Electronic device switchable to a user-interface unlocked mode based upon a pattern of input motions and related methods

• US 9,224,029 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Setlak, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US13/918,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20140369572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/575, 455/575.1, 726/16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/40 Spoof detection, e.g. liveness detection

Abstract

An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor, a display, and a processor coupled to the finger biometric sensor and the display. The processor may be switchable between a user-interface locked mode and a user-interface unlocked mode. The processor may be capable of determining a pattern of input motions on the finger biometric sensor and displaying an image on the display corresponding to the pattern of input motions. The processor may also be capable of switching between the user-interface locked mode and the user-interface unlocked mode when the pattern of input motions matches a stored pattern representing a user unlock code.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a finger biometric sensor;

a display; and

a processor coupled to said finger biometric sensor and said display and being switchable between a user-interface locked mode and a user-interface unlocked mode, said processor capable of

determining a pattern of input motions on said finger biometric sensor,

displaying an image on said display corresponding to the pattern of input motions, and

switching between the user-interface locked mode and the user-interface unlocked mode when the pattern of input motions matches a stored pattern representing a user unlock code.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said processor is capable of determining spoof detection data based upon the pattern of input motions.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the spoof detection data comprises distortion data.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said processor is capable of displaying the image on said display as a virtual combination lock responsive to the pattern of input motions.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the stored pattern representing the user unlock code comprises a series of rotational movements.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the stored pattern representing the user unlock code comprises a series of linear movements.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said processor is capable of acquiring finger biometric match data and comparing the finger biometric match data with stored finger biometric enrollment data.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a user input device coupled to said processor;

and wherein said processor, when in the user-interface unlocked mode, is capable of performing a corresponding device function responsive to said user input device.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein said user input device comprises a finger-operated input device carrying said finger biometric sensor.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said processor.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a finger biometric sensor carried by said housing;

a display carried by said housing;

a wireless transceiver carried by said housing;

a user input device carried by said housing; and

a processor coupled to said finger biometric sensor, said display, said wireless transceiver, and said user input device, and being switchable between a user-interface locked mode and a user-interface unlocked mode;

said processor capable of

determining a pattern of input motions on said finger biometric sensor,

displaying an image on said display corresponding to the pattern of input motions,

switching between the user-interface locked mode and the user-interface unlocked mode when the pattern of input motions matches a stored pattern representing a user unlock code, and

performing a corresponding device function responsive to said user input device when in the user-interface unlocked mode.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said processor is capable of determining spoof detection data based upon the pattern of input motions.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the spoof detection data comprises distortion data.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said processor is capable of displaying the image on said display as a virtual combination lock responsive to the pattern of input motions.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the stored pattern representing the user unlock code comprises a series of rotational movements.

16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the stored pattern representing the user unlock code comprises a series of linear movements.

17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said processor is capable of acquiring finger biometric match data and comparing the finger biometric match data with stored finger biometric enrollment data.

18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein said user input device comprises a finger-operated input device carrying said finger biometric sensor.

19. A method of switching between a user-interface locked mode and a user-interface unlocked mode of an electronic device comprising a finger biometric sensor, a display, and a processor coupled to the finger biometric sensor and the display, the method comprising:

using the processor to

determine a pattern of input motions on the finger biometric sensor,

display an image on the display corresponding to the pattern of input motions, and

switch between the user-interface locked mode and the user-interface unlocked mode when the pattern of input motions matches a stored pattern representing a user unlock code.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising using the processor to determine spoof detection data based upon the pattern of input motions.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the spoof detection data comprises distortion data.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the processor displays the image on the display as a virtual combination lock responsive to the pattern of input motions.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the stored pattern representing the user unlock code comprises a series of rotational movements.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the stored pattern representing the user unlock code comprises a series of linear movements.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising using the processor to acquire finger biometric match data and compare the finger biometric match data with stored finger biometric enrollment data.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising using the processor, when in the user-interface unlocked mode, to perform a corresponding device function responsive to a user input device coupled to the processor.