WO2019004903A1 - Fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system - Google Patents

Fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019004903A1
WO2019004903A1 PCT/SE2018/050663 SE2018050663W WO2019004903A1 WO 2019004903 A1 WO2019004903 A1 WO 2019004903A1 SE 2018050663 W SE2018050663 W SE 2018050663W WO 2019004903 A1 WO2019004903 A1 WO 2019004903A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sensing
area network
body area
network communication
circuitry
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2018/050663
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Markus Andersson
Jan Nilsson
Hans THÖRNBLOM
Original Assignee
Fingerprint Cards Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fingerprint Cards Ab filed Critical Fingerprint Cards Ab
Publication of WO2019004903A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019004903A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/011—Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
    • G06F3/03547—Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/0416—Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
    • G06F3/04162—Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
    • G06F3/0443—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means using a single layer of sensing electrodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V10/00—Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding
    • G06V10/10—Image acquisition
    • G06V10/17—Image acquisition using hand-held instruments
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V10/00—Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding
    • G06V10/94—Hardware or software architectures specially adapted for image or video understanding
    • G06V10/95—Hardware or software architectures specially adapted for image or video understanding structured as a network, e.g. client-server architectures
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V40/00—Recognition of biometric, human-related or animal-related patterns in image or video data
    • G06V40/10—Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
    • G06V40/12—Fingerprints or palmprints
    • G06V40/13—Sensors therefor
    • G06V40/1306—Sensors therefor non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
    • G06F2203/033—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/033
    • G06F2203/0338—Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/08—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities
    • H04L63/0861—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system for communication with an electronic unit using the body of a user as communication medium.
  • the present invention further relates to an electronic device comprising such a combined system.
  • biometric systems are used more and more in order to provide for increased security and/or enhanced user convenience.
  • fingerprint sensing systems have been adopted in, for example, consumer electronic devices, thanks to their small form factor, high
  • body area networks in which electronic equipment is connected to a network using the body as communication medium.
  • electronic equipment For example, in the medical industry it is has become common to connect e.g. sensors to a patients body for measuring health information from the patient, the information is downloaded via the body area network of the patient.
  • the body area network (so-called BAN) can be used for both downloading information from the electronic equipment and for uploading information to the electronic equipment via the BAN.
  • a connection point e.g. antenna is typically used.
  • the BAN requires authorization to access the network. This can be implemented by requiring the user to enter a password each time. For higher level of security and a more time efficient way is to implement a fingerprint sensor for authorization.
  • US2015/0163221 discloses to use a fingerprint sensor for allowing access to a BAN.
  • the BAN system comprises a (yellow) ring which is simply attached to the scanner for connecting to the BAN.
  • An electrode is arranged to detect the presence of a user, to thereby control the BAN to send requests and the fingerprint sensor to start scanning for biometric data.
  • a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system for communication with an electronic unit using the body of a user as communication medium, comprising: a sensing arrangement comprising: an array of sensing structures; and read-out circuitry connected to each of at least a first portion of the sensing structures for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each of the first portion of sensing structures and a finger in response to a change in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of the sensing structure and a finger potential of the finger, a body area network communication circuitry, wherein the system is controllable between: a fingerprint sensing state, in which the readout circuitry is controlled to provide the sensing signals indicative of the capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and the user's finger when the finger is placed for sensing the
  • the present invention is based upon the realization that a fingerprint sensor is perfectly positioned to incorporate a connection means (i.e. an antenna) also for connecting to an electronic unit with the user body as a transmission medium.
  • a connection means i.e. an antenna
  • Such connection means is the sensing structures of the fingerprint sensing area also used for sensing a fingerprint pattern.
  • the location of the sensing structures for the BAN-transmission is optimal since it will be touched by the finger for fingerprint acquisition thus thereby providing sufficient physical contact between the finger and the sensing structures for serving as an antenna for the BAN system.
  • the BAN communication circuitry and the fingerprint sensing system may disturb each other, thus the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system operates in two separate states so that they do not interfere with each other.
  • the electronic device may, for example, be a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a smart watch, an electronic door lock, or a chip card (a so-called smart card). Furthermore, the electronic device may be a sub-system comprised in a more complex apparatus, such as a vehicle.
  • a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a smart watch, an electronic door lock, or a chip card (a so-called smart card).
  • the electronic device may be a sub-system comprised in a more complex apparatus, such as a vehicle.
  • the sensing structures may, for example, be capacitive sensing structures, each providing a measure indicative of the capacitive coupling between that particular sensing structure and a finger surface touching the sensor surface. Sensing structures at locations corresponding to ridges in the fingerprint will exhibit a stronger capacitive coupling to the finger than sensing structures at locations corresponding to valleys in the fingerprint. Both one and two-dimensional sensors are possible and within the scope of the invention.
  • the read-out circuitry may include circuitry for converting analog signals to digital signals. Such circuitry may include at least one analog to digital converter circuit.
  • the fingerprint sensing system may thus provide a fingerprint pattern signal as a digital signal.
  • the fingerprint pattern signal may be provided as an analog signal.
  • the signals may be analog or digital values indicative of a voltage, which may in turn be proportional to the capacitance of the capacitor constituted by the finger (or other conductive object in the vicinity of the finger detecting structure), the finger detecting structure and the dielectric material there between.
  • the sensed fingerprint pattern may be used for various purposes, such as biometric enrollment or authentication, or fingerprint pattern based navigation etc.
  • the first portion of sensing structures may be the entire array of sensing structures, or only part of the array of sensing structures.
  • the first portion of sensing structures and the second portion of sensing structures may comprise at the same sensing structures or at least some of the same sensing structures.
  • the electronic unit may be any electrical unit which is operable to send and/or receive signals.
  • the electronic unit is arranged so that it can communicate with the body area network communication circuitry (BAN communication circuitry) via the user's body, thus the signal travels through the user's body.
  • the BAN may for example follow the standard IEEE 802.15.6 (Body Area Network) which is part of the 802.15 (Wireless Personal Area Network) series.
  • the transition between the fingerprint sensing state and the body area network communication state may be controlled by a host control unit, for example a control unit comprised in the electronic device comprising the combined fingerprint sensing and BAN communication system.
  • the dielectric structure may advantageously be at least 20 pm thick and have a high dielectric strength to protect the underlying structures of the fingerprint sensing device from wear and tear as well as ESD (electrostatic discharge). Even more advantageously, the dielectric structure may be at least 50 pm thick or even several hundred pm thick.
  • the dielectric structure may be at least partly constituted by a structural part of the electronic device, such as a cover glass or a laminate.
  • the change in in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of the sensing structure and a finger potential of the finger may be obtained by providing a drive signal which alternates between a relatively high potential level and a relatively low potential level to the sensing arrangement.
  • This drive signal may be provided to the sensing arrangement in various ways.
  • a supply circuit may provide the drive signal directly to a sensing element of the sensing arrangement or directly to the sensing structure of the sensing element.
