Portable device including a fingerprint scanner and method of controlling therefor

• US 9,098,735 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Eunhyung, Chun, Sinae, Kim, Jihwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Koziol, Stephen R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONNER, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/909,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/296 Time-programme switches providing a choice of time-intervals for executing more than one switching action and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed electronic clocks comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time-intervals G04G15/00

Abstract

A method of controlling a portable device according to one embodiment of the present specification may be able to selectively activate the functions of a multifunctional control button. The method of controlling the portable device may include the steps of sensing a first control input for a control button configured to perform a fingerprint recognition function and a control input detection function, recognizing a fingerprint of the first control input by activating the fingerprint recognition function, if the fingerprint recognition function is activated, deactivating the control input detection function, and if the activated fingerprint recognition function is terminated, activating the control input detection function.

Claims

1. A portable device, comprising:

a display unit configured to display an execution screen of an application of the portable device;

a control button configured to receive a control input including at least one of a fingerprint input corresponding to a security authentication and a push input corresponding to a cancel function; and

a controller configured to;

display a security authentication screen of the application, for which the fingerprint input is needed,

receive a first control input including a first fingerprint input and a first push input when the security authentication screen of the application is displayed,

recognize the first fingerprint input of the first control input by activating a fingerprint recognition function when the first fingerprint input is detected for more than a first threshold time and the first push input of the first control input is not detected,

cancel the security authentication for the application when the first push input of the first control input is detected for a second threshold time or less, even though the security authentication screen of the application is still being displayed and the fingerprint input is detected for the security authentication screen, and

start a voice recognition service of the portable device when the first push input of the first control input is detected for more than the second threshold time, even though the security authentication screen of the application is still being displayed and the fingerprint input is detected for the security authentication screen,

wherein the first fingerprint input and the first push input are included in the first control input and received together.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint input and the push input are detected by two sensors included in the control button, respectively.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint input and the push input are detected by a single sensor included in the control button.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the push input is detected by using at least one of a push button, a detection switch, a resistive touch screen, and a capacitive touch screen.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein if a recognition for the first fingerprint input of the first control input is completed or if the first fingerprint input of the first control input is not recognized for more than the first threshold time, the fingerprint recognition function is terminated.

6. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the control button comprises at least one of an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, and an image sensor, and

wherein the fingerprint input is detected by using at least one of the ultrasonic sensor, the capacitance sensor, and the image sensor.

7. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the recognized first fingerprint input of the first control input with reference fingerprint data stored in the portable device.

8. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a network unit,

wherein the controller is further configured to compare the recognized first fingerprint input of the first control input with reference fingerprint data stored in an external server.

9. The portable device of claim 1, wherein if the portable device is locked, the controller is further configured to execute the voice recognition service of the portable device when the first control input for the control button is received.

10. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the portable device includes a smartphone, a smart pad, a music player, a tablet computer, or a note book computer.

11. A method for controlling a portable device, the method comprising:

displaying a security authentication screen of an application, for which the fingerprint input needed,

receiving, via a control button, a first control input including a first fingerprint input and a first push input when the security authentication screen of the application is displayed, wherein the first fingerprint input corresponds to a security authentication and a first push input corresponds to a cancel function;

recognizing the first fingerprint input of the first control input by activating a fingerprint recognition function when the first fingerprint input is detected for more than a first threshold time and the first push input of the first control input is not detected,

cancelling the security authentication for the application when the first push input of the first control input is detected for a second threshold time or less, even though the security authentication screen of the application is still being displayed and the fingerprint input is detected for the security authentication screen, and

starting a voice recognition service of the portable device when the first push input of the first control input is detected for more than the second threshold time, even though the security authentication screen of the application is still being displayed and the fingerprint input is detected for the security authentication screen,

wherein the first fingerprint input and the first push input are included in the first control input and received together.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fingerprint input and the push input are detected by two sensors included in the control button, respectively.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fingerprint input and the push input are detected by a single sensor included in the control button.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the push input is detected by using at least one of a push button, a detection switch, a resistive touch screen, and a capacitive touch screen of the portable device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein if a recognition for the first fingerprint input of the first control input is completed or if the first fingerprint input of the first control input is not recognized for more than the first threshold time, the fingerprint recognition function is terminated.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the control button comprises at least one of an ultrasonic sensor, a capacitance sensor, and an image sensor, and

wherein the fingerprint input is detected by using at least one of the ultrasonic sensor, the capacitance sensor, and the image sensor.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the recognized first fingerprint input of the first control input with reference fingerprint data stored in the portable device.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the recognized first fingerprint input of the first control input with reference fingerprint data stored in an external server.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein if the portable device is locked, the voice recognition service of the portable device is executed when the first control input for the control button is received.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable device includes a smartphone, a smart pad, a music player, a tablet computer, or a note book computer.