IP Library Granted Patent US 12,547,691
Granted Patent B2
US 12,547,691 · App. 18/544,152 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Liveness detection for authentication

Inventors: Robert J. Kapinos (Durham, NC); Scott Li (Cary, NC); Robert James Norton, Jr. (Raleigh, NC); Russell S. VanBlon (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G06F21/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,547,691
App. No.
18/544,152
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides a method, the method including: transmitting, to a component of a liveness detection system, an electrical signal; detecting, using a detection component of the liveness detection system, an electric field created by contact with the component; determining, using the liveness detection system, that the electric field corresponds to an electric field signature of a user; and authenticating, based upon the determining, the user. Other aspects are claimed and described.

Claims (35)

1 . A method, comprising:

transmitting, to a component of a liveness detection system, an electrical signal;

detecting, using a detection component of the liveness detection system, an electric field of a user and created upon the user contacting the component, wherein the electric field has a particular shape corresponding to a shape of the user;

determining, using the liveness detection system, that the electric field corresponds to an electric field signature of the user; and

authenticating, based upon the determining, the user.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises an idle electric field present without contact with the component and wherein the electric field comprises a difference in the idle electric field created by contact with the component.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises identifying the particular shape of the electric field matches a shape of an electric field corresponding to a human.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises comparing the electric field to known electric fields and identifying a match of the electric field to a known authorized electric field.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting is performed within a predetermined range from the detection component and wherein the determining comprises identifying the electric field is within the predetermined range.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating is responsive to receiving additional authorization data and determining the additional authorization data indicates the user is an authorized user.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising providing, using an output component, instructions to a user to contact the component.

8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising discharging the electric field responsive to authenticating the user.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating comprises allowing access to information requiring authorization.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, responsive to determining the electric field does not correspond to an electric field signature of a user, preventing access to information requiring authorization.

11 . A system, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory device that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to:

transmit, to a component of a liveness detection system, an electrical signal;

detect, using the detection component of the liveness detection system, an electric field of a user and created upon the user contacting the component, wherein the electric field has a particular shape corresponding to a shape of the user;

determine, using the liveness detection system, that the electric field corresponds to an electric field signature of the user; and

authenticate, based upon the determining, the user.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting an idle electric field present without contact with the component and wherein the electric field comprises a difference in the idle electric field created by contact with the component.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the determining comprises identifying the particular shape of the electric field matches a shape of an electric field corresponding to a human.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the determining comprises comparing the electric field to known electric fields and identifying a match of the electric field to a known authorized electric field.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the detecting is performed within a predetermined range from the detection component and wherein the determining comprises identifying the electric field is within the predetermined range.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the authenticating is responsive to receiving additional authorization data and determining the additional authorization data indicates the user is an authorized user.

17 . The system of claim 11 , comprising providing, using an output component, instructions to a user to contact the component.

18 . The system of claim 11 , comprising discharging the electric field responsive to authenticating the user.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the authenticating comprises allowing access to information requiring authorization.

20 . A product, the product comprising:

a computer-readable storage device that stores executable code that, when executed by a processor, causes the product to:

transmit, to a component of a liveness detection system, an electrical signal;

detect, using a detection component of the liveness detection system, an electric field of a user and created upon the user contacting the component, wherein the electric field has a particular shape corresponding to a shape of the user;

determine, using the liveness detection system, that the electric field corresponds to an electric field signature of a user; and

authenticate, based upon the determining, the user.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 066946/0333 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2023
From: KAPINOS, ROBERT J.; LI, SCOTT; NORTON, ROBERT JAMES, JR.; VANBLON, RUSSELL S.
To: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
Reel/Frame 065902/0420 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250200155A1 · Jun 19, 2025
References Cited (2)
US 8306265B2 · Fry · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20170056748A1 · Crawford · 2017 [cited by examiner]