Abstract: A fingerprint sensor includes an array of impedance sensing elements for generating signals related to an object positioned adjacent thereto, and a spoof reducing circuit for determining whether or not an impedance of the object positioned adjacent the array of impedance sensing elements corresponds to a live finger to thereby reduce spoofing of the fingerprint sensor by an object other than a live finger. A spoofing may be indicated and/or used to block further processing. In one embodiment, the spoof reducing circuit may detect a complex impedance having a phase angle in a range of about 10 to 60 degrees corresponding to a live finger. Alternately, the spoof reducing circuit may detect an impedance having a phase angle of about 0 degrees or 90 degrees corresponding to some objects other than a live finger.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor includes a plurality of semiconductor devices adjacent a substrate and defining active circuit portions, and having only three metal layers. More particularly, the sensor may include a first metal layer interconnecting predetermined ones of the plurality of semiconductor devices; a second metal layer defining a ground plane; and a third metal layer comprising an array of electric field sensing electrodes connected to active circuit portions for generating an output related to a sensed fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may also include a package surrounding the substrate and having an opening aligned with the sensing electrodes. In addition, a first external electrode may be carried by the package for contact by a finger. The sensor may thus also include an excitation drive circuit connected between the ground plane and the first external electrode for generating electric fields between the electric field sensing electrodes and adjacent finger portions.

Abstract: A fingerprint and token sensor system includes an array of fingerprint sensing elements for generating signals related to a fingerprint based upon a finger being positioned adjacent the sensing elements, and a token for also causing the sensing elements to generate signals related to a token message based upon the token being positioned adjacent the sensing elements. Accordingly, the single sensor may be used for both fingerprints and for reading data from a token for range of useful purposes. Each fingerprint sensing element may preferably include an electric field sensing electrode, and a shield associated with a respective electric field sensing electrode. A drive circuit may be connected to the array of electric field sensing electrodes for driving same. The sensor is preferably in the form of an integrated circuit and includes a substrate adjacent the array of fingerprint sensing elements.

Abstract: An access control system includes a fingerprint enrolling station for sensing a fingerprint of a person and enrolling the person as an authorized person based upon the sensed fingerprint. The system also includes an access triggering device to be carried by the authorized person, and an access controller for granting access to an authorized person bearing the access triggering device. The access triggering device preferably cooperates with the enrolling station to store authorization data for an authorized person based upon the sensed fingerprint. The access triggering device also preferably includes a wireless transmitter, such as a passive transponder, for transmitting an authorization signal related to the stored authorization data. In addition, the access controller preferably includes a wireless receiver, such as including a transponder powering circuit, for receiving the authorization signal and granting access responsive to the wireless transmitter being in proximity to the wireless receiver.

Abstract: A method is for making a chip package of a type including a carrier and a chip connected thereto using optical alignment techniques. One method includes the steps of: providing a transparent film having chip alignment and carrier alignment indicia thereon, optically detecting the chip through the transparent film and aligning the transparent film and the chip based upon the chip alignment indicia. Similarly, the method may include optically detecting the carrier through the transparent film and aligning the transparent film and the carrier based upon the carrier alignment indicia. In addition, the method further includes securing the chip, transparent film and carrier together, such as by providing a thermoplastic transparent film which may heated for adhesively securing the components. The transparent film may be a transparent z-axis conductive film, or a dielectric transparent film.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device includes a fingerprint sensor, a processor for determining an actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor relative to a desired fingerprint position, and a finger position indicator for generating a finger position indication to assist the user in positioning the finger to the desired fingerprint position based upon the actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor. The processor preferably calculates a fingerprint center point defining the actual fingerprint position. The fingerprint sensor may be provided by an electric field sensor in integrated circuit form. The finger position indicator may be provided by a visual indicator, such as a desired position image indicia generator for generating image indicia on a display screen relating to the desired fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor, and wherein an actual fingerprint position image is also generated relative to the desired position image indicia on the display screen.

Abstract: An apparatus for indexing and searching a plurality of reference fingerprints to determine if a sample fingerprint matches one of the reference fingerprints includes a device for: determining respective index values for the reference fingerprints and the sample fingerprint based upon characteristics of the fingerprints and with the index values being generally evenly distributed and continuous over a relatively large population of individuals; selecting a first subset of the reference fingerprints having index values in a first range relative to the index value of the sample fingerprint; and comparing the sample fingerprint to each fingerprint of the first subset of reference fingerprints to thereby determine if there is a match between the sample fingerprint and one of the reference fingerprints and without comparing the sample fingerprint to all of the reference fingerprints.

Abstract: A method for indexing and searching a plurality of reference fingerprints to determine if a sample fingerprint matches one of the reference fingerprints includes the steps of: determining respective index values for the reference fingerprints and the sample fingerprint based upon characteristics of the fingerprints and with the index values being generally evenly distributed and continuous over a relatively large population of individuals; selecting a first subset of the reference fingerprints having index values in a first range relative to the index value of the sample fingerprint; and comparing the sample fingerprint to each fingerprint of the first subset of reference fingerprints to thereby determine if there is a match between the sample fingerprint and one of the reference fingerprints and without comparing the sample fingerprint to all of the reference fingerprints.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device includes a fingerprint sensor, a processor for determining an actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor relative to a desired fingerprint position, and a finger position indicator for generating a finger position indication to assist the user in positioning the finger to the desired fingerprint position based upon the actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor. The processor preferably calculates a fingerprint center point defining the actual fingerprint position. The fingerprint sensor may be provided by an electric field sensor in integrated circuit form. The finger position indicator may be provided by a visual indicator, such as a desired position image indicia generator for generating image indicia on a display screen relating to the desired fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor, and wherein an actual fingerprint position image is also generated relative to the desired position image indicia on the display screen.