Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for conserving power during navigation, e.g., user device pointer/cursor navigation, using a fingerprint image sensor, that may comprise processing, via a computing device, fingerprint image sensor data indicative of finger position and movement with respect to a fingerprint image sensor surface in a finger navigation mode to determine if the finger is in a first finger navigation mode; processing, via the computing device, fingerprint image sensor data indicative of finger position and movement with respect to a fingerprint image sensor surface in a finger navigation mode to determine if the finger is in a second finger navigation mode; and transitioning, via the computing device, the fingerprint image sensor from a first power consumption mode to a second power consumption mode, based on detecting a transition from the first finger navigation mode to the second finger navigation mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing noise in fingerprint sensing circuits is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing area onto which a user can apply a fingerprint. An analog front end is coupled to the fingerprint sensing area and is configured to generate an analog response signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) samples the analog response signal and converts the sample to a digital value, which may be received by a digital device such as a processor or CPU. To reduce the amount of the noise that is present in the analog response signal and therefore reflected in the digital value, the digital device may be shut down while the ADC is sampling the analog response signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for culling substantially redundant data in a fingerprint sensing circuit is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including an input module, a storage module, a comparator module, and a determination module. The input module may receive sets of data samples from an array of fingerprint sensing elements. The sets of data samples may be stored by the storage module. The comparator module may calculate a difference between each data sample from a first-received set, and a corresponding data sample from a second-received set. The determination module may count the number of difference values that exceed a predetermined difference limit, and identify the second set of data samples as redundant if the number of difference values counted is less than a pre-set count limit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a finger on a fingerprint sensor is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including transmitting a probing signal, comprising a series of probing pulses, to a fingerprint sensing area. A response signal, comprising a series of response pulses, is received from the fingerprint sensing area in response to the probing signal. An upper reference signal is generated and finger activity is detected on the fingerprint sensing area by monitoring whether the peaks of the response pulses exceed the reference signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biometric authentication system.

Abstract: A biometric image sensor system and method is disclosed which may comprise a first light source having a first wavelength ?1, a second light source having a second wavelength ?2, a photodetector configured and positioned to receive light of the first wavelength ?1 and light of the second wavelength ?2 reflecting from a biometric object being imaged and to produce a first output indicative of the amount of reflectance of the light of the first wavelength ?1 and a second output indicative of the amount of reflectance of the light of the second wavelength ?2, and a computing device configured to compare the difference between the first output and the second output with an authenticity threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing noise in fingerprint sensing circuits is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing area onto which a user can apply a fingerprint. An analog front end is coupled to the fingerprint sensing area and is configured to generate an analog response signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) samples the analog response signal and converts the sample to a digital value, which may be received by a digital device such as a processor or CPU. To reduce the amount of the noise that is present in the analog response signal and therefore reflected in the digital value, the digital device may be shut down while the ADC is sampling the analog response signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a finger on a fingerprint sensor is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including transmitting a probing signal, comprising a series of probing pulses, to a fingerprint sensing area. A response signal, comprising a series of response pulses, is received from the fingerprint sensing area in response to the probing signal. An upper reference signal is generated and finger activity is detected on the fingerprint sensing area by monitoring whether the peaks of the response pulses exceed the reference signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a finger on a fingerprint sensor is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including transmitting a probing signal, comprising a series of probing pulses, to a fingerprint sensing area. A response signal, comprising a series of response pulses, is received from the fingerprint sensing area in response to the probing signal. An upper reference signal is generated and finger activity is detected on the fingerprint sensing area by monitoring whether the peaks of the response pulses exceed the reference signal.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit for reducing noise and parasitic capacitive coupling is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a plurality of transmitting elements to sequentially emit a probing signal. A digital ground is provided to ground digital components in the fingerprint sensing circuit. A quiet ground, separate from and quieter than the digital ground, is provided to ground transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal. Similarly, control logic is provided to connect, to the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal, while disconnecting, from the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are emitting the probing signal. The quiet ground helps to reduce the adverse effects of parasitic capacitive coupling and noise on the inactive transmitting elements.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor with programmable sensing patterns is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing circuit having multiple I/O interconnects. The I/O interconnects are configured to sequentially drive a plurality of fingerprint sensing elements. A memory device may be operably coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit. A programmable data structure, such as a table, file, character string, numeric value, array, or the like may be stored in the memory device to designate a pattern for driving the fingerprint sensing elements. The fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to drive the fingerprint sensing elements according to the designated pattern. In selected embodiments, the fingerprint sensing elements may include transmitting elements, receiving elements, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for culling substantially redundant data in a fingerprint sensing circuit is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including an input module, a storage module, a comparator module, and a determination module. The input module may receive sets of data samples from an array of fingerprint sensing elements. The sets of data samples may be stored by the storage module. The comparator module may calculate a difference between each data sample from a first-received set, and a corresponding data sample from a second-received set. The determination module may count the number of difference values that exceed a predetermined difference limit, and identify the second set of data samples as redundant if the number of difference values counted is less than a pre-set count limit.

