Method for performing fingerprint sensing, electronic module with fingerprint sensing capability, and computing device

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for performing fingerprint sensing, an electronic module with the ability to perform fingerprint sensing, and a computing device, the method comprising performing a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles; notifying a processing unit that a fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a fingerprint sensing cycle set about the fingerprint sensing cycle, wherein the fingerprint sensing cycle set includes at least one fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle but does not include the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle; and providing the processing unit with the pre-scan fingerprint data obtained from each cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set.

Description

[0001] Related references

[0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 994,328, filed on March 25, 2020, and incorporates the entire contents of that patent application into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a technology for fingerprint sensing in a computing device, and more particularly to a method for performing fingerprint sensing, an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing, and a computing device. Background Art

[0004] Fingerprint sensing is becoming a standard feature of computing devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, and other information processing devices to meet emerging security enhancement needs in various applications, such as fingerprint recognition processing for unlocking computing devices.

[0005] However, the fingerprint recognition process performed by the computing device may cause the fingerprint image obtained from the fingerprint sensor to be degraded due to noise interference, so that the user may sometimes need to make multiple attempts to pass the fingerprint recognition, thereby reducing the efficiency of the fingerprint recognition process.

[0006] Therefore, it is desirable to perform fingerprint sensing in a more efficient and accurate manner. Summary of the Invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a fingerprint sensing technology for use in a computing device, wherein the technology is capable of performing fingerprint pre-scanning and providing pre-scanned fingerprint data to an application, such as fingerprint recognition, to improve the efficiency of the application.

[0008] To achieve at least the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides a method for performing fingerprint sensing. The method comprises the following steps: performing a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles; notifying a processing unit after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles related to the fingerprint sensing cycles that a fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data, wherein the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes at least one of the fingerprint sensing cycles but does not include the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycles; and providing the processing unit with pre-scan fingerprint data acquired from each cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0009] Optionally, after each cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set, after the notification is performed, the pre-scan fingerprint data is provided to the processing unit in response to a request from the processing unit.

[0010] Optionally, the method further includes obtaining fingerprint sensing data from each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle; and generating the pre-scan fingerprint data based on fingerprint sensing data obtained from at least the current fingerprint sensing cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles after the current (i.e., most recent) fingerprint sensing cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0011] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data is an average value of fingerprint sensing data acquired from a current fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set and fingerprint sensing data acquired from at least one previous fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set before the current fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0012] Optionally, the method further comprises the following steps: the processing unit is notified that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide final fingerprint data after the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle, and the final fingerprint data is provided to the processing unit in response to a request from the processing unit.

[0013] Optionally, the method further comprises the following steps: respectively acquiring fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle, and generating final fingerprint data by averaging the fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0014] Optionally, the method further comprises completing the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles regardless of whether the processing unit successfully pairs the consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles using the pre-scan fingerprint data.

[0015] Optionally, the method further comprises the following steps: obtaining a notification signal representing successful pairing from the processing unit, and ending a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles in response.

[0016] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing cycle set includes each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0017] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing cycle set does not include each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0018] Optionally, each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle includes multiple operations, and the operations include a reset operation, an exposure operation, and a sampling operation.

[0019] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes fingerprint image data.

[0020] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes information related to the fingerprint image.

[0021] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes a truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0022] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing period set includes two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

[0023] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes a non-truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0024] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing period set does not include two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

[0025] Optionally, the method further comprises, after executing one of the fingerprint sensing cycles, updating, by the fingerprint sensing driver, the contents of a memory using corresponding fingerprint sensing data acquired from the fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0026] Optionally, the method further comprises performing fingerprint recognition processing based on the pre-scan fingerprint data.

[0027] To achieve at least the above objectives, the present invention provides an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing. The electronic module includes a fingerprint sensing driver including a fingerprint sensing circuit for coupling to a fingerprint sensor and acquiring fingerprint sensing data; and a control unit coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit for performing a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles, wherein the control unit is configured to notify a processing unit that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles related to the fingerprint sensing cycle, wherein the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes at least one fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle but does not include the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle; and the control unit is configured to provide the processing unit with the pre-scan fingerprint data acquired from the set of fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0028] To achieve at least the above objectives, the present invention provides a computing device. The computing device includes a fingerprint sensor; a processing unit; and an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing, coupled between the fingerprint sensor and the processing unit. The electronic module includes a fingerprint sensing driver coupled to the fingerprint sensor for acquiring fingerprint sensing data, wherein the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to perform a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles, the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to notify the processing unit after each cycle in a fingerprint sensing cycle set about the fingerprint sensing cycle that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data, wherein the fingerprint sensing cycle set includes at least one fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle but does not include the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle; and the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to provide the processing unit with the pre-scan fingerprint data acquired from each cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set.

[0029] Optionally, the control unit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to provide the pre-scan fingerprint data to the processing unit in response to a request of the processing unit after each cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set and after performing the above notification.

[0030] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing circuit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to obtain fingerprint sensing data from each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle respectively; and the control unit is configured to generate pre-scan fingerprint data after the current fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set based on the fingerprint sensing data obtained in at least the current fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set.

[0031] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data is an average value of fingerprint sensing data acquired from a current fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set and fingerprint sensing data acquired from at least one previous fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set before the current fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0032] Optionally, the control unit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to notify the processing unit after the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide final fingerprint data; and provide the final fingerprint data to the processing unit in response to a request from the processing unit.

[0033] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing circuit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to respectively obtain fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle; and the control unit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to generate the final fingerprint data by averaging the fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0034] Optionally, the control unit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to complete a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles regardless of whether the processing unit is successfully paired using the pre-scan fingerprint data.

[0035] Optionally, the control unit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to receive a notification signal representing successful pairing from the processing unit, and end a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles in response.

[0036] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing cycle set does not include each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0037] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing cycle set does not include each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0038] Optionally, each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle includes multiple operations, and the operations include a reset operation, an exposure operation, and a sampling operation.

[0039] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes fingerprint image data.

[0040] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes information about the fingerprint image.

