SECURE HUMAN FINGERPRINT SENSOR

• US 20150146944A1
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Huiding Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pi, Bo, He, Yi
• Granted Patent: US 9,811,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• 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: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• 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

Devices, systems, and techniques are provided for performing human fingerprint detection and authentication for authenticating a request to access a locked mobile device equipped with a fingerprint detection module. In one aspect, responsive to detecting a contact from an object with the fingerprint detection module, described technique can be used to determines whether the contact from the object is from human skin. When determined that the detected contact from the object is from human skin, a presence of a human fingerprint can be detected from the object making contact. The detected fingerprint data can be obtained from the object and compared against stored fingerprint profiles associated with an authorized user of the locked mobile device. Based on the comparing, the request to access the locked mobile device can be granted.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a request to access a locked mobile device equipped with a fingerprint detection module, the method comprising:

responsive to detecting a contact from an object with the fingerprint detection module, determining whether the detected contact from the object is from human skin;

responsive to determining that the detected contact from the object is from human skin, detecting fingerprint data from the human skin;

obtain the detected fingerprint data from the human skin;

comparing the obtained fingerprint data against stored fingerprint profiles associated with an authorized user of the locked mobile device; and

granting or denying the request to access the locked mobile device based on the comparison of the obtained fingerprint against stored fingerprint profiles associated with an authorized user of the locked mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting a signal from a metal ring touch sensor on the fingerprint detection module indicating a contact from the object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting the signal includes detecting an increase in a capacitive load coupled to the metal ring using circuitry integrated with the fingerprint detection module.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact includes a touch by a human finger.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the detected contact from the object is from human skin includes:

emitting detection light of at least one selected wavelength using one or more light emitting sources within the fingerprint detection module;

detecting at least a portion of the emitted detection light which is reflected off of the object making contact with the fingerprint detection module using at least one photodetection element within the fingerprint detection module; and

processing output signals responsive to detecting of the at least a portion of the detection light from the at least one photodetection element corresponding to the at least one selected wavelength.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one selected wavelength includes two wavelengths;

and

comparing a signal ratio of output signals corresponding to the two selected wavelengths with a predetermined value of the same signal ratio calibrated from human skin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the detected contact from the object is from human skin is performed using a signal processing circuit integrated with the fingerprint detection module.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting presence of fingerprint data from the human skin includes:

measuring one-directional (1D) skin profile of the human skin; and

determining whether the 1D skin profile substantially matches a human fingerprint.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the fingerprint data from the human skin includes using a detection circuit integrated with the fingerprint detection module.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing the obtained fingerprint data against stored fingerprint profiles associated with an authorized user of the locked mobile device includes using an application processor of the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein granting or denying the request to access the locked mobile device based on the comparing includes:

based on the comparing, detecting a presence of a heartbeat signal from the human skin; and

based on the detected presence of a heartbeat signal, granting the request to access the locked mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting a presence of a heartbeat signal from the human skin comprises measuring relative light reflection of the human skin of the detection light corresponding to the at least one selected wavelength emitted by the one or more light emitting sources.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting a presence of a heartbeat signal from the human skin indicates whether a live person is associated with the detected human fingerprint.

14. The method of claim 11 where the light emitting source includes one or more light emitting diode (LED) lights.

15. The method of claim 11 where the light emitting source is modulated at a predetermined frequency and a detection circuit demodulates this frequency.

16. A fingerprint detection module, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a fingerprint sensor chip disposed over the printed circuit board and configured to collect fingerprint data;

a protective layer disposed over the fingerprint sensor chip to protect the fingerprint sensor chip; and

a touch sensor disposed substantially next to the protective layer to detect a contact from an object making contact with the fingerprint detection module.

17. The fingerprint detection module of claim 16, wherein the touch sensor comprises a conductive electrode.

18. The fingerprint detection module of claim 16, further comprising touch sensing circuitry communicatively coupled to the touch sensor to detect a signal indicative of an object in contact with the touch sensor.

19. The fingerprint detection module of claim 18, wherein the touch sensing circuitry is configured to detect a contact from an object by detecting an increase in a capacitive load coupled to the conductive electrode.

20. The fingerprint detection module of claim 19, further comprising detection circuitry integrated with the fingerprint sensor chip to detect a presence of fingerprint data from the object.

