Fingerprint Sensor In-Sensor Enrollment and Verification

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fingerprint sensing systems require a rich user interface and host processor for enrollment and verification, which increases complexity, cost, and power consumption, and are not suitable for devices that rarely use these features.

Innovation Solution

A fingerprint sensing apparatus that operates in two modes: a fingerprint verification mode and a fingerprint enrollment mode, using gesture inputs detected from sensor data to perform low-level authentication and enable self-contained enrollment and verification without a rich UI or host processor, utilizing capacitive or optical sensors to capture and process fingerprint data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rich user interface and host processor are used for fingerprint enrollment and verification, then authentication functionality is provided, but hardware complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication functionalityVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fingerprint enrollment and verification functionality from the host processor and rich UI dependencies, implementing it directly within the fingerprint sensor itself. This allows the sensor to operate autonomously for authentication tasks, eliminating the need for complex external systems while maintaining reliable authentication functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fingerprint sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate in verification mode using stored templates and in enrollment mode where it captures and processes fingerprint data to create new templates. This multi-functionality is achieved within the sensor itself without requiring separate processing systems or user interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a rich user interface and host processor are used for fingerprint enrollment and verification, then authentication functionality is provided, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting the authentication processing functionality from the power-intensive host processor and implementing it directly in the fingerprint sensor with its own processing unit, the patent significantly reduces overall system power consumption while maintaining authentication functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fingerprint sensor performs enrollment and verification operations autonomously using its own processing capabilities and stored templates, without requiring the host processor to be actively engaged. This self-service approach minimizes power consumption during authentication operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If gesture inputs are processed for enrollment and verification, then UI components are reduced, but processing requirements increase the sensor's functionality

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUI componentsVSAvoidsensor functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fingerprint sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate in verification mode using stored templates and in enrollment mode where it captures and processes fingerprint data to create new templates. This multi-functionality is achieved within the sensor itself without requiring separate processing systems or user interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The fingerprint sensor performs enrollment and verification operations autonomously using its own processing capabilities and stored templates, without requiring the host processor to be actively engaged. This self-service approach minimizes power consumption during authentication operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11144746B1Fingerprint sensing apparatus with in-sensor fingerprint enrollment and verification

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 SYNAPTICS INC

AI summary

A fingerprint sensing apparatus with in-sensor fingerprint enrollment and verification. The sensing apparatus includes a fingerprint sensor configured to generate sensor data in response to user contact with a sensing region and a processing system operable in at least a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first mode, the processing system is configured to detect a fingerprint of the user based on the sensor data. When operating in the second mode, the processing system is configured to process gesture inputs based on the sensor data. In some implementations, while operating in the second mode, the processing system may selectively authenticate the user based on the gesture inputs and enable the user to enroll or manage fingerprints on the sensing apparatus when the user is authenticated.