ULTRASONIC BIOMETRIC SENSING DEVICE INTEGRATED WITH OPTICS

• US 20190087621A1
• Filed: 08/07/2018
• Published: 03/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orchid Sound Technologies LLC, Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Orchid Sound Technologies LLC, Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Khuri-Yakub, Butrus T., Rasmussen, Morten Fischer, Touma, Gerard, Irwin, III, John N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,691,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0436 in which generating transducers and detecting transducers are attached to a single acoustic waves transmission substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1382 Detecting the live character of the finger, i.e. distinguishing from a fake or cadaver finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1394 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 Detection of the body part being alive
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a biometric sensing device that includes a sensing device and an integrated optical system for authentication. For instance, the sensing device can be an ultrasonic sensing device that can generate an image of a fingerprint and the optical system can transmit light to a finger through the ultrasonic scanning device. In some instances, the acoustic biometric sensing device can generate a liveness parameter associated with a finger based on a reflection of the light.

Claims

1. A biometric sensing device with ultrasonic fingerprint sensing, the biometric sensing device comprising:

a surface configured to receive a finger;

an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor comprising ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to the surface, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor being configured to generate data indicative of an image of at least a portion of the finger on the surface; and

an optical system integrated with the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, the optical system configured to transmit light to the surface through the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

2. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducers comprise transducer material that is transparent to the light transmitted by the optical system.

3. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor comprises electrodes for addressing the ultrasonic transducers, and wherein the electrodes are transparent to the light transmitted by the optical system.

4. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor comprises electrodes for addressing the ultrasonic transducers, and wherein the electrodes are opaque to the light transmitted by the optical system.

5. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are positioned under the surface, and wherein the optical system is positioned under the ultrasonic transducers.

6. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound signal has a frequency in a range from 50 megahertz to 500 megahertz.

7. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises a reflective oximeter.

8. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, wherein the optical system is configured to transmit light having at least two different wavelengths.

9. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to generate at least one liveness parameter based on light reflected by the finger that is received by the optical system.

10. The biometric sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a layer of transparent material positioned between the fingerprint sensor and the surface.

11. A method of biometric authentication, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a fingerprint sensor comprising a piezoelectric layer, an ultrasonic signal to a finger;

generating an image of at least a portion of the finger based on a reflection of the ultrasound signal from the finger;

transmitting light through the piezoelectric layer of the fingerprint sensor to the finger;

generating a liveness parameter based on a reflection of the light from the finger; and

authenticating a person based on the image and the liveness parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting the ultrasonic signal comprises transmitting the ultrasonic signal through glass to the finger.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is performed by a mobile phone that comprises the fingerprint sensor and an optical system configured to transmit the light.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is performed using a smart card that includes the fingerprint sensor.

15. A biometric sensing device with ultrasonic transducers, the biometric sensing device comprising:

ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object;

an optical system integrated with the ultrasonic transducers, the optical system configured to transmit light to the object and receive light reflected from the object; and

one or more processors configured to generate an image of at least a portion of the object based on a reflection of the ultrasound signal from the object and to generate a liveness parameter based on the received light reflected from the object.

16. The biometric sensing device of claim 15, wherein the optical system is configured to transmit the light through transducer material of the ultrasonic transducers to the object.

17. The biometric sensing device of claim 15, further comprising electrodes for addressing the ultrasonic transducers, wherein the electrodes are transparent to the light transmitted by the optical system.

18. The biometric sensing device of claim 15, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are arranged as an array, and wherein the optical system comprises a light source and a light sensor that are integrated within the array.

19. The biometric sensing device of claim 15, wherein the ultrasound signal has a frequency in a range from 50 megahertz to 500 megahertz.

20. The biometric sensing device of claim 15, further comprising a surface configured to receive the object and a glass layer positioned between the ultrasonic transducers and the surface.