Electronic device including a biometric authentication function

• US 8,488,054 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Namekawa, Kimiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US12/707,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20100259665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units

Abstract

An electronic device is provided which includes a light emitting unit for emitting light, and a light detection unit which is irradiated with the light emitted by the light emitting unit and which includes an optical sensor for outputting an electric current corresponding to the brightness of the light. The light emitted by the light emitting unit is used for a purpose other than being irradiated to the light detection unit.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a flash that emits light to a subject when the subject is imaged;

a vein authentication unit including a light detection unit that is irradiated with the light emitted by the flash and that includes an optical sensor that outputs an electric current corresponding to the brightness of the light emitted from the flash;

a light collecting lens that collects the light emitted from the flash; and

an optical fiber cable connected to the light collecting lens that guides the light emitted from the flash to the optical sensor.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

when the light emitted from the flash is irradiated to the light detection unit, a light emitting surface of the flash faces an inside of a housing without being exposed to an outside of the housing.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the vein authentication unit includes an external-light shielding unit that blocks irradiation of external light, other than the light emitted from the flash, to the light detection unit.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor includes a light absorbing film that transmits only light in a near-infrared region among the light emitted by the flash.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) that is irradiated by the light emitted from the flash and outputs the electric current corresponding to the brightness of the light emitted from the flash.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a housing having a structure in which the flash movably pops out from the housing and is contained within the housing.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the vein authentication unit includes a cover disposed at a position opposing the optical sensor.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the vein authentication unit includes an opening between the cover and the optical sensor in which a user'"'"'s finger is placed to perform vein authentication.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the light collecting lens collects the light emitted from the flash when the flash is contained within the housing.