BUTTON DEPRESS WAKEUP AND WAKEUP STRATEGY

• US 20130263252A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Validity Sensors Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: THOMPSON, Erik Jonathon, LIEN, Ty Bao
• Granted Patent: US 9,251,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints

Abstract

Disclosed is a biometric authentication system. The system comprises a biometric image sensor in an operative position with respect to a mechanical switch on a host electronic device and configured to sense biometric characteristics of a biometric object while the biometric object is operating the mechanical switch, the operating of the mechanical switch providing at least one of input and control to the host electronic device; and wake on event logic cooperating with at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device and configured to at least delay any response by the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device that increases power consumption by either the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device, beyond that needed for the performance, by at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device, of a bona fides analysis of an object being sensed while operating the mechanical switch, until a positive completion of the bona fides analysis determines that the object being sensed is an object desired to be sensed to perform a user authentication.

Claims

1. A biometric authentication system comprising:

a biometric image sensor in an operative position with respect to a mechanical switch on a host electronic device and configured to sense biometric characteristics of a biometric object while the biometric object is operating the mechanical switch, the operating of the mechanical switch providing at least one of input and control to the host electronic device; and

wake on event logic cooperating with at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device and configured to at least delay any response by the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device that increases power consumption by either the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device, beyond that needed for the performance, by at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device, of a bona fides analysis of an object being sensed while operating the mechanical switch, until a positive completion of the bona fides analysis determines that the object being sensed is an object desired to be sensed to perform a user authentication.

2. The biometric authentication system of claim 1 further comprising:

the wake on event logic configured to complete a wake on event power-up or power-on sequence for at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device in response to a positive outcome of the bona fides analysis.

3. The biometric authentication system of claim 1 further comprising:

the biometric comprising a fingerprint and the bona fides analysis determining whether the object being sensed comprises a finger of a live human being.

4. The biometric authentication system of claim 1, further comprising:

the biometric image sensor comprising;

a sensor substrate comprising a flexible material having sensor elements formed in or on the flexible material and configured to deform enough to operate the mechanical switch.

5. The biometric authentication system of claim 2 further comprising:

the bona fides analysis comprising an analysis of a partial fingerprint image in contact with or in the vicinity of the biometric image sensor.

6. The biometric authentication system of claim 4 further comprising:

the wake on event logic is configured to cause the commencement of the bona fides analysis when the wake on event logic senses an object in the vicinity of the sensor elements.

7. The biometric authentication system of claim 4 further comprising:

the wake on event logic is configured to cause the commencement of the bona fides analysis when the wake on event logic senses an object in contact with the sensor elements and before the button is depressed.

8. The biometric authentication system of claim 4 further comprising:

the wake on event logic is configured to cause the commencement of the bona fides analysis when the wake on event logic senses an object in contact with the sensor elements and upon or after the button being depressed.

10. The biometric authentication system of claim 1 wherein the biometric image sensor is incorporated into a user authentication apparatus providing user authentication for controlling access to one of an electronic user device or an electronically provided service.

9. A biometric authentication method comprising:

using a biometric image sensor in an operative position with respect to a mechanical switch on a host electronic device to sense biometric characteristics of a biometric object while the biometric object is operating the mechanical switch, the operating of the mechanical switch providing at least one of input and control to the host electronic device; and

using wake on event logic, cooperating with at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device, to at least delay any response by the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device that increases power consumption by either the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device, beyond that needed for the performance, by at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device, of a bona fides analysis of the biometric object being sensed while operating the mechanical switch, until a positive completion of the bona fides analysis determines that the object being sensed is an object desired to be sensed to perform a user authentication.

11. A machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

using a biometric image sensor in an operative position with respect to a mechanical switch on a host electronic device to sense biometric characteristics of a biometric object while the biometric object is operating the mechanical switch, the operating of the mechanical switch providing at least one of input and control to the host electronic device; and

using wake on event logic, cooperating with at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device, to at least delay any response by the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device that increases power consumption by either the biometric image sensor or the host electronic device, beyond that needed for the performance, by at least one of the biometric image sensor and the host electronic device, of a bona fides analysis of the biometric object being sensed while operating the mechanical switch, until a positive completion of the bona fides analysis determines that the object being sensed is an object desired to be sensed to perform a user authentication.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronic user device comprises at least one of a portable phone and a computing device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronically provided service comprises at least one of providing access to a web site or to an email account.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the biometric image sensor is incorporated into a user authentication apparatus providing user authentication for controlling an online transaction.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the user authentication apparatus is in replacement of at least one of a user password or personal identification number.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the user authentication apparatus is incorporated into an apparatus providing user authentication for controlling access to a physical location.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the user authentication apparatus is incorporated into an apparatus providing user authentication demonstrating the user was present at a certain place at a certain time.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the user authentication apparatus is incorporated into an apparatus providing at least one of a finger motion user input or navigation input to a computing device.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the user authentication apparatus is incorporated into an apparatus providing authentication of the user to a user device and the performance of at least one other task by the user device specific to the particular finger of the user.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the user authentication apparatus is incorporated into an apparatus providing user authentication for purposes of making an on-line transaction non-repudiatable.