Patent · US Active

Method and device for detecting if a finger is present and sensing a fingerprint pattern

US9589171B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
1References
15Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 2016
Grant dateMar 7, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2036

Classification

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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of sensing a fingerprint pattern of a finger using a fingerprint sensing device comprising an array of sensing elements; an electrically conductive finger detecting structure; and finger detecting circuitry connected to the finger detecting structure for providing a finger detection signal indicative of a capacitive coupling between the finger detecting structure and the finger. The method comprises the steps of: comparing the finger detection signal with a first threshold value indicating a first capacitive coupling, and a second threshold value indicating a second capacitive coupling stronger than the first capacitive coupling; and activating at least a subset of the sensing elements when the finger detection signal changes from a first value indicating a capacitive coupling weaker than the first capacitive coupling to a second value indicating a capacitive coupling stronger than the second capacitive coupling.

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