[0041] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes a truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0042] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing period set includes two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

[0043] Optionally, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes a non-truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0044] Optionally, the fingerprint sensing period set does not include two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

[0045] Optionally, the control unit or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to, after executing one of the fingerprint sensing cycles, update the contents of the memory by the fingerprint sensing driver using corresponding fingerprint sensing data acquired from the fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0046] Optionally, fingerprint recognition processing is performed based on the pre-scan fingerprint data, or the processing unit is configured to perform fingerprint recognition processing based on the pre-scan fingerprint data.

[0047] Optionally, the electronic module is a single chip.

[0048] To further understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, this description and the accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the conventional technology, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0050] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a computing device having a fingerprint sensing driver according to an embodiment;

[0051] Figure 2A is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing in a computing device according to one embodiment;

[0052] Figure 2B is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing in a computing device according to one embodiment;

[0053] Figure 2C is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing in a computing device according to another embodiment;

[0054] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of performing fingerprint sensing according to an embodiment;

[0055] Figure 4 is a schematic timing diagram illustrating an example of providing final fingerprint data to an application after a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles;

[0056] Figure 5is a schematic timing diagram illustrating an example of providing pre-scan fingerprint data to an application after at least one fingerprint sensing cycle, the cycle not being the last fingerprint sensing cycle;

[0057] Figure 6 is a schematic timing diagram illustrating an example of providing pre-scan fingerprint data to an application after at least one fingerprint sensing cycle, the cycle not being the last fingerprint sensing cycle;

[0058] Figure 7 is a schematic timing diagram illustrating an example of providing pre-scan fingerprint data to an application after at least one fingerprint sensing cycle, the cycle not being the last fingerprint sensing cycle;

[0059] Figure 8 It shows that based on Figure 3 A flowchart of a method for performing fingerprint sensing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 9 It shows that based on Figure 3 A flowchart of a method for performing fingerprint sensing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 10 It shows that based on Figure 3 A flowchart of a method for performing fingerprint sensing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 11 It shows that based on Figure 3 Flowchart of a method for performing fingerprint sensing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Reference numerals

[0064] 1 Computing device

[0065] 5 processing units

[0066] 9 Display Panel

[0067] 10 Electronic Modules

[0068] 11 Fingerprint sensor driver

[0069] 12 Touch sensing module

[0070] 19 Display driver module

[0071] 21 First Chip

[0072] 22 Second chip

[0073] 91 Display Module

[0074] 93 touch sensor

[0075] 95 fingerprint sensor

[0076] 110 Fingerprint sensing circuit

[0077] 112 control unit

[0078] 115 Memory

[0079] 120 touch sensing circuit

[0080] 122 control unit

[0081] 10A Electronic Module

[0082] 10B Electronic Module

[0083] 10C Electronic Module

[0084] 11A fingerprint sensor driver

[0085] 1A Computing Device

[0086] 1B Computing Device

[0087] 1C computing device

[0088] AF dotted downward arrow

[0089] B11 Block

[0090] B12 Block

[0091] B13 Block

[0092] B21 Block

[0093] B22 Block

[0094] B23 Block

[0095] B31 Block

[0096] BA1 Block

[0097] BA2 Block

[0098] BA3 Block

[0099] BA4 Block

[0100] BC Block Row

[0101] BC1 Block

[0102] BF Block

[0103] BR Block Row

[0104] cycle1 fingerprint sensing cycle

[0105] cycle2 fingerprint sensing cycle

[0106] cycle3 fingerprint sensing cycle

[0107] D-cycle1 Display cycle

[0108] D-cycle2 Display cycle

[0109] D-cycle3 Display cycle

[0110] F-cycle1 fingerprint cycle

[0111] F-cycle2 fingerprint cycle

[0112] F-cycle3 fingerprint cycle

[0113] FSA fingerprint sensing area

[0114] R-block

[0115] S Block

[0116] EXP Block

[0117] Steps S10 to S50

[0118] Steps S110 to S120

[0119] Steps S210 to S220

[0120] Steps S310 to S320 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0121] In order to facilitate understanding of the purpose, features and effects of the present invention, the embodiments together with the drawings are provided for explaining the contents of the present invention in detail.

[0122] Various embodiments of fingerprint sensing technology for use in computing devices are provided below. The technology can perform fingerprint pre-scanning and provide pre-scanned fingerprint data to applications, such as fingerprint recognition, to improve the efficiency of the applications.

[0123] For ease of description, the following first introduces an embodiment of an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing and a computing device (or device) using the electronic module, and then provides an embodiment of a method for performing fingerprint sensing.

[0124] refer to Figure 1 As shown, an electronic module 10 capable of performing fingerprint sensing is shown, which can be used in a computing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a block diagram. Figure 1As shown, the computing device 1 includes a processing unit 5, an electronic module 10 including a fingerprint sensing driver 11, and a fingerprint sensor 95. The electronic module 10 can be used to couple between the fingerprint sensor 95 and the processing unit 5 to perform fingerprint sensing. As will be explained later, the electronic module 10 can be configured to perform Figure 3 The method of performing fingerprint sensing is shown.

[0125] based on Figure 1 The structure of the computing device 1 shown can be implemented in any electronic device, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, or any other information processing device, wherein the computing device 1 may further include but is not limited to additional components, such as memory, circuits for wireless or wired communication, image capture, etc., as long as they are appropriate.

[0126] The processing unit 5 can be configured to receive fingerprint data from the electronic module 10 to provide specific functions. For example, the processing unit 5 executes a fingerprint recognition-based application under the operating system to obtain fingerprint image data derived from the signal of the fingerprint sensor 95 through the electronic module 10. The computing device 1 (e.g., a smartphone, tablet computer, etc.) can be configured to execute one of the operations of the application (e.g., a user operation or user function in a game), which is associated with the fingerprint image data generated by the electronic module 10.

