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US6400836B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Combined fingerprint acquisition and control device
Assignee: Synaptics Inc
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Filing: 1998-05-15
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Granted: 2002-06-04
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Expires: 2018-05-15
Abstract
Abstract The present invention combines the functionality of a computer pointing device with a fingerprint authentication system. In the preferred embodiment, by regularly scanning fingerprints acquired from the pointing device touch pad, fingerprint features may be extracted and compared to stored data on authorized users for passive authentication. Furthermore, calculations based upon the acquired fingerprint images and associated features allows the system to determine six degrees of freedom of the finger, allowing the user to control a variety of functions or to manipulate a three-dimensional model or virtual reality system.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew William Senior
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1684; G06F1/169; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/32; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; and an image processor for extraction from said fingerprint image at least one contact parameter other than any optional authentication status data for said fingerprint image, wherein said image processor calculates which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner; and said image processor estimates the angular rotation of the finger in each of three directions from said calculation of which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; and an image processor for extraction from said fingerprint image at least one contact parameter other than any optional authentication status data for said fingerprint image, wherein said image processor calculates which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner; and said image processor estimates the angular rotation of the finger in each of three directions from said calculation of which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a feature extraction processor for extracting representative features from said fingerprint image; a memory for storing representative features of at least one authorized user; and a feature comparison processor for comparing said stored representative features with said extracted representative features, and generating authentication status data therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein said feature comparison processor sets a security status flag when said acquired fingerprint image matches said stored representative features of one authorized user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said security status flag is unset after a predetermined time period since said security status flag was most recently set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said system repeatedly acquires fingerprint images and compares said stored representative features with said extracted representative features of said acquired fingerprint images during normal operation of the computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said system unsets said security status flag when a predetermined security violation is detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 3 further comprising a data transmission circuit for transmitting a command to the computer requesting a prompt to the user to present a finger for fingerprint acquisition when said feature comparison processor cannot accurately determine whether said extracted representative features match said stored representative features.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said fingerprint image scanner may be disabled from obtaining minutae data for said fingerprint image while obtaining overall shape and location data on said fingerprint image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said feature comparison processor may be disabled by the software on the computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the computer displays a representation of said authentication status data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a data transmission circuit for transmitting contact parameter information to the computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said contact parameter information is used by the computer for controlling the position of an on-screen cursor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said contact parameter comprises a spatial location coordinate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said contact parameter comprises a measure of force applied to said scanner by the finger.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said image processor calculates said force by calculating a weighted sum of pixels comprising said fingerprint image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system derives the angle of rotation of said fingerprint image from calculating the principal axis of the active pixels in said fingerprint image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said calculating the principal axis of the active pixels in said fingerprint image comprises comparison of said active pixels with a threshold value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said calculation of which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner comprises estimation by using a correspondence of fingerprint features.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said image processor estimates six degrees of freedom from said acquired fingerprint image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the computer displays a derived representation of the acquired fingerprint image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the computer displays a representation of said at least one contact parameter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a data transmission circuit for transmitting said at least one contact parameter to the computer for controlling software operating in the computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said contact parameter comprises a status contact parameter indicating whether the finger is in contact with said fingerprint image scanner.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 23 wherein a predetermined series of transitions of said status contact parameter is interpreted as equivalent to clicking a button on a mouse.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the computer displays a representation of said fingerprint image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the three directions of angular rotation of the finger are pitch, roll and yaw.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; and an image processor for extracting from said acquired fingerprint image a two dimensional coordinate pair and a third coordinate representing the applied force of the finger, wherein said image processor further extracts three coordinates representing the rotation of the finger in each of three dimensions.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; and an image processor for extracting from said acquired fingerprint image a two dimensional coordinate pair and a third coordinate representing the applied force of the finger, wherein said image processor further extracts three coordinates representing the rotation of the finger in each of three dimensions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said image processor extracts said third coordinate representing applied force of the finger by computing the area of said acquired fingerprint.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 27 wherein the three directions of angular rotation of the finger are pitch, roll and yaw.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
