Multi-biometric finger sensor including optical dispersion sensing pixels and associated methods

• US 7,214,953 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AuthenTec Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Richard J., Franza, Gordon S., Setlak, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US10/935,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 250/556, 250/566, 382/115, 382/124, 382/125, 356/71
• US Class Current: 250/556
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1394 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

A multi-biometric finger sensor may include at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel on an integrated circuit substrate for sensing dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger, and at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on the integrated circuit substrate for sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger. The sensor may also include a processor connected to the at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor.

Claims

1. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus comprising:

an integrated circuit for receiving a user'"'"'s finger adjacent thereto;

at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger;

at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger; and

a processor connected to said at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor.

2. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an optical source for directing light into a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent said integrated circuit substrate, the light propagating into and being dispersed by the user'"'"'s finger so that at least a portion of the dispersed light exits the user'"'"'s finger in a direction toward said integrated circuit substrate.

3. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of infrared sensing pixels.

4. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of electric field sensing pixels.

5. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said processor comprises a matcher connected to said at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and said at least one other biometric sensor.

6. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and said at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon static placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

7. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and said at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon sliding placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

8. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an uppermost dielectric passivation layer over said plurality of optical dispersion sensing pixels and said at least one other biometric sensor and upon which the user'"'"'s finger is positioned.

9. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said integrated circuit substrate comprises single crystal silicon.

10. A multi-biometric finger sensor comprising:

an integrated circuit for receiving a user'"'"'s finger adjacent thereto;

at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger; and

at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger.

11. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 further comprising an optical source on said integrated circuit substrate for directing light into a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent said integrated circuit substrate, the light propagating into and being dispersed by the user'"'"'s finger so that at least a portion of the dispersed light exits the user'"'"'s finger in a direction toward said integrated circuit substrate.

12. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of infrared sensing pixels.

13. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of electric field sensing pixels.

14. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein said at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and said at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon static placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

15. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein said at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and said at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon sliding placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent said integrated circuit substrate.

16. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 further comprising an uppermost dielectric passivation layer over said plurality of optical dispersion sensing pixels and said at least one other biometric sensor and upon which the user'"'"'s finger is positioned.

17. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein said integrated circuit substrate comprises single crystal silicon.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and the at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon static placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent the integrated circuit substrate.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and the at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon sliding placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent the integrated circuit substrate.

20. A method according to claim 17 further comprising an uppermost dielectric passivation layer over the at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and the at least one other biometric sensor and upon which the user'"'"'s finger is positioned.

21. A method for multi-biometric finger sensing comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s finger adjacent an integrated circuit substrate;

sensing dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger by using at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel on the integrated circuit substrate; and

sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the dispersed light from the user'"'"'s finger by using at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on the integrated circuit substrate.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising an optical source for directing light into a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the integrated circuit substrate, the light propagating into and being dispersed by the user'"'"'s finger so that at least a portion of the dispersed light exits the user'"'"'s finger in a direction toward the plurality of optical dispersion sensing pixels.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of infrared sensing pixels.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of electric field finger sensing pixels.

25. A method according to claim 21 further comprising using a matcher connected to the at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel and the at least one other biometric sensor.