Multicolor biometric scanning user interface
A mobile computing device may include a biometric sensor in proximity with a color-controlled layer. Where the color of the color-controlled layer may be changed, a processor of the mobile computing device may control the color of the color-controlled layer responsive to sensing various conditions. For example, the color of the color-controlled layer may be controlled, by default, to match the housing of the mobile computing device. Responsive to sensing an approaching user finger, the color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color. The color-controlled layer may be controlled to change color again upon contact of the finger, upon removal of the finger and upon determining authentication success. The color-controlled layer may be structured as a mix of heating elements and thermochromic polymer elements.
1. A method of changing a perceptible color of a biometric sensor in a computing device, the method comprising:
controlling a current flow provided to a color-controlled layer positioned under the biometric sensor such that the perceptible color of the biometric sensor is an initial color;
detecting contact with the biometric sensor; and
responsive to the detecting, controlling the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor from the initial color to a second color.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises one of a fingerprint sensor, an ear print sensor and a palm print sensor.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to the detecting, controlling the current flow provided to the layer to repeat a sequence of displayed colors by cyclically:
controlling the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor to the initial color for a first period of time having a first duration; and
controlling the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor to the second color for a second period of time having a second duration.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to sensing one of a shaking of the computing device and a gesture, controlling the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor to a third color.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the gesture comprises one of a tap, a pinch, a flick, a long press and a rotate.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sensing removal of a finger from contact with a surface over the fingerprint sensor.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, responsive to sensing removal of a finger from contact, controlling the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor to a fourth color.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, subsequent to sensing removal of a finger from contact, determining that fingerprint authentication has been successful.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, responsive to determining successful authentication, controlling the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor to a fifth color.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, responsive to determining successful authentication, performing an operation.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the operation comprises one of unlocking the device and discontinuing the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer.
12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, subsequent to sensing removal of a finger from contact, determining that fingerprint authentication has been unsuccessful.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, responsive to determining that fingerprint authentication has been unsuccessful, controlling the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor to a sixth color.
14. A computing device comprising:
a biometric sensor;
a color-controlled layer positioned under the biometric sensor;
a processor adapted to:
control a current flow provided to the color-controlled layer such that the perceptible color of the biometric sensor is an initial color;
detect contact with the biometric sensor; and
control the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor from the initial color to a second color.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor in a computing device having a biometric sensor and a color-controlled layer positioned under the biometric sensor, cause the processor to:
control a current flow provided to the color-controlled layer such that the perceptible color of the biometric sensor is an initial color;
detect contact with the biometric sensor; and
control the current flow provided to the color-controlled layer to thereby change the perceptible color of the biometric sensor from the initial color to a second color.