65 words
A system for imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; and an image processor for extracting from said acquired fingerprint image parameters representing the six degrees of freedom of the finger, three of said six degrees of freedom being rotation in each of three directions.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
65 words
A system for imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; and an image processor for extracting from said acquired fingerprint image parameters representing the six degrees of freedom of the finger, three of said six degrees of freedom being rotation in each of three directions.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 30 further comprising a data transmission circuit for transmitting said parameters to the computer for controlling position and rotation in a three-dimensional model.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 30 wherein rotation in three directions comprise a pitch, roll and yaw.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said method comprising: a) acquiring a fingerprint image from an acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; b) processing said fingerprint image to extract from said fingerprint image at least one contact parameter other than any optional authentication status data for said fingerprint image; c) calculating which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner; and d) estimating angular rotation of the finger in each of three directions from said calculating of which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of imaging a fingerprint for input of pointing information for a computer, said method comprising: a) acquiring a fingerprint image from an acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; b) processing said fingerprint image to extract from said fingerprint image at least one contact parameter other than any optional authentication status data for said fingerprint image; c) calculating which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner; and d) estimating angular rotation of the finger in each of three directions from said calculating of which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein said step of processing said fingerprint image further comprises: c) extracting representative features from said fingerprint image; d) storing representative features of at least one authorized user; and a) comparing said stored representative features with said extracted representative features.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein step f) further comprises setting a security status flag when said acquired fingerprint image matches said stored representative features of one authorized user.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said security status flag is unset after a predetermined time period since said security status flag was most recently set.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said system repeatedly performs steps a) through f) during normal operation of the computer, and unsets said security status flag when a predetermined security violation is detected.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising: g) transmitting a command to the computer requesting a prompt to the user to present a finger for fingerprint acquisition when said feature comparison processor cannot accurately determine whether said extracted representative features match said stored representative features.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said stored representative features are adaptively changed to correspond to changes in the authorized user's fingerprint over time.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 39 wherein said authentication data is provided to authorize an electronic transaction.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of transmitting said contact parameter to the computer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said contact parameter is used by the computer for controlling the position of an on-screen cursor.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said contact parameter comprises a spatial location coordinate.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said contact parameter comprises a force parameter representing the force applied to said scanner by the finger.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 44 wherein said force parameter is obtained by calculating a weighted sum of pixels comprising said fingerprint image.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said contact parameter is derived by calculating the principal axis of the active pixels in said fingerprint image.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 46 wherein said calculating the principal axis of the active pixels in said fingerprint image comprises comparison of said active pixels with a threshold value.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 further comprising calculating a surface parameter representing which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said surface parameter is calculated using a correspondence of fingerprint features.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said step b) of processing said fingerprint image further comprises applying a dilation operator to said fingerprint image.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said angular rotation of the finger in three directions comprises determining pitch, roll and yaw of the finger.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for authentication of the identity of a user of a data entry device, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; an image processor for extracting from said fingerprint image at least one contact parameter other than any optional authentication status data for said fingerprint image; and a data transmission circuit for transmitting contact parameter information to the computer, wherein said image processor calculates which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner; and said image processor estimates the angular rotation of the finger in each of three directions from said calculation of which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for authentication of the identity of a user of a data entry device, said system comprising: a fingerprint image acquisition scanner for acquiring a fingerprint image of a finger; an image processor for extracting from said fingerprint image at least one contact parameter other than any optional authentication status data for said fingerprint image; and a data transmission circuit for transmitting contact parameter information to the computer, wherein said image processor calculates which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner; and said image processor estimates the angular rotation of the finger in each of three directions from said calculation of which portion of the finger's surface is in contact with said scanner.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 52 , wherein the three directions of angular rotation correspond to pitch, roll and yaw.
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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) | 2005-06-03 | 2005-12-03 | 2006-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-03 | 2009-12-03 | 2010-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-03 | 2013-12-03 | 2014-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |