Machine including vibration and shock resistant fingerprint sensor and related methods
US6098330A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 8, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41A17/066
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A machine includes a mechanical linkage and or drive coupled to a housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning. The machine further includes an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by the housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, and an enabling circuit for selectively enabling functioning of the linkage/drive based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by the integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. Accordingly, only authorized operators may use the machine. Moreover, the integrated fingerprint sensor is shock and vibration resistant so that it can be coupled to the machine housing and still function accurately and reliably. The enabling circuit may also include a memory for storing data related to at least one fingerprint for at least one authorized operator, and may determine matching of a sensed fingerprint with the stored data. The machine may also be a firearm which generates a substantial shock upon firing. The integrated circuit fingerprint sensor may be carried by the housing and may cooperate with the firearm safety lock to allow only an authorized user to fire the firearm.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.