21. The fingerprint detection module of claim 16, further comprising an optical detection module that includes:

one or more light emitting sources located on the substrate carrier and underneath the protective cover;

at least one photodetection element integrated with the fingerprint sensor chip and underneath the protective layer; and

a signal processing circuit integrated with the fingerprint sensor chip.

22. The fingerprint detection module of claim 21, further comprising a colored layer coated on the bottom surface of the protective cover, wherein the colored layer contains micro-holes in a first region directly above the one or more light emitting sources and a second region directly above the at least one photodetection element to allow light to pass through the colored layer in the first region and the second region.

23. The fingerprint detection module of claim 21, further comprising a colored layer coated on the bottom surface of the protective layer, wherein the colored layer is transparent with a nonvisual wavelength light in a first region directly above the one or more light emitting sources and a second region directly above the at least one photodetection element to allow certainly wavelength light to pass through the colored layer in the first region and the second region.

24. The fingerprint detection module of claim 21,

wherein the one or more light emitting sources are configured to emit detection light comprising at least one wavelength;

and

wherein the at least one photodetection element are configured to receive and detect at least a portion of the detection light which is reflected off of an object making contact with the fingerprint detection module.

25. The fingerprint detection module of claim 24, wherein output signals from the at least one photodetection element in response to the detected light are used to determine one or both of:

whether the detected contact from the object is from human skin; and

whether a presence of a heart beat is detected from the object.

26. The fingerprint detection module of claim 16, wherein the module is configured to combine the collected fingerprint data from the fingerprint sensor chip and the detected contact from the touch sensor to deny a person'"'"'s access when the collected fingerprint data matches stored fingerprint data of an authorized user'"'"'s fingerprint pattern while the detected contact fails to indicate the contact is from a live person.

27. The fingerprint detection module of claim 16, further including:

an authentication processor coupled to the fingerprint sensor chip and the touch sensor and is configured to combine the collected fingerprint data from the fingerprint sensor chip and the detected contact from the touch sensor to authenticate a person when the collected fingerprint data matches stored fingerprint data of an authorized user'"'"'s fingerprint pattern and the detected contact indicates the contact is from a live person.

28. A fingerprint detection module, comprising:

a touch sensor including a metal ring configured to detect a contact from an object making contact with the fingerprint detection module;

a fingerprint pattern sensor that includes a sensor array configured to read a fingerprint pattern and a fingerprint pattern processor configured to determine whether the read fingerprint pattern matches stored information of an authorized user'"'"'s fingerprint pattern to provide a fingerprint pattern authentication output;

an optical sensor module that produces probe light at one or more optical wavelengths to which the user'"'"'s skin produces different optical responses at the one or more optical wavelengths due to presence of blood under the skin, the optical sensor module including an optical detection unit configured to receive a reflection or transmission of the probe light to produce optical measurements of the probe light at the one or more different optical wavelengths; and

an authentication processor configured to receive the fingerprint pattern authentication output from the fingerprint pattern sensor and the optical measurements of the probe light at the one or more different optical wavelengths from the optical sensor module and to combine both the fingerprint pattern authentication output and optical measurements of the probe light to determine whether an access is to be granted or denied.

29. The fingerprint detection module of claim 28, wherein:

the authentication processor is configured to combine the collected fingerprint data from the fingerprint sensor chip and the detected contact from the touch sensor to authenticate a person when the collected fingerprint data matches stored fingerprint data of an authorized user'"'"'s fingerprint pattern and the detected contact indicates the contact is from a live person, and to deny a person'"'"'s access when the collected fingerprint data matches stored fingerprint data of an authorized user'"'"'s fingerprint pattern while the detected contact fails to indicate the contact is from a live person.

30. A method for authenticating a request to access a locked mobile device equipped with a fingerprint detection module, comprising:

obtaining measurements of (1) a contact provided by a person and (2) a fingerprint input from the same person;

determining whether the detected contact provided by the person is from a live person;

comparing the fingerprint data from the obtained fingerprint input against one or more stored fingerprint profiles associated with an authorized user of the locked mobile device; and

determining granting or denying the person'"'"'s access based on both of (1) whether there is match in the fingerprint data and (2) whether the detected contact indicates the contact is from a live person.

31. The method as in claim 30, wherein the access is granted when there is match in the fingerprint data and (2) the detected contact indicates the contact is from a live person.

32. The method as in claim 30, wherein the access is denied when there is match in the fingerprint data and (2) the detected contact fails to indicate the contact is from a live person.