Abstract: A planar fingerprint pattern detecting array includes a large number of individual skin-distance sensing cells that are arranged in a row/column configuration. Each sensing cell includes an amplifier having an ungrounded input node and an ungrounded output node. Output-to-input negative feedback that is sensitive to the fingerprint pattern is provided for each amplifier by way of (1) a first capacitor plate that is placed vertically under the upper surface of a dielectric layer and is connected to the ungrounded amplifier input node, (2) a second capacitor plate that is placed vertically under the upper surface of the dielectric layer in close horizontal spatial relation to the first capacitor plate and is connected to the ungrounded output node, and (3) an ungrounded fingertip whose fingerprint pattern is to be detected, which ungrounded fingertip is placed on the upper surface of the dielectric layer in close vertical spatial relation with the first and second capacitor plates.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a sensor that reads a fingerprint and provides data corresponding to the fingerprint to a computation engine coupled to the sensor. The computation engine compares the data to stored data and enables a smart card coupled to the computation engine when the data and the stored data match. The computation engine may include an array of flash memory cells arranged in pairs of rows, where flash memory cells in any one row have sources coupled to a common row line and a plurality of conductance mode neurons each having first and second inputs coupled to first and second row lines forming a respective pair of rows. The neurons are coupled to the flash memory cells through a buffer circuit sets a drain-source voltage of the flash memory cells in the row pair coupled to the neuron.

Abstract: A word recognition device uses an associative memory to store a plurality of coded words in such a way that a weight is associated with each character of the alphabet of the stored words, wherein equal weights correspond to equal characters. To perform the recognition, a dictionary of words is first chosen; this is stored in the associative memory according to a pre-determined code; a string of characters which correspond to a word to be recognized is received; a sequence of weights corresponding to the string of characters received is supplied to the associative memory; the distance between the word to be recognized and at least some of the stored words is calculated in parallel as the sum of the difference between the weights of each character of the word to be recognized and the weights of each character of the stored words; the minimum distance is identified; and the word stored in the associative memory having the minimum distance is stored.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a sensor that reads a fingerprint and provides data corresponding to the fingerprint to a computation engine coupled to the sensor. The computation engine compares the data to stored data and enables a smart card coupled to the computation engine when the data and the stored data match. The computation engine may include an array of flash memory cells arranged in pairs of rows, where flash memory cells in any one row have sources coupled to a common row line and a plurality of conductance mode neurons each having first and second inputs coupled to first and second row lines forming a respective pair of rows. The neurons are coupled to the flash memory cells through a buffer circuit sets a drain-source voltage of the flash memory cells in the row pair coupled to the neuron.

Abstract: A distance sensor has a capacitive element in turn having a first capacitor plate which is positioned facing a second capacitor plate whose distance is to be measured. In the case of fingerprinting, the second capacitor plate is defined directly by the skin surface of the finger being printed. The sensor comprises an inverting amplifier, between the input and output of which the capacitive element is connected to form a negative feedback branch. By supplying an electric charge step to the input of the inverting amplifier, a voltage step directly proportional to the distance being measured is obtained at the output.

Abstract: A distance sensor has a capacitive element in turn having a first capacitor plate which is positioned facing a second capacitor plate whose distance is to be measured. In the case of fingerprinting, the second capacitor plate is defined directly by the skin surface of the finger being printed. The sensor comprises an inverting amplifier, between the input and output of which the capacitive element is connected to form a negative feedback branch. By supplying an electric charge step to the input of the inverting amplifier, a voltage step directly proportional to the distance being measured is obtained at the output.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a sensor that reads a fingerprint and provides data corresponding to the fingerprint to a computation engine coupled to the sensor. The computation engine compares the data to stored data and enables a smart card coupled to the computation engine when the data and the stored data match. The computation engine may include an array of flash memory cells arranged in pairs of rows, where flash memory cells in any one row have sources coupled to a common row line and a plurality of conductance mode neurons each having first and second inputs coupled to first and second row lines forming a respective pair of rows. The neurons are coupled to the flash memory cells through a buffer circuit sets a drain-source voltage of the flash memory cells in the row pair coupled to the neuron.

Abstract: A memory device having an associative memory for the storage of data belonging to a plurality of classes. The associative memory has a plurality of memory locations aligned along rows and columns for the storage of data along the rows. Each memory row has a plurality of groups of memory locations, each storing a respective datum, wherein groups of memory locations adjacent along one and the same row store data belonging to different classes. Groups of memory locations adjacent in the direction of the columns and disposed on different rows store data belonging to one and the same class. Each class has data having a different maximum lengths. The device is particularly suitable for the storage of words belonging to a dictionary for automatic recognition of words in a written text.

Abstract: A method of and system for providing user input to a computer, or the like, having a display by detecting a change in fingerprint pattern of a user. The system controls the position of a pointer on a display by detecting motion of ridges and pores of a fingerprint of a user and moving the pointer on the display according to detected motion of the ridges and pores of the fingerprint. The system captures successive images of the fingerprint ridges and pores and detects motion of the ridges and pores based upon the captured successive images.

Abstract: A memory device includes an associative memory for the storage of data belonging to a plurality of classes. The associative memory comprises a plurality of memory locations aligned along rows and columns for the storage of data along the rows. Each memory row comprises a plurality of groups of memory locations, each storing a respective datum, wherein groups of memory locations adjacent along one and the same row store data belonging to different classes. Groups of memory locations adjacent in the direction of the columns and disposed on different rows store data belonging to one and the same class. Each class comprises data having a different maximum lengths. The device is particularly suitable for the storage of words belonging to a dictionary for automatic recognition of words in a written text.