[0127] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment, the electronic module 10 includes a fingerprint sensing driver 11, which can be used to couple to the fingerprint sensor 95 and obtain fingerprint sensing data from the signal of the fingerprint sensor 95. For example, the fingerprint sensor 95 is implemented to include a plurality of fingerprint sensing elements (or pixels) arranged on a fingerprint sensing area (FSA). Figure 1 As shown, the fingerprint sensing driver 11 is implemented to convert the fingerprint signal received from the fingerprint sensor 95 into corresponding digital fingerprint data, such as a set of raw fingerprint data associated with and distributed over the fingerprint sensing area FSA. For example, the fingerprint data can be further collected based on the digital fingerprint data, for example, acquired by the fingerprint sensing driver 11. Furthermore, the fingerprint sensing area FSA can be implemented corresponding to at least a portion of the display panel screen where a finger can be placed, or can be implemented corresponding to any surface on the computing device 1. For example, the electronic module 10 can be implemented as a chip.

[0128] like Figure 1As shown in FIG, the fingerprint sensing driver 11 may include a fingerprint sensing circuit 110 and a control unit 112 for fingerprint sensing. For example, the fingerprint sensing circuit 110 may include a fingerprint analog front-end (AFE) circuit configured to convert a fingerprint signal received by the fingerprint sensor 95 into corresponding digital fingerprint data, such as a set of raw fingerprint data associated with and distributed over a fingerprint sensing area FSA where a fingerprint (or a portion of a fingerprint) is detected. The fingerprint sensing data may be further acquired based on digital fingerprint data, for example, by the control unit 112.

[0129] The control unit 112 is coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit 110 and can be used for fingerprint sensing, for example, to generate fingerprint sensing data based on the digital fingerprint data.

[0130] Please refer to Figure 2A , shows another embodiment of an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing, which can be used in a computing device 1A. Figure 2A As shown in Figure 1 An embodiment of the electronic module 10 in FIG. 1 , the electronic module 10A, includes a fingerprint sensing driver 11A and a touch sensing module 12 . The electronic module 10A can be coupled between the touch sensor 93 , the fingerprint sensor 95 and the processing unit 5 .

[0131] The fingerprint sensing driver 11A may include a Figure 1 Those fingerprint sensing circuits 110 and the control unit 112 for fingerprint sensing.

[0132] The display panel 9 includes a display module 91, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) module, or an LED-based display module (such as a mini-LED display or micro-LED display), and is associated with the touch sensor 93 and the fingerprint sensor 95. For example, the display panel 9 can be implemented as an in-cell or on-cell touch panel with integrated fingerprint sensing, wherein the display module 91, the touch sensor 93, and the fingerprint sensor 95 are integrated in a layered manner or any other suitable manner. The touch sensor 93 can be implemented using a capacitive touch sensor 93 in the form of a touch sensing array. The fingerprint sensor 95 can be implemented, for example, as an optical fingerprint sensor, a capacitive fingerprint sensor, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, or any other device for sensing fingerprint signals. In some embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 95 is implemented to detect at least a portion of the screen of the display module 91. In a preferred embodiment, the fingerprint sensor 95 is a full-screen fingerprint sensor 95, which can cover the screen of the display module 91 and the touch sensing area provided by the touch sensor 93. Of course, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not limited to the above examples.

[0133] An electronic module 10A capable of performing fingerprint sensing can be coupled to a touch sensor 93 and a fingerprint sensor 95 associated with the display panel 9. In one embodiment, the touch sensing module 12 can include a touch sensing circuit 120 and a control unit 122. From the perspective of the processing unit 5, the electronic module 10A can serve as a bridge between the processing unit 5 and the display panel 9. The processing unit 5 can be configured to control the electronic module 10A to obtain and output touch data and / or fingerprint data accordingly.

[0134] The touch sensing circuit 120 can be coupled to the touch sensor 93 and acquire touch sensing data. For example, the touch sensing circuit 120 can include a touch analog front-end (AFE) circuit to convert touch signals received from the touch sensor 93 into corresponding digital touch data, such as a set of raw touch data associated with and distributed over at least one touch-detected area on the screen of the display panel 9. The touch sensing data can be further acquired based on the digital touch data, for example, by the control unit 122.

[0135] For example, the control unit 122 is coupled to the touch sensing circuit 120 and the fingerprint sensing driver 11. In one example, the control unit 122 collects the fingerprint sensing data based on the digital touch data output by the touch sensing circuit 120.

[0136] In the above examples, the fingerprint sensing circuit 110 or the touch sensing circuit 120 may each include an analog front-end circuit implemented using circuit components such as a low-noise amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter. In the above examples, the control unit 112 or 122 is implemented using a processor, a microcontroller, or a programmable circuit such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In one example, the control units 112 and 122 are implemented using a single control unit. Of course, the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the above examples.

[0137] In one embodiment, as in Figure 1 The electronic modules shown in FIG. 2A (eg, 10 or 10A) are implemented in a single chip, thereby resulting in many benefits of circuit integration for the computing device 1. Figure 2B , which shows that based on Figure 1 or 2A electronic module (for example, 10 or 10A) configured in a single chip embodiment. Figure 2B As shown in FIG, the electronic module 10B is implemented in a single chip and is used in a computing device 1B, and includes a fingerprint sensing driver 11 (or 11A) and a touch sensing module 12. The electronic module 10B may also include a display driver module 19 for connecting to the display module 91.

[0138] It should be noted that, in some embodiments, according to design requirements, the electronic module 10 is implemented using multiple chips. Figure 1 The electronic module 10 or 10A shown in FIG2A is implemented with a single chip. For example, in some embodiments, the touch sensing module and the fingerprint sensing driver are implemented as different chips. Figure 2C In one embodiment shown, the electronic module 10C (e.g., according to Figure 1 2A) is employed in a computing device 1C and includes a first chip 21 and a second chip 22. The first chip 21 includes a fingerprint sensor driver 11, while the second chip 22 includes a touch sensor module 12. The first chip 1 may further include a display driver module 19 for connecting to the display module 91 to drive the display module 91. Of course, the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the above examples.

[0139] An embodiment of a method for performing fingerprint sensing will be shown below.

