Capacitive Palm Authentication Sensor Array for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user authentication methods for mobile devices, such as password input, authentication patterns, fingerprint recognition, and face recognition, face challenges with security, convenience, and the need for high-resolution sensors, leading to inconvenience and increased manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A sensor array integrated into the mobile device's display panel, capable of sensing palm information through capacitive touch sensors, generates partial patterns for authentication by analyzing palm positions and pressures, allowing for secure and efficient user authentication without the need for high-resolution sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fingerprint recognition with high-resolution sensor is used, then authentication security is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidsensor resolution requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a low-resolution sensor array to capture palm pressure distribution patterns, which are then processed to generate authentication patterns. This approach creates a functional copy of the palm ridges without requiring high-resolution imaging, thereby reducing sensor complexity while maintaining authentication security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional optical fingerprint sensor with a capacitive touch sensor array that measures pressure distribution. This substitution uses electrical field interaction instead of optical imaging, enabling authentication with lower resolution sensors while maintaining security through pattern analysis of pressure maps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If separate authentication procedure is implemented, then authentication security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the authentication function with the existing touch display interface. Users authenticate by naturally placing their palm on the display surface during normal device interaction, combining authentication with the existing user interface rather than requiring a separate authentication step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs authentication automatically when a user places their palm on the display, without requiring explicit authentication commands. The authentication occurs passively as part of the natural interaction, making the process convenient while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If low-resolution sensor array is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidpalm information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from high-resolution spatial imaging to pressure distribution mapping. By measuring pressure at multiple points across the palm surface and analyzing the pressure map pattern, the system achieves sufficient authentication accuracy with low-resolution sensors, as the pressure distribution uniquely identifies palm ridges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different functional characteristics to different regions of the sensor array. Each sensor element measures pressure locally, and the collective pressure distribution across the array creates the authentication pattern. This local measurement approach enables accurate palm recognition without requiring any single region to have high resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution provides a secure and convenient user authentication method for mobile devices, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity while maintaining high authentication accuracy with a low-resolution sensor array, enabling secure access without the limitations of traditional fingerprint recognition.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor array may be implemented as a capacitive touch sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive touch sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10586092B2Apparatus and method for user authentication, and mobile device

Publication Date: 2020.03.10 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for user authentication includes a sensor array and a sensing signal processor. The sensor array is formed on at least one surface of a mobile device. The sensing signal processor receives information of a palm of a user, received from the sensor array, and performs a user authentication through pattern analysis. Accordingly, an authentication of the user of the mobile device can be simply performed.