KR20150138005A - Electronic device and fingerprint recognition method - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are an electronic device and a fingerprint recognition method. The electronic device comprises a housing, a lens protection cover, a treatment unit, an image capturing unit, a light source sensor, and a visible light source module. The lens protection cover is mounted on the housing. The light source sensor is formed to detect an external light flowed inside of the electronic device through the lens protection cover. The treatment unit judges whether the detected external light is lower than a threshold. The visible light source module is formed to generate a visible light. If the detected external light is lower than the threshold, the treatment unit activates the visible light source module generating the visible light, and activates the image capturing unit capturing a fingerprint image of a finger of a user placed on the lens protection cover for recognizing a fingerprint.

Description

[0001] ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND FINGERPRINT RECOGNITION METHOD [0002]

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62 / 005,223, filed May 30, 2014, and Chinese Patent Application No. 201410706347.8, filed November 28, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to fingerprint recognition technology, and more particularly to a fingerprint recognition technique for verifying a fingerprint using a fingerprint image captured by an image capturing unit of an electronic device.

In recent years, biometric finger detection technology has greatly developed. Security Codes and Access Cards have become more interested in Fingerprint-Recognition Technology because they can be easily stolen or lost. Fingerprints are unique, never changing, and each individual has multiple fingers for identity recognition. Further, fingerprints can be easily obtained using a fingerprint sensor. Therefore, fingerprint recognition can provide enhanced security and convenience, and financial security and confidential data can be better protected.

In addition, conventional electronic devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other devices are equipped with built-in cameras. Therefore, if a fingerprint image captured by the built-in camera can be used for fingerprint recognition, there is no need to mount an additional fingerprint sensor in each such electronic device.

A fingerprint recognition method and an electronic device for identifying a fingerprint using a fingerprint image captured by an image capturing unit of an electronic device are provided.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing, a lens protection cover, a processing unit, an image capturing unit, a light-source sensor, and a visible light source module ). The lens protection cap is mounted on the housing. The light source sensor is configured to detect external light entering the electronic device through the lens protective cover. The processing unit determines whether the detected external light is less than a threshold value. The visible light source module is formed to generate visible light. When the processing unit determines that the detected external light is less than the threshold value, the processing unit activates the visible light source module to generate visible light and activate the image capturing unit to display a fingerprint image of the user's finger placed on the lens- Lt; / RTI >

An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing, a lens protective cover, a processing unit, an image capturing unit, and a visible light source module. The lens protection cap includes a contact panel mounted on the housing and sensing a contact event. The visible light source module is formed to generate visible light. When a touch event is detected, the processing unit activates the visible light source module to generate visible light and activates the image capture unit to capture a fingerprint image of a user's finger touching the touch panel for fingerprint recognition.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a fingerprint recognition method. A fingerprint recognition method is applied to an electronic device having an internal image capturing unit. A fingerprint recognition method includes detecting external light entering an electronic device through a lens protective cover mounted on a housing of the electronic device, determining whether the detected external light is less than a threshold value, activating the visible light source module, Generating light; and activating the image capturing unit when the processing unit determines that the detected external light is less than the threshold, thereby capturing a fingerprint image of the user's finger for fingerprint recognition.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a fingerprint recognition method. A fingerprint recognition method is applied to an electronic device having an internal image capturing unit. The fingerprint recognition method includes the steps of sensing a touch event, activating a visible light module to generate visible light when a touch event is detected, activating the image capture unit when a touch event is detected, Of the fingerprint image.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of electronic devices and fingerprint recognition methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.
1 is a block diagram of an electronic device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2A-2B illustrate a user placing his or her fingers on a lens protective cover 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a flowchart 300 illustrating a fingerprint recognition method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 illustrating a fingerprint recognition method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The following description is the best considered mode for carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be construed as limiting. The scope of the invention is best defined by reference to the appended claims.

1 is a block diagram of an electronic device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device 100 is an electronic device having a built-in camera, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a Tablet PC, a Notebook, or other electronic device.

