Electronic key device using a fingerprint to initiate a computer system

• US 6,021,212 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Ho, Heng-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bali, Vikkram
• Application Number:
  US09/034,164
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/116, 382/124, 382/125, 382/126, 340/825.31, 340/825.33, 340/825.34, 345/163, 705/39, 380/23
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic key device which can combine a fingerprint with an input ID code to generate a key signal to initiate a computer system. The key device comprises a fingerprint input module for inputting a user'"'"'s fingerprint to generate a fingerprint image signal, and a fingerprint encoder having a memory for storing the fingerprint image signal, an input ID code and a fingerprint encoding program, and a processor for executing the fingerprint encoding program. The fingerprint encoding program is used for converting the fingerprint image signal according its characteristics into a digital fingerprint code, and encoding the fingerprint code and the input ID code according to a key encoding procedure to generate the key signal.

Claims

1. An electronic key device for inputting a key signal to a computer system to initiate the computer system, the key device comprising:

a fingerprint input module for inputting a user'"'"'s fingerprint to generate a fingerprint image signal;

a fingerprint encoder comprising;

a memory for storing the fingerprint image signal, an input ID (identification) code and a fingerprint encoding program, and

a processor for executing the fingerprint encoding program;

wherein the input ID code is randomly generated by the computer system and transmitted to the key device when the key device is connected to the computer system, and the fingerprint encoding program is used for converting the fingerprint image signal according its characteristics into a digital fingerprint code, and encoding the fingerprint code and the input ID code according to a key encoding procedure to generate the key signal.

2. An electronic key device for inputting a key signal to a computer system to initiate the computer system, the key device comprising:

a fingerprint input module for inputting a user'"'"'s fingerprint to generate a fingerprint image signal; and

a fingerprint encoder comprising;

a memory for storing the fingerprint image signal, an input ID code, at least one fingerprint ID code and a fingerprint encoding program, and

a processor for executing the fingerprint encoding program;

wherein the input ID code is randomly generated by the computer system and transmitted to the key device when the key device is connected to the computer system, and the fingerprint encoding program is used for converting the fingerprint image signal according to its characteristics into a digital fingerprint code, matching the fingerprint code with the fingerprint ID codes, and converting the fingerprint code into the key signal by encoding the fingerprint code with the input ID code according to a key encoding procedure if the fingerprint code is matched with one of the fingerprint ID codes.

3. The key device of claim 2 wherein the fingerprint ID codes are inputted from the computer system.

4. A cursor control device comprising:

a fingerprint input module for inputting a user'"'"'s fingerprint to generate a fingerprint image signal;

a fingerprint encoder for converting the fingerprint image signal according to its characteristics into a fingerprint code;

a pointing module for generating a cursor control signal; and

a control circuit electrically connected to the fingerprint encoder and the input module for encoding the fingerprint code and an input ID code according to a key encoding procedure to generate a key signal, transmitting the key signal to a computer system to initiate the computer system, and transmitting the cursor control signal to the computer system for controlling movements of a cursor displayed in the computer system;

wherein the input ID code is randomly generated by the computer system and transmitted to the cursor control device when the cursor control device is connected to the computer system.

5. The cursor control device of claim 4 wherein the fingerprint encoder comprises a memory for storing the fingerprint image signal and a fingerprint encoding program for converting the fingerprint image signal into the fingerprint code, and a processor for executing the fingerprint encoding program.

6. The cursor control device of claim 4 wherein the control circuit comprises a memory for storing the fingerprint code and a key encoding program for encoding the fingerprint code and the input ID code according to the key encoding procedure to generate the key signal.