Patents by Inventor Dale R. Setlak

Dale R. Setlak 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: 9322794
    Abstract: A biometric finger sensor may include an array of biometric finger sensing pixels and an array shielding electrode outside the array of biometric finger sensing pixels. The biometric finger sensor may further include a finger drive electrode outside the array shielding electrode. Finger drive circuitry may generate a finger drive signal for the finger drive electrode and generate a compensating finger drive signal for the shielding electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Patent number: 9298966
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that includes an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto and capable of processing the image data from each of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device also includes deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data from each of the plurality of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale R Setlak, Martin Subert, Ondrej Konopka, Petr Kohout, Pavel Mrazek, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Patent number: 9298967
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensing device may include drive circuitry capable of generating a drive signal and an array of finger biometric sensing pixel electrodes cooperating with the drive circuitry and capable of generating a detected signal based upon placement of a finger adjacent the array of finger biometric sensing pixel electrodes. The detected signal may include a relatively large drive signal component and a relatively small sense signal component superimposed thereon. The finger biometric sensing device may also include a gain stage coupled to the array of finger biometric sensing pixel electrodes, and drive signal nulling circuitry coupled to the gain stage capable of reducing the relatively large drive signal component from the detected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gordon S. Franza, Gregory T. Minteer, Jerry G. Dooley, Patrick J. Landy, Dale R. Setlak, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Publication number: 20160086012
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that may include an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device may also include deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: DALE R. SETLAK, GIOVANNI GOZZINI, MARTIN SUBERT, PETR KOHOUT, PAVEL MRAZEK
  • Patent number: 9235283
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that may include an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device may also include deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale R Setlak, Giovanni Gozzini, Martin Subert, Petr Kohout, Pavel Mrazek
  • Patent number: 9224029
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor, a display, and a processor coupled to the finger biometric sensor and the display. The processor may be switchable between a user-interface locked mode and a user-interface unlocked mode. The processor may be capable of determining a pattern of input motions on the finger biometric sensor and displaying an image on the display corresponding to the pattern of input motions. The processor may also be capable of switching between the user-interface locked mode and the user-interface unlocked mode when the pattern of input motions matches a stored pattern representing a user unlock code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Dale R. Setlak
  • Patent number: 9092653
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, James Warren Neil, Daryl D. Williams, Richard J. Jones, Nicolaas W. Van Vonno
  • Publication number: 20150178542
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include an array of finger biometric sensing pixels and processing circuitry coupled thereto. The processing circuitry may be capable of acquiring initial data from the array based upon an initial drive signal level and with a finger positioned adjacent the array, and determining an updated drive signal level based upon the initial data. The processing circuitry may also be capable of acquiring finger biometric data from the array of finger biometric sensing pixels based upon the updated drive signal level and with the finger positioned adjacent the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Minteer, Dale R. SETLAK, Albert M. STRAUB
  • Patent number: 9053351
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, Jeffrey C. Lee, Gregory Thomas Minteer, Gary S. Porter, Dale R. Setlak, Peter E. Sherlock, Andrew J. Vandamia, James R. Waldron
  • Publication number: 20150043791
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that includes an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto and capable of processing the image data from each of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device also includes deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data from each of the plurality of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Martin Subert, Ondrej Konopka, Petr Kohout, Pavel Mrazek, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Publication number: 20150042595
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that may include an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device may also include deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Giovanni Gozzini, Martin Subert, Petr Kohout, Pavel Mrazek
  • Publication number: 20140369572
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor, a display, and a processor coupled to the finger biometric sensor and the display. The processor may be switchable between a user-interface locked mode and a user-interface unlocked mode. The processor may be capable of determining a pattern of input motions on the finger biometric sensor and displaying an image on the display corresponding to the pattern of input motions. The processor may also be capable of switching between the user-interface locked mode and the user-interface unlocked mode when the pattern of input motions matches a stored pattern representing a user unlock code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Dale R. Setlak
  • Patent number: 8888004
    Abstract: A finger sensing device may include an array of finger sensing pixels to receive a user's finger adjacent thereto. Each finger sensing pixel may include a finger sensing electrode. The finger sensing device may include a finger drive electrode configured to couple a drive signal through the user's finger to the array of finger sensing pixels. The finger sensing device may also include differential pixel measurement circuitry coupled to the array of finger sensing pixels and configured to generate a plurality of interpixel difference measurements for adjacent pairs of the finger sensing pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Authentec, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Patrick J. Landy, Albert M. Straub, Roger Lee Schenk
  • Publication number: 20140171158
    Abstract: A biometric finger sensor may include an array of biometric finger sensing pixels and an array shielding electrode outside the array of biometric finger sensing pixels. The biometric finger sensor may further include a finger drive electrode outside the array shielding electrode. Finger drive circuitry may generate a finger drive signal for the finger drive electrode and generate a compensating finger drive signal for the shielding electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Publication number: 20140105469
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: DALE R. SETLAK, JAMES WARREN NEIL, DARYL D. WILLIAMS, RICHARD J. JONES, NICOLAAS W. VAN VONNO
  • Publication number: 20140021946
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a substrate and an array of magnetic field finger biometric sensing pixels carried by the substrate. The finger biometric sensor may also include processing circuitry coupled to the array of magnetic field finger biometric sensing pixels and capable of generating a magnetic field extending into a finger positioned adjacent the array of magnetic field finger biometric sensing pixels to cause eddy currents in the finger. The processing circuitry may also be capable of sensing a counter magnetic field caused by the eddy currents representative of at least one finger biometric characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Dale R. SETLAK
  • Patent number: 8618910
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Authentec, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, James W. Neil, Daryl D. Williams, Richard J. Jones, Nicolaas W. Van Vonno
  • Patent number: 8604905
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Authentec, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, James W. Neil, Daryl D. Williams, Richard J. Jones, Nicolaas W. Van Vonno
  • Publication number: 20130294662
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensing device may include drive circuitry capable of generating a drive signal and an array of finger biometric sensing pixel electrodes cooperating with the drive circuitry and capable of generating a detected signal based upon placement of a finger adjacent the array of finger biometric sensing pixel electrodes. The detected signal may include a relatively large drive signal component and a relatively small sense signal component superimposed thereon. The finger biometric sensing device may also include a gain stage coupled to the array of finger biometric sensing pixel electrodes, and drive signal nulling circuitry coupled to the gain stage capable of reducing the relatively large drive signal component from the detected signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Gordon S. Franza, Gregory T. MINTEER, Jerry G. DOOLEY, Patrick J. Landy, Dale R. SETLAK, Giovanni GOZZINI
  • Patent number: 8455961
    Abstract: A finger sensor assembly may include a circuit board and an integrated circuit (IC) finger sensor grid array package including a grid array on a lower end thereof mounted to the circuit board, and a finger sensing area on an upper end thereof. The finger sensor assembly may further include at least one visible light source carried by the circuit board and a visible light guide optically coupled to the at least one visible light source. The at least one visible light source may at least partially laterally surround the upper end of the IC finger sensor grid array package to provide visual light indications. The IC finger sensor grid array package may also include circuitry for controlling the at least one visible light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Authentec, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, John David McKinney