Multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus and associated methods

• US 7,358,514 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• 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): Le; Que Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI PHO, PASCAL M
• Application Number:
  US10/935,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20050069181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 250555-557, 250/271, 250/221, 382115-127, 356/71, 356/73, 283/68, 283/69, 396/14, 396/15, 340 551- 553, 340 58- 583, 455/410, 455/411, 902/1, 902/3
• 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 infrared sensing pixels on an integrated circuit substrate for sensing infrared radiation emitted 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 infrared radiation emitted from the user'"'"'s finger. The sensor may also include a processor connected to the plurality of infrared sensing pixels and the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor. Each of the infrared sensing pixels may include at least one infrared antenna and at least one temperature sensor connected thereto.

Claims

1. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus comprising:

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

a plurality of infrared sensing pixels on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing infrared radiation 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 infrared radiation from the user'"'"'s finger to be used for user identification; and

a processor connected to said plurality of infrared sensing pixels and said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor.

2. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of infrared sensing pixels comprises at least one infrared antenna and at least one temperature sensor connected thereto.

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 electric field sensing pixels.

4. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel;

and 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.

5. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a matcher connected to said infrared sensing pixels and said at least one other biometric sensor.

6. A multi-biometric finger sensor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said infrared sensing pixels 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 infrared sensing pixels 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 infrared 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;

a plurality of infrared sensing pixels on said integrated circuit substrate for sensing infrared radiation from the user'"'"'s finger to be used for user identification; and

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

11. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of infrared sensing pixels comprises at least one infrared antenna and at least one temperature sensor connected thereto.

12. 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.

13. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel;

and 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.

14. A multi-biometric finger sensor according to claim 10 wherein said infrared sensing pixels 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 infrared sensing pixels 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 infrared 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 for multi-biometric finger sensing comprising:

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

sensing infrared radiation from the user'"'"'s finger by using a plurality of infrared sensing pixels on the integrated circuit substrate; and

sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the infrared radiation from substrate to be used for user identification by using at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on the integrated circuit substrate.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein each of said plurality of infrared sensing pixels comprises at least one infrared antenna and at least one temperature sensor connected thereto.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises a plurality of electric field sensing pixels.

21. A method according to claim 18 wherein said at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor comprises at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel;

and 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.

22. A method according to claim 18 further comprising a matcher connected to the infrared sensing sensing pixels and the at least one other biometric sensor.

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

24. A method according to claim 18 wherein the infrared sensing pixels and the at least one other finger biometric sensor operate based upon sliding placement of the user'"'"'s finger adjacent the integrated circuit substrate.

25. A method according to claim 18 further comprising an uppermost dielectric passivation layer over the plurality of infrared sensing pixels and the at least one other biometric sensor and upon which the user'"'"'s finger is positioned.