Abstract: A live finger detection system and method includes a drive plate configured to inject radio frequency signals into an object proximate the drive plate. The injected radio frequency energy causes the object to radiate an electric field. A pickup plate is configured to detect an intensity associated with the electric field radiated by the object. A sensor coupled to the pickup plate is configured to determine whether the object is a live finger based on the detected intensity of the electric field radiated by the object.

Abstract: An apparatus for culling substantially redundant data in a fingerprint sensing circuit is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including an input module, a storage module, a comparator module, and a determination module. The input module may receive sets of data samples from an array of fingerprint sensing elements. The sets of data samples may be stored by the storage module. The comparator module may calculate a difference between each data sample from a first-received set, and a corresponding data sample from a second-received set. The determination module may count the number of difference values that exceed a predetermined difference limit, and identify the second set of data samples as redundant if the number of difference values counted is less than a pre-set count limit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a finger on a fingerprint sensor is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including transmitting a probing signal, comprising a series of probing pulses, to a fingerprint sensing area. A response signal, comprising a series of response pulses, is received from the fingerprint sensing area in response to the probing signal. An upper reference signal is generated and finger activity is detected on the fingerprint sensing area by monitoring whether the peaks of the response pulses exceed the reference signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing power consumption in fingerprint-sensing circuits is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing area onto which a user can apply a fingerprint. An integrated circuit communicates with the fingerprint sensing area and is configured to detect finger activity over the fingerprint sensing area. The integrated circuit includes a primary logic portion configured to assume control of the integrated circuit when finger activity is detected over the fingerprint sensing area. The integrated circuit also includes a secondary logic portion configured to assume control of the integrated circuit and shut off power to the primary logic portion when finger activity is not detected over the fingerprint sensing area.

Abstract: A low power oscillator is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a Schmitt trigger having an input, an output, and an input stage coupled to the input. The input stage may include multiple transistors connected in series between a power source and ground. A switch, controlled by the output of the Schmitt trigger, may be connected in series with the multiple transistors. The switch is configured to interrupt shoot-through current passing through the transistors when the transistors are turned on at the same time. In certain embodiments, the switch may reduce the shoot-through current by substantially half.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing module includes a sensor substrate having a sensing side and a circuit side, an image sensor including conductive traces on the circuit side of the sensor substrate, and a sensor circuit including at least one integrated circuit mounted on the circuit side of the sensor substrate and electrically connected to the image sensor. The sensor substrate may be a flexible substrate. The module may include a velocity sensor on the sensor substrate or on a separate substrate. The module may further include a rigid substrate, and the sensor substrate may be affixed to the rigid substrate.

Abstract: A fingerprint analysis method for partial fingerprint scanners that has an improved ability to resolve fingerprints from the tips of fingers, as well as an improved ability to cope with suboptimal finger swipes. The method uses various extrapolation methods to more accurately determine the position of a scanned fingertip is as the tip of the finger passes a partial fingerprint scanner. The method also monitors the image characteristics of the partial fingerprint image returned by the partial fingerprint scanner, and uses these image characteristics to determine exactly where the image of the fingertip itself is lost, and imaging of non-fingerprint data begins. By combining the most probable fingertip position as a function of time data obtained from extrapolated finger motion data, with image analyzed fingerprint images more precisely determined to be near the fingertip edges, superior fingerprint images extending closer to the edge of the fingerprint may be obtained.

Abstract: A method and system of verification is provided for sensing a fingerprint. The present invention offers a secure authentication method and system based on a user's fingerprint data to grant the access to information at a remote location. A biometric input corresponding to the fingerprint is provided by a user and the biometric input is than validated. Based on the validation, a token is transmitted to a remote location. The method and system can be further enhanced by additional security comprising receiving a request based on the authentication of the user information and transmitting, to a second remote location, a token based on the biometric input in response to the request.

Abstract: A novel system, device and method of validation is provided for sensing a biometric such as a fingerprint, where biometric data corresponding to the biometric entity such as a fingerprint is then transmitted to a host configured to perform a plurality of authentication processes to authenticate the biometric data. At least one of the plurality of authentication steps is then validated. Alternatively, a portion of the biometric data may be retained, where biometric data corresponding to the biometric is then transmitted to a host configured to perform a plurality of authentication steps to authenticate the biometric data. At least one of the plurality of authentication steps is then validated.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting an object. Main circuitry operates the sensor unit in a high power mode of operation when the sensor unit detects an object. Low power control circuitry operates the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect an object within a pre-determined period of time. The low power control circuitry also comprises a counter to periodically determine when to restore the sensor unit to a high power mode of operation. One advantageous embodiment of the sensor unit is a fingerprint sensor unit for detecting a finger to obtain fingerprint information.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor with programmable sensing patterns is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing circuit having multiple I/O interconnects. The I/O interconnects are configured to sequentially drive a plurality of fingerprint sensing elements. A memory device may be operably coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit. A programmable data structure, such as a table, file, character string, numeric value, array, or the like may be stored in the memory device to designate a pattern for driving the fingerprint sensing elements. The fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to drive the fingerprint sensing elements according to the designated pattern. In selected embodiments, the fingerprint sensing elements may include transmitting elements, receiving elements, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit for reducing noise and parasitic capacitive coupling is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a plurality of transmitting elements to sequentially emit a probing signal. A digital ground is provided to ground digital components in the fingerprint sensing circuit. A quiet ground, separate from and quieter than the digital ground, is provided to ground transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal. Similarly, control logic is provided to connect, to the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal, while disconnecting, from the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are emitting the probing signal. The quiet ground helps to reduce the adverse effects of parasitic capacitive coupling and noise on the inactive transmitting elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing noise in fingerprint sensing circuits is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing area onto which a user can apply a fingerprint. An analog front end is coupled to the fingerprint sensing area and is configured to generate an analog response signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) samples the analog response signal and converts the sample to a digital value, which may be received by a digital device such as a processor or CPU. To reduce the amount of the noise that is present in the analog response signal and therefore reflected in the digital value, the digital device may be shut down while the ADC is sampling the analog response signal.

