Granted Patent B2

US 10,282,579 · App. 15/414,364 · Granted May 7, 2019

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A method for initiating fingerprint capture in an electronic device having a touch screen with a sensing region, a touch controller, and a fingerprint controller, the method comprising:

placing the electronic device in a first power mode, the first power mode being a doze mode, wherein the fingerprint controller is in a low power mode;

scanning for an object proximate to the sensing region;

executing a validation mode to determine whether the object is a fingerprint;

sending a wake up signal directly from the touch controller to the fingerprint controller and placing the fingerprint controller in a second power mode, the second power mode being a higher power mode than the first power mode; and

capturing an image of the fingerprint.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a host and the host is placed in the first power mode during the doze mode and the validation mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scanning for the object proximate to the sensing region occurs at predetermined time intervals.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein following executing the validation mode, waiting a predetermined time interval before reentering the doze mode.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validation mode comprises analyzing a size of a touch in the sensing region.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validation mode comprises analyzing a number of touches in the sensing region.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validation mode comprises analyzing a location of a touch in the sensing region.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

illuminating a portion of the sensing region as a finger placement guide in response to detecting the object is proximate to the sensing region.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

illuminating a portion of the sensing region as a finger placement guide in response to detecting motion of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

illuminating an illumination element disposed under a portion of the sensing region.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the validation mode comprises analyzing a low power wake up gesture (LPWG).

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a hovering object and, in response, illuminating a portion of the sensing region.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a signal directly from the touch controller to a display controller to illuminate the sensing region for optical fingerprint sensing.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a fingerprint controller configured to be in a first power mode and to enter a second power mode upon receipt of a wake up signal, the second power mode being a higher power mode than the first power mode; and

a touch controller in direct communication with the fingerprint controller and configured to send the wake up signal to the fingerprint controller.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising a display controller for controlling a display and in direct communication with the touch controller and configured to illuminate a fingerprint sensing area of the display.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising a motion sensor, wherein the display controller illuminates the fingerprint sensing area upon detection of motion.

17. The electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising an illumination element mounted underneath the fingerprint sensing area.

18. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the touch controller and the fingerprint controller are combined in a single die.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the touch controller and the fingerprint controller have a common processor.

20. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the electronic device is configured to:

enter the first power mode and scan for an object proximate to a sensing region of the electronic device;

execute a validation mode to determine whether the object is a fingerprint;

send the wake up signal directly from the touch controller to the fingerprint controller and place the fingerprint controller in the second power mode; and

capture an image of the fingerprint.

21. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising a display controller in direct communication with the touch controller, wherein the touch controller sends a signal directly to the display controller to illuminate a sensing region for optical fingerprint sensing.

22. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch controller configured to scan for an object proximate to a sensing region during a first power mode, and execute a validation mode to determine whether the object is a fingerprint,

wherein the touch controller is configured to be in direct communication with a fingerprint controller and to send a wake up signal to the fingerprint controller based on results of the validation mode.

23. The electronic device of claim 22 , wherein the touch controller is further configured to send a signal directly to a display controller to illuminate the sensing region for optical sensing.

24. The electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the touch controller is further configured to send a signal to the display controller to turn off illumination of the sensing region for optical fingerprint sensing.

25. A method for initiating a fingerprint capture in an electronic device having a touch screen with a sensing region, a host, a touch controller, and a fingerprint controller, the method comprising:

placing the electronic device in a first power mode, the first power mode being a doze mode, wherein the fingerprint controller is in a low power mode;

scanning for an object proximate to the sensing region;

executing a validation mode to determine whether the object is a fingerprint;

sending a first signal from the touch controller to the host, the first signal being a first wake up signal; and

sending a second signal from the host to the fingerprint controller to initiate the fingerprint capture.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the second signal is a second wake up signal.

27. The method of claim 25 , further comprising sending a third signal from the host to a display controller to initiate illumination of the sensing region during the fingerprint capture.

28. An electronic device including a touch screen with a sensing region, comprising:

a fingerprint controller configured to be in a first power mode, the first power mode being a doze mode;

a host configured to be in the first mode; and

a touch controller configured to send a first signal to the host upon detection of a valid touch during a validation mode, the first signal being a first wake up signal,

wherein the host is in communication with the fingerprint controller and the touch controller, the host being configured to send a second signal to the fingerprint controller to initiate fingerprint capture in response to detection of the valid touch.

29. The electronic device of claim 28 , wherein the second signal is a second wake up signal.

30. The electronic device of claim 28 , further comprising a display controller wherein the host is further configured to send a third signal to the display controller to initiate illumination of the sensing region during the fingerprint capture.

Assignments (6)