1, the electronic device 100 includes a lens protective cover 110, an image capturing unit 120, and a processing unit 130. As shown in FIG. Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram only shown with elements related to the present invention. However, the present invention should not be limited to those shown in Fig. Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the infrared light source module 121 and the light source sensor 123 of FIG. 1 are optional. In some embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device 100 may include both an infrared light source module 121 and a light source sensor 123. In some embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device 100 may include any one of an infrared light source module 121 or a light source sensor 123. In yet another embodiment, the electronic device 100 may not include either the infrared light source module 121 or the light source sensor 123. [

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lens protective sheath 110 is mounted on the device housing (e.g., the device housing 140 of FIG. 2) to protect the lens of the image capture unit 120. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lens protecting cover 110 may be made of an anti-reflective material. In addition, the lens protective cap 110 may further include an antifouling layer, which prevents dirt particles and oil from adhering or falling onto the lens protective cap 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the lens protective cover 110 may further include a contact panel that senses the user's contact on the lens protective cover 110. [ In another embodiment of the present invention, the lens protective cap 110 is a contact panel that senses the user's contact on the lens protective cap 110.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the image capturing unit 120 may be an embedded camera of the electronic device 100. The image capturing unit 120 is formed to capture image data and then the image data is provided to the processing unit 130 or stored in a storage unit . In an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device 100 further includes an infrared light source module 121 and a visible light source module 122. The infrared light source module 121 is configured to provide infrared light to an image captured by the image capturing unit 120 and, while capturing the image, the image capturing unit 120 includes a human finger Can capture image data of tissues (Tissues) and veins (Veins) of the skin of the dermis. The visible light source module 122 is configured to provide the visible light so that the image capturing unit 120 captures the image data of the skin of the human finger for fingerprint recognition.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when fingerprint verification is required, the user will place his or her finger on the lens protective cover 110, as shown in Figures 2A-2B. Thereafter, the visible light source module 122 generates visible light, and the image capturing unit 120 captures image data of the outer skin of the user's finger for fingerprint recognition. 2A-2B, electronic device 100 is shown as a smartphone, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. The electronic device 100 may be any other electronic device with a built-in camera.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device 100 further comprises a light source sensor 123. When fingerprint recognition is required to continue the operation of the electronic device 100 or to start an application, for example, when the electronic device 100 is in a sleeping mode and the electronic device 100 is in a sleeping mode If fingerprint recognition is desired, the electronic device 100 will activate the light source sensor 123 to detect external light entering the electronic device 100 through the lens protective sheath 110. The processing unit 130 then determines whether the detected external light is less than the threshold value to determine if the Verification Object (e.g., the user's finger) is over the lens protective cover 110. [ The external light is light coming from an external environment, and the image capturing unit 120 (e.g., a camera) is used to capture a picture of objects in an external environment. The fact that external light entering the electronic device 100 through the lens protective cover 110 is less than the threshold value means that the external light is blocked by the fingers located above the lens protective cover 110. The electronic device 100 will activate the visible light source module 122 and the image capture unit 120. The visible light source module 122 then provides visible light so that the image capture unit 120 captures image data of the skin of the finger. Thereafter, the image capturing unit 120 will transmit the captured image data to the processing unit 130 for fingerprint recognition.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the external light entering the electronic device 100 through the lens protective cover 110 is smaller than the threshold value, that is, when the external light is blocked by the object placed on the lens protective cover 110 , The electronic device 100 will activate the infrared light source module 121 and the image capture unit 120. The infrared light source module 121 will generate an infrared ray so that the image capturing unit 120 captures the image data of the skin of the user's finger to determine whether the finger placed on the lens protective cover 110 is a living finger. The electronic device 100 will activate the visible light source module 122 if the processing unit 130 of the electronic device 100 has determined that the subject to be verified is placed on the lens protective cover 110 with a living finger. Then, the visible light source module 122 provides visible light so that the image capturing unit 120 captures the image data of the envelope of the living finger. Thereafter, the image capturing unit 120 will transmit the captured image data to the processing unit 130 for fingerprint recognition.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the lens protective cover 110 is a contact panel (not shown in the drawings). When the user places his or her finger on the lens protective cap 110, the lens protective cap 110 will detect the touch event. The electronic device 100 will activate the visible light source module 122 and the image capture unit 120. Thereafter, the visible light source module 122 will provide visible light so that the image capturing unit 120 captures the image data of the envelope of the finger. Thereafter, the image capturing unit 120 will transmit the image data to the processing unit 130 for fingerprint recognition.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when the lens protection cover 110 senses a touch event, the electronic device 100 will first activate the infrared light source module 121 and the image capture unit 120. The infrared light source module 121 will generate infrared light so that the image capturing unit 120 captures the image data of the skin of the user's finger to determine whether the finger placed on the lens protective cover 110 is a living finger. The image capturing unit 120 will then send the image data to the processing unit 130. [ The processing unit 130 will perform biometric finger detection (e.g., vein recognition). When performing the biometric finger detection, the processing unit determines whether the verification target is a live biometric feature (e.g., a vein and / or a vein) to determine whether the verification target is a living finger or a dead finger Organization) will be analyzed.