  • a supply circuitry may be configured to provide a drive signal to at least said first portion of sensing structure, the drive signal alternating between a first sensing potential and a second sensing potential, a change in potential difference between the first sensing potential and the second sensing potential resulting in the change in potential difference between the finger potential and the sensing structure potential.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system may serve to, in the body area network communication state, send a communication signal to the electronic unit via the portion of sensing structures and the user's body, and also to receive a communication signal from the electronic unit via the portion of sensing structures and the user's body.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system may act as both a transmitter and a receiver in the body area network communication state.
  • a communication signal may be provided to at least a portion of the sensing structures by the electronic unit, the communication signal being sent from the electronic unit via the user's body to the body area network communication circuitry via the sensing structures.
  • a communication signal may be provided to at least a portion of the sensing structures by the body area network communication circuitry, the
  • the communication signal being sent from the body area network communication circuitry via the user's body to the electronic unit via the sensing structures.
  • existing hardware in the fingerprint sensor e.g. the sensing structures, also for the BAN signal transmission, the need for additional hardware is reduced for the combined system compared to prior art system. Since the fingerprint sensor system is already adapted for capacitive coupling to the finger, the BAN system (i.e. the body area network
  • communication circuitry may advantageously use this functionality also for communicating with the electronic unit in contact with the user's body.
  • the communication signal is provided to the portion of sensing structures only by the body area network communication circuitry, wherein the communication signal is being sent from the body area network communication circuitry via the user's body to the electronic unit via the sensing structures.
  • the communication signal is provided to the portion of sensing structures only by the electronic unit, wherein the communication signal is being sent from the electronic unit via the user's body to the body area network communication circuitry via the sensing structures.
  • only a subset of the array of sensing structures is provided with the communication signal in the body area network communication state.
  • only a subset of the sensing structures may be activated for transmitting the communication signal in the body area network communication state.
  • the subset may be any subset of the sensing structures in the array, and any number of sensing structures.
  • the subset of sensing structures are selected based on a finger position on the array of sensing structures, wherein sensing structures in the vicinity of the finger position or overlapping with the finger position are selected for the subset.
  • the fingerprint sensor may provide an indication of the capacitive coupling between the finger and the sensing structures such that the finger position on the array of sensing structures may be determined. Based on the position of the finger, the subset of sensing structures to be used for transmitting the
  • the selected subset comprises the sensing structures neighboring the finger position or overlapping with the finger position, i.e. the selected subset comprises sensing structures being in contact with the finger.
  • the entire array of sensing structures may also be used for sensing or receiving the communication signal in the body area network communication state.
  • Selecting a subset of sensing structures for transmission of the communication signal in the body area network communication state may be performed by column-row selection in the array of sensing structures.
  • the read-out circuitry may be connected to each of the sensing structures in the array for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and a finger in response to a change in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of the sensing structure and a finger potential of the finger.
  • the body area network communication circuitry may be in an at least partly inactive mode in the fingerprint sensing state. In this way, the interference between the BAN communication circuitry and the sensing arrangement is reduced.
  • the at least partly inactive mode may for example be that the BAN communication circuitry may not communicate with the electronic unit on the user's body, thus receive signals from the electronic unit or send signals to the electronic unit, in the first state.
  • communication circuitry may however, communicate with other external devices in the at least partly inactive mode, for example to send information to the cloud or to a stationary or mobile electronic device.
  • the sensing arrangement may further comprise sensing arrangement controller, wherein a transition between the states is controlled by the sensing arrangement controller.
  • the sensing arrangement e.g. a fingerprint sensor
  • the sensing arrangement controller may be the master in the system, and the BAN-communication circuitry thus serves as a slave, thereby being controlled by the sensing arrangement controller of the sensing arrangement.
  • the sensing arrangement may be configured to provide an instruction signal to the body area network communication circuitry for allowing the body area network communication circuitry to send the communication signal to the electronic unit via the user's body and the sensing structures or to receive the communication signal from the electronic unit.
  • the instruction signal thus provides an efficient implementation for reducing the interference between the BAN communication circuitry and the sensing arrangement.
  • the sensing arrangement may be configured to instruct the body area network communication circuitry to be in an at least partly inactive mode during a time slot in which the system is in the fingerprint sensing state.
  • the sensing signals may be sampled in a first frequency range, and the communication signal is sent in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range, wherein the communication signal is being sent at least partly during a time during which overlaps with a time duration at which said sensing signals are sampled.
  • the sensing signals may be sampled simultaneously as that the communication signal is sent or received.
  • the fingerprint sensing state and the body area network communication state is in this case separated by operating in different frequency bands.
  • the body area network communication circuitry may operate (e.g. send and/or receive signals) at frequencies in the range of 100 MHz up to e.g. 10 GHz, whereas the read-out circuitry may operate at frequencies lower than 100 MHz.
  • a filter circuit may be suitable provided.
  • the body area network is configured to:
  • the communication circuitry may comprise a transceiver for communicating information obtained from the electronic device to an external electronic device.
  • the body area network communication circuitry may communicate with devices other than the electronic unit in the BAN. For example, the body area network communication circuitry may send
  • the transceiver may transmit signals wirelessly to external devices.
  • the body area network communication circuitry may also comprise a transceiver for sending signals to the electronic unit.
  • the system may be configured to:
  • the sensing arrangement may sense the fingerprint pattern of the user's finger in the first state to acquire a verification representation from a fingerprint image, if the verification representation matches an enrolment representation previously enrolled by the user; the system may proceed to read information from the electronic unit of the BAN.
  • the BAN may have more than one electronic unit connected to it.
  • an electronic device comprising a control unit and a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system according to any one of the previous embodiments of the previous aspect.
  • the fingerprint sensor may for example be a capacitive fingerprint sensor.
  • the electronic device may advantageously be a mobile phone.
  • other electronic devices are of course thinkable such as tablets, laptops desktop computers, electronic door locks, etc.
  • the expression “fingerprint image” should be interpreted broadly and to include both a regular “visual image” of a fingerprint of a finger as well as a set of measurements relating to the finger when acquired using the fingerprint sensor.
  • the expression “control unit” should be understood to include any type of computing device, such as an ASIC, a micro-processor, etc. It should also be understood that the actual implementation of such a control unit may be divided between a plurality of devices/circuits.
  • an "enrolment representation” and/or a “verification representation” of a fingerprint image may be any information extracted from the fingerprint image, which is useful for assessing the similarity between fingerprint images acquired at different times.
  • the enrolment/verification representation of the fingerprint image may comprise descriptions of fingerprint features (such as so-called minutiae) and information about the positional relationship between the fingerprint features.
  • the representation of the fingerprint image may be the image itself, or a compressed version of the image.
  • the image may be binarized and/or skeletonized.
  • the present invention relates to a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system for communication with an electronic unit using the body of a user as communication medium, comprising an array of sensing structures; and read-out circuitry connected to each of at least a portion of the sensing structures for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and a finger, and a body area network communication circuitry.
  • the system is controllable between: a fingerprint sensing state, and a body area network communication state in which a signal is provided to at least a portion of the sensing structures by a first of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry, to be sent via the user's body and the sensing structures to the other one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry.