[0140] Please refer to Figure 3 According to an embodiment of a method for performing fingerprint sensing shown in the form of a flow chart, the method for performing fingerprint sensing can be implemented in an electronic module (e.g., 10, 10A, 10B, or 10C) or a specific fingerprint sensing driver (e.g., 11), which is coupled between the fingerprint sensor 95 and the processing unit 5. Figure 3 As shown in , the method comprises the following steps, wherein Figure 1 (or Figure 2A )'s electronic module 10 (or 10A) is referenced for illustration purposes only.

[0141] As shown in step S10, a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles are performed. Each fingerprint sensing cycle is associated with a series of identical or different fingerprint sensing operations. For example, the series of operations may include at least one of a reset operation, an exposure operation, and a sampling operation for reading the sensing signal provided by the fingerprint sensor.

[0142] As shown in step S20, the method notifies a processing unit (eg, Figure 1 、 2A -2C), a fingerprint sensing driver (e.g., 11 or 11A) is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data, wherein the fingerprint sensing cycle set includes at least one fingerprint sensing cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles but does not include the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles. In step S20, the fingerprint sensing cycle set represents that the processing unit can be notified after each cycle of one or more fingerprint sensing cycles except the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles. In one example, if the fingerprint sensing cycle set only includes a certain fingerprint sensing cycle, "each cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set" represents the fingerprint sensing cycle. Step S20 is performed, for example, by the fingerprint sensing driver 11 or 11A (e.g., the control unit 112).

[0143] As shown in step S30, the method provides the pre-scan fingerprint data acquired from each period of the fingerprint sensing period set to the processing unit. For example, step S30 is performed by the fingerprint sensing driver 11 or 11A (e.g., the control unit 112). The processing unit can execute an application based on fingerprint recognition.

[0144] The pre-scan fingerprint data may include at least one of fingerprint image information and measured brightness information about the image frame. In some embodiments, the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle. This means that the pre-scan fingerprint data is provided to the processing unit after each non-last fingerprint sensing cycle. In these embodiments, the provided pre-scan fingerprint data may include any data acquired or available after the most recent (i.e., current) fingerprint sensing cycle. As an example, the provided pre-scan fingerprint data may include fingerprint data acquired from the most recent fingerprint sensing cycle. As another example, the provided pre-scan fingerprint data may include fingerprint data calculated based on all previous fingerprint sensing cycles. In other embodiments, the set of fingerprint sensing cycles does not include each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle. This means that the pre-scan fingerprint data is provided to the processing unit only after each cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles, wherein the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes a portion of a non-last fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0145] It should be noted that, after step S30, the steps associated with the last fingerprint sensing cycle may still be performed. More specifically, the method may notify the processing unit that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide fingerprint data after the last fingerprint sensing cycle, and may then provide the processing unit with fingerprint data acquired from at least one of a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles, such as an average of image data from all consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles. In various embodiments, the steps associated with the last fingerprint sensing cycle may be performed as default steps, regardless of whether the processing unit successfully paired the device using the pre-scan fingerprint data, upon completion of the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles. Furthermore, the steps associated with the last fingerprint sensing cycle may be performed as optional steps required when a predetermined condition is met, such as when fingerprint recognition cannot be performed based solely on the pre-scan fingerprint data.

[0146] Therefore, the pre-scan fingerprint data acquired by executing the fingerprint sensing cycle set before the last fingerprint sensing cycle can be provided to the processing unit in advance, without having to wait until all fingerprint sensing cycles are completed before providing the fingerprint data to the processing unit.

[0147] Based on the method, the electronic module of the above example (e.g., 10, 10A, 10B or 10C) can be configured to perform fingerprint sensing so as to improve the effectiveness or efficiency of actual applications, such as fingerprint recognition-based applications, based on the pre-scanned fingerprint data provided by the method.

[0148] Shown below Figure 3 How to effectively improve the efficiency of the application.

[0149] In order to reduce the noise interference to fingerprint sensing, a practical approach to fingerprint sensing can be implemented as follows. Figure 3 As shown in step S10, the electronic module (e.g., 10 or 10A) can be configured to perform a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles. Each fingerprint sensing cycle is associated with a series of circuit operations for fingerprint sensing (such as resetting, exposure, and sampling of the optical fingerprint sensor) and results in a fingerprint sensing data in the fingerprint sensing cycle. Finally, data operations (e.g., averaging) can be performed based on all fingerprint sensing data acquired in the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles to generate final fingerprint data. In this pragmatic approach, the electronic module can provide the final fingerprint data to the processing unit only after completing the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0150] In other words, if it is necessary to reduce noise interference with fingerprint sensing by adopting the above-mentioned method of performing multiple fingerprint sensing cycles, the processing unit must wait until a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles are completed to obtain the final fingerprint data (e.g., a fingerprint image). The waiting time is approximately equal to the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles multiplied by the total time required to complete the fingerprint sensing cycle, which is associated with a series of circuit operations for fingerprint sensing (such as resetting, exposure, and sampling for the optical fingerprint sensor).

[0151] As mentioned above, in the above pragmatic approach, the electronic module can only provide the final fingerprint data to the processing unit after completing the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles. The efficiency of the processing unit in executing the application may be affected by the waiting time. Compared with the above pragmatic approach, as shown in step S20, Figure 3 The method notifies the processing unit after each cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles excluding the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle (for example, after Figure 1 、 2A-2C), the fingerprint sensing driver (e.g., 11 or 11A) is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data; then, as shown in step S30, the method provides the pre-scan fingerprint data obtained from each cycle of the set of fingerprint sensing cycles to the processing unit. In this way, the processing unit that executes an application based on fingerprint recognition can be configured to process the pre-scan fingerprint data in advance before the final fingerprint data is available, so as to perform fingerprint recognition and processing of the application in advance. Therefore, the method can contribute to the effectiveness or efficiency of practical applications, such as fingerprint recognition-based applications based on the pre-scan fingerprint data provided by the method.

