Fingerprint Sensor Disambiguation via Operating State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fingerprint sensors integrated with power buttons on computing devices are prone to accidental or unintentional use, leading to misinterpretation of fingerprint scans as shutdown commands or unintended power state changes.
Innovation Solution
A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium with instructions that cause a processor to identify the operating state of a computing device and selectively enable or disable the fingerprint sensor and power button based on that state, disambiguating finger touches by considering factors like power state, login status, and duration of touch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fingerprint sensor and power button are integrated into a single device, then the ease of operation is improved (single touch can wake device and sign user in), but the reliability deteriorates (accidental presses can cause unintended shutdowns or power state changes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the functionality of the integrated device context-dependent. The controller dynamically switches between fingerprint scanning mode and power button mode based on the detected operating state (powered-on vs. powered-off). This dynamic behavior allows the same physical device to serve different functions appropriately, maintaining ease of operation while preventing accidental unintended actions through state-aware disambiguation.
2Productivity
If the system interprets finger touches at the integrated device, then the productivity is improved (quick authentication and device waking), but the object-affected harmful factors increase (misinterpretation of touches leading to accidental shutdowns)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the controller continuously monitor the operating state of the computing device and use this feedback to determine how to interpret touches at the integrated device. When the device is powered on, touches are interpreted as fingerprint scanning attempts. When powered off, touches are interpreted as power button presses. This feedback mechanism ensures productive quick authentication while preventing harmful accidental shutdowns by adapting interpretation to current system state.
Data Source
AI summary
An example non-transitory machine-readable storage medium includes instructions to disambiguate a finger touch at a fingerprint sensor device. When executed, the instructions cause a processor of a computing device to identify an operating state of the computing device when the computing device is powered on. The operating state includes a powered-on state of the computing device. The instructions further cause the processor to obtain fingerprint data from the fingerprint sensor device, the fingerprint sensor device including a fingerprint sensor to read a fingerprint and a power button to alter the operating state of the computing device. The instructions further cause the processor to selectively enable the fingerprint sensor based on the operating state and selectively enable the power button based on the operating state to disambiguate the finger touch at the fingerprint sensor device.