MULTI-SIDED CARD HAVING A RESISTIVE FINGERPRINT IMAGING ARRAY

• US 20120288169A1
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moon J. Kim
• Original Assignee: Moon J. Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Moon J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,699,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an adaptive and intelligent fingerprint scanning device and approach for a multi-sided card. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention utilize DC resistive image scanning to reduce overall scanning time and energy consumption (e.g., by identifying a targeted scanning area). In a typical embodiment, a scanning device will be provided that includes a scanning area comprised of a set (e.g., at least one) of imaging pixel electrodes (e.g., arranged adjacent to one another in a grid-like or other fashion). As a user presses his/her finger against the scanning area, a first portion of the finger will contact a first electrode while a second portion of the finger will contact a second electrode. When this occurs, a voltage source of the device will apply an initial voltage across the first and second finger portions. A meter of the device will take an electrical measurement (e.g., resistance and/or charged skin voltage) across the two finger portions. Based on the electrical measurement, a location of the finger on the device will be identified, and the fingerprint will be scanned accordingly. Thus, the entire scanning surface need not be scanned, only the portions thereof where the finger was detected.

Claims

1. A multi-sided card having a resistive fingerprint array, comprising:

a first side having a first fingerprint scanning device;

a second side having a second fingerprint scanning device, the first fingerprint scanning device and the second fingerprint scanning device each comprising;

a set of imaging pixel electrodes for creating a fingerprint scanning surface;

a voltage source coupled to the set of imaging pixel electrodes for supplying an initial voltage; and

a meter coupled to the set of imaging pixel electrodes for taking an electrical measurement across a first imaging pixel electrode and a second imaging pixel electrode of the set of imaging pixel electrodes.

2. The multi-sided card of claim 1, the meter being configured to take the electrical measurement across a first portion of a finger contacting the first imaging pixel electrode and a second portion of the finger contacting the second imaging pixel electrode.

3. The multi-sided card of claim 2, the electrical measurement comprising a resistance across the first portion and the second portion that is taken by the meter in response to the applying of the initial voltage to the first imaging pixel electrode.

4. The multi-sided card of claim 3, the voltage source and the meter being coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode.

5. The multi-sided card of claim 1, the electrical measurement comprising a charged skin voltage across the first portion and the second portion that is taken by the meter in response to the applying of the initial voltage to the first imaging pixel electrode.

6. The multi-sided card of claim 5, the voltage source being coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode, and the meter being coupled to the second imaging pixel electrode.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location of a finger on a scanning device based on the electrical measurement; and

scanning a fingerprint from the finger at the location.

7. A method of scanning fingerprints on a multi-sided card, comprising:

applying an initial voltage to a first imaging pixel electrode, the first imaging pixel electrode being in contact with a first portion of a finger positioned on the multi-sided card; and

determining an electrical measurement across the first imaging pixel electrode and a second imaging pixel electrode in response to the applying of the initial voltage, the second imaging pixel electrode being in contact with the second portion of the finger positioned on the multi-sided card.

8. The method of claim 7, the determining comprising determining a resistance across the first portion and the second portion in response to the applying of the initial voltage to the first imaging pixel electrode.

9. The method of claim 8, the initial voltage being applied via a voltage source coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode, and the resistance being determined via a meter coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode.

10. The method of claim 7, the determining comprising determining a charged skin voltage across the first portion and the second portion in response to the applying of the initial voltage to the first imaging pixel electrode.

11. The method of claim 10, the initial voltage being applied via a voltage source coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode, and the charged skin voltage being determined via a meter coupled to the second imaging pixel electrode.

12. The method of claim 7, the first imaging pixel electrode and the second imaging pixel electrode being among a plurality of imaging pixel ports of a device for carrying out the method.

13. The method of claim 13, the first imaging pixel port and the second imaging pixel port being non-adjacent to one another among the plurality of imaging pixel ports.

15. A method of scanning fingerprints on a multi-sided card, comprising:

applying an initial voltage to a first imaging pixel electrode, the first imaging pixel electrode being in contact with a first portion of a finger positioned on the multi-sided card; and

determining an electrical measurement across the first imaging pixel electrode and a second imaging pixel electrode in response to the applying of the initial voltage, the second imaging pixel electrode being in contact with the second portion of the finger positioned on the multi-sided card, and the second imaging pixel electrode being non-adjacent to the first imaging pixel electrode;

determining a location of the finger on a scanning device positioned on the multi-sided card based on the electrical measurement; and

scanning a fingerprint from the finger at the location.

16. The method of claim 15, the determining comprising determining a resistance across the first portion and the second portion in response to the applying of the initial voltage to the first imaging pixel electrode.

17. The method of claim 16, the initial voltage being applied via a voltage source coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode, and the resistance being determined via a meter coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode.

18. The method of claim 15, the determining comprising determining a charged skin voltage across the first portion and the second portion in response to the applying of the initial voltage to the first imaging pixel electrode.

19. The method of claim 18, the initial voltage being applied via a voltage source coupled to the first imaging pixel electrode, and the charged skin voltage being determined via a meter coupled to the second imaging pixel electrode.

20. The method of claim 15, the first imaging pixel electrode and the second imaging pixel electrode being among a plurality of imaging pixel ports of a device for carrying out the method.