Method of switching operation modes of fingerprint sensor, electronic apparatus using the same and fingerprint sensor thereof

• US 20090196468A1
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Shih-Hsin, Po, Chan-Ping
• Application Number:
  US12/232,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196468A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

A switching method adopted by a fingerprint sensor operation mode for switching among the plurality of operation modes, the electronic apparatus using the same, and fingerprint sensor thereof are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: activating the fingerprint sensor; switching based on a preset operation mode to one of the plurality of operation modes whereby regarded as the current operation mode of the fingerprint sensor; detecting an input signal from the fingerprint sensor; and switching to another one of the plurality of operation modes whereby regarded as the new operation mode of the fingerprint sensor when the input signal is a mode switching hotkey.

Claims

1. A method for switching among a plurality of operation modes of a fingerprint sensor, comprising the steps of:

activating said fingerprint sensor;

switching to one of the plurality of operation modes as a current operation mode of said fingerprint sensor according to a default operation mode setting;

detecting an input signal from said fingerprint sensor; and

switching to another one of the plurality of operation modes as a new current operation mode of said fingerprint sensor when the input signal is a mode switching hotkey.

2. The switching method of claim 1, wherein said mode switching hotkey comprises a multi-click signal.

3. The switching method of claim 1, wherein said fingerprint sensor comprises a keypad structure, and said mode switching hotkey comprises a signal generated by pressing said keypad structure.

4. The switching method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of operation modes include a fingerprint recognition mode capable of recognizing fingerprints, in which the method further comprising the steps of:

converting said input signal into at least one fingerprint image;

verifying said at least one fingerprint image in accordance with a fingerprint database; and

performing an authorization process when said at least one fingerprint image conforms to said fingerprint database.

5. The switching method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprise a cursor mode capable of controlling a cursor, in which the method further comprising the steps of:

converting said input signal into at least one fingerprint image; and

controlling said cursor according to said at least one fingerprint image.

6. The switching method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of operation modes include a scrolling mode capable of controlling a scrollbar, in which the method further comprising the steps of:

converting said input signal into at least one fingerprint image; and

controlling the scrollbar according to said at least one fingerprint image.

7. The switching method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprise a zooming in/out mode capable of zooming in/out a image, in which the method further comprising the steps of:

converting said input signal into at least one fingerprint image; and

zooming in/out said image according to said at least one fingerprint image.

8. The switching method of claim 1, further comprising an on screen display (OSD) to prompt information of said another operation mode before switching to said another operation mode, and each of said plurality of operation modes has a corresponding text or pattern regarded as said information.

9. A fingerprint sensor, comprising:

a fingerprint sensing module for sensing said fingerprint and for generating an input signal; and

a keypad structure, disposed below said fingerprint sensing module, for generating a pressed signal when said keypad structure is pressed by an external force;

wherein said fingerprint sensor has a plurality of operation modes, and said pressed signal is used as a mode switching hotkey for switching among said plurality of operation modes.

10. The fingerprint sensor of claim 9, wherein said operation modes comprise a fingerprint recognition mode, wherein in said fingerprint recognition mode, said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and an authorization process is performed when said at least one fingerprint image conforms to a fingerprint database.

11. The fingerprint sensor of claim 9, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprise a cursor mode for controlling a cursor, wherein in said cursor mode, said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and said cursor is controlled according to said at least one fingerprint image.

12. The fingerprint sensor of claim 9, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprise a scrolling mode for scrolling a scrollbar, wherein in said scrolling mode, said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and the scrollbar is controlled according to said at least one fingerprint image.

13. The fingerprint sensor of claim 9, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprise a zooming in/out mode for zooming in/out an image, wherein in said zooming in/out mode. said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and said image is zoomed in/out according to said at least one fingerprint image.

14. A fingerprint sensor having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a fingerprint sensing module for sensing a fingerprint and for generating an input signal; and

a signal processing module, for determining whether said input signal is a multi-click signal;

wherein when said input signal is the multi-click signal, said fingerprint sensor switches among said plurality of operation modes.

15. The fingerprint sensor of claim 14, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprises a fingerprint recognition mode, wherein in said fingerprint recognition mode, said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and an authorization process is performed when said at least one fingerprint image conforms to a fingerprint database.

16. The fingerprint sensor of claim 14, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprises a cursor mode to control a cursor, wherein in said cursor mode, said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and said cursor is controlled according to said at least one fingerprint image.

17. The fingerprint sensor of claim 14, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprises a scrolling mode to scroll a scrollbar, wherein in said scrolling mode, said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and the scrollbar is controlled according to said at least one fingerprint image.

18. The fingerprint sensor of claim 14, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprises a zooming in/out mode to zoom in/out an image, wherein in said zooming in/out mode, said input signal is converted into at least one fingerprint image and said image is zoomed in/out according to said at least one fingerprint image.

19. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an operating system; and

a fingerprint sensor with a plurality of operation modes to operate said operating system, the fingerprint sensor comprising;

a fingerprint sensing module for sensing said fingerprint and for generating an input signal; and

a keypad structure, disposed below said fingerprint sensing module, for generating a pressed signal when said keypad structure is pressed by an external force;

wherein said pressed signal is used as a mode switching hotkey for switching among said plurality of operation modes.

20. The electronic apparatus of claim 19, wherein said fingerprint sensing module is an optical fingerprint sensing module or a chip based fingerprint sensing module.

21. The electronic apparatus of claim 19, wherein said electronic apparatus uses an on screen display (OSD) to prompt operation mode information, in which each of said plurality of operation mode has a corresponding text or pattern regarded as said operation mode information.

22. The electronic apparatus of claim 19, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprises a fingerprint recognition mode, a cursor mode, a scrolling mode, and a zoom in/out mode.

23. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an operating system; and

a fingerprint sensor with a plurality of operation modes, the fingerprint sensor comprising;

a fingerprint sensing module for sensing said fingerprint and for generating an input signal; and

a signal processing module, for detecting weather said input signal is a multi-click signal or not;

wherein when said input signal is the multi-click signal, said fingerprint sensor switches among said plurality of operation modes.

24. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein said fingerprint sensing module is an optical fingerprint sensing module or a chip based fingerprint sensing module.

25. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein said electronic apparatus uses an on screen display (OSD) to prompt operation mode information, in which each of said plurality of operation modes has a corresponding text or pattern regarded as said operation mode information.

26. The electronic apparatus of claim 23, wherein said plurality of operation modes comprises a fingerprint recognition mode, a cursor mode, a scrolling mode, or a zooming in/out mode.