Finger fixing apparatus

• US 5,926,261 A
• Filed: 01/06/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hoshino, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERLINO, AMANDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/003,334
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 356/71, 356/244, 382/124-127
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/145 Sensors therefor

Abstract

A finger fixing apparatus includes a base, a scanner unit, and a finger press band. The base has a fingerprint read window. The scanner unit is arranged below the fingerprint read window. The finger press band extends above the fingerprint read window in a direction perpendicular to a finger inserting direction while ensuring a predetermined space. The finger press band is positioned to correspond to the fingerprint read window.

Claims

1. A finger fixing apparatus comprising:

a base having a fingerprint read window;

a scanner unit arranged below said fingerprint read window; and

a finger press member extending above said fingerprint read window in a direction perpendicular to a finger inserting direction while ensuring a predetermined space, said finger press member being positioned to correspond to said fingerprint read window,

wherein said finger press member moves in a downward direction toward said fingerprint read window so that said predetermined space corresponds to a height of a finger inserted therein.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said finger press member extends above said fingerprint read window to be separate therefrom by a space slightly smaller than a sectional area of one finger, and

said finger press member has two ends that are fixed to said base on two side portions of said fingerprint read window.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said finger press member is formed thick of a silicone resin.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said finger press member has a central portion a width of which is smaller than those of two wings thereof connected to a surface of said base.

5. A finger fixing apparatus comprising:

a base having a fingerprint read window;

a scanner unit arranged below said fingerprint read window;

a finger press member extending above said fingerprint read window in a direction perpendicular to a finger inserting direction while ensuring a predetermined space, said finger press member being positioned to correspond to said fingerprint read window; and

a finger sensor arranged at a downstream-side portion of said fingerprint read window in the finger inserting direction to detect the presence of the finger inserted in said finger press member,

wherein said scanner unit starts a scanner operation upon detection of an output from said finger sensor.

6. A finger fixing apparatus comprising:

a base having a fingerprint read window;

a scanner unit arranged below said fingerprint read window;

a finger press member extending above said fingerprint read window in a direction perpendicular to a finger inserting direction while ensuring a predetermined space, said finger press member being positioned to correspond to said fingerprint read window;

a pair of through holes formed in said base at two side portions of said fingerprint read window;

a string-like tightening member extending through said finger press member and having first and second end portions that are respectively led below said base through said through holes; and

drive means for leading at least one of said first and second end portions of said tightening member to below said base, when a finger is inserted in the space of said finger press member, thereby tightening the finger through said finger press member and positioning the finger on said fingerprint read window.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said finger press member extends above said fingerprint read window to be separate therefrom by a space not smaller than a sectional area of one finger, and

said finger press member is held on said fingerprint read window with only said tightening member.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said finger press member is constituted by

a bag-like soft cover, and

a soft member filled in said soft cover.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising

a finger sensor arranged at a downstream-side portion of said fingerprint read window in the finger inserting direction to detect the presence of the finger which is inserted,

a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure applied by said tightening member to the inserted finger, and

control means for actuating said drive means upon reception of a detection output from said finger sensor to start a tightening operation of said tightening member and, when a detected pressure of said pressure sensor exceeds a predetermined value, stopping said driving means and starting a scanner operation of said scanner unit.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said drive means comprises

first and second movable members to which said first and second end portions of said tightening member, that intersect each other below said base, are connected, and

first and second drive mechanisms for moving, when a finger is inserted, said first and second movable members in directions perpendicular to the finger inserting direction so as to be separate from said fingerprint read window.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said drive means comprises

a movable member to which said first end portion of said tightening member that, below said base, intersects said second end portion of said tightening member which is fixed, is connected, and

a drive mechanism for moving, when a finger is inserted, said movable member in a direction perpendicular to the finger inserting direction so as to be separate from said fingerprint read window.

12. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tightening member is constituted by a metal web having a predetermined width.