[0152] For ease of explanation, refer to Figure 4 , an example of providing final fingerprint data to an application after a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles is shown in a schematic timing diagram. Figure 4 As shown in FIG, the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles (or scanning cycles) is four cycles, such as Figure 4 The cycle sequence is represented by the block rows (or block rows BC) from left to right with the symbols "Cycle1" to "Cycle4". Figure 4 The data output of the final fingerprint data (e.g., the final average image) represented by the block BF is for the application to read the final fingerprint data after the fourth cycle (e.g., Cycle 4) is completed, and then the application (which may execute corresponding algorithms or processing) performs subsequent operations such as comparison for fingerprint identification. Figure 4 As shown in FIG, block BA1 indicates that the application continues to process after the final fingerprint data is output, as indicated by block BF.

[0153] To illustrate the operation corresponding to a fingerprint sensor (e.g., fingerprint sensor 95), the fingerprint sensor may include multiple fingerprint sensing components in the fingerprint sensing cycle. Figure 4 , one or more block rows BR containing blocks R, EXP, and S are shown under the block row BC representing the fingerprint sensing cycle, wherein a block R represents a reset cycle, a block EXP represents an exposure cycle, and a subsequent block S represents a time period for sampling. Each block row BR containing blocks R, EXP, and S indicates that during the reset, exposure, and sampling periods, the corresponding fingerprint sensing component group (e.g., a row) of the fingerprint sensor can be reset, exposed, and sampled (but not limited to). In addition, the downward dotted arrow (e.g., represented by AF) connected to the end of the first block row BR indicates that the fingerprint sensing cycle (e.g., the last cycle) of the corresponding group of fingerprint sensing components has been completed. It should also be noted that in Figure 4In the figures or other figures, downward dashed arrows (e.g., AF or others) are shown for conceptual illustration. Figure 4 In FIG, a downward dashed arrow AF is shown to indicate that the fourth fingerprint sensing cycle (e.g., the last cycle in this example) for the fingerprint sensor has been completed. However, if it is necessary to perform reset, exposure, and sampling operations on all fingerprint sensing components of the fingerprint sensor in a row-by-row manner, the actual completion time of the fourth fingerprint sensing cycle will be the time it takes to complete the reset, exposure, and sampling operations on all rows of fingerprint sensing components. For example, if the fingerprint sensor has 5 rows of fingerprint sensing components, then Figure 4 As shown, the actual completion time will be the time it takes for 5 rows of BR to complete. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above example.

[0154] Based on Figure 3 In an example of the method, reference Figure 5 After capturing data in each fingerprint sensing cycle (e.g., represented by Cycle1, Cycle2, and Cycle3) in the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles, the method can provide the application with pre-scan fingerprint data corresponding to the current (i.e., most recent) fingerprint sensing cycle, which can be referred to as pre-scan processing, and can also provide final fingerprint data (e.g., fingerprint image average after the fingerprint sensing cycle is completed). Figure 5 In FIG, blocks B11, B12, and B13 respectively represent the corresponding time periods for preparing the corresponding pre-scan fingerprint data and outputting it to the processing unit after the first, second, and third fingerprint sensing cycles, while block BA2 represents continuing the application processing (e.g., through step S30) after performing the data output of the pre-scan fingerprint data. When the last (e.g., fourth) fingerprint sensing cycle is completed, the final fingerprint data is prepared and output to the processing unit, as represented by block BF. Figure 4 Compared to the final fingerprint data that can only be provided after the last cycle, Figure 5 Based on the shown Figure 3 An example of a method can provide pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles, so that a fingerprint recognition-based application can be configured to process the pre-scan fingerprint data in advance before the final fingerprint data is available. In this manner, fingerprint recognition and processing by the application can be completed in advance. Therefore, the method can help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of fingerprint recognition-based applications based on the pre-scan fingerprint data provided by the method.

[0155] Figure 3The method can be implemented in various embodiments of the electronic module (e.g., 10, 10A, 10B, or 10C). In some embodiments of the electronic module, the electronic module is an integration of a display driver, a touch sensing driver, and a fingerprint sensing driver. The electronic module can be implemented as a single chip, which can be called a fingerprint, touch, display integrated circuit (FTDI). Compared to Figure 5 As shown in the , in the single chip, the operation cycle includes cycles of different functional parts, such as the display cycle for the display driver and the fingerprint cycle (or fingerprint sensing cycle) for the fingerprint sensing driver. The single chip can be configured to provide computing and / or hardware resources for the functional part when the display cycle or the fingerprint cycle is executed or enabled. The following is provided based on the implementation on the single chip Figure 3 Embodiment of the method.

[0156] In one embodiment, Figure 6 As shown in the figure, a single chip such as FTDI (e.g. Figure 2B In this embodiment, the single chip has two operating cycles, a display cycle and a touch cycle, which are executed (or enabled) alternately, such as Figure 6 In the FTDI application, the fingerprint sensing operation cycle is the fingerprint cycle (for example, represented by blocks F-cycle1, F-cycle2 to F-cycle5). In this embodiment, based on Figure 3 The method is implemented in the single chip, so after the fingerprint cycle F-cycle1, the fingerprint data is prepared for pre-scanning in the fingerprint cycle F-cycle2 and output to the application (which can execute the corresponding algorithm) for fingerprint recognition, such as preparation for processing fingerprint comparison. Figure 6 Block B21 (or B22, B23) in FIG. 1 represents a period of time during which pre-scan fingerprint data is prepared and output after a fingerprint sensing cycle. Figure 6 In FIG, block BA3 indicates that the application program processing is continued in advance after the fingerprint cycle F-cycle2 is completed. Figure 6 In the embodiment, the display cycle is represented by D-cycle1, D-cycle2, etc., and the display cycle (D-cycle) and the fingerprint cycle (F-cycle) appear alternately. In a single chip such as FTDI, during the progress of the internal timing of the signal chip, the display and fingerprint related tasks are processed in different time cycles; for example, an interface of the single chip (for example, for outputting data to the processing unit) is allocated to utilize the display or fingerprint related data of different time cycles. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example. When the method is used in a process such as Figure 6When the embodiment or other embodiments related to providing pre-scan fingerprint data in advance are implemented, regardless of the above examples related to the display period, it can be based on Figure 3 Implementation or configuration of the method in.

