Fingerprint Sensor Authentication Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing large area fingerprint sensors capture unnecessary information, leading to inefficient authentication processes, as they often include areas with low quality or impaired fingerprint data, which prolong the authentication time and processing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a fingerprint sensing system with processing circuitry to acquire a first fingerprint image in a reduced information capturing mode, determine authentication quality, and exclude unsuitable areas, allowing the sensor to switch to a high-quality authentication mode, thereby focusing on only the most suitable parts of the sensor for acquiring a high-quality fingerprint image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large area fingerprint sensor captures the entire sensor area for authentication, then complete fingerprint data is obtained, but processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fingerprint sensor area into multiple zones and processes them in stages. First, a reduced set of zones is captured and evaluated for fingerprint quality. Only zones containing valid fingerprint data are then captured in high resolution for authentication, while low-quality zones are excluded from further processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary quality assessment of fingerprint zones before committing to full authentication processing. By evaluating the reduced information set first, the system identifies which areas contain usable fingerprint data, allowing it to prepare the authentication process in advance and avoid processing unnecessary low-quality data.
2Reliability
If a large area fingerprint sensor captures the entire sensor area, then all potential fingerprint data is collected, but the amount of data to be processed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the relevant portions of fingerprint data. By identifying and excluding areas with low authentication quality from the full sensor area, the system removes unnecessary data processing steps while retaining all essential authentication information.
3Measurement precision
If the fingerprint sensor operates in full resolution mode, then high quality fingerprint images are obtained, but power consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by capturing and processing only the necessary portions of the fingerprint sensor area. Instead of activating the entire sensor at full resolution, the system uses reduced information capturing mode for initial assessment and only activates full resolution mode for specific high-quality zones that contain authenticatable fingerprint data.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a method of authenticating a user, using an electronic device comprising a fingerprint sensor, and more specifically to improvements in relation to how to acquiring an authentication fingerprint image for use in authenticating the user. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding electronic device and to a computer program product.