FINGERPRINT SENSORS AND SYSTEMS INCORPORATING FINGERPRINT SENSORS

• US 20160225209A1
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Risst Limited
• Original Assignee: Risst Limited
• Inventors: Malhotra, Arun, Dhaliwal, Harpal, Gerlach, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 10,223,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

Various embodiments of access control systems and fingerprint sensing systems are disclosed. One or more fingerprints of an authorized person are recorded in a fingerprint database together with a sequence of angular positions. The authorized person may subsequently gain access to a secured item by scanning the authorized person'"'"'s finger or fingers in accordance with the sequence of angular positions. Various embodiments of fingerprint sensors for determining the angular position of a finger on the sensor are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating an access control system, the method comprising:

recording fingerprint data corresponding to one or more fingers of a particular authorized person;

recording a sequence of angular finger positions for the particular authorized person;

providing a fingerprint sensor and a plurality of drive signal infection points at least partially surrounding the fingerprint sensor;

receiving a series of fingerprint signals from the fingerprint sensor, wherein each fingerprint signal corresponds to at least one drive signal coupled to the fingerprint sensor by a finger;

if the series of fingerprint signals corresponds to the recorded fingerprint data and the recorded sequence of angular finger positions, then providing an authorization signal, wherein the angular finger position of each fingerprint signal is determined by determining the at least one drive signal to which that fingerprint signal corresponds.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the authorization signal includes an identification of the particular authorized person.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sequence of finger positions is specified by the particular authorized person.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fingerprint data corresponds to one or more fingers of the particular authorized person positioned in multiple angular positions on the fingerprint sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fingerprint data corresponds to one or more fingerprints of the particular authorized person in a standard orientation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fingerprint data and the sequence of finger positions of the particular authorized person are recorded in an authorized person record in a fingerprint database that contains authorized person records for a plurality of authorized persons.

7. The method of claim 6 including requiring the particular authorized person to identify himself or herself prior to providing the authorization signal.

8-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of operating a fingerprint sensing system, the method comprising:

providing a fingerprint sensor having a sensor die and a bezel, wherein the bezel has a plurality of drive signal injection points;

injecting a drive signal into each of the drive signal injection points;

receiving a fingerprint signal from the fingerprint sensor, wherein the fingerprint signal corresponds to at least one of the drive signals, the at least one drive signal being coupled to the fingerprint sensor by a finger; and

determining the drive signal or drive signals to which the fingerprint signal corresponds.

16. The method of claim 13 further including varying the magnitude of some or all of the drive signals to control a signal-to-noise ratio of the fingerprint signal.

17. The method of claim 13 further including varying the magnitude of some or all of the drive signals to control lines and gaps in a fingerprint image obtained from the fingerprint signal.

18. The method of claim 13 further including determining an angular orientation of a finger positioned on the fingerprint sensor.

19. The method of claim 13 further including repeating the steps of receiving a fingerprint signal and determining the drive signal or drive signals to which the fingerprint signal corresponds and further including recording a sequence of drive signals corresponding to the received fingerprint signals.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the drive signals are different from one another.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the drive signals have temporally distinct active and inactive phases.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the drive signals have different shapes, each of which is distinguishable from the other drive signals.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

23. A fingerprint sensing system comprising:

a fingerprint sensor including;

a bezel having a plurality of signal injection points; and

a sensor die electrically insulated from the bezel; and

a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor to receive a fingerprint signal, wherein the controller includes;

a plurality of drive signal blocks, wherein each drive signal block is coupled to a corresponding signal injection point to inject a drive signal into the corresponding signal injection point;

wherein the bezel and sensor die are positioned to allow each of the drive signals to be coupled to the sensor die by a finger in contact with the corresponding signal infection point and the sensor die.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein each drive signal is unique.

26. The system of claim 23 or 25 wherein each of the drive signals has an active phase and an inactive phase, wherein only one drive signal is in is active phase at any particular time.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the bezel is a continuous bezel.

33. The system of claim 23 wherein the bezel is a segmented bezel formed of a plurality of bezel segments and wherein at least some of the signal injection points are provided on different bezel segments.

35. The system of claim 23 wherein the bezel is grounded between at least some adjacent signal injection points.

24. (canceled)

27-30. -30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. An access control system comprising:

a fingerprint sensor;

a plurality of drive signal injection points at least partially surrounding the fingerprint sensor;

a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor to receive a fingerprint signal corresponding to at least one drive signal coupled to the fingerprint sensor by a finger in contact with the fingerprint sensor; and

a fingerprint database coupled to the controller, wherein the fingerprint database includes a plurality of authorized person records, each of the authorized person records containing fingerprint data corresponding to an authorized person and an authorized angle sequence.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the fingerprint data includes data corresponding to one or more of the particular authorized person'"'"'s fingerprints positioned at a plurality of angular positions on the fingerprint sensor.