Fingerprint scanning method

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device;

collecting pressure measurements using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device;

determining a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements;

determining a contact force for each of the pressure sensors while the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device and creating a force profile along the finger-sensor contact direction; and

storing the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising determining a total contact time along the finger-sensor contact direction.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fingerprint-capturing device is part of a mobile device and wherein the method further comprises determining a tilt angle of the fingerprint-capturing device using an accelerometer of the mobile device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising measuring variations in tilt while the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device and determining a tilt profile along the finger-sensor contact direction.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising:

capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device;

collecting pressure measurements using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device;

determining a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements; and

storing a first finger-sensor contact direction with a first digital fingerprint to define a first biometric authentication profile and storing a second finger-sensor contact direction with a second digital fingerprint to define a second biometric authentication profile,

wherein user authentication matching the first biometric authentication profile grants access to a first set of device functions whereas user authentication matching the second biometric authentication profile grants access to a second set of device functions.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a computing device cause the computing device to:

capture a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device;

collect pressure measurements using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device;

determine a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements;

determine a contact force for each of the pressure sensors while the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device and create a force profile along the finger-sensor contact direction; and

store the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication.

7. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 6 further comprising code that causes the device to determine a contact force for each of the pressure sensors while the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device and to create a force profile along the finger-sensor contact direction.

8. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 7 further comprising code that causes the device to determine a total contact time along the finger-sensor contact direction.

9. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 8 wherein the computing device is a mobile device and wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code that causes the device to determine a tilt angle of the fingerprint-capturing device using an accelerometer of the mobile device.

10. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 9 further comprising code to cause the device to measure variations in tilt while the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device and to determine a tilt profile along the finger-sensor contact direction.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a computing device cause the computing device to:

capture a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device;

collect pressure measurements using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device;

determine a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements; and

store a first finger-sensor contact direction with a first digital fingerprint to define a first biometric authentication profile and store a second finger-sensor contact direction with a second digital fingerprint to define a second biometric authentication profile,

wherein user authentication matching the first biometric authentication profile grants access to a first set of device functions whereas user authentication matching the second biometric authentication profile grants access to a second set of device functions.

12. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a fingerprint-capturing device for capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger;

pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device to collect pressure measurements as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device;

wherein the processor is configured to determine a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements and to cause a memory to store the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication, and

wherein the processor cooperates with the pressure sensors to determine a contact force for each of the pressure sensors while the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device and to create a force profile along the finger-sensor contact direction.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the processor cooperates with the pressure sensors to determine a total contact time along the finger-sensor contact direction.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising an accelerometer to determine a tilt angle of the fingerprint-capturing device.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the processor cooperates with the accelerometer to measure variations in tilt while the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device and to determine a tilt profile along the finger-sensor contact direction.

16. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a fingerprint-capturing device for capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger;

pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device to collect pressure measurements as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device;

wherein the processor is configured to determine a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements, and

wherein the processor cooperates with a memory to store a first finger-sensor contact direction with a first digital fingerprint to define a first biometric authentication profile and to store a second finger-sensor contact direction with a second digital fingerprint to define a second biometric authentication profile, wherein user authentication matching the first biometric authentication profile grants access to a first set of device functions whereas user authentication matching the second biometric authentication profile grants access to a second set of device functions.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the processor cooperates with the pressure sensors to determine a contact time for each sensor.

18. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a fingerprint-capturing device for capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger;

pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device to collect pressure measurements as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device;

wherein the processor is configured to: determine a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements; and to cause a memory to store the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication; compare a total surface area of the scanned fingerprint to a threshold; grant access to a first set of applications if the threshold is met or exceeded; and grant access to a second set of applications if the threshold is not exceeded.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a computing device cause the computing device to:

capture a digital fingerprint of a finger on a fingerprint-capturing device;

collect pressure measurements as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device;

determine a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements and cause the memory to store the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication;

compare a total surface area of the scanned fingerprint to a threshold;

grant access to a first set of applications if the threshold is met or exceeded; and

grant access to a second set of applications if the threshold is not exceeded.

20. A method at a computing device, the method comprising:

capturing a digital fingerprint of a finger using a fingerprint-capturing device;

collecting pressure measurements as the finger contacts the fingerprint-capturing device using pressure sensors associated with the fingerprint-capturing device;

determining a finger-sensor contact direction from the pressure measurements;

storing the finger-sensor contact direction in association with the digital fingerprint for subsequent biometric authentication;

comparing a total surface area of the scanned fingerprint to a threshold;

granting access to a first set of applications if the threshold is met or exceeded; and

granting access to a second set of applications if the threshold is not exceeded.