The processing unit 130 may turn off the infrared light source module 121 and turn off the visible light source module 122 and turn off the infrared light source module 121. In this case, Lt; / RTI > When the user places his or her finger on the lens protective cover 110, the external light coming from the external environment will be blocked by the user's fingers, and the visible light source module 122 will detect that the image capture unit 120 To capture visible image data. After activating the visible light source module 122, the processing unit 130 will command the image capture unit 120 to capture the image data. After the image capturing unit 120 captures the image data, the image capturing unit 120 will transmit the image data to the processing unit 130 and the processing unit 130 will perform the fingerprint recognition according to the image data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart 300 illustrating a fingerprint recognition method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fingerprint recognition method is applied to the electronic device 100. 3, in step S310, when fingerprint recognition is required to continue the operation of the electronic device 100 or to start the application, the electronic device 100 activates the light source sensor 123 will be. In step S320, the light source sensor 123 detects external light entering the electronic device 100 through the lens protective cover 110, and the processing unit 130 determines whether the detected external light is less than a threshold value. If the detected external light is smaller than the threshold value, that is, if the object to be checked is placed on the lens protective cover 110, step S330 will be performed. If the detected external light is not less than the threshold value, that is, if the object to be checked has not been placed on the lens protecting cover 110, step S320 will be performed.

In step S330, when the external light is smaller than the threshold value, the electronic device 100 captures the first image data for the detection of the living body finger and determines whether the living body is a living body finger by using the infrared light source module 121 and the image capturing unit Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 120 < / RTI > In step S340, when the processing unit 130 determines that the object to be verified is a living finger, the electronic device 100 will turn off the infrared light source module 121. [ In step S350, the electronic device 100 activates the visible light source module 122 and the image capturing unit 120 to capture second image data for finger recognition. Therefore, step S350 can be performed immediately after step S320.

4 is a flowchart 400 illustrating a fingerprint recognition method according to another embodiment of the present invention. The fingerprint recognition method is applied to the electronic device 100. As shown in Fig. 4, in step S410, the electronic device 100 determines whether it has detected a contact event. If a contact event is detected, that is, if the object to be checked has contacted the lens protecting cover 110 (including the contact panel), step S420 will be performed. In step S420, when the touch event is detected, the electronic device 100 captures the first image data for the detection of the living body finger and determines whether the living body finger is the living body finger by using the infrared light source module 121 and the image capturing unit 120). In step S430, when the processing unit determines that the verification target is a living finger, the electronic device 100 will turn off the infrared light source module 121. [ In step S440, the electronic device 100 activates the visible light source module 122 and the image capturing unit 120 for fingerprint recognition to capture the second image data. In an embodiment of the present invention, steps S420 and S430 are optional. Therefore, in the flowchart 400, step S440 may be performed immediately after step S410.

According to the fingerprint recognition method in the embodiments of the present invention, the user merely places his or her finger on the lens protective cover of the electronic device for fingerprint recognition. Therefore, the fingerprint recognition method in the embodiments of the present invention provides a simple, easy and efficient fingerprint recognition operation to the user. Further, according to the fingerprint recognition method in the embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device does not need to mount or form an additional fingerprint sensor.