  • Fig 1 schematically illustrates a mobile phone comprising a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system according to an example embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig 2 conceptually shows a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system comprised in the electronic device in fig
  • Fig. 3a-b each illustrates an exemplary application for the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system
  • Fig 4 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system
  • Fig. 5 is an exemplary timing diagram for a coexistence signal
  • Fig 6 is a schematic cross section view of a portion of an embodiment of the fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system; and Fig. 7a-b conceptually illustrates subsets of sensing structures in an array of sensing structures;
  • an electronic device in the form of a mobile phone 100 with a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 and a display unit 104 with a touch screen interface 106.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 and the display unit 104 are together arranged at the front side of the mobile phone 100.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 may, for example, be used for unlocking the mobile phone 100 and/or for authorizing transactions carried out using the mobile phone 100, or for downloading health information from a patient carrying a medical electronic device such as a sensor on his/her body or for unlocking a door equipped with an electronic door lock.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 may of course also be placed on the backside of the mobile phone 100.
  • the mobile phone 100 shown in Fig. 1 further comprises a first antenna for WLAN/Wi-Fi communication, a second antenna for telecommunication communication, a microphone, a speaker, and a phone control unit.
  • a first antenna for WLAN/Wi-Fi communication for WLAN/Wi-Fi communication
  • a second antenna for telecommunication communication for telecommunication communication
  • a microphone for telecommunication communication
  • a speaker for telecommunication communication
  • a microphone for a speaker
  • a phone control unit Further hardware elements are of course possibly comprised with the mobile phone.
  • the invention may be applicable in relation to any other type of portable electronic device, such as a laptop, a remote control, a tablet computer, or any other type of present or future similarly configured device.
  • the sensing arrangement of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 is configured to comprise a large plurality of sensing structures, preferably arranged as a two-dimensional array.
  • the two-dimensional array may have sizes depending on the planned implementation and in an embodiment 160x160 pixels are used. Other sizes are of course possible and within the scope of the invention, including two- dimensional array with less pixels as compared to the above example.
  • a single sensing structure (also denoted as a pixel) is in Fig. 2 indicated by reference numeral 202.
  • Fig. 3a schematically shows an implementation of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 integrated in an electronic device 100.
  • an electronic unit 302 arranged in contact with a user's body 301 .
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 comprises sensing structures (not shown in Fig. 3) such that a body area network communication circuitry (not shown in Fig. 3) (such as a transceiver) can communicate with the electronic unit 302 via the user's body, thus the user's body serves as a conduction medium.
  • the sensing structures are also used for sensing a fingerprint pattern of the user.
  • the body area network communication circuitry may comprise a transceiver for sending communication signals (denoted 306) to an external device 308 such as a control unit located remotely.
  • the communication signals provided to the externals device may for example be data obtained from the electronic unit 302.
  • the transceiver may communicate via wires or wirelessly with the external device 308.
  • Fig. 3b schematically illustrates another possible implementation of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 is used for unlocking an electronic lock 312 on a door 314.
  • an authentication signal 304 may be sent from the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 through the user's body to the electronic lock 213 in order to open the door 314, or at least unlock (or lock) the door 314.
  • the authentication signal 304 will of course be recognizable by a control circuitry in the electronic lock 312, the control circuitry being configured to control the lock to be in a locked state or an unlocked state.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 enables a secure way of transmitting authentication signals to electronic units (e.g. lock 312 or unit 302).
  • electronic units e.g. lock 312 or unit 302
  • another advantageous security aspect is that it is not necessary to store the sensitive fingerprint enrolment data at the lock 312 (or at another electronic unit 302) which may constitute a security risk.
  • a communication signal may be either transmitted from the body area network communication circuitry in the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 to the electronic unit 312 or 302 via the sensing structures and the user's body, or a communication signal may be transmitted from the electronic unit 312 or 302 to the body area network communication circuitry in the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 via the sensing structures and the user's body.
  • Fig. 4 schematically shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention.
  • the sensing arrangement 402 comprised a fingerprint sensor of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 400 is configured to communicate with the body area network communication circuitry 404 to instruct the body area network communication circuitry 404 when to read data from the electronic unit 302 (see Fig. 3a-b) or send communication signals to the electronic unit 302 arranged on or near the user's body.
  • the sensing structures (not shown) are provided with a drive signal, and the read-out circuitry of the sensing arrangement is configured to provide sensing signals indicative of the capacitive coupling between a finger and the sensing structures.
  • the sensing arrangement is configured to instruct the body area network communication circuitry 404 when it is allowed to read/send signals from/to the electronic unit via the sensing structures. This can be performed by sending an instruction signal CS (see also Fig. 5) to the body area network communication circuitry 404.
  • the change in potential difference between the finger and the sensing structure is provided by a change in potential of the sensing structure reference potential with respect to the electronic device reference potential or with respect to a sensing arrangement ground.
  • Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a timing diagram of a "coexistence signal” (CS), e.g. a control signal provided by the sensing arrangement to the body area network communication circuitry for transitions between the fingerprint sensing state and the body area network communication state.
  • CS coexistence signal
  • the sensing arrangement may have finished sensing a fingerprint pattern of a user's finger, and may thus allow the body area network communication circuitry to communicate with the electronic unit via the sensing structures, thereby the system transitions to the body area network communication state.
  • the transition is initiated by the sensing arrangement which is the master in the system, consequently the body area network communication circuitry is the slave.
  • the body area network communication circuitry is the slave.
  • the communication circuitry is in an at least partly inactive mode, thereby not communicating with the electronic unit in contact with the user's body via the sensing structures.
  • the system returns to the fingerprint sensing state.
  • the control signal described in Fig. 5 is provided either by the sensing arrangement or by a host electronic device to the body area network communication circuitry.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic cross section view of a portion of a fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400 according to embodiments of the invention with a finger 19 placed on top of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400.
  • the finger 19 has a finger potential FGND.
  • the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400 comprises a plurality of sensing structures 202, here in the form of metal plates underneath a dielectric structure 24, and read-out circuitry 902 connected to each of the sensing structures 202.
  • the read-out circuitry comprises a plurality of charge amplifiers 901 , a multiplexer 39, a sampling circuitry 220, an ADC 809, and selection circuitry, here functionally illustrated as a simple selection switch 40 for allowing selection/activation of different sensing elements 8.
  • the selection switch 40 When the indicated sensing element 8 is selected for sensing, the selection switch 40 is closed to connect the output 44 of the charge amplifier to the readout line 48.
  • the readout line 48 is connected to the multiplexer 39.
  • additional readout lines providing sensing signals from other groups of sensing elements are also connected to the multiplexer 39.
  • the charge amplifier 901 comprises at least one amplifier stage, here schematically illustrated as an operational amplifier (op amp) 41 having a first input (negative input) 42 connected to the sensing structure 202, a second input (positive input) 43 connected to sensor ground SGND via a supply circuitry 919, and an output 44.
  • the charge amplifier 901 comprises a feedback capacitor 45 connected between the first input 42 and the output 44, and reset circuitry, here functionally illustrated as a switch 46, for allowing controllable discharge of the feedback capacitor 45.
  • the charge amplifier 901 may be reset by operating the reset circuitry 46 to discharge the feedback capacitor 45.
  • the potential at the first input 42 follows the potential applied to the second input 43.
  • the potential at the first input 42 may be substantially the same as the potential at the second input 43, or there may be a substantially fixed offset between the potential at the first input 42 and the potential at the second input 43.
