Fingerprint Sensing Access for Security and Personalization in Apps and Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016364591-A1
Application number	US-201514866168-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A user interface with fingerprint recognition and secure access to sensitive information and applications is described. Fingerprint recognition may occur on a dedicated module or integrated into a touchscreen. The user interface may be configured to display icons representative of secure applications and gate access thereto via biometric authentication or the user interface may be configured to display icons representative of secure applications only upon detection of valid biometric data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for accessing a secure function, the method including:
detecting a finger on a fingerprint data generation device; generating data representative of a fingerprint of the finger; comparing the data representative of the fingerprint to a library of fingerprint data stored in a memory; if the data representative of the fingerprint matches fingerprint data in the library, displaying at least one icon representative of a secure function; detecting a presence of a conductive object on a touch-sensitive array in a location corresponding to the at least one icon; and executing a command corresponding to the secure function.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the at least one icon includes displaying the at least one icon for a period of time set by a counter, the method further comprising terminating displaying the at least one icon after the period of time set by the counter expires.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the finger on the fingerprint data generation device comprises:
measuring a capacitance on a proximity electrode separate from a plurality of electrodes configured to generate data representative of the fingerprint; comparing the capacitance on the proximity electrode to a threshold; and detecting the finger on the fingerprint data generation device if the capacitance on the proximity electrode is greater than the threshold.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint imaging device is disposed on a mechanical button outside a display area of a display of a touch-sensitive interface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint imaging device is disposed within a display area of the display of a touch sensitive interface.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the fingerprint data generation device comprises a plurality of fingerprint data generation electrodes integrated with a plurality of touch detection electrodes of the touch sensitive interface.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the data representative of the fingerprint to a library of fingerprint data stored in a memory includes:
comparing the data representative of the fingerprint to a plurality fingerprint data in a plurality of libraries; and wherein the displaying at least one icon representative of the secure function includes selecting the at least one icon based on which of the plurality of fingerprints data in the plurality of libraries matches the fingerprint the data representative of the fingerprint.

8 . A touch-sensitive device comprising:
a display configured to display icons; a first plurality of electrodes disposed on a first axis a second plurality of electrodes disposed on a second axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis; a controller system including at least one controller, the controller system configured to: measure capacitance between the first plurality of electrodes the second plurality of electrodes; in a first mode, determine a position of a finger on a first group of the first plurality of electrodes; and in a second mode, generate fingerprint data representative of a fingerprint on a second group of the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes,
wherein the second group of the first plurality of electrodes is selectively operable to determine the position of the finger and to generate fingerprint data, and
wherein a first resolution of the first group is substantially similar to a second resolution of the second group.

9 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one controller comprises:
a first controller configured to determine the position of a finger based on the at least one measured capacitance of the first group of electrodes; and a second controller configured to generate data representative of the fingerprint based on at least one measured capacitance of the second group of electrodes.

10 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 8 , wherein the second group of electrodes includes at least one of the first group of electrodes.

11 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 8 , wherein the controller system is configured to compare the generated data representative of the fingerprint to a library of data and, if the generated data representative of the fingerprint matches at least one data in the library of data, execute a secure function of the touch-sensitive device.

12 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 8 , wherein the display is configured to display a plurality of icons, the plurality of icons corresponding to at least one secure application and at least one non-secure application.

13 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 12 , wherein the controller system is configured to execute the at least one secure application if the fingerprint data matches at least one fingerprint data in a library of fingerprint data.

14 . The touch-sensitive device of claim 13 , wherein the controller system is configured to execute the at least one non-secure applications responsive to a finger determined to be at a location corresponding to an icon for the non-secure application.

15 . A biometric authentication device comprising;
a first plurality of electrodes disposed along a first axis, wherein the first plurality of electrodes comprises a first plurality of touch detection electrodes and a first plurality of fingerprint imaging electrodes; a second plurality of electrodes disposed along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein:
the second plurality of electrodes comprises a second plurality of touch detection electrodes and a second plurality of fingerprint imaging electrodes,
wherein the first and second pluralities of touch detection electrodes are disposed at a first pitch and the first and second pluralities of fingerprint imaging electrodes are disposed at a second pitch, and
wherein the first and second pluralities of fingerprint imaging electrodes are disposed such that gaps in the coverage of the first and second pluralities of fingerprint imaging electrodes exist on a surface of the biometric authentication device,
wherein the first and second pluralities of fingerprint imaging electrodes are selectively operable to determine the position of the finger and to generate fingerprint data,
wherein a first resolution of the first and second pluralities of touch electrodes is substantially similar to a second resolution the first and second pluralities of fingerprint imaging electrodes; and
a controller configured to create a fingerprint image from at least two contacts of the same finger on the surface of the biometric authentication device.

16 . The biometric authentication device of claim 15 , wherein the at least two contacts of the same finger are detected at different locations on the surface of the biometric authentication device.

17 . The biometric authentication device of claim 16 , wherein the different locations on the surface of the biometric authentication device correspond to at least two keys of a keypad.

18 . The biometric authentication device of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the fingerprint image to a library of fingerprint images, compare a sequence of pressed keys to a passcode, and unlock the biometric authentication device if the fingerprint image matches a fingerprint in the library of fingerprint images and the sequence pressed keys matches the passcode.

19 . The biometric authentication device of claim 15 further comprising a second

Assignees

• Cypress Semiconductor Corp

Inventors

• El-Khoury Hassane
• Hancioglu Erhan
• Ozbek Onur
• Page Andrew C
• Prendergast Patrick N
• Johal Jaskarn Singh

Classifications

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F21/32

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

• G06K9/00087

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06K9/0002 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic