Abstract: In some embodiments, a power supply clamp may include a switchable discharge device configured to discharge an electrostatic discharge; and a control circuit configured to generate a control voltage to turn off the discharge device at a shutoff time, with the shutoff time being long enough to allow the electrostatic discharge though the discharge device but short enough to reduce a duration of a power-up current transient through the discharge device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A charged device model (CDM) electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing is carried out at wafer level. Wafer CDM pulses are repeatedly applied and monitored. The wafer CDM (WCDM) pulses are accomplished with a probe-mounted printed-circuit board and a high-frequency transformer that captures fast CDM pulses. Modeling of CDM and WCDM in the time and frequency domain illustrates the dominant effects, and shows that WCDM can reproduce all the major phenomena of package-level CDM testing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a power supply clamp may include a switchable discharge device configured to discharge an electrostatic discharge; and a control circuit configured to generate a control voltage to turn off the discharge device at a shutoff time, with the shutoff time being long enough to allow the electrostatic discharge though the discharge device but short enough to reduce a duration of a power-up current transient through the discharge device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A hard disk apparatus includes a host interface connected to a terminal host, a control module connected to the host interface, and a biometrics sensor and a hard disk both connected to the control module. The firmware of the control module communicates with the terminal host by handshakes and enables the terminal host to automatically download a biometrics AP and biometrics template data in the hard disk. Then, the control module receives a sensing instruction to control the biometrics sensor to read to-be-recognized biometrics data of a to-be-recognized user and to transfer the to-be-recognized biometrics data to the terminal host. Then, the control module receives a verification result outputted by the terminal host and enables a security block to be accessed by the terminal host when the verification result is successful, or otherwise disables the security block from being accessed by the terminal host. An external hard disk enclosure containing the biometrics sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A storage device and a method for protecting data stored therein. The storage device includes a host interface connected to a terminal host, a control module connected to the interface, and a biometrics sensor and a memory module both connected to the control module. The control module makes the host automatically run a suitable driver and a suitable application program. The host receives an instruction from a user through the driver and program and informs the control module to control the sensor to read and process to-be-recognized biometrics data of the user and extract to-be-recognized minutiae data. The host sends the to-be-recognized minutiae data back to the control module through the interface. The control module compares the to-be-recognized minutiae data with template minutiae data stored in the memory module, and enables a private block of the memory module to be accessed by the host according to a matching result.

Abstract: A storage device to be connected to a terminal host includes a control module to be connected to the host, and a biometrics sensor and a storage unit both connected to the control module. The host runs a biometrics application program (AP) to inform the control module to control the sensor to read to-be-identified biometrics data of a user and to determine whether the to-be-identified biometrics data matches with biometrics template data stored in the storage device. When the two sets of data match with each other, the host runs a host-specific-code generating program to generate and transfer a host specific code to the control module. The control module generates a device specific code using a device-specific-code generating program stored therein, determines whether the codes match with each other, and enables the host to access a data protection unit of the storage device when the codes match with each other.

Abstract: A wireless peripheral device includes a receiving module, a peripheral device body and a sweep-type fingerprint sensing chip. The receiving module is coupled to a host system through a cable. The body communicates with the receiving module in a wireless manner. The sweep-type fingerprint sensing chip disposed on the body senses a plurality of fingerprint fragment images to obtain a plurality of analog fingerprint fragment signals as a finger is sweeping over it, processes the analog fingerprint fragment signals into non-overlapped fragment images, and outputs the fragment images to the receiving module through an emitter and a receiver. Then, the host system receives and assembles the fragment images into a complete fingerprint image in a manner of stacking the fragment images side by side, compares the complete fingerprint image with a reference fingerprint image, and then enables at least one application program in the host system after the comparison passes.

Abstract: A structure of sweep-type fingerprint sensing chip capable of resisting electrostatic discharge (ESD) includes a semiconductor substrate, and a sweep-type fingerprint sensing chip formed on the semiconductor substrate, a polymer layer and a conducting metal layer. The sweep-type fingerprint sensing chip includes a sensing array region and a peripheral circuit region. The sensing array region has an exposed area for sensing a plurality of fingerprint fragment images as a finger sweeps thereacross. The peripheral circuit region, which is formed on the substrate and located around the sensing array region, controls an operation of the sensing array region. The polymer layer is disposed on the peripheral circuit region and has a flat and smooth outer surface. The conducting metal layer is disposed on the flat and smooth outer surface of the polymer layer. The conducting metal layer discharges the approaching electrostatic charges to the ground to avoid damaging of the sensing chip.

Abstract: A biometrics signal input device with a USB interface is connected to a computer apparatus to control BIOS booting procedures of the computer apparatus. The computer apparatus communicates with a USB controller of the input device through the USB interface according to a USB communication protocol and regards this device as a USB device. Then, the computer apparatus executes a program stored in a memory of the input device and enables a biometrics sensor to read biometrics data of a user. Then, to-be-identified biometrics data and biometrics template data pre-stored in the memory are transferred to a main memory of the computer apparatus. A CPU of the computer apparatus compares the to-be-identified biometrics data with the biometrics template data. After the comparison passes, the BIOS booting procedures are allowed to be continued until the CPU has completely loaded an operation system stored in a main storage device of the computer apparatus.

Abstract: A portable storage device capable of automatically running biometrics application programs includes a control module, a storage unit and a biometrics sensor. The control module, in which firmware is stored, is electrically connected to a terminal host, a storage unit and a biometrics sensor. The firmware is configured to divide the storage unit into a plurality of blocks including a biometrics application program block and a private block. The biometrics application program block stores at least one biometrics application program. The firmware enables an operation system of the terminal host to treat the biometrics application program block as an compact disk drive and disables or closes the compact disk drive after automatic running the at least one biometrics application program. The least one biometrics application program guides a user to perform a biometrics identification procedure, and then enables a specific operation.

