Fingerprint Cards patent filing for moveable biometric sensing area on device display published in U.S.

A patent filed by Fingerprint Cards for an improved method of determining and controlling where a large-area fingerprint sensing field will be in an electronic device, possibly for capture with an acoustic sensor, has been published in the U.S.

The patent for a ‘Method of controlling an electronic device’ was originally filed in early-2018, and describes the use of a control unit, a display unit which defines a functional area, and a fingerprint sensor defining a second functional area. The two functional areas at least partly overlap, and on receiving a fingerprint image and authenticating the user, the control using redefining the sensing area.

This would allow the correct user of the device to essentially chose which portion of the display is defined as the fingerprint sensing area, making biometrics use convenient without the negative impact on responsiveness which could result from attempting to capture fingerprint image data from anywhere on the display.

The repositioning functionality the patent describes could also be used to redefine the sensing area, and also for the biometric sensing area to be hidden to people other than the correct user.

Possible embodiments include control of area redefining based on touch duration or the amount of pressure applied to the finger

While an ultrasonic sensor is referred to as a preferred embodiment, any other sensor type could be used. If an ultrasonic sensor is used, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers could be deployed to the vicinity of the second functional area. Only certain transducers could be used, based on the area’s position, to optimize energy consumption.

The method could be used in a mobile device, tablet or laptop.

Earlier in the month, a Fingerprint Cards’ U.S. patent filing for a low-cost ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system was published.

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biometrics  |  Fingerprint Cards  |  fingerprint sensors  |  patents  |  research and development  |  stocks  |  USPTO