Patents by Inventor Gordon Scot Franza

Gordon Scot Franza has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Finger sensing device with low power finger detection and associated methods
    Patent number: 8031046
    Abstract: A finger sensing device may include an array of finger sensing electrodes, and a processor cooperating with the array of finger sensing electrodes for operation in a lower power consumption finger detecting mode, and for operation in a higher power consumption reading mode upon detection of a finger. The processor may selectively bus together finger sensing electrodes into at least one group from the array thereof when in the lower power consumption finger detecting mode to thereby detect a finger adjacent the array of finger sensing electrodes. Accordingly, a finger may be accurately detected and while in a low power mode, such as may be particularly beneficial to extend battery life for portable electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Authentec, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Scot Franza, Gregory Thomas Minteer
  • FINGER SENSING DEVICE WITH LOW POWER FINGER DETECTION AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20080030302
    Abstract: A finger sensing device may include an array of finger sensing electrodes, and a processor cooperating with the array of finger sensing electrodes for operation in a lower power consumption finger detecting mode, and for operation in a higher power consumption reading mode upon detection of a finger. The processor may selectively bus together finger sensing electrodes into at least one group from the array thereof when in the lower power consumption finger detecting mode to thereby detect a finger adjacent the array of finger sensing electrodes. Accordingly, a finger may be accurately detected and while in a low power mode, such as may be particularly beneficial to extend battery life for portable electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: AuthenTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Scot FRANZA, Gregory Thomas MINTEER