  • the drive signal is provided to the second input 43 of the op amp 41.
  • the potential of the first input 42 of the op amp 41 substantially follows the potential (i.e. voltage) of the second input 43 such that the drive signal provided by a supply circuitry 919 is in effect applied to the sensing structure 202.
  • the change in potential difference between the finger 19 and the sensing structure 202 is achieved by providing the drive signal to the second input 43 of the op amp 41 .
  • the change in potential difference between the sensing structure 202 and the finger 19 will in turn result in a change of the charge carried by the sensing structure 202 that is indicative of the capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structure 202.
  • the sensing signal V s provided at the output 44 of the charge amplifier 901 will be indicative of this change of charge carried by the sensing structure 202 and thus of the local capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structure 202.
  • a sensing arrangement controller 802 is shown to control the selection circuitry 40, the multiplexer 39, the sampling circuitry 220 and the ADC 809.
  • the sensing arrangement controller 802 may be an external controller comprised in the host electronic device (e.g. mobile phone 100 in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3a-b) or it may be integrated in the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400.
  • the sensing may be an external controller comprised in the host electronic device (e.g. mobile phone 100 in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3a-b) or it may be integrated in the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400.
  • arrangement controller 802 may also be configured to control the transition between the fingerprint sensing state and the body area network
  • the body area network communication circuitry 404 transmits the communication signal 304 to the sensing arrangement 402 as a potential periodically varying between a relatively high potential to a relatively low potential similar to the drive signal.
  • the body area network communication circuitry 404 may thus comprise supply circuitry for providing such a periodically varying potential.
  • the communication signal 304 may be provided to the sensing structures 202 via communication line 50.
  • the communication signal 304 is transmitted to the user's body via the capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structures 202.
  • the body area network communication circuitry 404 is connected to the sensing structures 202 via switching circuitries 51 which allows for selecting individual sensing structures for transmitting the communication signals 304 to the electronic unit on the users body.
  • switching circuitries 53 connected between the sensing structure 202 and the charge amplifier 901 is configured to disconnect the sensing structure 202 from the charge amplifier 901 in the body area network communication state.
  • the communication signal When a communication signal 304' is received from an electronic unit in the body area network communication state, the communication signal is detected by the fingerprint read-out circuitry 902 also via the capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structures 202. The communication signal is subsequently transmitted from the sensing arrangement 402 to the body area network communication circuitry 404 via the multiplexer 39 and a switching circuitry 52.
  • the switching circuitry 52 may be used for disconnecting the body area network communication circuitry 404 from the sensing arrangement 402 in the fingerprint sensing state.
  • the switching circuitries 51 allows for selecting individual sensing structures for receiving the communication signals 304' from the electronic unit on arranged in contact with the user' body 301 . Further, the selection circuitry 40 may optionally be used for selecting individual sensing elements from which the communication signal 304' is read.
  • Fig. 7a-b conceptually illustrates that only a subset of sensing structures may be used for transmitting the communication signal in the body area network communication state.
  • Fig. 7a illustrates an array of sensing structures 202 (only one is numbered) and that a subset 910 of sensing structures have been selected for transmitting the communication signal in the body area network communication state.
  • This subset 910 is fixedly chosen in the case illustrated in fig. 10a. More advantageously, as illustrated in Fig. 7b, the subset is chosen based on the finger position on the array of sensing structures. As is conceptually illustrated in Fig. 7b, the subset 910 is chosen to include the sensing structures at the location of the finger position. The finger position thus defined by the sensing structures sensing the capacitive coupling to the finger 19, as determined by the read-out circuitry.
  • Selection of subsets of sensing structures may be performed in various ways. For example, a column-row selection circuitry may be used which selectively enables sensing structures for transmitting the communication signal and thus act as a BAN-antenna. Additional possible ways of enabling subsets of sensing structures include enabling single sensing structures via individual selection circuitries comprising e.g. switches. For example, the switches 40 illustrated in fig. 6 may serve as selection circuitry for receiving communication signals. A further possibility is that the switches 51 are used for selecting individual sensing structures for transmission and/or receiving communication signals.
  • CMOS technology but other techniques and processes may also be feasible.
  • an insulating substrate may be used and/or thin-film technology may be utilized for some or all process steps needed to manufacture the sensing arrangement.
  • a control unit or controller in the invention may include a
  • control unit may also, or instead, each include an application specific integrated circuit, a
  • control unit includes a programmable device such as the microprocessor, microcontroller or programmable digital signal processor mentioned above, the processor may further include computer executable code that controls operation of the programmable device. It should be understood that all or some parts of the functionality provided by means of the control unit (or generally discussed as "processing circuitry") may be at least partly integrated with the fingerprint sensor, or may be part of the electronic device.
  • control functionality of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwire system.
  • Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable medium for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon.
  • Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor.
  • machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor.
  • a network or another communications connection either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless
  • Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system (400) for communication with an electronic unit (302, 312) using the body of a user as communication medium, comprising an array of sensing structures(202); and read-out circuitry (902) connected to each of at least a portion of the sensing structures for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and a finger, anda body area network communication circuitry. The system is controllable between:a fingerprint sensing state,and a body area network communication state in which asignal is provided toat least a portion of the sensing structures by a first of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry, to be sentvia the user's body and the sensing structures to the other one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry.

Description

FINGERPRINT SENSING AND BODY AREA NETWORK COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system for communication with an electronic unit using the body of a user as communication medium. The present invention further relates to an electronic device comprising such a combined system.
Background of the Invention
Various types of biometric systems are used more and more in order to provide for increased security and/or enhanced user convenience.
In particular, fingerprint sensing systems have been adopted in, for example, consumer electronic devices, thanks to their small form factor, high
performance and user acceptance.
There is further an increasing usage of so-called body area networks in which electronic equipment is connected to a network using the body as communication medium. For example, in the medical industry it is has become common to connect e.g. sensors to a patients body for measuring health information from the patient, the information is downloaded via the body area network of the patient. The body area network (so-called BAN) can be used for both downloading information from the electronic equipment and for uploading information to the electronic equipment via the BAN. In order to connect to the BAN, a connection point, e.g. antenna is typically used.
To protect the user, the BAN requires authorization to access the network. This can be implemented by requiring the user to enter a password each time. For higher level of security and a more time efficient way is to implement a fingerprint sensor for authorization.
US2015/0163221 discloses to use a fingerprint sensor for allowing access to a BAN. In US2015/0163221 , the BAN system comprises a (yellow) ring which is simply attached to the scanner for connecting to the BAN. An electrode is arranged to detect the presence of a user, to thereby control the BAN to send requests and the fingerprint sensor to start scanning for biometric data.
Although the solution proposed by US2015/0163221 provides for access via a fingerprint sensor there still appears to be room for improvement related to integration of BAN components and fingerprint sensor components and to coexistence of the BAN system and the fingerprint sensor.
