Electronic device and method for activating fingerprint sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11720657-B2
Application number	US-202117171235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2021
Priority date	Feb 10, 2020
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

In various embodiments, an electronic device, at least a part of which is bendable, may include: at least one input device including a fingerprint sensor disposed therein, a memory, and a processor operatively connected to the at least one input device and the memory. The processor may be configured to: detect a user input through the at least one input device based on the fingerprint sensor being in an inactive state, identify at least one particular function stored in the memory in response to the detected user input, activate the fingerprint sensor based on the identified at least one particular function being a function requiring user authentication, perform user authentication corresponding to the user input using the activated fingerprint sensor, and control the electronic device to perform the at least one particular function corresponding to the user input upon successful user authentication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, at least a part of which is bendable, comprising:
at least one input device including a fingerprint sensor disposed therein;
a memory; and
a processor operatively connected to the at least one input device and the memory,
wherein the processor is configured to:
detect a user input through the at least one input device based on the fingerprint sensor being in an inactive state,
identify at least one particular function corresponding to the detected user input in response to the detected user input,
determine whether the at least one particular function requires user authentication,
in a case in which the at least one particular function requires user authentication, initiate executing the at least one particular function in parallel with activating the fingerprint sensor,
perform user authentication corresponding to the user input using the activated fingerprint sensor,
control the electronic device to perform the at least one particular function corresponding to the user input upon successful user authentication, and
in a case in which the at least one particular function requires no user authentication, control the electronic device to perform the at least one particular function corresponding to the user input without activating the fingerprint sensor.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a foldable housing including:
a hinge;
a first housing connected to the hinge and including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a second housing connected to the hinge, including a third surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite the third direction, the second housing being foldable about the hinge to face the first housing,
wherein the first surface faces the third surface in a folded state, and the third direction is a same direction as the first direction in an unfolded state.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a sensor module comprising at least one sensor configured to detect an unfolded angle of the foldable housing,
wherein the processor is configured to:
identify the unfolded angle of the foldable housing through the sensor module, and
switch the fingerprint sensor from the inactive state to an active state based on the unfolded angle exceeding a predetermined threshold.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
at least one display disposed on the foldable housing,
wherein the processor is configured to:
identify an input direction of a fingerprint image detected by the fingerprint sensor,
identify a posture of the electronic device based on the input direction of the fingerprint image,
determine the at least one display based on the posture of the electronic device, and
activate the determined at least one display.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor configured to identify the posture of the electronic device,
wherein the processor is configured to:
identify the posture of the electronic device using the gyro sensor and the acceleration sensor,
determine the at least one display based on the input direction of the fingerprint image and the posture of the electronic device, and
activate the determined at least one display.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to:
identify the posture of the electronic device by comparing a first fingerprint image stored in the memory and a second fingerprint image detected by the fingerprint sensor,
determine the at least one display to be activated based on the identified posture, and
activate the determined at least one display.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the function requiring user authentication includes a function performed using user's personal information stored in the memory, and includes at least one of a message transmission/reception function, a call transmission/reception function, and a payment-related function.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein based on activating the fingerprint sensor, the processor is configured to maintain an active state of the fingerprint sensor for a predetermined time.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is disposed in the at least one input device and is configured to acquire fingerprint information corresponding to the user input based on a capacitive scheme, an optical scheme, or an ultrasonic scheme.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein based on first fingerprint information acquired using the fingerprint sensor and second fingerprint information stored in the memory being identical to each other, the processor is configured to determine that user authentication is successful.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores the at least one particular function to be performed in response to the user input.

12. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the user input is detected through the at least one input device based on the electronic device being in the folded state.

13. A method of operating an electronic device at least a part of which is bendable, the method comprising:
detecting a user input through at least one input device in which a fingerprint sensor being in an inactive state is disposed;
identifying at least one particular function corresponding to the detected user input;
determining whether the at least one particular function requires user authentication;
in a case in which the at least one particular function requires user authentication, initiating executing the at least one particular function in parallel with activating the fingerprint sensor;
performing user authentication corresponding to the user input using the activated fingerprint sensor;
performing the at least one particular function corresponding to the user input upon successful user authentication; and
in a case in which the at least one particular function requires no user authentication, controlling the electronic device to perform the at least one particular function corresponding to the user input without activating the fingerprint sensor.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the electronic device comprises a foldable housing including:
a hinge;
a first housing connected to the hinge and including a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a second housing connected to the hinge, including a third surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite the third direction, the second housing being foldable about the hinge to face the first housing,
wherein the first surface faces the third surface in a folded state, and the third direction is a same direction as the first direction in an unfolded state.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
identifying an unfolded angle of the foldable housing using a sensor module configured to detect the unfolded angle of the foldable housing; and
switching the fingerprint sensor from the inactive state to an active state based on the unfolded angle exceeding a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
identifying an input direction of a fingerprint image detected by the fingerprint sensor;
identifying a posture of the electronic device based on the input direction of the fingerprint image;
determining at least one display disposed on the foldable housing

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Seo Hyewon
• Kim Chakyum
• Kim Seungnyun
• Yun Yongsang
• Lee Seungeun

Classifications

• G06F21/32 Primary

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F1/1677 Primary

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title