Patents by Inventor Alan Kramer

Alan Kramer 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).

  • Patent number: 7768273
    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 a first capacitor plate placed vertically under the upper surface of a dielectric layer and 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. Electrostatic discharge protection relative to electrostatic potential that may be carried by an ungrounded fingertip is provided by placing a number of grounded metal paths within the dielectric layer to spatially surround each of the first and second capacitor plates, this being done in a manner that does not disturb the ungrounded state of the fingertip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: UPEK, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Alan Kramer
  • Publication number: 20100169201
    Abstract: Bank float is assigned using a dual source bank float system by first determining which of a plurality of checks will be processed via a paper route and which will be processed via an image route. For the checks that will be processed via the paper route, a set of rules will be determined. For the checks that will be processed via the image route, a different set of rules will be determined. A bank float is applied to the paper checks using the paper set of rules and bank float is assigned to the image checks using the image set of rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Jaramillo, Douglas P. Elliott, James Alan Kramer, JR., Melvin Gregory Nixon, James William Stark, III
  • Publication number: 20100127366
    Abstract: An integrated leadframe and bezel structure includes a planar carrier frame, a plurality of bonding leads, a die pad region, and a bezel structure. The bezel structure includes a bending portion shaped and disposed to facilitate a portion of said bezel structure being bent out of the plane of said carrier frame. A sensor IC may be secured to the die pad region, and wire bonds made to permit external connection to the sensor IC. The bezel structure includes portions which are bent such that their upper extent is in or above a sensing surface. The assembly is encapsulated, exposing on the top surface part of the bezel portions and the upper surface of the sensor IC, and on the bottom surface the contact pads. Two or more bezel portions may be provided, one or more on each side of the sensor IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: UPEK, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bond, Alan Kramer, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Publication number: 20090166411
    Abstract: An improved fingerprint sensing device is provided with multiple sensing apparatus, two or more of which operating on different sensing principles. For example, a capacitive sensor may be integrally formed with an optical sensor on a single substrate. Ideally, the multiple sensing apparatus are disposed such that they may sense nearly identical portions of a fingerprint simultaneously. A primary sensor may be employed to establish the identity of a user based on a fingerprint, while a secondary sensor may be employed to establish that the fingerprint is part of a live human (anti-spoofing). Integrated light sources may be provided to drive an optical sensor. The light sources may also provide visual cues for usage, and enhance the aesthetics of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: UPEK, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Kramer, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Publication number: 20090169071
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package includes at least one light source disposed together with an IC structure within an encapsulation structure. The material forming the encapsulation structure is generally opaque. Accordingly, the light source and at least a portion of the IC are not visible to the unaided human eye. The thickness and geometry of the encapsulation are such that when the light source is caused to emit light, the encapsulation structure permits at least a portion of that light to be visible to a user. The IC may be a portion of a fingerprint sensor, exposed for receiving a fingertip of a user. The light source, or a plurality of such light sources, may be functional (e.g., providing visual indication of the of the condition or state of an item of hardware or software, assist the user in operation of a device), be primarily aesthetic, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: UPEK, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Bond, Alan Kramer, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Publication number: 20090164797
    Abstract: In a biometric sensor system and method, storage of acquired biometric data and/or processing of that data may be shifted from specialized secure processing hardware to host system resources for improved speed and reduced cost of biometric sensor devices and systems. Stored data may be encrypted and/or signed by the specialized secure processing hardware and/or software. A database of authorized biometric data (e.g., patterns or key features representing all or a portion of the fingerprints of authorized users) may be stored on the host system either encrypted or non-encrypted or both. Preliminary matching against a database of many enrolled fingerprints may be accomplished by the system processor to ease the processing burden on the specialized secure processing hardware/software. Final match confirmation remains within exclusive control of the specialized secure processing hardware/software in order to prevent data tampering or other efforts to defeat the security provided by biometric identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: UPEK, INC.
    Inventor: Alan Kramer
  • Patent number: 7522753
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: UPEK, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Alan Kramer
  • Patent number: 7239227
    Abstract: A substrate having a fingerprint sensing system usable as a command interface using finger movements. A user's fingerprint pattern is recognized and compared to previously stored reference patterns. If the fingerprint pattern matches a previously stored pattern, the user is then permitted to enter certain commands via the same interface system. For example, in the case of an automobile, a user may identify themselves with their fingerprint, and then perform such functions as unlocking the doors, setting the seat to a selected location, or even pre-starting the car prior to their entering the automobile. The very same devices which perform the fingerprint identification and sensing are also used for the input sensing and command recognition to perform the various commands. A user is thus able to securely control desired functions in an automobile, while being assured that an unauthorized user will not have access to the automobile, even as they were able to obtain the command interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: UPEK, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhusan Gupta, Alan Kramer
  • Publication number: 20060011997
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: UPEK, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Alan Kramer
  • Patent number: 6987871
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: UPEK, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Alan Kramer
  • Patent number: 6748390
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Loris Navoni, Roberto Canegallo, Mauro Chinosi, Giovanni Gozzini, Alan Kramer, Pierluigi Rolandi
  • Patent number: 6707935
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Kramer
  • Patent number: 6580816
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Kramer, James Brady
  • Publication number: 20030035572
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kalnitsky, Alan Kramer
  • Patent number: 6512851
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Loris Navoni, Roberto Canegallo, Mauro Chinosi, Giovanni Gozzini, Alan Kramer, Pierluigi Rolandi
  • Patent number: 6512381
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Kramer
  • Publication number: 20030014240
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Loris Navoni, Roberto Canegallo, Mauro Chinosi, Giovanni Gozzini, Alan Kramer, Pierluigi Rolandi
  • Patent number: 6496021
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of making a capacitive distance sensor that includes one or more sensor cells each with first and second capacitor plates. The method includes determining an expected range of sizes of objects the sensor will be used to detect and determining a total perimeter value for each of a plurality of capacitor patterns. Each capacitor pattern includes a different arrangement of the first and second capacitor plates and the total perimeter value is the sum of the perimeter values for the first and second capacitor plates. The method selects one of the capacitor patterns based on the expected size of the object and on the total perimeter values determined for the capacitor patterns. The selecting step includes selecting whichever one of the capacitor patterns has the largest total perimeter value if the object is smaller than each of the one or more sensor cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Tartagni, Bhusan Gupta, Alan Kramer
  • Patent number: D582598
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Light Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Alan Kramer, Jack Allen Beukema, Lynne Marie Bosgraaf, Mitchell Mulder, Eric Toth, Bruce Fredricks
  • Patent number: RE41658
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Vito Fabbrizio, Gianluca Colli, Alan Kramer