Summary
In view of above-mentioned and other drawbacks of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system with improved integration. According to a first aspect of the present invention, it is therefore provided a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system for communication with an electronic unit using the body of a user as communication medium, comprising: a sensing arrangement comprising: an array of sensing structures; and read-out circuitry connected to each of at least a first portion of the sensing structures for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each of the first portion of sensing structures and a finger in response to a change in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of the sensing structure and a finger potential of the finger, a body area network communication circuitry, wherein the system is controllable between: a fingerprint sensing state, in which the readout circuitry is controlled to provide the sensing signals indicative of the capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and the user's finger when the finger is placed for sensing the capacitive coupling between each of the first portion of sensing structures and the finger; and a body area network communication state in which a communication signal is provided to at least a second portion of the sensing structures by one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry, the communication signal being sent from the one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry via the user's body and via the second portion of sensing structures to the other one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry.
The present invention is based upon the realization that a fingerprint sensor is perfectly positioned to incorporate a connection means (i.e. an antenna) also for connecting to an electronic unit with the user body as a transmission medium. Such connection means is the sensing structures of the fingerprint sensing area also used for sensing a fingerprint pattern. The location of the sensing structures for the BAN-transmission is optimal since it will be touched by the finger for fingerprint acquisition thus thereby providing sufficient physical contact between the finger and the sensing structures for serving as an antenna for the BAN system.
Furthermore, it has been realized that the BAN communication circuitry and the fingerprint sensing system may disturb each other, thus the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system operates in two separate states so that they do not interfere with each other.
The electronic device may, for example, be a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a smart watch, an electronic door lock, or a chip card (a so-called smart card). Furthermore, the electronic device may be a sub-system comprised in a more complex apparatus, such as a vehicle.
The sensing structures may, for example, be capacitive sensing structures, each providing a measure indicative of the capacitive coupling between that particular sensing structure and a finger surface touching the sensor surface. Sensing structures at locations corresponding to ridges in the fingerprint will exhibit a stronger capacitive coupling to the finger than sensing structures at locations corresponding to valleys in the fingerprint. Both one and two-dimensional sensors are possible and within the scope of the invention.
The read-out circuitry may include circuitry for converting analog signals to digital signals. Such circuitry may include at least one analog to digital converter circuit. In such embodiments, the fingerprint sensing system may thus provide a fingerprint pattern signal as a digital signal. In other embodiments, the fingerprint pattern signal may be provided as an analog signal. For example, the signals may be analog or digital values indicative of a voltage, which may in turn be proportional to the capacitance of the capacitor constituted by the finger (or other conductive object in the vicinity of the finger detecting structure), the finger detecting structure and the dielectric material there between.
The sensed fingerprint pattern may be used for various purposes, such as biometric enrollment or authentication, or fingerprint pattern based navigation etc.
The first portion of sensing structures may be the entire array of sensing structures, or only part of the array of sensing structures.
The first portion of sensing structures and the second portion of sensing structures may comprise at the same sensing structures or at least some of the same sensing structures.
The electronic unit may be any electrical unit which is operable to send and/or receive signals. The electronic unit is arranged so that it can communicate with the body area network communication circuitry (BAN communication circuitry) via the user's body, thus the signal travels through the user's body. The BAN may for example follow the standard IEEE 802.15.6 (Body Area Network) which is part of the 802.15 (Wireless Personal Area Network) series.
The transition between the fingerprint sensing state and the body area network communication state may be controlled by a host control unit, for example a control unit comprised in the electronic device comprising the combined fingerprint sensing and BAN communication system.
The dielectric structure may advantageously be at least 20 pm thick and have a high dielectric strength to protect the underlying structures of the fingerprint sensing device from wear and tear as well as ESD (electrostatic discharge). Even more advantageously, the dielectric structure may be at least 50 pm thick or even several hundred pm thick. For instance, the dielectric structure may be at least partly constituted by a structural part of the electronic device, such as a cover glass or a laminate. The change in in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of the sensing structure and a finger potential of the finger may be obtained by providing a drive signal which alternates between a relatively high potential level and a relatively low potential level to the sensing arrangement. This drive signal may be provided to the sensing arrangement in various ways. For example, a supply circuit may provide the drive signal directly to a sensing element of the sensing arrangement or directly to the sensing structure of the sensing element.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, a supply circuitry may be configured to provide a drive signal to at least said first portion of sensing structure, the drive signal alternating between a first sensing potential and a second sensing potential, a change in potential difference between the first sensing potential and the second sensing potential resulting in the change in potential difference between the finger potential and the sensing structure potential.
It should be noted that the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system may serve to, in the body area network communication state, send a communication signal to the electronic unit via the portion of sensing structures and the user's body, and also to receive a communication signal from the electronic unit via the portion of sensing structures and the user's body. In other words, the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system may act as both a transmitter and a receiver in the body area network communication state. Accordingly, in the body area network communication state, a communication signal may be provided to at least a portion of the sensing structures by the electronic unit, the communication signal being sent from the electronic unit via the user's body to the body area network communication circuitry via the sensing structures. Further, in the body area network communication state a communication signal may be provided to at least a portion of the sensing structures by the body area network communication circuitry, the
communication signal being sent from the body area network communication circuitry via the user's body to the electronic unit via the sensing structures. Advantageously, by using existing hardware in the fingerprint sensor, e.g. the sensing structures, also for the BAN signal transmission, the need for additional hardware is reduced for the combined system compared to prior art system. Since the fingerprint sensor system is already adapted for capacitive coupling to the finger, the BAN system (i.e. the body area network
communication circuitry) may advantageously use this functionality also for communicating with the electronic unit in contact with the user's body.
In embodiments of the invention, in the body area network
communication state, the communication signal is provided to the portion of sensing structures only by the body area network communication circuitry, wherein the communication signal is being sent from the body area network communication circuitry via the user's body to the electronic unit via the sensing structures.
In embodiments of the invention, in the body area network
communication state, the communication signal is provided to the portion of sensing structures only by the electronic unit, wherein the communication signal is being sent from the electronic unit via the user's body to the body area network communication circuitry via the sensing structures.
According to one embodiment of the invention, only a subset of the array of sensing structures is provided with the communication signal in the body area network communication state. In other words, only a subset of the sensing structures may be activated for transmitting the communication signal in the body area network communication state. The subset may be any subset of the sensing structures in the array, and any number of sensing structures. Using only a subset of sensing structures for the transmission of the communication signal advantageously reduces the power consumption at least in the body area network communication state.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the subset of sensing structures are selected based on a finger position on the array of sensing structures, wherein sensing structures in the vicinity of the finger position or overlapping with the finger position are selected for the subset. Accordingly, the fingerprint sensor may provide an indication of the capacitive coupling between the finger and the sensing structures such that the finger position on the array of sensing structures may be determined. Based on the position of the finger, the subset of sensing structures to be used for transmitting the
communication signal may be chosen. Preferably, the selected subset comprises the sensing structures neighboring the finger position or overlapping with the finger position, i.e. the selected subset comprises sensing structures being in contact with the finger.
It should be noted that the entire array of sensing structures may also be used for sensing or receiving the communication signal in the body area network communication state.
Selecting a subset of sensing structures for transmission of the communication signal in the body area network communication state may be performed by column-row selection in the array of sensing structures.
The read-out circuitry may be connected to each of the sensing structures in the array for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and a finger in response to a change in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of the sensing structure and a finger potential of the finger.
