Abstract: A method is for processing a plurality of finger biometric enrollment data sets that accounts for uncertainty in alignment between finger biometric enrollment data sets. The method may include generating a respective estimated physical transformation between each pair of finger biometric enrollment data sets, and generating a respective uncertainty for each estimated physical transformation. The method may also include associating the respective estimated physical transformation and the uncertainty for each estimated physical transformation with each pair of finger biometric enrollment data sets to define a logical finger biometric enrollment graph. The logical finger biometric enrollment graph is readily used for subsequent accurate matching in either touch sensor applications or slide sensor applications.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing with a connector member opening therein, electronic circuitry within the housing, and a finger sensor assembly carried by the housing. The finger assembly may include a thinned finger sensing integrated circuit (IC) secured to the housing that has a thickness less than 200 microns. The finger sensor assembly may also include a connector member extending through the connector member opening in the housing and coupling together the thinned finger sensing IC and the electronic circuitry. The thinned finger sensing IC may be adhesively secured to the housing, such as using a pressure sensitive adhesive, and the thinned finger sensing IC may conform to a non-planar surface.

Abstract: A finger sensor may include a finger sensing integrated circuit (IC) having a finger sensing area, an IC carrier having a cavity receiving the finger sensing IC therein and having at least one beveled upper edge, and a frame surrounding at least a portion of an upper perimeter of the IC carrier and having at least one inclined surface corresponding to the at least one beveled upper edge of the IC carrier. The finger sensor may also include a biasing member for biasing the IC carrier into alignment within the frame. The biasing member may include at least one resilient body for biasing the IC carrier upward within the frame. In other embodiments, the finger sensor may include an IC carrier having a cavity receiving the finger sensing IC therein and having at least one laterally extending projection.

Abstract: A method for comparing a finger biometric verify ridge orientation characteristic map to a finger biometric enrollment ridge orientation characteristic map may include generating a first probability distribution function substantially for corresponding values of the verify and enrollment ridge orientation characteristic maps that differ from one another by less than or equal to a threshold difference. A second probability distribution function may be generated substantially for corresponding values of the verify and enrollment ridge orientation characteristic maps that differ from one another by more than the threshold difference. The verify ridge orientation characteristic map may be compared to the enrollment ridge orientation characteristic map to determine a match therewith based upon the first and second probability distribution functions.

Abstract: A system for and method of obtaining rotation information is disclosed. The method comprises capturing a plurality of patterned images from a plurality of locations, correlating the plurality of patterned images to generate sets of linear differences, and using the sets of linear differences to generate the rotation information. Preferably, the plurality of locations comprise a first part of a fingerprint swipe sensor and a second part of the fingerprint swipe sensor, each part configured to capture a part of a fingerprint image. Each part captures a part of the fingerprint image at two positions and correlates the parts at the two positions to determine one set of linear differences. Together, the sets of linear differences are used to calculate the rotation information, which can be used to emulate a rotational device such as a steering wheel, a joystick, or a navigation bar.

Abstract: A finger sensor apparatus may include a finger sensor having an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and session key negotiation circuitry on the IC substrate. The finger sensing apparatus may also include a host platform external from the finger sensor and cooperating with the session key negotiation circuitry to negotiate a unique session key for secure communication with the finger sensor during a respective communication session therewith.

Abstract: A finger sensing apparatus may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, match circuitry on the IC substrate, and a host platform external from the IC substrate and cooperating with the array of finger sensing elements for generating finger template data with a template watermark embedded therein. The host platform may also generate a match score based on the finger template data with the template watermark embedded therein for use by the match circuitry.

Abstract: A finger sensing apparatus may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and encryption circuitry on the IC substrate cooperating with the array of finger sensing elements for encrypting a user template comprising finger template data and at least one user credential. The at least one user credential may enable another device, such as a host platform, to perform at least one protected operation.

Abstract: A finger sensing apparatus may include a finger sensor having an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and secure software update circuitry on the IC substrate. In addition, the finger sensing apparatus may include a host platform external from the finger sensor and hosting software associated with the finger sensor. The host platform may cooperate with the secure software update circuitry to authorize an attempted software update.

Abstract: A finger sensing device may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and image watermark circuitry on the IC substrate and cooperating with the array of finger sensing elements for generating finger image data with an image watermark embedded therein. The finger sensing apparatus may also include match circuitry on the IC substrate for performing finger matching based at least upon the image watermark. The array of finger sensing elements may include an array of finger sensing pixels. The image watermark circuitry may distort values from the array of finger sensing pixels to generate the finger image data with the image watermark embedded therein. The watermark circuitry may distort position values from the array of finger sensing pixels.