Abstract: A word recognition device uses an associative memory to store a plurality of coded words in such a way that a weight is associated with each character of the alphabet of the stored words, wherein equal weights correspond to equal characters. To perform the recognition, a dictionary of words is first chosen; this is stored in the associative memory according to a pre-determined code; a string of characters which correspond to a word to be recognized is received; a sequence of weights corresponding to the string of characters received is supplied to the associative memory; the distance between the word to be recognized and at least some of the stored words is calculated in parallel as the sum of the difference between the weights of each character of the word to be recognized and the weights of each character of the stored words; the minimum distance is identified; and the word stored in the associative memory having the minimum distance is stored.

Abstract: A scanning fingerprint detection system includes an array of capacitive sensing elements, the array having a first dimension greater than the width of a fingerprint and a second dimension less than the length of a fingerprint. Each of the capacitive sensing elements has first and second conductor plates connected across an inverting amplifier, the conductor plates forming capacitors with the ridges and valleys of a fingerprint of a finger pressed against a protective coating above the array, the inverting amplifier generating a signal indicative of a ridge or valley. Circuitry is provided for scanning the array to capture an image of a portion of fingerprint and for assembling the captured images into a fingerprint image.

Abstract: A scanning fingerprint detection system that includes an array of capacitive sensing elements. The array has a first dimension greater than the width of a fingerprint and a second dimension less than the length of a fingerprint. Each of the capacitive sensing elements has a size less than the width of a fingerprint ridge. Circuitry is provided for scanning the array to capture an image of a portion of fingerprint and for assembling the captured images into a fingerprint image as a fingerprint is moved over the array.

Abstract: An enhanced fingerprint sensing circuit in which a voltage change is applied to the body during sensing. When the person's fingerprint is being sensed, the person's body is in contact with an electrical terminal. When the sensing occurs, the voltage on the electrical terminal changes, which changes the voltage on the person's body. The pattern of the fingerprint performs two functions in the sensing circuit. In addition to being a plate of a capacitor whose distance is being sensed, it is now a source of input charge as well. The electrical effect on the cell of a voltage change on a person's finger is different at a ridge than at a valley in the fingerprint sensing circuit. Thus, the input capacitance to the sensing circuit is variable, depending upon whether a ridge or a valley is present. The sensing circuit also detects a change in its own capacitance based on the presence of a ridge or a valley.

Abstract: A word recognition device uses an associative memory to store a plurality of coded words in such a way that a weight is associated with each character of the alphabet of the stored words, wherein equal weights correspond to equal characters. To perform the recognition, a dictionary of words is first chosen; this is stored in the associative memory according to a pre-determined code; a string of characters which correspond to a word to be recognized is received; a sequence of weights corresponding to the string of characters received is supplied to the associative memory; the distance between the word to be recognized and at least some of the stored words is calculated in parallel as the sum of the difference between the weights of each character of the word to be recognized and the weights of each character of the stored words; the minimum distance is identified; and the word stored in the associative memory having the minimum distance is stored.

Abstract: A planar fingerprint pattern detecting array includes a large number of individual skin-distance sensing cells that are arranged in a row/column configuration. Each sensing cell includes an amplifier having an ungrounded input mode and an ungrounded output node. Output-to-input negative feedback that is sensitive to the fingerprint pattern is provided for each amplifier by way of (1) a first capacitor plate that is placed vertically under the upper surface of a dielectric layer and is connected to the ungrounded amplifier input node, (2) a second capacitor plate that is placed vertically under the upper surface of the dielectric layer in close horizontal spatial relation to the first capacitor plate and is connected to the ungrounded output node, and (3) an ungrounded fingertip whose fingerprint pattern is to be detected, which ungrounded fingertip is placed on the upper surface of the dielectric layer in close vertical spatial relation with the first and second capacitor plates.

Abstract: A neural network including a number of synaptic weighting elements, and a neuron stage; each of the synaptic weighting elements having a respective synaptic input connection supplied with a respective input signal; and the neuron stage having inputs connected to the synaptic weighting elements, and being connected to an output of the neural network supplying a digital output signal. The accumulated weighted inputs are represented as conductances, and a conductance-mode neuron is used to apply nonlinearity and produce an output. The synaptic weighting elements are formed by memory cells programmable to different threshold voltage levels, so that each presents a respective programmable conductance; and the neuron stage provides for measuring conductance on the basis of the current through the memory cells, and for generating a binary output signal on the basis of the total conductance of the synaptic elements.

Abstract: The charge injection circuit of this invention comprises at least one pair of floating gate MOS transistors having source and drain terminals which are coupled together and to an injection node, and at least one corresponding pair of generators of substantially step-like voltage signals having an initial value and a final value, and having outputs respectively coupled to the control terminals of said transistors. The signal generators are such that the initial value of a first of the signals is substantially the equal of the final value of a second of the signals, and that the final value of the first signal is substantially the equal of the initial value of the second signal.

Abstract: The charge injection circuit of this invention comprises at least one pair of floating gate MOS transistors having source and drain terminals which are coupled together and to an injection node, and at least one corresponding pair of generators of substantially step-like voltage signals having an initial value and a final value, and having outputs respectively coupled to the control terminals of said transistors. The signal generators are such that the initial value of a first of the signals is substantially the equal of the final value of a second of the signals, and that the final value of the first signal is substantially the equal of the initial value of the second signal.

Abstract: A method, in a system for aiding the guidance of a vehicle, for identifying marking stripes of road lanes. A road image is subjected to a convolution operation with a mask matrix so as to identify discontinuities present in the image. The resulting convolved image is compared with a threshold value and a representation of the marking stripes is determined. The mask matrix is set in such a way as to eliminate at least partially the discontinuities which do not correspond to the marking stripes.