Enclosure and biometric data collection for fingerprint sensor device

1. An enclosure assembly for a fingerprint sensor, the enclosure assembly comprising:

a stationary member including at least two substantially parallel sidewalls, the sidewalls partially defining a cavity in which the fingerprint sensor is disposed;

a moveable access piece, which has a surface area larger than the surface area of the fingerprint sensor, the moveable access piece having a conductive portion electrically coupled to ground, wherein the moveable access piece is configured to move relative to the stationary member;

a movement apparatus configured to maintain the moveable access piece in a position covering the fingerprint sensor and yet to allow motion of the moveable access piece relative to the stationary member so as to expose the fingerprint sensor; such that the moveable access piece is capable of defining at least two image alignment positions for the finger from which the fingerprint sensor can collect biometric information;

a switch configured to electrically couple a power supply to the fingerprint sensor after the moveable access piece exposes at least a portion of the cavity; and

an image quality indictor communicatively coupled to the fingerprint sensor, the image quality indictor configured to obtain an image of a fingerprint, evaluate the image quality, and signal whether biometric information collected by the fingerprint sensor is acceptable.

2. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 , wherein the movement apparatus comprises a spring to engage the moveable access piece and the stationary member, the spring configured to apply sufficient pressure to the moveable access piece so as to generally maintain the moveable access piece in the position covering the fingerprint sensor.

3. An enclosure assembly for a fingerprint sensor, the enclosure assembly comprising:

a stationary member including at least two substantially parallel sidewalls, the sidewalls partially defining a cavity in which the fingerprint sensor is disposed;

a moveable access piece, which has a surface area larger than the surface area of the fingerprint sensor, the moveable access piece having a conductive portion electrically coupled to ground, wherein the moveable access piece is configured to move relative to the stationary member;

a fingertip contour area located on a forward portion of the access piece, the finger contour area having a rounded, upper region configured to receive thereon a rounded tip portion of a fingertip; and

a movement apparatus configured to maintain the moveable access piece in a position covering the fingerprint sensor and yet to allow motion of the moveable access piece relative to the stationary member so as to expose the fingerprint sensor such that the moveable access piece is capable of defining at least two image alignment positions for the finger from which the fingerprint sensor can collect biometric information.

4. The enclosure assembly of claim 3 , wherein the movement apparatus comprises a spring to engage the moveable access piece and the stationary member, the spring configured to apply sufficient pressure to the moveable access piece so as to generally maintain the moveable access piece in the position covering the fingerprint sensor.

5. The enclosure assembly of claim 4 , further comprising an image quality indictor means communicatively coupled to the fingerprint sensor, the image quality indictor configured to signal, whether biometric information collected by the fingerprint sensor is acceptable.

6. The enclosure assembly of claim 4 , further including at least one image alignment guide configured to define a stop position for the moveable access piece.

7. The enclosure assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a switch configured to electrically couple a power supply to the fingerprint sensor after the moveable access piece exposes at least a portion of the cavity.

8. The enclosure assembly of claim 3 , wherein the moveable access piece has a first end and a second end, the first end having a concave surface portion configured to receive the fingertip.

9. The enclosure assembly of claim 3 , wherein the movement apparatus comprises a motor that controls the motion of the moveable access piece relative to the fingerprint sensor.

10. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 , wherein the movement apparatus comprises a motor that controls the motion of the moveable access piece relative to the fingerprint sensor.

11. The enclosure assembly of claim 1 , further including at least one image alignment guide configured to define a stop position for the moveable access piece.

12. A method for enrolling a composite image of an object using a fingerprint sensor comprising the steps of:

receiving a finger disposed over a fingerprint sensor, the finger in a first stationary position;

capturing a first image of a first portion of the finger with the fingerprint sensor; causing the finger to be repositioned over the fingerprint sensor in a second stationary position;

capturing a second image of a second portion of the finger with the fingerprint sensor; and

constructing a representative image of the finger from the first and second images, wherein prior to the step of receiving, the method comprises the step of discharging electrostatic energy from the finger through a moveable access piece disposed over the fingerprint sensor such that the moveable access piece is capable of defining at least two image alignment positions for the finger from which the fingerprint sensor can collect biometric information.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of engaging a power source with the fingerprint sensor after the moveable access piece is moved from a position protecting the fingerprint sensor.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of engaging a power source with the fingerprint sensor after the moveable access piece is moved from a position protecting the fingerprint sensor.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of disengaging the power source from the fingerprint sensor when the moveable access piece is returned to the position protecting the fingerprint sensor.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of causing includes the steps of:

analyzing the first captured image for image quality; and

providing a signal indicative of the image quality.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of causing includes the step of repositioning a moveable access piece that slides relative to the fingerprint sensor.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of causing includes the step of providing an alignment guide for aligning a moveable access piece with respect to the fingerprint sensor.

19. The enclosure assembly of claim 3 wherein the fingertip contour area is positioned in a location to align the core of the fingertip with the sensor when the access piece is moved to an open position.

20. An enclosure assembly for a fingerprint sensor, the enclosure assembly comprising:

a stationary member including at least two substantially parallel sidewalls, the sidewalls partially defining a cavity in which the fingerprint sensor is disposed;

a moveable access piece, which has a surface area larger than the surface area of the fingerprint sensor, the moveable access piece having a conductive portion electrically coupled to ground, wherein the moveable access piece is configured to move relative to the stationary member;

a fingertip contour area located on a forward portion of the access piece, the finger contour area having a rounded, upper region configured to receive thereon a rounded tip portion of a fingertip;

a movement apparatus configured to maintain the moveable access piece in a position covering the fingerprint sensor and yet to allow motion of the moveable access piece relative to the stationary member so as to expose the fingerprint sensor, such that the moveable access piece is capable of defining at least two image alignment positions for the finger from which the fingerprint sensor can collect biometric information; and

an image quality indicator communicatively coupled to the fingerprint sensor, the image quality indictor configured to obtain an image of the fingerprint, evaluate the quality of the image and output a signal whether biometric image collected by the fingerprint sensor is acceptable.