IP Library Granted Patent US 10,642,317
Granted Patent B2
US 10,642,317 · App. 15/878,975 · Granted May 5, 2020

Clasp with integrated biometric sensor to authenticate a user of a dual-housing device

Inventors: James Damon Trim (Pflugerville, TX); Jace W. Files (Round Rock, TX); John Trevor Morrison (Round Rock, TX); Michiel S. Knoppert (Amsterdam, NL)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/1679G06F1/1601G06F1/1618G06F1/1647G06F1/1656G06F1/1677G06F1/1681G06F1/1683G06F1/1684G06F3/044G06F9/4406G06F21/32G06K9/00013G06K9/00228G06K9/00604
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,642,317
App. No.
15/878,975
Granted
May 5, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some examples, a computing device may include a first housing mechanically coupled to a second housing. The coupling may enable the first housing to be placed at an angle of between at least 0 to 180 degrees relative to the second housing. A clasp may be used to temporarily hold the first housing against the second housing when the first housing is placed at an angle of about 0 degrees relative to the second housing. A clasp sensor may determine that a user touched the clasp. In response, the computing device may initiate a boot process of an operating system. The boot process may capture biometric data using a biometric sensor in the clasp and compare the biometric data with previously stored biometric data associated with the user. The boot process may authenticate the user when the biometric data matches the previously stored biometric data.

Claims (96)

1. A computing device comprising:

a first housing comprising:

a first display device;

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory storage media to store instructions executable by the one or more processors;

a second housing comprising:

a second display device;

one or more hinges coupling the first housing to the second housing, wherein the one or more hinges enable the first housing to be placed at an angle relative to the second housing; and

a clasp to temporarily attach the first housing to the second housing when the first housing is placed at an angle of about 0 degrees relative to the second housing,

wherein the clasp comprises:

a biometric sensor; and

a clasp sensor;

wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving clasp data from the clasp sensor, the clasp data indicating that a user has touched the clasp;

based at least in part on receiving the clasp data from the clasp sensor, transitioning the computing device from a low-power state to an operational state;

initiating a boot process of an operating system; and

authenticating the user using the biometric sensor.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein:

the biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint reader; and

authenticating the user using the biometric sensor comprises authenticating a fingerprint of the user using the fingerprint reader.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein:

the biometric sensor comprises a retinal scanner; and

authenticating the user using the biometric sensor comprises authenticating a retinal scan of the user using the retinal scanner.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein:

the biometric sensor comprises an imaging sensor; and

authenticating the user using the biometric sensor comprises performing facial recognition using the imaging sensor.

5. The computing device of claim 1 wherein:

the clasp sensor comprises one of a capacitive touch sensor, a Hall-Effect sensor, or a Reed switch.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein authenticating the user using the biometric sensor comprises:

capturing biometric data using the biometric sensor; and

determining that the biometric data matches previously stored biometric data.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein authenticating the user using the biometric sensor comprises:

capturing biometric data using the biometric sensor;

determining that the biometric data does not match previously stored biometric data;

capturing additional biometric data using the biometric sensor; and

determining that the additional biometric data matches the previously stored biometric data.

8. A computing device comprising:

a first housing comprising:

a first display device;

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory storage media to store instructions executable by the one or more processors;

a second housing comprising:

a second display device;

one or more hinges coupling the first housing to the second housing, wherein the one or more hinges enable the first housing to be placed at an angle relative to the second housing; and

a cover attached to the first housing and to the second housing, the cover comprising:

a clasp to attach the first housing to the second housing when the first housing is placed at an angle of about 0 degrees relative to the second housing, wherein the clasp comprises:

a biometric sensor; and

a clasp sensor;

a graphene layer to dissipate heat generated by the first housing and the second housing; and

a routing layer that is used to route one or more cables to the biometric sensor and to a capacitive touch sensor;

wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving clasp data from the clasp sensor, the clasp data indicating that a user has touched the clasp;

based at least in part on receiving the clasp data from the clasp sensor, transitioning the computing device from a low-power state to an operational state;

initiating a boot process of an operating system; and

authenticating the user using the biometric sensor.

9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein:

the one or more cables to the biometric sensor and to the capacitive touch sensor carry at least one of:

sensor data or power.

10. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the first housing further comprises:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory storage media to store instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving clasp data indicating that a user touched the clasp;

initiating a boot process of an operating system;

capturing biometric data using the biometric sensor; and

authenticating the user based at least in part on determining that the biometric data matches previously stored biometric data.

11. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint reader.

12. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises a retinal scanner.

13. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises an imaging sensor used to perform facial recognition.

14. A computing device comprising:

a first housing comprising:

a display device;

a second housing comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory to store instructions executable by the one or more processors;

one or more hinges coupling the first housing to the second housing, wherein the one or more hinges enable the first housing to be placed at an angle relative to the second housing; and

a clasp to temporarily attach the first housing to the second housing when the first housing is placed at an angle of about 0 degrees relative to the second housing,

wherein the clasp comprises:

a biometric sensor; and

a clasp sensor;

wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving clasp data from the clasp sensor, the clasp data indicating that a user has touched the clasp;

based at least in part on receiving the clasp data from the clasp sensor, transitioning the computing device from a low-power state to an operational state;

initiating a boot process of an operating system; and

authenticating the user using the biometric sensor.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint reader to scan a fingerprint or a thumbprint.

16. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises a retinal scanner to scan a retina.

17. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises an imaging sensor to perform facial recognition.

18. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein:

the clasp sensor comprises one of a capacitive touch sensor, a Hall-Effect sensor, or a Reed switch.

19. The computing device of claim 18 , wherein authenticating the user using the biometric sensor comprises:

capturing biometric data using the biometric sensor; and

determining that the biometric data matches previously stored biometric data.

20. The computing device of claim 18 , wherein authenticating the user using the biometric sensor comprises:

determining that biometric data captured by the biometric sensor does not match previously stored biometric data;

capturing additional biometric data using the biometric sensor; and

determining that the additional biometric data matches the previously stored biometric data.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045482/0131) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.)
Reel/Frame 061749/0924 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 045482 FRAME 0395 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058298/0314 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Mar 1, 2018
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045482/0131 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (CREDIT) Recorded Mar 1, 2018
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045482/0395 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2018
From: TRIM, JAMES DAMON; FILES, JACE W.; MORRISON, JOHN TREVOR; KNOPPERT, MICHIEL S.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L. P.
Reel/Frame 044717/0659 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190227602A1 · Jul 25, 2019
Cited By (1)
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