Fingerprint imager
First Claim
1. A fingerprint imager for capturing an image of a fingerprint comprising:
- a single sensor integrated circuit havingan imaging array having a plurality of sensors arranged along an x-axis for capturing a sub-image of the fingerprint at one time wherein the fingerprint is moved with respect to the imaging array in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the x-axis; and
a mechanism for determining a change in the position of the fingerprint with respect to time and controlling the image capture of the imaging array that includesa navigation array having a plurality of sensors for capturing navigation images of a portion of the fingerprint as the fingerprint moves with respect to the navigation array; and
a navigation engine, coupled to the navigation array, the navigation engine configured for controlling when the imaging array captures sub-images, and further configured for receiving the navigation images and based thereon for determining a delta x, which is then compared to a predetermined x unit value for determining the amount of movement of a fingerprint generally along the x-axis and for determining a delta y, which is then compared to a predetermined y unit value for determining the amount of movement of a fingerprint along a y-axis that is generally perpendicular to the x-axis, wherein the navigation engine directs the rate at which the imaging array captures sub-images of the fingerprint in response to the rate of movement of the fingerprint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system of imaging an object. First, movement information of the object is determined by using a navigation sensor array and a navigation engine. Based on the movement information, an imaging sensor strobe signal is selectively asserted to control an imaging sensor array. In response to an asserted imaging sensor strobe signal, the imaging sensor array captures sub-images of the object. The imaging sensor array has a plurality of pixels for imaging a portion of the object at one time. The plurality of sub-images are captured successively by the imaging sensor array as the object moves with respect to the imaging sensor array. Then, a composite image of the object is generated based on the captured sub-images.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fingerprint imager for capturing an image of a fingerprint comprising:
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a single sensor integrated circuit having an imaging array having a plurality of sensors arranged along an x-axis for capturing a sub-image of the fingerprint at one time wherein the fingerprint is moved with respect to the imaging array in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the x-axis; and a mechanism for determining a change in the position of the fingerprint with respect to time and controlling the image capture of the imaging array that includes a navigation array having a plurality of sensors for capturing navigation images of a portion of the fingerprint as the fingerprint moves with respect to the navigation array; and a navigation engine, coupled to the navigation array, the navigation engine configured for controlling when the imaging array captures sub-images, and further configured for receiving the navigation images and based thereon for determining a delta x, which is then compared to a predetermined x unit value for determining the amount of movement of a fingerprint generally along the x-axis and for determining a delta y, which is then compared to a predetermined y unit value for determining the amount of movement of a fingerprint along a y-axis that is generally perpendicular to the x-axis, wherein the navigation engine directs the rate at which the imaging array captures sub-images of the fingerprint in response to the rate of movement of the fingerprint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a fingerprint imager having an imaging array and a navigation array, the method comprising:
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capturing with the navigation array a first navigation image at a first instant; capturing with the navigation array a second navigation image at a second instant, the second instant being different than the first instant; defining a movement vector having an x-component and a y-component; defining a predetermined x unit value; defining a predetermined y unit value; generating a delta x and a delta y of the movement vector from the first and second navigation images; comparing the delta x to the predetermined x unit value; comparing the delta y to the predetermined y unit value; and generating a strobe signal when at least one of the delta x and the delta y is greater than the predetermined x and y unit values respectively, wherein the strobe signal directs the rate at which an imaging array captures sub-images of the fingerprint in response to the rate of movement of the fingerprint. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification