Fingerprint Sensor Pre-processing for Low Power Auxiliary Processor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biometric sensors in electronic devices, such as fingerprint scanners, face challenges with latency and power consumption, leading to slow access times and increased battery drain due to the need for extensive processing power for authentication and data matching.
Innovation Solution
A system where a fingerprint sensor performs pre-processing steps while the auxiliary processor is in a low power or sleep mode, capturing and storing fingerprint data, and then transfers it for matching upon awakening, reducing data transfer and allowing the processor to stay in a low power state for longer, thus reducing latency and conserving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the auxiliary processor performs fingerprint data matching, then authentication accuracy is improved, but processing time increases causing latency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the fingerprint sensor capture and pre-process fingerprint data before the auxiliary processor is fully active. The sensor stores captured data in memory, preparing it for rapid matching when the processor wakes, thereby reducing the time the processor needs to spend in high-power state and lowering overall authentication latency while maintaining accuracy
2Speed
If the auxiliary processor remains active for fingerprint processing, then processing speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fingerprint authentication workflow into distinct phases: data capture and pre-processing by the fingerprint sensor, followed by matching operations by the auxiliary processor. This segmentation allows the processor to remain in low-power sleep mode during sensor operations and only activate when needed, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining processing speed during active phases
Solution Approach 2:
The fingerprint sensor performs preliminary data capture and pre-processing operations before the auxiliary processor becomes active. By preparing the data in advance and storing it in memory, the system minimizes the duration the processor needs to remain active, thereby reducing power consumption while ensuring rapid processing when the processor does operate
3Reliability
If fingerprint data is retained in memory for extended periods, then authentication reliability is improved, but security risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the retention parameter of fingerprint data based on operational context. Data is retained in memory only for the minimum necessary duration to complete authentication or allow the processor to wake and process the data. After this brief retention period, data is automatically deleted, thereby maintaining authentication reliability during the critical window while minimizing security risks from extended storage
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a fingerprint sensor and an auxiliary processor. The auxiliary processor is operable to arm the fingerprint sensor prior to the auxiliary processor entering a low power or sleep mode. The fingerprint sensor can detect a finger proximately located with the fingerprint sensor, capture and store fingerprint data from the finger, perform at least one pre-processing step after capturing the fingerprint data from the finger while the auxiliary processor is in the low power or sleep mode, and after the at least one pre-processing step and upon receiving a request from the auxiliary processor for the finger print data deliver the fingerprint data to the auxiliary processor. The auxiliary processor can compare the fingerprint data to reference data and determine whether the fingerprint data substantially matches the reference data.