Method for obtaining biometric data for an individual in a secure transaction
View Patent ↗Provided are a method and system for a biometric sensing apparatus. An apparatus includes an input signal generator configured to produce an activation signal. Also includes is a piezoelectric ceramic sensor having a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic elements arrayed and spaced to (i) receive the activation signal (ii) detect one or more features of a digit proximate to the array in accordance with the received activation signal and (iii) produce output signals representative thereof. A processor is coupled to the sensor to process the output signals.
1. A biometric sensing apparatus, comprising:
an input signal generator configured to produce an activation signal;
a piezoelectric ceramic sensor having a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic elements arrayed and spaced to (i) receive the activation signal, (ii) detect one or more features of a digit proximate to the array, and (iii) produce output signals representative thereof; and
a processor coupled to the sensor to process the output signals.
2. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output signals include biometric features representative of the digit.
3. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor produces data representative of the detected biometric feature.
4. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the detected biometric feature is a print ridge pattern.
5. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the print ridge pattern is associated with a thumb.
6. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the detected biometric feature is blood flow.
7. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the blood flow includes arteriole blood flow.
8. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the blood flow includes capillary blood flow.
9. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the detected biometric feature is an arteriole-veinal map.
10. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the detected biometric feature is a bone map.
11. The biometric sensing biometric sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor operates in a voltage mode to produce voltage data, and the processor includes a voltage detector that processes voltage data received from the sensor to produce the output.
12. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor operates in a Doppler-shift mode to produce Doppler-shift data, and the processor includes a Doppler-shift detector that processes Doppler-shift data received from the sensor to produce the output.
13. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor operates in an echo mode to produce echo data, and the processor includes a signal-time-of-travel detector that processes echo data received from the sensor to produce the output.
14. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a multiplexer that couples the input signal generator to the sensor and to the processor.
15. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each of the piezoelectric ceramic elements includes a first and second end, and wherein the multiplexer comprises:
a plurality of first conductors coupled to the first ends of piezoelectric ceramic elements in corresponding rows;
a plurality of first switches each of which is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of first conductors;
a plurality of second conductors coupled to the second ends of piezoelectric ceramic elements in corresponding columns; and
a plurality of second switches each of which is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of second conductors;
wherein the plurality of first conductors are approximately orthogonal to the plurality of second conductors; and
wherein the plurality of first switches are controlled to couple a signal output from an output port of the input signal generator to a particular piezoelectric ceramic element of the plurality of piezoelectric ceramic elements; and
wherein the plurality of second switches are controlled to couple a signal associated with the particular piezoelectric ceramic element of the plurality of piezoelectric ceramic elements to an input port of the processor.
16. The biometric sensing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless transmitter coupled to the processor that transmits the output.
17. A biometric sensing apparatus, comprising:
an input signal generator configured to produce an activation signal;
a piezoelectric ceramic sensor having a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic elements arrayed and spaced to (i) receive the activation signal (ii) detect one or more features of a digit proximate to the array and (iii) produce output signals representative thereof; and
a processor coupled to the sensor to process the output signals;
a multiplexer that couples the input signal generator to the sensor; and
a wireless transmitter coupled to the processor that transmits the output signals.