Apparatus and method for user authentication, and mobile device

• US 10,586,092 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hong, Won Ki, Lee, Jong Seo
• Primary Examiner(s): Harandi, Siamak
• Application Number:
  US15/397,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/11 Hand-related biometrics; Hand pose recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/50 Maintenance of biometric data or enrolment thereof

Abstract

An apparatus for user authentication includes a sensor array and a sensing signal processor. The sensor array is formed on at least one surface of a mobile device. The sensing signal processor receives information of a palm of a user, received from the sensor array, and performs a user authentication through pattern analysis. Accordingly, an authentication of the user of the mobile device can be simply performed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for user authentication, the apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensor array formed on a display panel of a mobile device; and

a sensing signal processor configured to receive information of a palm of a user and perform a user authentication through pattern analysis,

wherein the information of the palm of the user is received from the pressure sensor array,

wherein the display panel includes a light emitting element layer, and a first encapsulation layer formed on the light emitting element layer, and

wherein the pressure sensor array is formed on the first encapsulation layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor array is implemented as a capacitive touch sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor array includes a plurality of unit sensors, and each unit pressure sensor of the plurality of unit pressure sensors includes at least one of a piezoelectric semiconductor, a piezoelectric carbon powder, a metal compound, a metal nano-particle, a silicone, a biometrics structure electrode, a CNT, a graphene, a metal nanowire, and an elective active polymer (EAP).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor array includes a plurality of unit pressure sensors, and each unit pressure sensor of the plurality of unit pressure sensors is disposed with adjacent unit pressure sensors to form a distance of 2 to 4 mm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor array senses positions contacted with the palm and contact pressures at the positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing signal processor:

generates an image of the palm based on the information of the palm of the user received from the pressure sensor array;

generates at least one partial pattern by analyzing the image of the palm; and

performs an authentication operation of the user by comparing the generated at least one partial pattern with at least one reference partial pattern previously stored in the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display panel is formed on a first surface of the mobile device,

wherein the pressure sensor array is formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the mobile device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor array includes a Wheatstone bridge circuit or a voltage dividing circuit.