[0157] Compared with the one that can only provide the final fingerprint data Figure 4 In comparison, Figure 6 Shown based on Figure 3 Embodiments of the method can provide pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles, so that a processing unit executing a fingerprint recognition-based application can be configured to process the pre-scan fingerprint data in advance before the final fingerprint data is available. Thus, the method improves the performance or efficiency of the fingerprint recognition-based application.

[0158] Based on Figure 3 In some embodiments of the method, the pre-scanned fingerprint data may include a truncated fingerprint image, thereby facilitating the implementation of fingerprint sensing, especially fingerprint sensing corresponding to large-sized display screens. Figure 6 The single-chip implementation of the display cycle and fingerprint cycle shown here focuses on the duration of each fingerprint cycle. Taking a 60Hz display frequency as an example, the duration of each cycle is 16.6ms, and the transmission time of the fingerprint sensing image data output is roughly equal to:

[0159] Interface_transfer_period_time*Panel_X_size*Panel_Y_size*BPP, where interface_transfer_period_time represents the time period of interface transfer, panel_X_size and panel_Y_size represent the size of the panel (e.g., 2340×1080), and BPP represents the number of bits per fingerprint sensing pixel.

[0160] Accordingly, in the actual application of fingerprint recognition on a large-size screen, the increase in X and Y dimensions (for example, Panel_X_size, Panel_Y_size) inevitably causes an extension of the transmission time, thereby affecting the working interval of the next fingerprint cycle; for example, the transmission time is greater than 16.6ms*2, that is, 33.2ms. In this case, in order to facilitate the provision of pre-scan processing of pre-scan fingerprint data, the number of transmission bits for each pixel can be processed. In one example, assuming that the original number of bits per pixel transmitted is 12 bits, in large-size screen applications, in order to enable the pre-scan fingerprint data to be transmitted within an appropriate transmission time without affecting the next fingerprint scanning cycle, and to make the pre-scan processing feasible, the pre-scan fingerprint data is implemented to include truncated fingerprint data, such as truncated fingerprint images or truncated fingerprint pixel information, and the number of bits per pixel is reduced, such as 8 bits, 10 bits or other suitable bits. Therefore, in this example, based on Figure 3 The method facilitates providing pre-scanned fingerprint data containing truncated fingerprint information (e.g., the time period represented by blocks B21, B22, and B23), and configuring a processing unit to pre-process the pre-scanned fingerprint data, thereby improving the efficiency of an application executed by the processing unit. Further, in the above example, the final fingerprint data is implemented in its original number of bits (e.g., 12 bits) or a reduced number of bits (e.g., 8 or 10 bits).

[0161] Based on Figure 3 In another embodiment of the method, the pre-scan fingerprint data is implemented to contain pixel image data in the original number of bits per pixel (e.g., 12 bits) without truncating, and can be transmitted to the processing unit, which executes the application of the corresponding processing algorithm based on fingerprint recognition. Figure 7 As shown in FIG, as indicated by block B31, the transmission time of the pre-scan fingerprint data represented by the original number of bits (e.g., 12 bits) will be greater (or longer) than that in FIG. Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 1 , each pixel represented by a block B21 reduces the transmission time of the pre-scan fingerprint data by the number of data bits (eg, 8 or 10 bits of data). Figure 7 As shown, the transmission time of pre-scan fingerprint data is long, which may affect the next fingerprint cycle (for example, Figure 7 The time occupied by the interface transmission (represented by F-cycle3) leads to a conflict in the control right of the transmission interface. Figure 7As shown, for example, the transmission time of the pre-scan fingerprint data of the fingerprint sensing cycle F-cycle1 is greater than 33.2ms, which affects the reading of the image data of the fingerprint sensing cycle F-cycle2. Accordingly, in this example, in order to avoid conflicts between the fingerprint sensing cycles F-cycle3 and F-cycle4, the pre-scan fingerprint data of the fingerprint sensing cycle F-cycle1 (for example, 12-bit pre-scan fingerprint image data) will be output to the processing unit executing the application for processing, and in order to avoid interface conflicts, the pre-scan fingerprint data will not be provided for the fingerprint sensing cycles F-cycle2 and F-cycle3. Finally, as shown in Figure 7 In FIG, the block BF is used to provide the final fingerprint data (eg, the final average image) to the application (which can execute the corresponding algorithm). Figure 7 In FIG. 4 , block BA4 indicates that the processing of the application program is continued in advance after the fingerprint cycle F-cycle2 is completed.

[0162] The various embodiments disclosed above can help improve the performance or efficiency of fingerprint recognition-based applications. Figure 3 The method can provide pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles, so that a processing unit executing an application based on fingerprint recognition can be configured to process the pre-scan fingerprint data in advance before the final fingerprint data is available, for example, to confirm whether a match occurs in the fingerprint comparison. If the application confirms that the match occurs (for example, a match occurs when the pre-scan fingerprint data matches a registered fingerprint stored in a database or memory), the time for the application to unlock the computing device can be completed in advance. Accordingly, the method can promote the effectiveness and efficiency of applications based on fingerprint recognition and a better user experience.

[0163] The following is based on Figure 3 Implementation of various embodiments of the method. Figure 1 、 2A As shown in any of Figures 2-2C, these embodiments can be implemented by an electronic module (or fingerprint sensing driver) or a computing device.

[0164] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 In step S30 of the method, as Figure 3 As shown in step S20, after each cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set, in response to the request of the processing unit, the pre-scan fingerprint data is provided to the processing unit (for example, Figure 1 、 2A-2C). For example, the electronic module (e.g., 10, 10A, 10B, or 10C) or the fingerprint sensing driver (e.g., 11 or 11A) is configured to send an indication signal for notifying the processing unit that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data after at least one of the fingerprint sensing cycles, and the processing unit may be configured to send a request to obtain the pre-scan fingerprint data in response to the indication signal.

[0165] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 The method further comprises Figure 8 The following steps are shown. As shown in step S110, fingerprint sensing data is obtained from each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle. As shown in step S120, the pre-scan fingerprint data is generated after the current fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set based on the fingerprint sensing data obtained in at least the current fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set. As an example of step S110, the fingerprint sensing driver 11 or 11A (or the fingerprint sensing circuit 110) is configured to obtain the fingerprint sensing data of each fingerprint sensing cycle by reading the signal from the fingerprint sensor 95. As an example of step S120, the fingerprint sensing driver 11 or 11A (or the fingerprint sensing circuit 10) is configured to generate the pre-scan fingerprint data.