In one embodiment, the body area network communication circuitry may be in an at least partly inactive mode in the fingerprint sensing state. In this way, the interference between the BAN communication circuitry and the sensing arrangement is reduced. The at least partly inactive mode may for example be that the BAN communication circuitry may not communicate with the electronic unit on the user's body, thus receive signals from the electronic unit or send signals to the electronic unit, in the first state. The BAN
communication circuitry may however, communicate with other external devices in the at least partly inactive mode, for example to send information to the cloud or to a stationary or mobile electronic device.
According to one embodiment, the sensing arrangement may further comprise sensing arrangement controller, wherein a transition between the states is controlled by the sensing arrangement controller. Thus, the sensing arrangement, e.g. a fingerprint sensor, may be the master in the system, and the BAN-communication circuitry thus serves as a slave, thereby being controlled by the sensing arrangement controller of the sensing arrangement.
In one embodiment, the sensing arrangement may be configured to provide an instruction signal to the body area network communication circuitry for allowing the body area network communication circuitry to send the communication signal to the electronic unit via the user's body and the sensing structures or to receive the communication signal from the electronic unit. The instruction signal thus provides an efficient implementation for reducing the interference between the BAN communication circuitry and the sensing arrangement.
In one embodiment, the sensing arrangement may be configured to instruct the body area network communication circuitry to be in an at least partly inactive mode during a time slot in which the system is in the fingerprint sensing state.
In another embodiment, the sensing signals may be sampled in a first frequency range, and the communication signal is sent in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range, wherein the communication signal is being sent at least partly during a time during which overlaps with a time duration at which said sensing signals are sampled. Thus, the sensing signals may be sampled simultaneously as that the communication signal is sent or received. The fingerprint sensing state and the body area network communication state is in this case separated by operating in different frequency bands. For example, the body area network communication circuitry may operate (e.g. send and/or receive signals) at frequencies in the range of 100 MHz up to e.g. 10 GHz, whereas the read-out circuitry may operate at frequencies lower than 100 MHz. For reducing interference between the two states, a filter circuit may be suitable provided.
According to another embodiment, the body area network
communication circuitry may comprise a transceiver for communicating information obtained from the electronic device to an external electronic device. In other words, the body area network communication circuitry may communicate with devices other than the electronic unit in the BAN. For example, the body area network communication circuitry may send
information read form the electronic unit on the user's body to an external communication center e.g. a server or a central computer, or even to a body area network communication circuitry of a second BAN. The transceiver may transmit signals wirelessly to external devices.
The body area network communication circuitry may also comprise a transceiver for sending signals to the electronic unit.
According to one embodiment, the system may be configured to:
perform, in the a fingerprint sensing state, a user authentication procedure to authenticate the user, when the result of the authentication procedure indicates a successful authentication of the user, read, using the body area network communication circuitry, information from the electronic device. Thus, the sensing arrangement may sense the fingerprint pattern of the user's finger in the first state to acquire a verification representation from a fingerprint image, if the verification representation matches an enrolment representation previously enrolled by the user; the system may proceed to read information from the electronic unit of the BAN. Note that the BAN may have more than one electronic unit connected to it.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device comprising a control unit and a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system according to any one of the previous embodiments of the previous aspect.
The fingerprint sensor may for example be a capacitive fingerprint sensor.
Furthermore, the electronic device may advantageously be a mobile phone. However, other electronic devices are of course thinkable such as tablets, laptops desktop computers, electronic door locks, etc.
Further embodiments of, and effects obtained through this second aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above for the first aspect of the invention.
Within the context of the invention, the expression "fingerprint image" should be interpreted broadly and to include both a regular "visual image" of a fingerprint of a finger as well as a set of measurements relating to the finger when acquired using the fingerprint sensor. In addition, the expression "control unit" should be understood to include any type of computing device, such as an ASIC, a micro-processor, etc. It should also be understood that the actual implementation of such a control unit may be divided between a plurality of devices/circuits.
In the context of the present application, an "enrolment representation" and/or a "verification representation" of a fingerprint image may be any information extracted from the fingerprint image, which is useful for assessing the similarity between fingerprint images acquired at different times. For instance, the enrolment/verification representation of the fingerprint image may comprise descriptions of fingerprint features (such as so-called minutiae) and information about the positional relationship between the fingerprint features. Alternatively, the representation of the fingerprint image may be the image itself, or a compressed version of the image. For example, the image may be binarized and/or skeletonized.
Various ways of extracting such verification representation or enrolment representation from a fingerprint image are well-known to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
In summary, the present invention relates to a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system for communication with an electronic unit using the body of a user as communication medium, comprising an array of sensing structures; and read-out circuitry connected to each of at least a portion of the sensing structures for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and a finger, and a body area network communication circuitry. The system is controllable between: a fingerprint sensing state, and a body area network communication state in which a signal is provided to at least a portion of the sensing structures by a first of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry, to be sent via the user's body and the sensing structures to the other one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry. Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled addressee realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing an example embodiment of the invention, wherein:
Fig 1 schematically illustrates a mobile phone comprising a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system according to an example embodiment of the present invention;
Fig 2 conceptually shows a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system comprised in the electronic device in fig
1 ;
Fig. 3a-b each illustrates an exemplary application for the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system;
Fig 4 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system;
Fig. 5 is an exemplary timing diagram for a coexistence signal;
Fig 6 is a schematic cross section view of a portion of an embodiment of the fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system; and Fig. 7a-b conceptually illustrates subsets of sensing structures in an array of sensing structures;
Detailed Description of Example Embodiments
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout. For example, various embodiments of the fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to the present invention are mainly described with reference to an electronic device in the form of a mobile phone. Although this is convenient for many applications, it should be noted that many other kinds of electronic devices such as desktop computers, tablets, laptops, or stationary devices e.g. at hospitals for downloading health information from a patient, or electronic door locks.
Turning now to the drawings and to Fig 1 in particular, there is schematically illustrated an electronic device according to embodiments of the present invention, in the form of a mobile phone 100 with a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 and a display unit 104 with a touch screen interface 106. In this embodiment the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 and the display unit 104 are together arranged at the front side of the mobile phone 100. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 may, for example, be used for unlocking the mobile phone 100 and/or for authorizing transactions carried out using the mobile phone 100, or for downloading health information from a patient carrying a medical electronic device such as a sensor on his/her body or for unlocking a door equipped with an electronic door lock. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 may of course also be placed on the backside of the mobile phone 100.
Preferably and as is apparent for the skilled person, the mobile phone 100 shown in Fig. 1 further comprises a first antenna for WLAN/Wi-Fi communication, a second antenna for telecommunication communication, a microphone, a speaker, and a phone control unit. Further hardware elements are of course possibly comprised with the mobile phone. It should furthermore be noted that the invention may be applicable in relation to any other type of portable electronic device, such as a laptop, a remote control, a tablet computer, or any other type of present or future similarly configured device.