Abstract: A low power oscillator is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a Schmitt trigger having an input, an output, and an input stage coupled to the input. The input stage may include multiple transistors connected in series between a power source and ground. A switch, controlled by the output of the Schmitt trigger, may be connected in series with the multiple transistors. The switch is configured to interrupt shoot-through current passing through the transistors when the transistors are turned on at the same time. In certain embodiments, the switch may reduce the shoot-through current by substantially half.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a finger on a fingerprint sensor is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including transmitting a probing signal, comprising a series of probing pulses, to a fingerprint sensing area. A response signal, comprising a series of response pulses, is received from the fingerprint sensing area in response to the probing signal. An upper reference signal is generated and finger activity is detected on the fingerprint sensing area by monitoring whether the peaks of the response pulses exceed the reference signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing power consumption in fingerprint-sensing circuits is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing area onto which a user can apply a fingerprint. An integrated circuit communicates with the fingerprint sensing area and is configured to detect finger activity over the fingerprint sensing area. The integrated circuit includes a primary logic portion configured to assume control of the integrated circuit when finger activity is detected over the fingerprint sensing area. The integrated circuit also includes a secondary logic portion configured to assume control of the integrated circuit and shut off power to the primary logic portion when finger activity is not detected over the fingerprint sensing area.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing circuit for reducing noise and parasitic capacitive coupling is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a plurality of transmitting elements to sequentially emit a probing signal. A digital ground is provided to ground digital components in the fingerprint sensing circuit. A quiet ground, separate from and quieter than the digital ground, is provided to ground transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal. Similarly, control logic is provided to connect, to the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are not transmitting the probing signal, while disconnecting, from the quiet ground, transmitting elements that are emitting the probing signal. The quiet ground helps to reduce the adverse effects of parasitic capacitive coupling and noise on the inactive transmitting elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing noise in fingerprint sensing circuits is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing area onto which a user can apply a fingerprint. An analog front end is coupled to the fingerprint sensing area and is configured to generate an analog response signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) samples the analog response signal and converts the sample to a digital value, which may be received by a digital device such as a processor or CPU. To reduce the amount of the noise that is present in the analog response signal and therefore reflected in the digital value, the digital device may be shut down while the ADC is sampling the analog response signal.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor with programmable sensing patterns is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fingerprint sensing circuit having multiple I/O interconnects. The I/O interconnects are configured to sequentially drive a plurality of fingerprint sensing elements. A memory device may be operably coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit. A programmable data structure, such as a table, file, character string, numeric value, array, or the like may be stored in the memory device to designate a pattern for driving the fingerprint sensing elements. The fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to drive the fingerprint sensing elements according to the designated pattern. In selected embodiments, the fingerprint sensing elements may include transmitting elements, receiving elements, or a combination thereof.