Fingerprint recognition apparatus including sterilizing function and method for sterilizing the same

• US 7,801,334 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Union Community Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Union Community Company Limited
• Inventors: Shin, Yo-Shik, Kim, Geum-yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan; Sheela C
• Application Number:
  US11/723,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20080187190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 382/124, 382/126, 382/115, 382/125, 382/127, 382/118, 382/312, 382/272, 382/116, 382/275, 382/266, 382/232, 382/100, 345/173, 345/156, 340/5.53, 340/5.83, 340/5.8, 340/5.52, 340/5.81, 356/71, 738/626.24, 738/623.81, 738/626.21, 713/186, 257/414, 257/E27.111, 257/E27.133, 257/E27.147, 257/E29.282, 902/1, 902/3
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger

Abstract

Provided are a fingerprint recognition apparatus including a sterilizing function and a method for sterilizing the same. The fingerprint recognition apparatus includes a sterilizing light source irradiating a sterilizing light on a fingerprint contact surface of a fingerprint sensor to sterilize at all times the fingerprint contact surface which many and unspecified users contact their fingers on repeatedly. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a route of bacterial infection and improve hygienic conditions.

Claims

1. A fingerprint recognition apparatus comprising;

a fingerprint sensor unit for obtaining a fingerprint image of a finger that contacts a fingerprint contact surface disposed on the fingerprint sensor unit;

a control unit for performing a fingerprint recognition process on the basis of the fingerprint image obtained by the fingerprint sensor unit;

a sterilizing light source for irradiating sterilizing light onto the fingerprint contact surface,

a sensor unit disposed around the fingerprint contact surface to detect an exposure state of the fingerprint contact surface; and

a sterilizing light source controller for controlling the sterilizing light source such that the sterilizing light source is selectively turned on/off depending on information detected by the sensor unit,

wherein the sterilizing light source controller controls the sterilizing light source such that the sterilizing light source is turned on toward the fingerprint contact surface for a predetermined duration when it is determined, depending on the information detected by the sensor unit, that a user'"'"'s finger is detached from the fingerprint contact surface after contacting the fingerprint contact surface, and

wherein the sterilizing light source controller controls the sterilizing light source

such that the sterilizing light source is turned off when it is determined, depending on the information detected by the sensor unit, that a user'"'"'s finger accesses the fingerprint contact surface before the predetermined duration has passed since the sterilizing light source was turned on.

2. The fingerprint recognition apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising an output unit for outputting a guide message requesting the user to stop contacting the fingerprint contact surface in response to a predetermined control signal,

wherein the control unit transmits the predetermined control signal to the output unit when operations of determining that a user'"'"'s finger accesses the fingerprint contact surface before the predetermined duration has passed since the sterilizing light source was turned on are repeated at least a predetermined number of times.

3. The fingerprint recognition apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising an internal light source irradiating light for obtaining the fingerprint image on a rear side of the fingerprint contact surface, the rear side being an opposite side of a fingerprint-contacting side of the fingerprint contact surface, wherein the sterilizing light source is disposed around the internal light source to irradiate the sterilizing light on the rear side of the fingerprint contact surface.

4. The fingerprint recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing light source comprises a light emitting device that emits one of an infrared ray and an ultraviolet ray having sterilizing characteristics.

5. The fingerprint recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing light source is at least one of a point light source, an array type light source, a linear light source and a planar light source.

6. A method for sterilizing a fingerprint recognition apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting an access of a user'"'"'s finger to a fingerprint contact surface of the fingerprint recognition apparatus by using a sensor unit;

turning on a sterilizing light source to irradiate sterilizing light on the fingerprint contact surface for a predetermined duration when it is determined, depending on information detected by the sensor unit, that the user'"'"'s finger is detached from the fingerprint contact surface after contacting the fingerprint contact surface; and

turning off the sterilizing light source when it is determined, depending on information detected by the sensor unit, that a user'"'"'s finger accesses the fingerprint contact surface before the predetermined duration has passed since the sterilizing light source was turned on.

7. The method for sterilizing a fingerprint recognition apparatus according to claim 6, the method further comprising outputting a guide message requesting that the user discontinue contacting the fingerprint contact surface when a predetermined number of operating cycles of the turning on and the turning off are performed in succession.