With reference to Fig. 2, there is conceptually illustrated a somewhat enlarged view of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102. In the case of employing a capacitive sensing technology, the sensing arrangement of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 102 is configured to comprise a large plurality of sensing structures, preferably arranged as a two-dimensional array. The two-dimensional array may have sizes depending on the planned implementation and in an embodiment 160x160 pixels are used. Other sizes are of course possible and within the scope of the invention, including two- dimensional array with less pixels as compared to the above example. A single sensing structure (also denoted as a pixel) is in Fig. 2 indicated by reference numeral 202.
Fig. 3a schematically shows an implementation of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 integrated in an electronic device 100. There is shown an electronic unit 302 arranged in contact with a user's body 301 . The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 comprises sensing structures (not shown in Fig. 3) such that a body area network communication circuitry (not shown in Fig. 3) (such as a transceiver) can communicate with the electronic unit 302 via the user's body, thus the user's body serves as a conduction medium. The sensing structures are also used for sensing a fingerprint pattern of the user. Although there is here only shown a single electronic unit 302, there may in practice be more than one electronic unit arranged in contact with the user's body and which can communicate (signals denoted 304) via the user's body 301 with the body area network communication circuitry. The body area network communication circuitry may comprise a transceiver for sending communication signals (denoted 306) to an external device 308 such as a control unit located remotely. The communication signals provided to the externals device may for example be data obtained from the electronic unit 302. The transceiver may communicate via wires or wirelessly with the external device 308.
Fig. 3b schematically illustrates another possible implementation of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102. In Fig. 3b, the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 is used for unlocking an electronic lock 312 on a door 314. In such an application, an authentication signal 304 may be sent from the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 through the user's body to the electronic lock 213 in order to open the door 314, or at least unlock (or lock) the door 314. The authentication signal 304 will of course be recognizable by a control circuitry in the electronic lock 312, the control circuitry being configured to control the lock to be in a locked state or an unlocked state. Advantageously, the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 enables a secure way of transmitting authentication signals to electronic units (e.g. lock 312 or unit 302). Furthermore, another advantageous security aspect is that it is not necessary to store the sensitive fingerprint enrolment data at the lock 312 (or at another electronic unit 302) which may constitute a security risk.
It should be noted that in each of the applications (and other applications not explicitly mentioned herein) described in Fig. 3a-b, a communication signal may be either transmitted from the body area network communication circuitry in the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 to the electronic unit 312 or 302 via the sensing structures and the user's body, or a communication signal may be transmitted from the electronic unit 312 or 302 to the body area network communication circuitry in the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 102 via the sensing structures and the user's body.
Fig. 4 schematically shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 4, the sensing arrangement 402 comprised a fingerprint sensor of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network system 400 is configured to communicate with the body area network communication circuitry 404 to instruct the body area network communication circuitry 404 when to read data from the electronic unit 302 (see Fig. 3a-b) or send communication signals to the electronic unit 302 arranged on or near the user's body. In this embodiment, in the fingerprint sensing state, the sensing structures (not shown) are provided with a drive signal, and the read-out circuitry of the sensing arrangement is configured to provide sensing signals indicative of the capacitive coupling between a finger and the sensing structures. The sensing arrangement is configured to instruct the body area network communication circuitry 404 when it is allowed to read/send signals from/to the electronic unit via the sensing structures. This can be performed by sending an instruction signal CS (see also Fig. 5) to the body area network communication circuitry 404. The change in potential difference between the finger and the sensing structure is provided by a change in potential of the sensing structure reference potential with respect to the electronic device reference potential or with respect to a sensing arrangement ground.
Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a timing diagram of a "coexistence signal" (CS), e.g. a control signal provided by the sensing arrangement to the body area network communication circuitry for transitions between the fingerprint sensing state and the body area network communication state. During a first time slot ti the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system is in a fingerprint sensing state. After time t-i, the sensing arrangement may have finished sensing a fingerprint pattern of a user's finger, and may thus allow the body area network communication circuitry to communicate with the electronic unit via the sensing structures, thereby the system transitions to the body area network communication state. The transition is initiated by the sensing arrangement which is the master in the system, consequently the body area network communication circuitry is the slave. Thus, first (during t-i) the fingerprint pattern is read, subsequently (during t2), the electronic unit is read by the body area communication circuitry. In the fingerprint sensing state, the body area network
communication circuitry is in an at least partly inactive mode, thereby not communicating with the electronic unit in contact with the user's body via the sensing structures. Optionally, after time t2, the system returns to the fingerprint sensing state. The control signal described in Fig. 5 is provided either by the sensing arrangement or by a host electronic device to the body area network communication circuitry.
Fig. 6 is a schematic cross section view of a portion of a fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400 according to embodiments of the invention with a finger 19 placed on top of the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400. The finger 19 has a finger potential FGND. As is schematically shown in fig 6, the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400 comprises a plurality of sensing structures 202, here in the form of metal plates underneath a dielectric structure 24, and read-out circuitry 902 connected to each of the sensing structures 202. In the example embodiment of fig 6, the read-out circuitry comprises a plurality of charge amplifiers 901 , a multiplexer 39, a sampling circuitry 220, an ADC 809, and selection circuitry, here functionally illustrated as a simple selection switch 40 for allowing selection/activation of different sensing elements 8.
When the indicated sensing element 8 is selected for sensing, the selection switch 40 is closed to connect the output 44 of the charge amplifier to the readout line 48. The readout line 48 is connected to the multiplexer 39. As is schematically indicated in Fig 6, additional readout lines providing sensing signals from other groups of sensing elements are also connected to the multiplexer 39.
The charge amplifier 901 comprises at least one amplifier stage, here schematically illustrated as an operational amplifier (op amp) 41 having a first input (negative input) 42 connected to the sensing structure 202, a second input (positive input) 43 connected to sensor ground SGND via a supply circuitry 919, and an output 44. In addition, the charge amplifier 901 comprises a feedback capacitor 45 connected between the first input 42 and the output 44, and reset circuitry, here functionally illustrated as a switch 46, for allowing controllable discharge of the feedback capacitor 45. The charge amplifier 901 may be reset by operating the reset circuitry 46 to discharge the feedback capacitor 45. As is often the case for an op amp 41 , the potential at the first input 42 follows the potential applied to the second input 43. Depending on the particular amplifier configuration, the potential at the first input 42 may be substantially the same as the potential at the second input 43, or there may be a substantially fixed offset between the potential at the first input 42 and the potential at the second input 43.
At least when the fingerprint sensing and body area network system 400 is in a fingerprint sensing state, the drive signal is provided to the second input 43 of the op amp 41. As discussed above, the potential of the first input 42 of the op amp 41 substantially follows the potential (i.e. voltage) of the second input 43 such that the drive signal provided by a supply circuitry 919 is in effect applied to the sensing structure 202. Thereby, the change in potential difference between the finger 19 and the sensing structure 202 is achieved by providing the drive signal to the second input 43 of the op amp 41 . The change in potential difference between the sensing structure 202 and the finger 19 will in turn result in a change of the charge carried by the sensing structure 202 that is indicative of the capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structure 202. The sensing signal Vs provided at the output 44 of the charge amplifier 901 will be indicative of this change of charge carried by the sensing structure 202 and thus of the local capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structure 202.
