Fingerprint Sensor Threshold Feedback for False Wakeup Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fingerprint sensors experience false wakeups due to events other than actual authentication attempts, leading to power wastage, reduced transmitter lifespan, and user frustration from unnecessary lock-ups.

Innovation Solution

Implement a control system with a wakeup reduction module that adjusts the contact indication threshold based on time intervals between consecutive false wakeups, using sensors like piezoelectric, touch, pressure, microphone, gyroscope, and accelerometer signals to differentiate between genuine and false wakeups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the contact indication threshold is set low to detect genuine finger contacts, then authentication responsiveness is improved, but false wakeups from other contacts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication responsivenessVSAvoidfalse wakeup rate

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact indication threshold is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts the threshold based on detected contact patterns and time intervals between wakeups. When false wakeups are detected, the threshold is increased temporarily to prevent them, while still allowing genuine authentication attempts to pass through, thus resolving the contradiction between responsiveness and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops that monitor wakeup events and adjust the contact threshold accordingly. When false wakeups are detected (contacts that don't meet authentication criteria), the system feeds this information back to modify the threshold, creating a self-regulating mechanism that balances detection sensitivity with false alarm prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the transmitter portion is activated frequently to ensure detection of all authentication attempts, then authentication accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously activating the transmitter, the system uses partial action by only activating it when the dynamic threshold indicates a potential genuine authentication attempt. This selective activation maintains authentication accuracy for real attempts while avoiding unnecessary power consumption from activating the transmitter for every contact event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the wakeup sensor portion to self-filter potential authentication attempts before triggering the power-intensive transmitter. The dynamic threshold mechanism serves as a self-service filter that prepares and validates inputs, allowing the transmitter to operate only when truly needed, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the contact indication threshold is increased to reduce false wakeups, then false wakeup rate is reduced, but detection of genuine finger contacts decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefalse wakeup rateVSAvoiddetection rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The threshold dynamically adapts based on system state and detected patterns rather than remaining statically high. This allows the system to maintain high reliability by blocking obvious false wakeups while preserving productivity by lowering the threshold temporarily when genuine authentication patterns are recognized, ensuring no legitimate attempts are missed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the contact indication threshold parameter based on detected contact characteristics and time intervals. By modifying this parameter dynamically rather than keeping it fixed, the system achieves both reduced false wakeups and maintained detection rate, as the threshold adapts to differentiate between false and genuine contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Substantially reduces false wakeups, conserves power, extends sensor lifespan, and enhances user experience by minimizing lock-ups and power wastage.

Implementation Method 1

the fingerprint sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20260072492A1False wakeup reduction for fingerprint sensors

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

In some implementations an apparatus may include a fingerprint sensor including a wakeup sensor portion and a transmitter portion. The wakeup sensor portion may be configured to send an activation signal to the transmitter portion due to a contact indication, corresponding to contact with an outer surface of the apparatus in the fingerprint sensor area, that equals or exceeds a contact indication threshold. A control system of the apparatus may include: a fingerprint sensor portion configured for controlling the transmitter portion and for determining, based at least in part on fingerprint sensor data obtained from an object in contact with the outer surface of the apparatus in the fingerprint sensor area, whether the object is a finger; a fingerprint image data processing portion; and a wakeup reduction module configured to control the contact indication threshold based, at least in part, on one or more time intervals between consecutive false wakeups.