Pointing device with biometric sensor

• US 6,148,094 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dalton Patrick Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: David J. Kinsella
• Inventors: Kinsella, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Au, Amelia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bali, Vikkram
• Application Number:
  US08/940,553
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/167, 345/175, 345/163, 345/164, 382/124, 382/127, 382/116, 382/125, 340/825.34, 250/221, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 902/3, 902/4, 902/5, 902/6, 713/186
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0336 Mouse integrated fingerprint sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/40 Spoof detection, e.g. liveness detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A pointing device incorporates a biometric sensor at a location such that when operating the pointing device in a normal manner, a user'"'"'s hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by the biometric sensor. In one embodiment, a computer trackball pointing device includes a fingerprint sensor which is equally well suitable for use by either a right-handed or a left-handed user. Along with positional information from a position sensor and user selection information from at least one user-depressable button, the pointing device also conveys to an attached computer system information associated with the user'"'"'s identity detected by the fingerprint sensor. Such a pointing device is well suited to both transparent verification as well as continuous verification, for if a user removes his or her hand from the natural position when using the device, the user'"'"'s fingerprint will no longer be detectable by the fingerprint sensor, and the computer system to which the pointing device is attached can be alerted as to the need to re-authenticate any additional attempts at using the pointing device.

Claims

1. A pointing device comprising:

an interface for operably communicating with a computer system;

a base;

a trackball mounted upon the base;

an upper section having a left and a right side, said upper section moveably connected to the base such that the trackball is positionable adjacent said left or said right side, said upper section including at least one button formed substantially on a top surface of the upper section; and

a fingerprint sensor mounted within the upper section and disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner, a user'"'"'s hand rest naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by said fingerprint sensor.

2. A pointing device as in claim 1 wherein:

the base is substantially circular in shape when viewed from above, thus having a generally circular perimeter; and

the trackball is mounted off-center on the base at a location intersecting the generally circular perimeter.

3. A pointing device as in claim 1, wherein the upper section is rotatably-connected to the base.

4. A pointing device as in claim 3 wherein:

when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located adjacent the left side, a right-handed user'"'"'s hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s right hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user'"'"'s right thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball; and

when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located adjacent the right side, a left-handed user'"'"'s hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s left hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user'"'"'s left thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball.

5. A pointing device as in claim 1 wherein:

the interface includes a cable passing through a rear surface of the upper section.

6. A pointing device as in claim 1 wherein:

the interface includes a wireless interface having a transducer disposed at a rear surface of the upper section.

7. A pointing device as in claim 1 wherein the upper section comprises:

a plurality of button positions formed substantially on a rearward portion of the top surface of the upper section; and

wherein the fingerprint sensor is located beneath a particular one of the button positions.

8. A pointing device as recited in claim 7 wherein:

the fingerprint sensor includes a capacitive imaging array located at the particular button position contactable by the user'"'"'s finger so that the user'"'"'s fingerprint may be imaged by the capacitive imaging array.

9. A pointing device as recited in claim 8 wherein:

the fingerprint sensor is incorporated into an operable button located at the particular button position.

10. A pointing device as in claim 7 wherein an operable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position.

11. A pointing device as in claim 7 wherein no operable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position.

12. A pointing device as in claim 7 wherein an inoperable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position.

13. A pointing device as recited in claim 7 wherein:

the fingerprint sensor includes an optical imaging array; and

the particular button position includes a transparent material through which the user'"'"'s fingerprint may be imaged by the imaging array.

14. The pointing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a verification system for operably communicating with the computer system, the verification system comprising a user storage, an authorization profile storage, and an audit log storage.

15. The pointing device of claim 1, further comprising a substance detection sensor in operative relation with the fingerprint sensor.

16. The pointing device of claim 15, wherein the substance detection sensor detects narcotics, blood alcohol content, or any combination thereof of the user.

17. The pointing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional biometric sensors in operative relation with the user and coupled to said interface.

18. A pointing device comprising:

an interface for operably communicating with a computer system;

a base;

a trackball mounted off-center on the base;

an upper section having a left and a right side, said upper section moveably connected to the base such that the trackball is positionable adjacent said left or said right side, said upper section including at least one button formed substantially on a top surface of the upper section;

a fingerprint sensor mounted within the upper section and disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner a user'"'"'s hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s hand in proximity to and readable by said fingerprint sensor; and

a verification system for operably communicating with the computer system, the verification system comprising a user storage, an authorization profile storage, and an audit log storage.

19. A pointing device as in claim 18, wherein the upper section is rotatably-connected to the base.

20. A pointing device as in claim 19 wherein:

when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located adjacent the left side, a right-handed user'"'"'s hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s right hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user'"'"'s right thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball; and

when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located adjacent the right side, a left-handed user'"'"'s hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user'"'"'s left hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user'"'"'s left thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball.

21. A pointing device as in claim 19 wherein the upper section comprises:

a plurality of button positions formed substantially on a rearward portion of the top surface of the upper section; and

wherein the fingerprint sensor is located beneath a particular one of the button positions.

22. A pointing device as in claim 21 wherein:

an operable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position; and

the interface includes a cable passing through a rear surface of the upper section.

23. A pointing device as recited in claim 21 wherein:

the fingerprint sensor includes an optical imaging array; and

the particular button position includes a transparent material through which the user'"'"'s fingerprint may be imaged by the imaging array.

24. A pointing device as recited in claim 21 wherein:

the fingerprint sensor includes a capacitive imaging array located at the particular button position contactable by the user'"'"'s finger so that the user'"'"'s fingerprint may be imaged by the capacitive imaging array.

25. A pointing device as recited in claim 24 wherein:

the fingerprint sensor is incorporated into an operable button located at the particular button position.

26. The pointing device of claim 18, further comprising one or more additional biometric sensors in operative relation with the user and coupled to said interface.

27. The pointing device of claim 18, further comprising a substance detection sensor in operative relation with the fingerprint sensor.

28. The pointing device of claim 27, wherein the substance detection sensor detects narcotics, blood alcohol content, or any combination thereof of the user.