PASSWORD INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100321197A1
• Filed: 10/28/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shining Union Ltd. (Glory Sun Financial Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kwok Fong Wong
• Inventors: Ching, Pui Yi, Wong, Kwok Fong
• Application Number:
  US12/607,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A password input device for inputting a password to an external device includes a fingerprint scanning unit for scanning and acquiring a fingerprint of a user; a storage unit for storing an association between a predetermined fingerprint and a predetermined password; a password matching unit connected with the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, and configured for searching through the storage unit for a password associated with the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and after finding the password transmitting the found password to the external device; a password receiving unit connected with the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, and configured for receiving a password input by a user, and storing an association between the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and the password input by the user in the storage unit; and a security warning unit connected to the password receiving unit and configured for analyzing the password input by the user and indicating the security level of the password.

Claims

1. A password input device for inputting a password to an external device, the password input device comprising:

a fingerprint scanning unit for scanning and acquiring a fingerprint of a user;

a storage unit for storing an association between a predetermined fingerprint and a predetermined password;

a password matching unit connected with the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, the password matching unit being configured for searching through the storage unit for a password associated with the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and after finding the password transmitting the found password to the external device;

a password receiving unit connected with the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, the password receiving unit being configured for receiving a password input by a user, and storing an association between the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and the password input by the user in the storage unit; and

a security warning unit connected to the password receiving unit and configured for analyzing the password input by the user and indicating the security level of the password.

2. The password input device of claim 1, wherein the security warning unit comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes and a security assessment module connected to the light-emitting diodes, the security assessment module being configured for assessing the security level of the password input by the user and controlling the status of the light-emitting diodes according to the assessment.

3. The password input device of claim 2, wherein the security assessment module is configured to assess the security level of the password by the length of the password and control the status of the light-emitting diodes by selectively turning on or off the light-emitting diodes or by selectively controlling the blinking rate of the light-emitting diodes.

4. The password input device of claim 2, wherein the light-emitting diodes are of different colors.

5. The password input device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint scanning unit comprises a fingerprint sensor on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and a light-emitting diode for indicating the status of the fingerprint scanning unit.

6. The password input device of claim 1 further comprising an interface unit, the password matching unit being configured to transmit the found password to the external device through the interface unit, the password receiving unit being configured to receive the password input by the user from the external device through the interface unit.

7. The password input device of claim 6, wherein the interface unit is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface, or an integrated USB and SPI interface.

8. A password input device for inputting a password to an external device, the password input device comprising:

a fingerprint scanning unit for scanning and acquiring a fingerprint of a user;

a storage unit for storing an association between a predetermined fingerprint and a predetermined password; and

a password matching unit connected with the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, the password matching unit being configured for searching through the storage unit for a password associated with the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and after finding the password transmitting the found password to the external device;

wherein;

the fingerprint scanning unit comprises a fingerprint sensor on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and a light-emitting diode for indicating the status of the fingerprint scanning unit.

9. The password input device of claim 8, further comprising:

a password receiving unit connected with the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, the password receiving unit being configured for receiving a password input by a user, and storing an association between the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and the password input by the user in the storage unit;

a security warning unit connected to the password receiving unit and configured for analyzing the password input by the user and indicating the security level of the password; and

an interface unit, the password matching unit being configured to transmit the found password to the external device through the interface unit, the password receiving unit being configured to receive the password input by the user from the external device through the interface unit.

10. The password input device of claim 9, wherein the security warning unit comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes and a security assessment module connected to the light-emitting diodes, the security assessment module being configured for assessing the security level of the password input by the user and controlling the status of the light-emitting diodes according to the assessment.

11. The password input device of claim 10, wherein the security assessment module is configured to assess the security level of the password by the length of the password and control the status of the light-emitting diodes by selectively turning on or off the light-emitting diodes or by selectively controlling the blinking rate of the light-emitting diodes.

12. The password input device of claim 10, wherein the light-emitting diodes are of different colors.

13. The password input device of claim 9, wherein the interface unit is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface, or an integrated USB and SPI interface.

14. A password input system comprising:

an information processing device comprising a user input interface;

a fingerprint scanning unit for scanning and acquiring a fingerprint of a user;

a storage unit for storing an association between a predetermined fingerprint and a predetermined password;

a password matching unit connected with the information processing device, the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, the password matching unit being configured for searching through the storage unit for a password associated with the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and after finding the password transmitting the found password to the information processing device;

a password receiving unit connected with the information processing device, the fingerprint scanning unit and the storage unit, the password receiving unit being configured for receiving a password input by a user through the user input interface of the information processing system and storing an association between the fingerprint acquired by the fingerprint scanning unit and the password input by the user in the storage unit; and

a security warning unit connected to the password receiving unit and configured for analyzing the password input by the user and indicating the security level of the password.

15. The password input device of claim 14, wherein the security warning unit comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes and a security assessment module connected to the light-emitting diodes, the security assessment module being configured for assessing the security level of the password input by the user and controlling the status of the light-emitting diodes according to the assessment.

16. The password input device of claim 15, wherein the security assessment module is configured to assess the security level of the password by the length of the password and control the status of the light-emitting diodes by selectively turning on or off the light-emitting diodes or by selectively controlling the blinking rate of the light-emitting diodes.

17. The password input device of claim 15, wherein the light-emitting diodes are of different colors.

18. The password input device of claim 14, wherein the fingerprint scanning unit comprises a fingerprint sensor on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and a light-emitting diode for indicating the status of the fingerprint scanning unit.

19. The password input device of claim 14 further comprising an interface unit, the password matching unit being configured to transmit the found password to the information processing device through the interface unit, the password receiving unit being configured to receive the password input by the user from the information processing device through the interface unit.

20. The password input device of claim 19, wherein the interface unit is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface, or an integrated USB and SPI interface.