JP2005237509A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device high in convenience by integrally forming an input interface for an operation and authentication. <P>SOLUTION: A living body sensor 110 detects the contact of a living body. Also, the living body sensor 110 acquires biological identification information. The input device 102 receives operation input from a user. A built-in control part validates the input device 102 by the acquisition of biological information. The input surface of the input device 102 and the input surface of the living body sensor 110 are stacked and arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device based on a user's biological information.

  Identification methods can be broadly classified into three categories. One is authentication by possession such as a key or an ID card. However, security is threatened by the loss or theft of property authentication. The other is authentication based on knowledge such as passwords. However, knowledge authentication also has security problems due to forgetting and snooping. Another authentication method that has been attracting attention in recent years is biometric authentication using biometric information such as fingerprints, palm prints, faces, irises, and voice prints. In biometric authentication, security concerns due to “losing” associated with authentication based on the above-mentioned possession and knowledge are considerably suppressed. In addition, since the user does not need to have a thing or knowledge, it is easy to provide a highly convenient authentication system.

An authentication apparatus based on biometric authentication is expected to replace authentication by possession such as a key of a house or a car because of these advantages. In recent years, electronic commerce is becoming more active. Many of the authentication methods are based on knowledge authentication. In this field, the advent of a biometric authentication device with high convenience and safety is awaited.
JP 2003-298653 A

  An input device based on biometric authentication needs to be provided with an interface that accepts an input for authentication in addition to an interface that accepts an input for operation. For this reason, space constraints become a problem particularly in small devices such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance).

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a highly convenient input apparatus by integrally forming an input interface for operation and authentication.

  In order to solve the above problems, an input device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a biometric sensor that acquires biometric information of a user and a switch that receives an operation input from the user, and the switch is effective when the biometric information is acquired. It becomes. In addition, the input surface of the biosensor and the input surface of the switch in this apparatus are configured to be stacked. The input surfaces of the biosensor and the switch may be juxtaposed. The biometric sensor may acquire biometric information in order to determine whether the target is a living body. In addition, this biosensor may acquire biometric information in order to identify and authenticate the biometric.

  According to the present invention, a highly convenient input device based on biometric authentication can be provided.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mode in which an input device with an authentication function is installed in the PDA 100. The PDA 100 includes an input device 102, a display device 104, and an input device 106. The display device 104 displays various information on the screen. The input device 102 and the input device 106 are buttons for operating the PDA 100. The input device 102 is a button having an authentication function based on biometric authentication.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a mode in which an input device with an authentication function is installed in the mobile phone 108. The cellular phone 108 also includes an input device 102, a display device 104, and an input device 106. The mobile phone 108 may include an input device 102 on the side surface as shown in FIG.

  The input device 102 is a device having a function of detecting user's biological information in addition to a function of receiving an operation input. Therefore, it is easy to mount the authentication function even on small devices such as the PDA 100 and the mobile phone 108 that have space restrictions. Hereinafter, the configuration of the input device 102 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first configuration relating to sensor arrangement on the contact surface of the input device 102. The input device 102 includes a biological sensor 110. The biosensor 110 is a sensor that detects contact of a living body when a user's finger is placed on the contact surface of the input device 102. The input surface of the biosensor 110 and the input surface of the input device 102 are configured to be stacked. The input surface of the input device 102 may be the contact surface of the input device 102 as it is. However, when the input device 102 is a non-contact type switch using an infrared sensor or the like, the input surface of the input device 102 is not operated by the user. It may be a detection surface of a sensor that detects contact. Similarly, the input surface of the biosensor 110 may be a surface that can contact the user's finger, but may not necessarily be a surface that can contact the user's finger as will be described in detail later. Below, it demonstrates based on the form which a user operates the input device 102 by touching the input device 102 with a finger | toe.

  When the user places a finger on the input device 102, the biometric sensor 110 detects the contact of the living body. The living body sensor 110 detects that an object placed on the input device 102 is a living body and not a non-living object by a known method such as blood flow sensing (hereinafter, detecting living body contact is referred to as “biological contact”. Called detection). If it is a non-living contact, the input device 102 does not function as a switch. The input device 102 is set in a state in which it cannot be operated in the normal state. If the contact is non-living, a control unit (not shown) built in the PDA 100 or the mobile phone 108 does not turn on the operation function of the input device 102.

  The living body sensor 110 may detect living body contact based on blocking or reflection of light due to contact with a living body by incorporating a solar cell or an optical sensor. At this time, when the finger is placed on the contact surface of the input device 102, the biosensor 110 detects that the external light is blocked by the finger. Alternatively, when the face is brought close to the input device 102, the biometric sensor 110 may detect biometric contact by reflecting external light from the face. In addition, the biosensor 110 may detect a living body contact by a temperature change due to a living body contact using a thermal sensor, or may detect an approach of the living body using an ultrasonic sensor. The biosensor 110 may detect contact of a living body with a pressure sensor. The living body sensor 110 may detect living body contact using these plural types of sensors.