Abstract: In a linear image sensing device with image matching function, a linear sensors array senses a finger, which is moving over it, to obtain fragment image analog signals, which are amplified, by a programmable gain amplifier, into amplified signals. An analog-to-digital converter sequentially converts the amplified signals into digital image signals. An image matching module sequentially receives and processes adjacent two of the digital image signals, and outputs continuous non-overlapped fragment images through an input/output interface. A control logic controls operations and communications of the above-mentioned components. A terminal system receives the non-overlapped fragment images and assembles the non-overlapped fragment images into a complete fingerprint image in a manner of stacking the images side by side.

Abstract: A BIOS locking device is connected to a BIOS chip of a computer apparatus to control a BIOS booting procedure. The computer apparatus communicates with a USB controller of the locking device via a communication protocol of a standard interface and recognizes this locking device as a USB-interface storage device. Then, the computer apparatus selects a fingerprint application program stored in a memory of the locking device according to a method of accessing a USB storage device and enables a fingerprint sensor to read a user's fingerprint so as to transfer to-be-identified fingerprint data corresponding to the fingerprint and an authorized data template previously stored in a main storage device of the computer apparatus to a main memory of the computer apparatus. A CPU of the computer apparatus compares the fingerprint data with the template, and allows the BIOS booting procedure if the comparison passes.

Abstract: An ink-jet print head with a chamber sidewall heating mechanism includes a substrate, an insulation layer on the substrate, a main channel penetrating through the substrate, a plurality of V-shaped micro-channels each having a diverging end linking with the main channel and a converging end linking with an ink chamber on the insulation layer, and a nozzle plate with a plurality of orifices formed on the ink chamber. The V-shaped micro-channels are perpendicular to the main channel and parallel to and arranged on the insulation layer. Each chamber sidewall includes a heater structure to evaporate ink in the chamber to form a bubble, which pushes the ink in the chamber to eject from the orifice.

Abstract: A chip-type sensor against ESD and stress damages and contamination interference includes a substrate structure and a protection layer covering over the substrate structure. The protection layer includes, from bottom to top, a first layer for providing a first stress against the substrate structure, a second layer for providing a second stress against the substrate structure, and a third layer for providing a third stress against the substrate structure. The first stress and the third stress belong to one of a tensile stress and a compressive stress, and the second stress belongs to the other of the tensile stress and the compressive stress.

Abstract: A thermal printing device includes a substrate, an insulation layer on the substrate, and a plurality of microheaters on the insulation layer. Two adjacent ones of the microheaters are separated by a trench. Each of the microheaters includes a body having a heating surface, and two metal wires disposed on two sides of the heating surface of the body. A thermal printing operation is performed by applying a variable voltage or current between the two metal wires in order to heat the microheater to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An electronic identification key to be connected to a terminal system to execute at least one specific operation. The electronic identification key includes a housing, a standard interface connector, a chip-type fingerprint sensor, an embedded AP (Application Program) memory module and a control microprocessor. The control microprocessor automatically uploads an initializing program and a fingerprint application program to the terminal system. The fingerprint sensor reads a user's fingerprint and then scanned fingerprint data and reference fingerprint data stored in the electronic key are transferred to the terminal system for comparison. When the comparison passes, the execution of the at least one specific operation, such as the remote certification, control of terminal system function, personal record retrieve operation, data protection operation, or remote file access operation, is allowed.

Abstract: A memory storage device includes a host interface to be connected to a terminal host, a controller connected to the host interface, and a fingerprint sensor and a memory module both connected to the controller. The controller communicates with the terminal host by handshakes and causes the terminal host to automatically run a suitable driver and a suitable application program from the memory module to the terminal host. The terminal host receives an instruction from a user through the driver and the program and informs the controller to control the fingerprint sensor to read to-be-recognized fingerprint data of the user. The terminal host utilizes the application program to process and judge whether or not the to-be-recognized fingerprint data substantially matches with template fingerprint data stored in the memory module, and further enables a specific block of the memory module to be accessed by the terminal host according to a matching result.

Abstract: A sweep-type fingerprint sensor device capable of guiding a finger in a fixed sweeping direction includes a sweep-type fingerprint sensor and a T/G (Transmission and Guiding) mechanism. The sweep-type fingerprint sensor senses a plurality of fingerprint fragment images from the finger that sweeps across a sensor surface of the sweep-type fingerprint sensor in the sweeping direction. The T/G mechanism is arranged beside the sweep-type fingerprint sensor and may be driven along a guiding direction corresponding to the sweeping direction in order to guide the finger to stably sweep across the sensor surface. The sweep-type fingerprint sensor device may further include a micro switch, a speed/displacement sensor or a driving mechanism for performing the operation of power control, speed/displacement detection, or driving the finger to sweep.

Abstract: A surface processing method for a chip device includes the steps of: (a) providing a chip body having at least one exposed surface; (b) applying a polymeric monomer solution having a plurality of monomers to the at least one surface of the chip body, wherein each of the monomers has a soft fragment fluorocarbon (FC) polymer end and a polar silane group; and (c) curing the polymeric monomer solution to remove solvents out under proper environment settings, and to polymerize the monomers into a solid polymer layer on the at least one surface. The solid polymer layer thus has an exposed surface having a soft fragment FC polymer structure for protecting the chip body from encountering any external or internal interference.