System for real time finger surface pattern measurement

1. A system for measuring pafferns in a surface, especially in finger surfaces, the system comprising a number of sensor electrodes being provided with an electrically insulating material over which the surface being measured is to be moved, and at least one stimulation electrode for providing a varying current or voltage between the stimulation electrode and the number of sensors through the surface,

characterized in that the sensor electrodes constitutes an essentially linear array,

that the stimulation electrode is positioned separately from the array of sensor electrodes,

that the system comprises a generator coupled to the stimulation electrode for applying a current or voltage with a varying amplitude or phase to the surface, and

that the system comprises a measuring unit coupled to the sensor electrodes for, during the application of the current or voltage, measuring the impedance at the sensor electrodes relative to the stimulation electrode in a time sequence and calculating values of predetermined characteristics of the surface and combining the calculated values for the sensor electrodes over the time sequence for generating a representation of the surface pattern.

2. System according to claim 1 , wherein it also comprises at least one electrode coupled to the measuring device and being positioned outside the linear array for measuring of the surface movements relative to the sensor array.

3. System according to claim 1 , wherein the variation in current or voltage is in the range of 10–500 kHz.

4. System according to claim 1 , wherein the variation in current or voltage comprises frequency sweeps over a chosen frequency range 10–500 kHz.

5. System according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor electrodes are coupled to a measuring instrument for detection of amplitude of the signal and phase differences between the signal from each sensor electrode and the applied varying current or voltage, and from this create a representation of the variation of the impedance along the sensor array.

6. System according to claim 1 , wherein each sensor electrode is surrounded by an electrically grounded ring of a conducting material.

7. System according to claim 1 , wherein the stimulation electrode is adapted to be electrically coupled to the surface.

8. System according to claim 1 , wherein the varying voltage or current is applied to the stimulation electrode in a predetermined time sequence.

9. System according to claim 1 , also comprising an activation sensor for activating the system upon the approach of a surface.

10. A system for measuring patterns in a surface, especially in finger surfaces, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a linear array with an electrically insulating material over which the surface being measured is to be moved;

at least one stimulation electrode positioned separately from the array of sensor electrodes for providing a varying current or voltage between the stimulation electrode and the number of sensors through the surface where said stimulation electrode is coupled to a generator for applying a current or voltage with a varying amplitude or phase to the surface;

a measuring unit coupled to the sensor electrodes for, during the application of the current or voltage, measuring the impedance at the sensor electrodes relative to the stimulation electrode in a time sequence and calculating values of predetermined characteristics of the surface and combining the calculated values for the sensor electrodes over the time sequence for generating a representation of the surface pattern; and

at least one electrode coupled to the measuring device and being positioned outside the linear array for measuring of the surface movements relative to the sensor array.

11. System according to claim 10 , wherein the variation in current or voltage is in the range of 10–500 kHz.

12. System according to claim 10 , wherein the variation in current or voltage comprises frequency sweeps over a chosen frequency range 10–500 kHz.

13. System according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor electrodes are coupled to a measuring instrument for detection of amplitude of the signal and phase differences between the signal from each sensor electrode and the applied varying current or voltage, and from this create a representation of the variation of the impedance along the sensor array.

14. System according to claim 10 , wherein each sensor electrode is surrounded by an electrically grounded ring of a conducting material.

15. System according to claim 10 , wherein the stimulation electrode is adapted to be electrically coupled to the surface.

16. System according to claim 10 , wherein the varying voltage or current is applied to the stimulation electrode in a predetermined time sequence.

17. System according to claim 10 , also comprising an activation sensor for activating the system upon the approach of a surface.

18. A system for measuring patterns in a surface, especially in finger surfaces, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a linear array with an electrically insulating material over which the surface being measured is to be moved;

at least one stimulation electrode positioned separately from the array of sensor electrodes for providing a varying current or voltage between the stimulation electrode and the number of sensors through the surface where said stimulation electrode is coupled to a generator for applying a current or voltage with a varying amplitude or phase to the surface;

an impedance measuring unit coupled to the sensor electrodes for, during the application of the current or voltage, measuring the impedance at the sensor electrodes relative to the stimulation electrode in a time sequence and calculating values of predetermined characteristics of the surface and combining the calculated values for the sensor electrodes; and

a signal amplitude and phase difference measuring unit coupled to the sensor electrodes for detection of amplitude of the signal and phase differences between the signal from each sensor electrode and the applied varying current or voltage, and from this create a representation of the variation of the impedance along the sensor array.