  When the biological sensor 110 detects a biological contact, the control unit turns on the operation function of the input device 102. Thereby, the input device 102 accepts a user operation input. When the finger is separated from the biosensor 110, the control unit turns off the operation function of the input device 102 after a predetermined time has elapsed. If the input device 102 is a power button, the power is not turned on unless the living body comes into contact with it, which is effective in avoiding a situation in which the device collides with an external object and the power is turned on by mistake. In general equipment, a hold button is often provided separately in order to prevent erroneous input. However, according to this embodiment, an equivalent function can be exhibited without the need for a space for the hold button in the equipment. be able to.

  The biometric sensor 110 may acquire biometric information for biometric authentication in addition to biometric contact detection (hereinafter, information for identifying such a biometric is referred to as “biometric identification information”). In this case, when a finger is placed on the input device 102, the biometric sensor 110 acquires biometric identification information such as a fingerprint, skin thickness, face, iris, ear, and the like. An authentication unit (not shown) refers to biometric identification information (hereinafter referred to as “registered biometric information”) recorded in advance in a ROM (Read Only Memory) built in the PDA 100 or the mobile phone 108 with biometric identification information acquired by the biometric sensor 110. ). If the collation is successful and it can be confirmed that the contact is made by the registered user, the control unit turns on the operation function of the input device 102. If the input device 102 is a power button, the power cannot be turned on unless authentication is successful, which is effective in preventing unauthorized access to the device.

  The authentication unit starts the above-described authentication process triggered by the detection of biological contact. The biometric sensor 110 may acquire a plurality of types of biometric identification information by a single operation by the user. For example, when the user places a finger on the input device 102, the biometric sensor 110 acquires a plurality of types of biometric identification information substantially simultaneously or successively. The authentication unit may execute an authentication process based on the plurality of types of biometric identification information. In this case, it is necessary to record a plurality of types of registered biometric information in the ROM in advance.

  The control unit may newly record the acquired biometric identification information as registered biometric information, or may update the registered biometric information with the biometric identification information from which the registered biometric information has been acquired. The control unit may select and register the acquired biometric identification information. For example, when the biometric sensor 110 has collected good fingerprint information, the control unit updates the fingerprint information as registered biometric information. Only biometric identification information acquired in this way may be registered or updated. Thereby, registration at the time of initialization can be simplified, and more suitable biometric identification information can be acquired as appropriate. Further, the control unit may periodically update the registered biometric information at a predetermined time interval. As a result, even if the user's biometric identification information itself changes over time, the authentication process can be executed appropriately and satisfactorily.

  Further, after the operation function of the input device 102 is validated, the registered biometric information may be registered or updated by biometric identification information acquired each time the input device 102 is pressed. This registration or update process acquires biometric identification information a predetermined number of times until a specific operation is performed on the device, such as when the power of the device is turned off, or until a predetermined time elapses after the biometric identification information is acquired. May be executed.

  The user may be able to set so that biometric identification information is not registered or updated. When there are a plurality of types of registered biometric information for the same user, the authentication unit executes an authentication process by comparing the plurality of types of registered biometric information with the biometric identification information obtained by the biometric sensor 110 during authentication. Also good.

  The execution order of the biometric contact detection process, the authentication process associated with the acquisition of the biometric identification information, and the operation input to the input device 102 is not limited to this. For example, the operation function of the input device 102 is turned on in the initial state, and when the user's operation input is received, the control unit may cause the biometric sensor 110 to start the biometric contact detection process. And the authentication part may perform an authentication process based on the biometric identification information which the biosensor 110 acquires in connection with it. At this time, if the authentication executed when the input device 102 accepts the operation input is successful, the control unit may register or update the registered biometric information with the acquired biometric identification information.

