Fingerprint reader

Abstract

A fingerprint reader includes a display screen composed of an array of energy emitting pixels covered by a transparent cover, at least one sensor coupled along an edge of the display screen, a display driver directing the array of energy emitting pixels of the display screen to illuminate in a predetermined sequence, and a microprocessor in communication with the display driver and the at least one sensor. The microprocessor knows the location of the energy emitting pixel being illuminated and the specific time at which the illumination occurs. In use, and when at least one finger is placed on the transparent cover and the display driver is activated, energy from each energy emitting pixel sequentially illuminated is reflected off the fingerprint to the at least one sensor. The energy received at the at least one sensor is at different intensity levels depending upon the ridges and valleys of the at least one fingerprint. The at least one sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor regarding the energy intensity level, from which the microprocessor creates a fingerprint image as the energy emitting pixels are sequentially illuminated.

1 . A fingerprint reader, comprising:
 a display screen composed of an array of energy emitting pixels covered by a transparent cover;   at least one sensor coupled along an edge of the display screen;   a display driver directing the array of energy emitting pixels of the display screen to illuminate in a sequence;   a microprocessor in communication with the display driver and the at least one sensor, wherein the microprocessor knows the location of the energy emitting pixel being illuminated and the specific time at which the illumination occurs;   wherein when at least one finger is placed on the transparent cover and the display driver is activated, energy from each energy emitting pixel sequentially illuminated is reflected off the fingerprint to the at least one sensor, the energy received at the at least one sensor is at different intensity levels depending upon the ridges and valleys of the at least one fingerprint, the at least one sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor regarding the energy intensity level, from which the microprocessor creates a fingerprint image as the energy emitting pixels are sequentially illuminated.   
     
     
         2 . The fingerprint reader according  claim 1 , further including a memory for storing the fingerprint image created by the microprocessor. 
     
     
         3 . The fingerprint reader according  claim 1 , further including an A/D converter positioned between the at least one sensor and the microprocessor for converting analog signals generated by the at least one sensor to digital signals used by the microprocessor. 
     
     
         4 . The fingerprint reader according  claim 1 , wherein the transparent cover is glass. 
     
     
         5 . The fingerprint reader according  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a photo-sensor measuring energy intensity levels from the array of energy emitting pixels. 
     
     
         6 . The fingerprint reader according  claim 1 , wherein the transparent cover is flat. 
     
     
         7 . The fingerprint reader according  claim 1 , wherein the transparent cover is curved. 
     
     
         8 . The fingerprint reader according  claim 5 , further including an energy directing structure in which the photo-sensor is positioned, the energy directing structure is positioned in a surface of the transparent cover and includes optics allowing for reflection of energy coining from the display screen to the photo-sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors located at edges of the transparent cover. 
     
     
         10 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , further including a touch sensor used to locate placement of the at least one finger on the transparent cover. 
     
     
         11 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , further including lenses or occlusion features to facilitate optimal illumination of the at least one finger. 
     
     
         12 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , wherein energy received at the at least sensor is filtered to prevent unwanted energy from entering the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 12 , wherein the energy is filtered based on the timing of light received at the at least one sensor from the illuminated energy emitting pixel. 
     
     
         14 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , wherein the array of energy emitting pixels is contained in a layer that is made reflective in the frequencies of interest to fingerprint detection. 
     
     
         15 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , wherein several neighboring energy emitting pixels are illuminated together as a group. 
     
     
         16 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy emitting pixels in areas of the display screen not used for the fingerprint reading are turned off when the fingerprint reader is active. 
     
     
         17 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , wherein each energy emitting pixel is illuminated multiple times to create a time-averaged fingerprint image. 
     
     
         18 . The fingerprint reader according to  claim 1 , wherein the color of the energy received at the at least one sensor can be measured and included in the signal sent to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         19 . A reader, comprising:
 a screen composed of an array of energy emitting pixels covered by a transparent cover;   at least one sensor coupled along an edge of the screen;   a driver directing the array of energy emitting pixels of the screen to illuminate in a sequence;   a microprocessor in communication with the driver and the at least one sensor, wherein the microprocessor knows the location of the energy emitting pixel being illuminated and the specific time at which the illumination occurs;   wherein when at least one finger is placed on the transparent cover and the driver is activated, energy from each energy emitting pixel sequentially illuminated is reflected off the fingerprint to the at least one sensor, the energy received at the at least one sensor is at different intensity levels depending upon the ridges and valleys of the at least one fingerprint, the at least one sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor regarding the energy intensity level, from which the microprocessor creates a fingerprint image as the energy emitting pixels are sequentially illuminated.   
     
     
         20 . A reader, comprising:
 a screen composed of an array of energy emitting pixels covered by a transparent cover;   at least one sensor coupled along an edge of the screen;   a driver directing the array of energy emitting pixels of the screen to illuminate in a sequence;   a microprocessor in communication with the driver and the at least one sensor, wherein the microprocessor knows the location of the energy emitting pixel being illuminated and the specific time at which the illumination occurs;   wherein when at least one finger is placed on the transparent cover and the driver is activated, energy from each energy emitting pixel sequentially illuminated is reflected off the finger to the at least one sensor, the energy received at the at least one sensor is at different intensity levels depending upon the position of the finger on the screen, the at least one sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor regarding the energy intensity level, from which the microprocessor determines the position of the finger on the screen.