Method for transitioning a device controller comprised in an electronic device, and an electronic device

1. A method for controlling a device controller of an electronic device comprising a fingerprint sensor to transition from a normal power mode to a low power mode relative the normal power mode, the method comprising:

when a first time limit is reached, determining whether a finger is present on the fingerprint sensor, the first time limit is below or equal to a time out limit for transitioning the device controller from the normal power mode to the low power mode, such that the device controller is still in the normal power mode when the first time limit is reached;

when a presence of the finger on the fingerprint sensor has been concluded, maintaining the device controller in the normal power mode at least until a second time limit is reached,

wherein the following steps are repeated until it is determined that a finger is not present on the fingerprint sensor:

(I) when the second time limit is reached, determining whether the finger is still present on the fingerprint sensor, wherein

(a) when the presence of the finger on the fingerprint sensor has been concluded, maintaining the device controller in the normal power mode at least until the second time limit is again reached, or,

(b) when it is determined that a finger is not present on the fingerprint sensor, maintaining the device controller in the normal power mode at least until a third time limit is reached, and

(II) when the third time limit is reached, determining whether the finger is again present on the fingerprint sensor, wherein

(a) when it is determined that a finger is not present on the fingerprint sensor, transitioning the device controller from the normal power mode to the low power mode, or

(b) when it is determined that the finger is again present on the fingerprint sensor, returning to the repeated steps of maintaining the device controller in the normal power mode at least until the second time limit is reached.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second time limit is equal to the first time limit.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second time limit is longer than the first time limit.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining whether a finger is present on the fingerprint sensor when the first time limit is reached comprises:

probing the presence of the finger on the fingerprint sensor multiple times at a sampling rate, wherein when the finger is determined to be present each of or at least a majority of the multiple times of probing then the finger is concluded to be present on the fingerprint sensor.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining whether a finger is present on the fingerprint sensor when the second time limit is reached comprises probing the presence of the finger a single time.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a display unit, the method comprising:

when the device controller is in the normal power mode controlling the display unit to be in a state with a high brightness level, and,

when the device controller is in the low power mode controlling the display unit to be in a state with a low brightness level in relation to the high brightness level.

7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

when the presence of the finger has been confirmed after the first time limit is reached or after the second time limit is reached,

acquiring a fingerprint image of the fingerprint of the finger present on the fingerprint sensor,

determining a fingerprint representation based on the fingerprint image,

matching the fingerprint representation with a set of stored fingerprint templates, wherein

when it is determined that the fingerprint representation matches with at least one stored fingerprint template,

updating the set of stored fingerprint templates with the fingerprint representation.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein updating the stored fingerprint templates comprises:

adding the fingerprint representation to the set of fingerprint templates.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein updating the stored fingerprint templates comprises:

substituting one of the fingerprint templates in the set of stored fingerprint templates with the fingerprint representation.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a fingerprint sensor configured to acquire fingerprint image data and to detect the presence of a finger;

a device controller configured to operate in a normal power mode or a low power mode relative the normal power mode;

wherein the electronic device is arranged to:

when a first time limit is reached, determine whether a finger is present on the fingerprint sensor, the first time limit is below or equal to a time limit for transitioning the device controller from the normal power mode to the low power mode, such that the device controller is still in the normal power mode when the first time limit is reached;

when the presence of the finger on the fingerprint sensor has been concluded, maintain the device controller in the normal power mode at least until a second time limit is reached, wherein, when the device controller is in the normal power mode:

(I) each time the second time limit is reached, determine whether the finger is present on the fingerprint sensor, wherein

(a) when the presence of the finger on the fingerprint sensor has been concluded by the fingerprint sensor, maintain the device controller in the normal power mode at least until the second time limit is again reached, or

(b) when it is determined that a finger is not present on the fingerprint sensor, maintain the device controller in the normal power mode at least until a third time limit is reached, and

(II) when the third time limit is reached, determine whether the finger is again present on the fingerprint sensor, wherein

(a) when it is determined that a finger is not present on the fingerprint sensor, transition the device controller from the normal power mode to the low power mode, or

(b) when it is determined that the finger is again present on the fingerprint sensor, returning to maintaining the device controller in the normal power mode each time the second time limit is reached.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10 , comprising a display unit configured to be in a state with high brightness level when the device controller is in the normal mode, and to be in a state with a low brightness level relative the high brightness level when the device controller is in the low power mode.

12. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic device is a portable electronic device and the fingerprint sensor is side mounted on the portable electronic device.

13. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic device is a portable electronic device and the fingerprint sensor is back mounted on the portable electronic device.

14. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

15. The electronic device according to claim 10 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is a capacitive fingerprint sensor.