Dynamic Fingerprint Sensor Region Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices that use finger scan sensors for fingerprint recognition often require multiple user inputs for authentication, leading to inconvenience and unnecessary power consumption, as the entire or partial region of the display is activated, including areas unrelated to fingerprint recognition.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a processor that selectively sets a fingerprint recognition region by activating only the necessary part of the finger scan sensor based on touch input, allowing for efficient authentication and reduced power usage by dynamically adjusting the size of the recognition area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire or partial region of the finger scan sensor is activated for fingerprint recognition, then the authentication coverage is improved, but the power consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication coverageVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The finger scan sensor is divided into multiple independent regions, and only the specific region where a touch input is detected is activated for fingerprint recognition. This segmentation allows the system to maintain authentication coverage while avoiding activation of unnecessary sensor regions, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the finger scan sensor are activated selectively based on the local touch input position. The system applies local quality by activating only the specific area where authentication is needed, rather than uniformly activating the entire sensor region, thus optimizing power consumption while maintaining authentication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If multiple user inputs are required for biometric authentication, then the authentication security is improved, but the user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects touch input and dynamically activates the appropriate fingerprint sensor region without requiring users to manually initiate multiple authentication steps. This self-service approach maintains security by performing necessary authentication while improving convenience by eliminating manual user inputs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of touch input position and pre-activates only the necessary sensor region before authentication is actually needed. This preliminary action prepares the system to maintain security requirements while reducing the number of user inputs needed by having the authentication ready in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3545454B1Electronic device and operating method thereof
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3545454B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3545454B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3545454B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An apparatus and method for setting a fingerprint recognition region in an electronic device are provided. An electronic device includes a display, a finger scan sensor overlapped with at least a partial region of the display, and a processor. The processor controls to detect a touch input for at least one object displayed at the display, when detecting a first fingerprint image through a fingerprint recognition region corresponding to the touch input, enlarge a size of the fingerprint recognition region, detect a second fingerprint image through the enlarged fingerprint recognition region, and when having succeeded in user authentication by using the second fingerprint image, perform a function corresponding to the at least one object.