Abstract: A finger sensing apparatus may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, match circuitry on the IC substrate for performing finger matching, and credential release circuitry on the IC substrate. The credential release circuitry may cooperate with the match circuitry for releasing at least one user credential based upon finger matching for enabling another device to perform at least one protected operation. Accordingly, the user may use a single finger match to securely have one or more protected operations performed. The at least one user credential may include at least one of a user password, passphrase, username, certificate, and key data, for example.

Abstract: A finger sensing apparatus may include a finger sensor including an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and match circuitry on the IC substrate for performing final finger matching. The finger sensing apparatus may also include a host platform cooperating with the array of finger sensing elements for performing at least one finger prematch function. In addition, the finger sensor and the host platform may implement at least one security function therebetween. The at least one security function may include a watermarking function, and/or an encryption/decryption function.

Abstract: A finger sensor may include a finger sensing integrated circuit (IC) having a finger sensing area, an IC carrier having a cavity receiving the finger sensing IC therein and having at least one beveled upper edge, and a frame surrounding at least a portion of an upper perimeter of the IC carrier and having at least one inclined surface corresponding to the at least one beveled upper edge of the IC carrier. The finger sensor may also include a biasing member for biasing the IC carrier into alignment within the frame. The biasing member may include at least one resilient body for biasing the IC carrier upward within the frame. In other embodiments, the finger sensor may include an IC carrier having a cavity receiving the finger sensing IC therein and having at least one laterally extending projection.

Abstract: A multi-biometric finger sensor may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate for receiving a user's finger. The multi-biometric finger sensor may also include an optical source for projecting light of a known polarization angle onto the user's finger and at least one optical sensing pixel on the IC substrate for detecting a relative depolarization angle of the light reflected from the user's finger. The multi-biometric finger sensor may also include at least one other biometric finger sensing pixel on the IC substrate for sensing at least one other biometric characteristic from the user's finger.

Abstract: A finger sensor may include a finger sensing integrated circuit (IC) having a finger sensing area, an IC carrier having a cavity receiving the finger sensing IC therein and having at least one beveled upper edge, and a frame surrounding at least a portion of an upper perimeter of the IC carrier and having at least one inclined surface corresponding to the at least one beveled upper edge of the IC carrier. The finger sensor may also include a biasing member for biasing the IC carrier into alignment within the frame. The biasing member may include at least one resilient body for biasing the IC carrier upward within the frame. In other embodiments, the finger sensor may include an IC carrier having a cavity receiving the finger sensing IC therein and having at least one laterally extending projection.

Abstract: A multi-biometric finger sensor may sense different biometric characteristics that have different matching selectivities and that have at least a known spatial relationship. The sensor may include an integrated circuit substrate for receiving a user's finger adjacent thereto, and a first set of biometric sensing pixels on the substrate for sensing a first finger biometric characteristic to generate first finger biometric characteristic data having a first matching selectivity. The sensor may also include a second set of biometric sensing pixels on the integrated circuit substrate for sensing a second finger biometric characteristic different than the first finger biometric characteristic to generate second finger biometric characteristic data with a known spatial relationship to the first fingerprint characteristic data. The second finger biometric characteristic data may have a second matching selectivity less than the first matching selectivity.

Abstract: A multi-biometric finger sensor includes a plurality of electric field fingerprint sensing pixels on an integrated circuit substrate for sensing an image of the user's finger, and at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor on the integrated circuit substrate for sensing a finger biometric characteristic different than the image of the user's finger. Each of the electric field fingerprint sensing pixels may include an electric field sensing electrode, a guard shield surrounding the electric field sensing electrode, and an amplifier connected between the electric field sensing electrode and the guard shield. The sensor may also include a finger drive electrode adjacent the plurality of electric field sensing pixels, and a processor connected to the electric field fingerprint sensing pixels and the at least one other finger biometric characteristic sensor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit sensor may include at least one infrared sensing element on a substrate. The sensing element may include at least one first thermocouple junction heated from infrared radiation, at least one second thermocouple junction connected to the first thermocouple junction, and a controller. The controller may detect a temperature difference between the first and second thermocouple junctions, and may pump heat therebetween to drive the detected temperature difference toward a desired value. The controller may also generate an infrared radiation output signal based upon the heat pumped. The controller may alternatingly switch between detecting the temperature difference and pumping heat, and the desired temperature difference may be zero. The sensor is readily made using integrated circuit processing technology, and may, for example, be used in many types of applications, such as biometric identification by including biometric processing circuitry connected to the controller.

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.