Machine including vibration and shock resistant fingerprint sensor and related methods
First Claim
1. A machine having enhanced security and comprising:
- a housing;
motive means coupled to said housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning;
an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by said housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, said integrated fingerprint sensor including a semiconductor substrate, an electrically conductive layer on said semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric layer covering said semiconductor substrate and said electrically conductive layer, said dielectric layer defining a finger contact surface, and said electrically conductive layer comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes for sensing an electric field between said finger contact surface and said electrically conductive layer; and
enabling means for selectively enabling functioning of said motive means based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine includes a mechanical linkage and or drive coupled to a housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning. The machine further includes an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by the housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, and an enabling circuit for selectively enabling functioning of the linkage/drive based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by the integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. Accordingly, only authorized operators may use the machine. Moreover, the integrated fingerprint sensor is shock and vibration resistant so that it can be coupled to the machine housing and still function accurately and reliably. The enabling circuit may also include a memory for storing data related to at least one fingerprint for at least one authorized operator, and may determine matching of a sensed fingerprint with the stored data. The machine may also be a firearm which generates a substantial shock upon firing. The integrated circuit fingerprint sensor may be carried by the housing and may cooperate with the firearm safety lock to allow only an authorized user to fire the firearm.
88 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A machine having enhanced security and comprising:
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a housing; motive means coupled to said housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning; an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by said housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, said integrated fingerprint sensor including a semiconductor substrate, an electrically conductive layer on said semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric layer covering said semiconductor substrate and said electrically conductive layer, said dielectric layer defining a finger contact surface, and said electrically conductive layer comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes for sensing an electric field between said finger contact surface and said electrically conductive layer; and enabling means for selectively enabling functioning of said motive means based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A machine having enhanced security and comprising:
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a housing; a mechanical linkage coupled to said housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning; an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by said housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, said integrated fingerprint sensor including a semiconductor substrate, an electrically conductive layer on said semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric laver covering said semiconductor substrate and said electrically conductive layer, said dielectric layer defining a finger contact surface, and said electrically conductive layer comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes for sensing an electric field between said finger contact surface and said electrically conductive layer; and enabling means for selectively enabling functioning of said mechanical linkage based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A firearm having enhanced security and comprising:
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a housing; explosive means coupled to said housing for generating and using an explosive charge and thereby generating at least one of shock and vibration during an explosion; an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by said housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, said integrated fingerprint sensor including a semiconductor substrate, an electrically conductive laver on said semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric layer covering said semiconductor substrate and said electrically conductive layer, said dielectric layer defining a finger contact surface, and said electrically conductive layer comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes for sensing an electric field between said finger contact surface and said electrically conductive layer; and enabling means for selectively enabling functioning of said explosive means based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A machine controller for providing enhanced security for a machine, the machine of a type comprising a housing, and motive means coupled to the housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning, the machine controller comprising:
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an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, said integrated fingerprint sensor including a semiconductor substrate, an electrically conductive laver on said semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric layer covering said semiconductor substrate and said electrically conductive laver, said dielectric layer defining a finger contact surface, and said electrically conductive layer comprising Portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes for sensing an electric field between said finger contact surface and said electrically conductive layer; mounting means for mounting said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor to the housing of the machine; and enabling means for selectively enabling functioning of the motive means of the machine based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for enhancing security of a machine of a type comprising a housing, and motive means coupled to the housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning;
- the method comprising the steps of;
providing an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by the housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, the integrated fingerprint sensor including a semiconductor substrate, an electrically conductive layer on said semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric laver covering said semiconductor substrate and said electrically conductive layer, said dielectric layer defining a finger contact surface, and said electrically conductive laver comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes for sensing an electric field between said finger contact surface and said electrically conductive layer; and selectively enabling functioning of the motive means based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by the integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- the method comprising the steps of;
Specification