[0166] In one embodiment, as in step S30 or S120, the pre-scan fingerprint data is an average value of fingerprint sensing data acquired in a current fingerprint sensing cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles and fingerprint sensing data acquired in at least one previous fingerprint sensing data in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles before the current fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0167] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 The method further comprises Figure 9 As shown in step S40, the processing unit (e.g., Figure 1 、 2A After any one of the processing units 5 in FIG. 2C is notified that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide final fingerprint data after the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle, the fingerprint sensing driver (e.g., 11 or 11A) provides the final fingerprint data to the processing unit in response to a request from the processing unit, as shown in step S50.

[0168] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 The method further comprises Figure 10As shown in step S210, the fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle is obtained. As shown in step S220, the fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle is averaged to generate the final fingerprint data. As an example, the control unit 112 may obtain the fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle and store them in the following manner: Figure 1 The final fingerprint data can be generated accordingly.

[0169] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 The method further includes completing the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles regardless of whether the processing unit is successfully paired using the pre-scan fingerprint data.

[0170] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 The method further comprises Figure 11 As shown in step S310, a notification signal representing a successful pairing is received from the processing unit. As shown in step S320, the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles is ended in response. For example, the electronic module or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to receive the notification signal and end (or interrupt) the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles if the electronic module or the fingerprint sensing driver confirms that the notification signal indicates that the application is successfully paired. For example, as Figure 5 、 6 As shown in FIG7 , if the processing unit achieves fingerprint identification pairing with the pre-scan fingerprint data after the fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle, the processing unit may send a notification signal to end the remaining fingerprint sensing cycles. In this manner, hardware and / or computing resources of the electronic module or the fingerprint sensing driver may be saved, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0171] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 In step S20 of the method, the fingerprint sensing cycle set includes each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle. Figure 5 As shown in FIG6 , the electronic module or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to provide the pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles, wherein the provided pre-scan fingerprint data are represented by blocks B11, B12, and B13, respectively; or represented by blocks B21, B22, and B23.

[0172] In some embodiments, based on Figure 3 In step S20 of the method, the fingerprint sensing cycle set does not include each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle. For example, the electronic module or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to provide the pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set, and the fingerprint sensing cycle set may be one, two or some cycles, but does not include each cycle before the last cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle. For example, please refer to Figure 7 , after the fingerprint sensing cycle F-cycle1, only one pre-scan fingerprint data is provided, as represented by block B31. In another example, Figure 5 Or the number of times the pre-scan fingerprint data is provided as shown in 6 is reduced.

[0173] Based on Figure 3 In one embodiment of the method, each fingerprint sensing cycle includes a plurality of operations, including a reset operation, an exposure operation, and a sampling operation, for example, as in Figure 5 、 6 or as shown in 7.

[0174] Based on Figure 3 In one embodiment of the method, the pre-scanned fingerprint data includes fingerprint image data. For example, the fingerprint image data is generated by using signals acquired from multiple fingerprint sensing components (or pixels) in a row-by-row manner. For example, in an actual application of fingerprint sensing on a large-size screen or a full-screen screen, the fingerprint image data is generated by using a fingerprint sensor driver (e.g., Figure 2A 、 2B The fingerprint sensing driver (e.g., 11 or 11A) may be configured to receive the representative touch position from the touch sensing driver 12 and read the signal from the portion associated with the representative touch position. In this manner, the contribution of the representative touch position allows for efficient and effective utilization of the computing and / or hardware resources of the fingerprint sensing driver or electronic module.

[0175] Based on Figure 3 In one embodiment of the method, the pre-scan fingerprint data includes information about the fingerprint image, such as information about the fingerprint image (eg, its size), an average value of brightness of an area where the fingerprint image occurs.

[0176] In one embodiment, as in Figure 6 As shown in , the pre-scan fingerprint data includes a truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0177] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 In step S20 of the method, the fingerprint sensing period set includes two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

[0178] In one embodiment, as in Figure 7 As shown in , the pre-scan fingerprint data includes a non-truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

[0179] In one embodiment, the fingerprint sensing cycle set in the fingerprint sensing cycle does not include two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing cycles.

[0180] In one embodiment, based on Figure 3 The method further includes, after executing one of the fingerprint sensing cycles, updating the contents of a memory by the fingerprint sensing driver using the corresponding fingerprint sensing data obtained from the fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle. For example, the memory is a memory embedded in the fingerprint sensing driver (for example, in Figure 1 The electronic module or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to store the fingerprint sensing data in the memory after one of the fingerprint sensing cycles is executed. In one example, the electronic module or the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to update the contents of the memory based on the calculation result of the previous fingerprint sensing data and the current fingerprint sensing data. In one example, after the memory is updated, the previous fingerprint sensing data is overwritten by the calculation result. Of course, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above examples.

[0181] In some embodiments, based on Figure 3 The method further includes performing fingerprint recognition processing based on the pre-scan fingerprint data. For example, the method in this embodiment is implemented in a computing device (eg, computing device 1, 1A, 1B, or 1C) and can be considered a method of the computing device.

[0182] In some embodiments, the electronic module is a single chip.

[0183] As shown in the above embodiments, a method for performing fingerprint sensing, an electronic module for performing fingerprint sensing, and a computing device for performing fingerprint sensing are provided. The method provides pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles, wherein the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes at least one fingerprint sensing cycle in a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles but does not include the last fingerprint sensing cycle. This allows a processing unit executing an application based on fingerprint recognition to be configured to process the pre-scan fingerprint data in advance before final fingerprint data is available, thereby improving the efficiency of the application.

