US5559504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface shape sensor, identification device using this sensor, and protected system using this device
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1994-01-07
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Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2014-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A device for performing identification by sensing the fingerprint of a finger includes an input unit. The input unit is constituted by a plurality of linear contact electrodes formed on a substrate, and a pressure-sensitive sheet formed on the linear contact electrodes and a resistance thereof changes in accordance with a pressure applied thereto. When the finger touches the surface of the pressure-sensitive sheet, a change in resistance is caused between the electrodes, and this change is converted to data of a one-dimensional electrical signal distribution. The obtained data is compared with registered data, thereby performing identification. The time required for signal processing necessary in the identification device can be decreased.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiro Itsumi
- 👤 Masayuki Shiratori
- 👤 Tatsuro Beppu
- 👤 Shiroh Saitoh
- 👤 Yujiro Naruse
- 👤 Shigeki Obata
- 👤 Shunji Shirouzu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/0414; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/28; G01B7/287; G01B7/32; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/20; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12; G06V40/13; G06V40/1306; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/257; G07C9/26; G07C9/30; G07C9/32; G07C9/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A sensor for sensing a surface shape of an object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction; and a converter for detecting degrees of an electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A sensor for sensing a surface shape of an object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction; and a converter for detecting degrees of an electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrodes comprises a plurality of linear electrodes extending in a direction intersecting said first direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said contact surface is defined by surfaces of said plurality of electrodes, and said object surface is conductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said input unit further comprises a conductive pressure-sensitive sheet covering said plurality of electrodes and having an electrical resistance which is locally changed in accordance with a pressure applied thereto, said contact surface being defined by a surface of said conductive pressure-sensitive sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sensor according to claim 1, comprising a mark for defining a region to be brought into contact with the object surface formed on said contact surface.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
112 words
A device for performing identification by sensing a surface shape of an object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction, a converter for detecting degrees of an electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; and a comparator for comparing the data formed by said converted with registered data, thereby performing identification.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
112 words
A device for performing identification by sensing a surface shape of an object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction, a converter for detecting degrees of an electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; and a comparator for comparing the data formed by said converted with registered data, thereby performing identification.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of electrodes comprises a plurality of linear electrodes extending laterally in a direction intersecting said first direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 6, wherein said contact surface is defined by surfaces of said plurality of electrodes, and said object surface is conductive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device according to claim 6, wherein said input unit further comprises a conductive pressure-sensitive sheet covering said plurality of electrodes and having an electrical resistance which is locally changed in accordance with a pressure applied thereto, said contact surface being defined by a surface of said conductive pressure-sensitive sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 6, wherein a mark for defining a region to be brought into contact with the object surface is formed on said contact surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device according to claim 6, further comprising means for, when said comparator identifies that the formed data and the registered data coincide, replacing the registered data with the formed data and determining the formed data as newly registered data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
163 words
A protected system, which performs identification by sensing a surface shape of an object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction; a converter for detecting degrees of an electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; a comparator for comparing the data formed by said converter with registered data, thereby performing identification; a system main body; and protecting means for switching said system main body between an operable state and a disabled state, wherein said protecting means sets said system main body to the operable state when said comparator identifies that the formed data and the registered data coincide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
A protected system, which performs identification by sensing a surface shape of an object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction; a converter for detecting degrees of an electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; a comparator for comparing the data formed by said converter with registered data, thereby performing identification; a system main body; and protecting means for switching said system main body between an operable state and a disabled state, wherein said protecting means sets said system main body to the operable state when said comparator identifies that the formed data and the registered data coincide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of electrode comprises a plurality of linear electrodes extending in a direction intersecting said first direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 12, wherein said contact surface is defined by surfaces of said plurality of electrodes, and said object surface is conductive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system according to claim 12, wherein said input unit further comprises a conductive pressure-sensitive sheet covering said plurality of electrodes and having an electrical resistance which is locally changed in accordance with a pressure applied thereto, said contact surface being defined by a surface of said conductive pressure-sensitive sheet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 12, comprising a mark for defining a region to be brought into contact with the object surface formed on said contact surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 12, further comprising means for, when said comparator identifies that the formed data and the registered data coincide, replacing the registered data with the formed data and determining the formed data as newly registered data.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for performing identification by sensing a surface shape of a conductive object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of linear electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction, said plurality of linear electrodes extending in a direction intersecting said first direction, said contact surface being defined by surfaces of said plurality of linear electrodes; a converter for detecting degrees of electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; and a comparator for comparing the data formed by said converter with registered data, thereby performing identification.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for performing identification by sensing a surface shape of a conductive object surface, comprising: an input unit having a contact surface to be brought into contact with the object surface, said input unit having a plurality of linear electrodes arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction, said plurality of linear electrodes extending in a direction intersecting said first direction, said contact surface being defined by surfaces of said plurality of linear electrodes; a converter for detecting degrees of electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; and a comparator for comparing the data formed by said converter with registered data, thereby performing identification.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device according to claim 18, further comprising means for, when said comparator identifies that the formed data and the registered data coincide, replacing the registered data with the formed data and determining the formed data as newly registered data.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of performing identification by sensing a surface shape of a conductive object surface, comprising the steps of: bringing a contact surface, defined by surface of a plurality of linear electrodes, into contact with the object surface, said plurality of linear electrodes being arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction and extending in a direction intersecting said first direction; detecting degrees of electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, when said contact surface is in contact with the object surface, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; and comparing the data with registered data, thereby performing identification.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of performing identification by sensing a surface shape of a conductive object surface, comprising the steps of: bringing a contact surface, defined by surface of a plurality of linear electrodes, into contact with the object surface, said plurality of linear electrodes being arranged laterally with intervals in a first direction and extending in a direction intersecting said first direction; detecting degrees of electrical resistance between pairs of adjacent of said laterally arranged electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, and forming data representing a distribution of said electrical resistance in said first direction, when said contact surface is in contact with the object surface, said electrical resistance being variable by contact of said contact surface with the object surface; and comparing the data with registered data, thereby performing identification.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-03-25 | 2000-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-24 | 2004-03-25 | 2004-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-24 | 2008-03-25 | 2008-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |