Fingerprint Sensor Proximity Detection Power Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges with power consumption in biometric sensors, leading to reduced battery life, and issues with false authentication attempts due to conventional fingerprint sensors' inability to distinguish between user input and non-user objects.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a proximity sensor component, such as an infrared signal receiver, proximately located with a fingerprint sensor, which activates the fingerprint sensor only when a warm object is detected, transitioning it from a low-power sleep mode to an active authentication mode, thereby reducing power consumption and preventing false authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the fingerprint sensor is kept active for quick authentication, then authentication speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fingerprint sensor dynamically transitions between sleep mode and active mode based on proximity detection. When no object is detected, the sensor remains in sleep mode to conserve power. When an object approaches, the sensor activates to enable authentication, thus adapting its operational state to actual usage needs and resolving the contradiction between speed and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The proximity sensor performs preliminary detection before the fingerprint sensor is activated. This preliminary action determines whether activation is necessary, allowing the fingerprint sensor to remain in low-power mode until actually needed, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining quick authentication capability when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the fingerprint sensor is always active, then authentication responsiveness is improved, but false authentication attempts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication responsivenessVSAvoidauthentication accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The proximity sensor acts as an intermediary between the user and the fingerprint sensor. It detects whether an object is approaching and conditions the activation of the fingerprint sensor accordingly. This intermediary layer ensures that the fingerprint sensor only activates when a legitimate user is present, preventing false authentication attempts from inanimate objects while maintaining responsive authentication when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the fingerprint sensor operates continuously, then user convenience is improved, but battery life deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous operation, the fingerprint sensor operates periodically based on proximity detection events. The sensor alternates between sleep mode (power-saving state) and active mode (authentication state) based on whether an object is detected. This periodic operation pattern maintains user convenience by enabling quick authentication when needed while significantly extending battery life by minimizing active operation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution extends battery life by minimizing unnecessary power usage and enhances user authentication by ensuring the fingerprint sensor is only activated in the presence of a user, reducing false authentication attempts and improving overall device performance.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one proximity sensor component comprises an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to a housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS10885294B2Finger print sensor with passive proximity detection for power savings in an electronic device

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

An electronic device includes a housing, a user interface, and one or more processors operable with the user interface. The user interface includes a fingerprint sensor proximately located with at least one proximity sensor component. The proximity sensor component can include an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing. The proximity detector component is to actuate the fingerprint sensor when the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object.