[0184] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, many modifications and variations can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as described in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for performing fingerprint sensing, characterized in that, The method comprises: performing a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles; notifying a processing unit after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles about the fingerprint sensing cycle that a fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data, wherein the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes at least one of the fingerprint sensing cycles but does not include a last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycles; and The pre-scan fingerprint data acquired from each cycle of the set of fingerprint sensing cycles is provided to the processing unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After each cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set, after the notification is performed, the pre-scan fingerprint data is provided to the processing unit in response to a request from the processing unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Further including: Acquire fingerprint sensing data from each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle; as well as The pre-scan fingerprint data is generated based on fingerprint sensing data acquired from at least the current fingerprint sensing cycle of the set of fingerprint sensing cycles after the current fingerprint sensing cycle of the set of fingerprint sensing cycles.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The pre-scan fingerprint data is an average value of fingerprint sensing data acquired from a current fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set and fingerprint sensing data acquired from at least one previous fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set before the current fingerprint sensing cycle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein Further including: After the last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle, notifying the processing unit that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide final fingerprint data; as well as In response to a request from the processing unit, the final fingerprint data is provided to the processing unit.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that Further including: acquiring fingerprint sensing data respectively associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycles; as well as The final fingerprint data is generated by averaging the fingerprint sensing data associated with each of the fingerprint sensing cycles.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Further including: The predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles are completed regardless of whether the processing unit successfully pairs the consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles using the pre-scan fingerprint data.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Further including: A notification signal indicating successful pairing is received from the processing unit, and the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles is ended in response.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing cycle set includes each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing cycle set does not include each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein Each of the fingerprint sensing cycles includes a plurality of operations, wherein the operations include a reset operation, an exposure operation, and a sampling operation.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The pre-scanned fingerprint data includes fingerprint image data.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein The pre-scan fingerprint data includes information related to the fingerprint image.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein The pre-scan fingerprint data includes a truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing period set includes two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein The pre-scan fingerprint data includes a non-truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing period set does not include two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein The method further includes updating, by the fingerprint sensing driver, content of a memory using corresponding fingerprint sensing data acquired from the fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle after executing the fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein Further comprising performing fingerprint recognition processing based on the pre-scan fingerprint data.

20. An electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing, characterized in that: The electronic module comprises: Fingerprint sensor driver, including: A fingerprint sensing circuit, configured to couple to a fingerprint sensor and obtain fingerprint sensing data; and a control unit, coupled to the fingerprint sensing circuit, configured to execute a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles, wherein the control unit is configured to notify the processing unit that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles about the fingerprint sensing cycle, wherein the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes at least one fingerprint sensing cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles but does not include the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles; and the control unit is configured to provide the processing unit with the pre-scan fingerprint data acquired from each cycle in the set of fingerprint sensing cycles.

21. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The control unit is configured to provide the pre-scan fingerprint data to the processing unit in response to a request from the processing unit after executing the notification after each cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set.

22. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that wherein the fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to obtain fingerprint sensing data from each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle; The control unit is configured to generate the pre-scan fingerprint data after a current fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set based on fingerprint sensing data acquired from at least one current fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycle set.

23. The electronic module according to claim 22, characterized in that The pre-scan fingerprint data is an average value of fingerprint sensing data acquired from a current fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set and fingerprint sensing data acquired from at least one previous fingerprint sensing cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle set before the current fingerprint sensing cycle.

24. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that wherein the control unit is configured to notify the processing unit after a last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide final fingerprint data; and providing the final fingerprint data to the processing unit in response to a request from the processing unit.

25. The electronic module according to claim 24, characterized in that wherein the fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to obtain fingerprint sensing data respectively associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycles; And the control unit is configured to generate the final fingerprint data by using the fingerprint sensing data associated with each fingerprint sensing cycle in the fingerprint sensing cycles.

26. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The control unit is configured to complete the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles regardless of whether the processing unit is successfully paired using the pre-scan fingerprint data.

27. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The control unit is configured to receive a notification signal indicating successful pairing from the processing unit, and terminate the predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles in response.

28. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing cycle set includes each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles.

29. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing cycle set does not include each fingerprint sensing cycle before the last cycle of the fingerprint sensing cycle.

30. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that Each of the fingerprint sensing cycles includes a plurality of operations, wherein the operations include a reset operation, an exposure operation, and a sampling operation.

31. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The pre-scanned fingerprint data includes fingerprint image data.

32. The electronic module according to claim 20, wherein: The pre-scan fingerprint data includes information related to the fingerprint image.

33. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The pre-scan fingerprint data includes a truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

34. The electronic module according to claim 33, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing period set includes two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

35. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The pre-scan fingerprint data includes a non-truncated fingerprint image acquired through the fingerprint sensing cycle.

36. The electronic module according to claim 35, characterized in that The fingerprint sensing period set does not include two or more adjacent fingerprint sensing periods.

37. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The control unit is configured to, after executing one of the fingerprint sensing cycles, update content of a memory using corresponding fingerprint sensing data acquired from one of the fingerprint sensing cycles through the fingerprint sensing driver.

38. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that Wherein fingerprint recognition processing is performed based on the pre-scan fingerprint data.

39. The electronic module according to claim 20, characterized in that The electronic module is a single chip.

40. A computing device, characterized in that: The computing device includes: Fingerprint sensor; processing unit; and an electronic module capable of performing fingerprint sensing, the electronic module being coupled between the fingerprint sensor and the processing unit, and comprising: A fingerprint sensing driver coupled to the fingerprint sensor for acquiring fingerprint sensing data, wherein the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to perform a predetermined number of consecutive fingerprint sensing cycles, the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to notify the processing unit that the fingerprint sensing driver is ready to provide pre-scan fingerprint data after each cycle in a set of fingerprint sensing cycles about the fingerprint sensing cycle, wherein the set of fingerprint sensing cycles includes at least one fingerprint sensing cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles but does not include the last cycle among the fingerprint sensing cycles; and the fingerprint sensing driver is configured to provide the processing unit with the pre-scan fingerprint data acquired from each cycle of the set of fingerprint sensing cycles.

41. The computing device according to claim 40, wherein: The processing unit is configured to perform fingerprint recognition processing based on the pre-scan fingerprint data.

42. The computing device according to claim 40, wherein: The electronic module is a single chip.

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