Abstract: A method and device for removing common artifacts, such as stiction, from fingerprint scans created by partial fingerprint scanners. The partial fingerprint scanner data is assessed to determine if successive partial fingerprint images are overly similar to each other, which can occur during stiction. If this similarity exceeds a preset threshold, then at least some of the overly similar partial images will be removed (redacted) from the overall image dataset. The complete overall image is generated from the redacted data set. This method is particularly useful for creating “intelligent” low-cost, low power partial fingerprint scanners and scanner driver chips that can pre-process the partial fingerprint data that is generated during the course of a finger swipe, and remove stiction artifacts on a real-time or near-real time basis using relatively simple and low power on-chip processing circuits, and then send the corrected data to more sophisticated processors for subsequent fingerprint analysis.

Abstract: A unitized smart card device with a partial fingerprint sensor, ergonomic guides and a processor is disclosed. The smart card contains secure memory, battery, and a processor to run the fingerprint sensor. The ergonomic guides help insure that the users finger properly swipes the fingerprint sensor. The smart card be used on a backwards compatible “dumb credit card” basis, or it may dock with an external smart card docking station. This docking station may act to facilitate communication between the smart card's fingerprint sensor and its onboard secure memory; and external computerized devices. The docking station itself may be configured with slots or other openings to allow users to access the smart card's fingerprint sensor while the smart card is docked with the docking station. The docking station itself may contain ergonomic guides to help ensure that the smart card's fingerprint sensor is used (swiped) in a correct manner.

Abstract: The invention is an enhanced security fingerprint scanner method and system designed to minimize the risk of fingerprint “spoofing” by minimizing the probability that latent fingerprints from authorized users will be inadvertently left on the device. In a preferred embodiment, surfaces of the device where the probably of authorized users inadvertently leaving latent fingerprints is particularly high are covered with fingerprint resistant or camouflaging material.

Abstract: A finger position sensing apparatus, typically used in a fingerprint sensing system, includes a position pickup plate disposed generally orthogonally with respect to an expected direction of movement of a finger and a plurality of position drive plates having different spacings from the position pickup plate to define plurality of position sensor gaps between respective position drive plates and the position pickup plate. The position drive plates are dimensioned and spaced from the position pickup plate to sense the bulk of a finger rather than fingerprint features.

Abstract: Image sensing apparatus includes an image pickup plate disposed generally orthogonally with respect to an expected direction of movement of an object, such as a finger, multiple image drive plates in spaced relation to the image pickup plate to define sensor gaps between respective image drive plates and the image pickup plate, and a reference plate disposed substantially parallel to the image pickup plate. The reference plate is spaced from the image pickup plate to permit common mode noise and coupling to be cancelled and is spaced from the image drive plates to permit a differential image signal to develop between the image pickup plate and the reference plate. A differential amplifier coupled to the image pickup plate and the reference plate provides noise cancellation. The apparatus may further include a comb plate spaced from the reference plate and coupled to a reference potential, such as ground.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for securing an integrated circuit chip used in an electronic device by utilizing a circuit or other entity to produce physically unclonable functions (PUF) to generate a security word, such as an RSA public or private key. A PUF, according to its name and configuration, performs functions that are substantially difficult to be duplicated or cloned. This allows the invention to provide a unique and extremely secure system for authentication. In operation, the stored parameters can be used to more efficiently and quickly authenticate the device without the need to run the burdensome security key generation processes without compromising the level of security in the device. Such a system can be used to substantially eliminate the time to produce security keys when a user needs to authenticate the device at power up or other access point.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor in accordance with the invention includes a non-conductive substrate providing a first surface onto which a user can apply a fingerprint to be sensed. A sensor circuit is applied to a second surface of the non-conductive substrate opposite the first surface to sense a fingerprint when juxtaposed proximally thereto. An electrostatic discharge conductor is applied to the non-conductive surface and is located between an area where a fingerprint is swiped and the sensor circuit. The electrostatic discharge conductor discharges electrostatic charge resulting from a user swiping a fingerprint across the first surface.