The steps of a method described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module (e.g., including executable instructions and associated data) and other data may be stored in a computer-readable medium such as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, erasable disk, CD- Or any other form of computer readable storage medium known in the art. The Sample Storage Medium may be, for example, a computer / processor, such as a computer / processor, which can read information (e.g., codes) from a storage medium and write information to the storage medium (Which may be referred to herein as a "processor" for convenience). The sample storage medium may be integral with the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in the user equipment. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in the user equipment. In addition, in some aspects, any suitable computer-program product may include a computer-readable medium containing code relating to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some aspects, the computer program product may include a packaging material.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is at least the exemplary feature disclosed and / Are meant to be included in one embodiment, and they are not meant to be present in all embodiments. Therefore, even though a phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appears at various positions throughout this specification, it does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment of the present invention.

The paragraphs describe many aspects. Obviously, the teachings of the present invention can be accomplished in a number of ways, and any particular configuration or function in the disclosed embodiments represents only representative states. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that all of the disclosed aspects of the present invention may be applied or incorporated independently.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will be able to make various changes and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (10)

housing;
A lens protective cover mounted on the housing;
An image capturing unit;
A light source sensor configured to detect external light entering the electronic device through the lens protective cover;
A processing unit configured to determine whether the detected external light is less than a threshold value; And
A visible light source module configured to generate visible light,
Wherein the processing unit activates the visible light source module to generate the visible light and activate the image capture unit to detect the fingerprint of the fingerprint image for the fingerprint recognition when the processing unit determines that the detected external light is less than the threshold value, Capturing a fingerprint image of the user's finger
Electronic device.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an infrared light source module configured to generate infrared light,
When the detected external light is smaller than a threshold value, the processing unit activates the infrared light source module to generate the infrared light, activates the image capturing unit, and captures a biometric image of the user's finger
Electronic device.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the processing unit activates the light source sensor to detect the external light coming into the electronic device through the lens protective cover when the electronic device continues to operate or when the fingerprint recognition is required to start the application, And determines whether the detected external light is smaller than a threshold value
Electronic device.
housing;
A lens protective cover mounted on the housing and comprising a contact panel for sensing a contact event;
Processing unit;
An image capturing unit; And
A visible light source module configured to generate visible light,
When the touch event is detected, the processing unit activates the visible light source module to generate the visible light, activate the image capturing unit, capture a fingerprint image of a user's finger touching the contact panel for fingerprint recognition doing
Electronic device.
5. The method of claim 4,
Further comprising an infrared light source module for generating infrared light,
When the touch event is detected, the processing unit activates the infrared light source module to generate the infrared light, activates the image capturing unit, and captures a biometric image of the user's finger for a living body finger detection
Electronic device.
A fingerprint recognition method applied to an electronic device having an internal image capturing unit,
Detecting external light entering the electronic device through a lens protective cover mounted on the housing of the electronic device;
Determining whether the detected external light is less than a threshold value;
Activating the visible light source module to generate visible light; And
Capturing a fingerprint image of a user's finger for fingerprint recognition by activating the image capturing unit when the detected external light is smaller than a threshold value
The fingerprint identification method comprising:
The method according to claim 6,
Activating an infrared light source module to generate infrared light when the detected external light is less than a threshold value; And
A step of activating the image capturing unit to capture a biometric image of a user's finger for detecting a biometric finger
The fingerprint recognition method further comprising:
The method according to claim 6,
Activating a light source sensor that detects the external light entering the electronic device through the lens protective cover; And
Determining whether the detected external light is less than a threshold value if fingerprint recognition is required to continue operation of the electronic device or to start an application
The fingerprint recognition method further comprising:
A fingerprint recognition method applied to an electronic device having a built-in image capturing unit,
Sensing a touch event;
Activating a visible light source module that generates visible light when the touch event is detected; And
Activating an image capturing unit for capturing a fingerprint image of a user's finger for fingerprint recognition
The fingerprint identification method comprising:
10. The method of claim 9,
Activating an infrared light source module that generates infrared light when the touch event is sensed; And
Activating the image capturing unit for capturing a biometric image of a user's finger for biometric finger detection
The fingerprint recognition method further comprising:

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