  The authentication processing algorithm may be changed according to the processing state of the device. For example, the authentication process executed after the device is turned on may be executed by an algorithm different from the authentication process executed when the device is turned on. Since a high-speed activation is required when the device is turned on, high-speed authentication may be performed by simple authentication processing, and high-precision authentication processing may be executed as a background job after the power is turned on.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second configuration regarding the arrangement of the sensors on the contact surface of the input device 102. The input device 102 may be configured as shown in FIG. 3 instead of the first configuration shown in FIG. The input device 102 includes a biological identification information sensor 112 and a biological contact detection sensor 114. As shown in the figure, the biological identification information sensor 112 and the biological contact detection sensor 114 are arranged adjacent to each other. The biological contact detection sensor 114 is a sensor corresponding to the biological contact detection function of the biological sensor 110. The biometric identification information sensor 112 is a sensor corresponding to the biometric identification information acquisition function of the biometric sensor 110. The biometric information sensor 112 may be a single sensor or a sensor in which a plurality of sensors are arranged in an array.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third configuration regarding the arrangement of the sensors on the contact surface of the input device 102. The input device 102 may be configured as shown in the figure instead of the configuration shown in FIGS. In this configuration, the input device 102 includes a biological identification information sensor 112 and a biological contact detection sensor 114. As shown in the figure, the living body contact detection sensor 114 is disposed between two living body identification information sensors 112.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example related to sensor arrangement on the side surface of the input device 102. The contact portion 118 is a portion where the user's finger contacts. For example, when the contact unit 118 receives pressure from the user's finger, the biological contact detection sensor 114 detects this pressure. Alternatively, the contact unit 118 may conduct heat transmitted from the user's finger to the biological contact detection sensor 114, and the biological contact detection sensor 114 may detect biological contact based on the heat conduction. The biometric identification information sensor 112 acquires biometric identification information. For example, the contact part 118 is made of a member such as plastic that can transmit light, so that the biometric information sensor 112 acquires fingerprint information via the contact part 118.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fourth configuration relating to the arrangement of sensors on the contact surface of the input device 102. The input device 102 includes a detection signal output unit 116 in addition to the biological identification information sensor 112 and the biological contact detection sensor 114. When the biological contact detection sensor 114 detects biological contact, the control unit outputs electromagnetic waves such as light or sound waves from the detection signal output unit 116 (hereinafter, these output signals are referred to as “detection signals”). The biometric identification information sensor 112 acquires biometric identification information based on the output detection signal. In the case of using an optical sensor, the detection signal may be simply light that proves the fingerprint surface, or light that is irradiated toward the living body in order to acquire biological information from the skin surface or inside the skin by reflected light. In addition to light, the detection signal may be ultrasonic waves or electromagnetic waves. The detection signal refers to a signal that is output toward a living body in order to widely acquire biological information. The biological contact detection sensor 114 receives the signal after the detection signal is reflected by the living body, thereby acquiring the biological information. Is done.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a side surface of the input device 102 in the fourth configuration illustrated in FIG. 7. First, when the finger contacts the contact unit 118, the living body contact detection sensor 114 detects the living body contact. The biological contact detection sensor 114 is equipped with an optical sensor and detects biological contact based on the fact that external light is blocked by a finger. When receiving a living body contact detection notification from the living body contact detection sensor 114, the control unit instructs the detection signal output unit 116 to output a detection signal. At the same time, the control unit instructs the authentication unit to execute authentication. The detection signal output from the detection signal output unit 116 passes through the contact unit 118 and is reflected by a finger placed on the contact unit 118. The living body contact detection sensor 114 detects the reflected detection signal. The living body contact detection sensor 114 acquires living body identification information from the reflected wave. For example, since the detection signal is reflected differently depending on the fingerprint, biometric authentication is executed based on the reflected wave acquired by the biometric contact detection sensor 114. In addition, biometric authentication may be executed using various types of biometric identification information such as skin quality, blood flow, and finger color. The authentication unit performs authentication by comparing biometric identification information registered in advance with the acquired biometric identification information. If the authentication is successful, the authentication unit notifies the control unit to that effect. Upon receiving this notification, the control unit turns on the operation function of the input device 102.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications thereof are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

  As such a modification, the operation function may be turned on when authentication fails. For example, it is effective when a user who is properly registered with biometric identification information is distinguished from a user who is not registered to execute different operations. Further, the operation content of the input device 102 may be changed according to the success or failure of the authentication.

  The input device 102 shown in the present embodiment can be realized in hardware by an element such as a computer CPU or a mechanical device, and in software by a computer program or the like. Describes functional blocks realized through collaboration. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software. The control unit and the authentication unit shown in the present embodiment are also configured by an element having a calculation function such as a CPU of a computer and a computer program for executing the calculation.

It is a figure which shows the aspect which installs the input device with an authentication function in PDA. It is a figure which shows the aspect which installs the input device with an authentication function in a mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows the 1st structure regarding arrangement | positioning of the sensor in the contact surface of an input device. It is a figure which shows the 2nd structure regarding arrangement | positioning of the sensor in the contact surface of an input device. It is a figure which shows the 3rd structure regarding arrangement | positioning of the sensor in the contact surface of an input device. It is a figure which shows the structural example regarding arrangement | positioning of the sensor in the side surface of an input device. It is a figure which shows the 4th structure regarding arrangement | positioning of the sensor in the contact surface of an input device. It is a figure which shows the side surface of the input device 102 in the 4th structure shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  100 PDA, 102 input device, 104 display device, 106 input device, 108 mobile phone, 110 biometric sensor, 112 biometric identification information sensor, 114 biometric contact detection sensor, 116 detection signal output unit, 118 contact unit.

Claims (4)

A biosensor for acquiring user biometric information;
A switch for receiving an operation input from the user;
A controller that activates the switch when the biological information is acquired, and
An input device, wherein the input surface of the biosensor and the input surface of the switch are stacked. An authentication unit for authenticating the user based on the biometric information;
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit activates the switch when the user is authenticated.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the biological sensor acquires a plurality of types of biological information by a single operation by the user. The authentication unit further includes an authentication information storage unit that stores authentication information for identifying the user based on biometric information.
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the authentication unit updates the stored authentication information in response to the acquisition of the biometric information.

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