining the input tool to be a finger.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing unit further performs at least one predefined transformation with the shape corresponding to the input tool, and determines whether the transformed shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the predefined transformation is used to rotate the shape corresponding to the input tool in various angles, or to simulate the shapes corresponding to the input tool while contacting the touch-sensitive device in various angles.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the database further records at least one predefined transformation of the shape corresponding to the at least one finger, wherein the predefined transformation is used to rotate the shape corresponding to the at least one finger in various angles, or to simulate the shapes corresponding to the at least one finger while contacting the touch-sensitive device in various angles, and the processing unit further determines whether the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the predefined transformation of the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database, and when the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the predefined transformation of the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database, the processing unit determines the input tool to be a finger.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor resolution of the touch-sensitive device equals to or is less than 4 mm, and the sample rate of the touch-sensitive device is not less than 60 Hz.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing unit further performs a function or activates an application when the input tool is determined to be a finger.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the application comprises a dial application.

15. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a computer program, which, when executed, causes a device to perform a finger recognition method, wherein the method comprises:

detecting a contact corresponding to an input tool via a touch-sensitive device;

obtaining a shape corresponding to the input tool according to the contact;

determining whether the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to a shape corresponding to at least one finger recorded in a database; and

when the shape corresponding to the input tool conforms to the shape corresponding to the at least one finger recorded in the database, determining the input tool to be a finger.