IP Library Granted Patent US 10,592,717
Granted Patent B2
US 10,592,717 · App. 15/933,181 · Granted Mar 17, 2020

Biometric imaging with hover detection

Inventors: Mohamed Sheik-Nainar (San Jose, CA); Justin Mockler (San Jose, CA); Adam L. Schwartz (San Jose, CA); Erik Jonathon Thompson (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
G06K9/00013G06K9/00919
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,592,717
App. No.
15/933,181
Granted
Mar 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for fingerprint imaging in an electronic device having a display, a touch sensor with a touch interface and an optical fingerprint sensor with a sensing region is described. The method and system include placing the electronic device in a hover detect mode, the hover detect mode scanning for a hovering finger; detecting the hovering finger; initiating illumination in the sensing region to image a fingerprint of the finger; capturing an image of the fingerprint in the sensing region; and disabling the illumination in the sensing region.

Claims (63)

1. A method of imaging a fingerprint of a finger in an electronic device including a display, a touch sensor having a touch interface, and an optical fingerprint sensor having a sensing region, the method comprising:

placing the electronic device in a hover detect mode, the hover detect mode scanning for the finger hovering proximate to the touch interface;

detecting the finger while the finger is hovering;

initiating illumination in the sensing region;

capturing an image of the fingerprint of the finger in the sensing region; and

disabling the illumination in the sensing region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initiating illumination in the sensing region comprises initiating a high brightness mode (HBM) of display pixels proximate to the sensing region in response to detecting the finger.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a transition to the HBM is synchronized with a rate of approach of the finger.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sensing region and the display pixels are in a region of the display determined from a location of the finger.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein in the rate of approach of the finger is an assumed value.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the rate of approach of the finger is based on an amplitude of a signal received in connection with the detecting the finger while the finger is hovering.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting the display outside of the sensing region in response to detecting the finger while the finger is hovering.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

placing the display outside of the sensing region in a dark background mode (DBM).

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the display outside of the sensing region fades to the DBM.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a rate of fade to the DBM is synchronized with a rate of approach of the finger.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising iteratively adjusting display pixel values outside of the sensing region to compensate for an increase in current to the display.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

displaying a guide for placement of the fingerprint after detecting the finger while the finger is hovering.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the displaying the guide occurs before a HBM is fully realized.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the finger, comprises:

first detecting the finger hovering proximate to the touch interface; and

second detecting the finger hovering proximate to the sensing region.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting contact between the finger and the touch interface before the capturing the image of the fingerprint.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein pressure is sensed to facilitate the detecting contact between the finger and the touch interface.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capturing the image of the fingerprint is in response to detecting a valid touch.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

operate the electronic device in a hover detect mode, the hover detect mode scanning for a finger hovering proximate to a touch interface;

receive a signal when the finger hovering proximate to the touch interface is detected;

initiate illumination in a sensing region of an optical sensor;

receive image data corresponding to an image of a fingerprint of the finger from the sensing region; and

disable the illumination in the sensing region.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors include a host processor of the electronic device.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors include a touch controller.

21. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to initiate the illumination in the sensing region using a high brightness mode (HBM).

22. The electronic device of claim 21 , wherein a transition to the HBM is synchronized with a rate of approach of the finger.

23. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

adjust a display outside of the sensing region after detecting the finger hovering.

24. The electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

place the display outside of the sensing region in a dark background mode (DBM).

25. The electronic device of claim 24 , wherein the display outside of the sensing region fades to the DBM.

26. The electronic device of claim 25 , wherein a rate of fade to the DBM is synchronized with a rate of approach of the finger.

27. The electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

iteratively adjust pixel values outside of the sensing region to compensate for an increase in current to the display.

28. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

display a guide for placement of the fingerprint after detecting the hovering finger.

29. An electronic device, comprising:

a memory; and

a touch controller in communication with the memory, configured to:

operate in a hover detect mode, the hover detect mode scanning for a finger hovering proximate to a touch interface;

detect the finger while the finger is hovering proximate to the touch interface;

first signal that the finger has been detected to initiate illumination in a sensing region of an optical sensor;

second signal to disable the illumination in the sensing region after capturing an image of a fingerprint of the finger.

30. The electronic device of claim 29 , wherein the touch controller is further configured to initiate the illumination in the sensing region using a high brightness mode (HBM).

31. The electronic device of claim 30 , wherein a transition to the HBM is synchronized with a rate of approach of the finger.

32. The electronic device of claim 29 , wherein the touch controller is further configured to:

adjust a display outside of the sensing region after detecting the finger while the finger is hovering.

33. The electronic device of claim 32 , wherein the touch controller is further configured to:

place the display outside of the sensing region in a dark background mode (DBM).

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 10945920 WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENTERED AS 10845920 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 058218 FRAME 0181. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
To: FINGERPRINT CARDS ANACATUM IP AB
Reel/Frame 064053/0400 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
To: FINGERPRINT CARDS ANACATUM IP AB
Reel/Frame 058218/0181 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
To: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
Reel/Frame 052493/0323 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2018
From: SHEIK-NAINAR, MOHAMED; MOCKLER, JUSTIN; SCHWARTZ, ADAM L.; THOMPSON, ERIK JONATHON
To: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 045350/0519 →