US6327376B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic apparatus comprising fingerprint sensing devices
Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1998-12-03
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Granted: 2001-12-04
•
Expires: 2018-12-03
Abstract
Abstract An electronic apparatus comprising a fingerprint sensing device ( 10 ) having an array of sensing elements ( 12 ) carried on a transparent substrate ( 35 ) for sensing capacitively the ridge pattern of a fingerprint placed over the array, in which the transparency of the device is utilised to provide additional capabilities. Thus, an optical sensing device ( 60 ) may be disposed beneath the device ( 10 ) to sense optically through the device a further biometric characteristic, or the presence, of the finger overlying the sensing element array. Substantial transparency can be afforded to the device by forming the sense electrodes ( 30 ) of the array from transparent conductive material. In products like mobile telephones, notebook computers, PDAs, smart cards or like portable electronic products of small size such as fingerprint sensing device can then advantageously be arranged overlying a display device with the display output being visible through the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerard F. Harkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12; G06V40/13; G06V40/1306; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/004; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/32; G06V40/1347; G06V40/1359; G06V40/1382; G06V40/1394; G06V40/40; G06V40/45; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/257; G07C9/26; G07C9/30; G07C9/32; G07C9/37; H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/011; H10F39/026; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/18; H10F39/198
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An electronic apparatus comprising a fingerprint sensing device having an array of spaced sensing elements carried on a transparent substrate for sensing capacitively a ridge pattern of a person's fingerprint when placed over the array, each sensing element comprising a sense electrode and an insulating layer overlying the sense electrode, for producing in combination with a fingerprint part overlying the insulating layer a capacitive effect, wherein the sensing elements of the array are substantially transparent with the sense electrodes being formed of transparent conductive material and their overlying insulating layer also being formed of transparent material, and wherein a biometric sensor device is disposed beneath the substrate for optically sensing through the substrate and the sensing element array an additional biometric characteristic of a finger overlying the array of sensing elements other than the fingerprint pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An electronic apparatus comprising a fingerprint sensing device having an array of spaced sensing elements carried on a transparent substrate for sensing capacitively a ridge pattern of a person's fingerprint when placed over the array, each sensing element comprising a sense electrode and an insulating layer overlying the sense electrode, for producing in combination with a fingerprint part overlying the insulating layer a capacitive effect, wherein the sensing elements of the array are substantially transparent with the sense electrodes being formed of transparent conductive material and their overlying insulating layer also being formed of transparent material, and wherein a biometric sensor device is disposed beneath the substrate for optically sensing through the substrate and the sensing element array an additional biometric characteristic of a finger overlying the array of sensing elements other than the fingerprint pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensing elements are arranged in a row and column matrix and addressed via sets of row and column address conductors carried on the substrate and extending between the sensing elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 2 , characterized in that the address conductors of at least one of the sets are formed of transparent conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 2 , characterized in that each sensing element includes at least one switching device which is connected to the sense electrode and is arranged so as to overlap substantially with an address conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the array of sensing elements is disposed over a display device whose display output is transmitted through the sensing element array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 5 , characterized in that display device comprises a liquid crystal display device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 5 , characterized in that the apparatus comprises a mobile telecommunications apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 5 , characterized in that the apparatus comprises a portable computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the apparatus comprises a smart card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the apparatus comprises an electrical switch and the sensing element array extends over an illuminatable actuating element of the switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor device comprising a pulse oximeter sensor using infra red and visible light transmitted through the sensing element array.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the optical sensing device is connected to a drive circuit of the fingerprint sensing device and arranged to operate the fingerprint sensing device upon the presence of a finger being sensed thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor device comprises a pulse oximeter sensor using infra red and visible light transmitted through the sensing element array.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the biometric optical sensing device is connected to a drive circuit of the fingerprint sensing device and arranged to operate the fingerprint sensing device upon the presence of a finger being sensed thereby.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |