Patent · US Expired

Fingerprint sensing devices and systems incorporating such

US6108438A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 21, 1998
Grant dateAug 22, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 21, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06V40/1306
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fingerprint sensing device comprises an array of sense elements (12) which each include a sense electrode (33), providing in combination with an overlying fingerprint part a capacitance (35), and first and second diode devices (30, 31) connected respectively between the sense electrode and associated ones (18, 20) of first and second sets (e.g. row and column) address conductors. An address circuit (22, 24) connected to the address conductors biases the diode devices in a respective address period such that a potential is applied via the first address conductor and the first diode device to the sense electrode and thereafter stored charge, indicative of the capacitance, is transferred via the second diode device to the second address conductor. The device offers fast, reliable, scanning and can conveniently be implemented using thin film technology for low cost and compactness.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.