In fig 6, a sensing arrangement controller 802 is shown to control the selection circuitry 40, the multiplexer 39, the sampling circuitry 220 and the ADC 809. The sensing arrangement controller 802 may be an external controller comprised in the host electronic device (e.g. mobile phone 100 in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3a-b) or it may be integrated in the combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system 400. The sensing
arrangement controller 802 may also be configured to control the transition between the fingerprint sensing state and the body area network
communication state.
With further reference to Fig. 6, now discussing the body area network communication state. When the communication signal 304 e.g. comprising authentication information for an electronic door lock (Fig. 3b) or other type of data (e.g. Fig. 3a) to be transmitted via BAN communication to the electronic unit, the body area network communication circuitry 404 transmits the communication signal 304 to the sensing arrangement 402 as a potential periodically varying between a relatively high potential to a relatively low potential similar to the drive signal. The body area network communication circuitry 404 may thus comprise supply circuitry for providing such a periodically varying potential. The communication signal 304 may be provided to the sensing structures 202 via communication line 50. The communication signal 304 is transmitted to the user's body via the capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structures 202. As illustrated in this exemplary embodiment in Fig. 6, the body area network communication circuitry 404 is connected to the sensing structures 202 via switching circuitries 51 which allows for selecting individual sensing structures for transmitting the communication signals 304 to the electronic unit on the users body. Furthermore, switching circuitries 53 connected between the sensing structure 202 and the charge amplifier 901 is configured to disconnect the sensing structure 202 from the charge amplifier 901 in the body area network communication state.
When a communication signal 304' is received from an electronic unit in the body area network communication state, the communication signal is detected by the fingerprint read-out circuitry 902 also via the capacitive coupling between the finger 19 and the sensing structures 202. The communication signal is subsequently transmitted from the sensing arrangement 402 to the body area network communication circuitry 404 via the multiplexer 39 and a switching circuitry 52. The switching circuitry 52 may be used for disconnecting the body area network communication circuitry 404 from the sensing arrangement 402 in the fingerprint sensing state. The switching circuitries 51 allows for selecting individual sensing structures for receiving the communication signals 304' from the electronic unit on arranged in contact with the user' body 301 . Further, the selection circuitry 40 may optionally be used for selecting individual sensing elements from which the communication signal 304' is read.
Fig. 7a-b conceptually illustrates that only a subset of sensing structures may be used for transmitting the communication signal in the body area network communication state. Fig. 7a illustrates an array of sensing structures 202 (only one is numbered) and that a subset 910 of sensing structures have been selected for transmitting the communication signal in the body area network communication state. This subset 910 is fixedly chosen in the case illustrated in fig. 10a. More advantageously, as illustrated in Fig. 7b, the subset is chosen based on the finger position on the array of sensing structures. As is conceptually illustrated in Fig. 7b, the subset 910 is chosen to include the sensing structures at the location of the finger position. The finger position thus defined by the sensing structures sensing the capacitive coupling to the finger 19, as determined by the read-out circuitry.
Selection of subsets of sensing structures may be performed in various ways. For example, a column-row selection circuitry may be used which selectively enables sensing structures for transmitting the communication signal and thus act as a BAN-antenna. Additional possible ways of enabling subsets of sensing structures include enabling single sensing structures via individual selection circuitries comprising e.g. switches. For example, the switches 40 illustrated in fig. 6 may serve as selection circuitry for receiving communication signals. A further possibility is that the switches 51 are used for selecting individual sensing structures for transmission and/or receiving communication signals.
The sensing arrangement may advantageously be manufactured using
CMOS technology, but other techniques and processes may also be feasible. For instance, an insulating substrate may be used and/or thin-film technology may be utilized for some or all process steps needed to manufacture the sensing arrangement.
A control unit or controller in the invention may include a
microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable digital signal processor or another programmable device. The control unit (or controller) may also, or instead, each include an application specific integrated circuit, a
programmable gate array or programmable array logic, a programmable logic device, or a digital signal processor. Where the control unit includes a programmable device such as the microprocessor, microcontroller or programmable digital signal processor mentioned above, the processor may further include computer executable code that controls operation of the programmable device. It should be understood that all or some parts of the functionality provided by means of the control unit (or generally discussed as "processing circuitry") may be at least partly integrated with the fingerprint sensor, or may be part of the electronic device.
The control functionality of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwire system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable medium for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium.
Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine- readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.
Additionally, even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art.
In addition, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
Furthermore, in the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

Claims

1 . A combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system (400) for communication with an electronic unit (302, 312) using the body of a user as communication medium, comprising:
- a sensing arrangement (402) comprising:
- an array of sensing structures (202) each facing a surface of the sensing arrangement and being arranged to capacitively couple to a finger (19) touching said surface of the sensing arrangement; and
- read-out circuitry (902) connected to each of at least a first portion of said sensing structures for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each of said first portion of sensing structures and a finger in response to a change in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of said sensing structure and a finger potential of said finger,
- a body area network communication circuitry (404), wherein the system is controllable between:
- a fingerprint sensing state, in which the readout circuitry is controlled to provide said sensing signals indicative of the capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and the user's finger when the finger is placed for sensing said capacitive coupling between each of said first portion of sensing structures and the finger; and
- a body area network communication state in which a communication signal is provided to at least a second portion of said sensing structures by one of the electronic unit and the body area network
communication circuitry, the communication signal being sent from said one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry via the user's body and via said second portion of sensing structures to the other one of the electronic unit and the body area network communication circuitry.
2. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to claim 1 , wherein, in said body area network communication state, said communication signal is provided to said portion of sensing structures only by said body area network communication circuitry, wherein the communication signal is being sent from said body area network communication circuitry via the user's body to the electronic unit via said sensing structures.
3. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to claim 1 , wherein, in said body area network communication state, said communication signal is provided to said second portion of sensing structures only by said electronic unit, wherein the communication signal is being sent from said electronic unit via the user's body to the body area network communication circuitry via said sensing structures.
4. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein only a subset (910) of said array of sensing structures is provided with said communication signal in said body area network communication state.
5. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to claim 4, wherein said subset of sensing structures are selected based on a finger position on the array of sensing structures, wherein sensing structures in the vicinity of the finger position or overlapping with the finger position are selected for said subset.
6. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said read-out circuitry is connected to each of said sensing structures in the array for providing sensing signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure and a finger in response to a change in potential difference between a sensing structure potential of said sensing structure and a finger potential of said finger.
7. The sensing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a supply circuitry (919) configured to provide a drive signal to at least said first portions of sensing structures, said drive signal alternating between a first sensing potential and a second sensing potential, a change in potential difference between said first sensing potential and said second sensing potential resulting in said change in potential difference between said finger potential and said sensing structure potential.
8. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, said body area network circuitry is in an at least partly inactive mode in said fingerprint sensing state.
9. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sensing arrangement further comprises sensing arrangement controller (802), wherein a transition between said states is controlled by said sensing arrangement controller.
10. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sensing arrangement is configured to provide an instruction signal to said body area network communication circuitry for allowing the body area network communication circuitry to send said signal to the electronic unit via the user's body and the sensing structures or to receive said signal from said electronic unit.
1 1 . The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sensing arrangement is configured to instruct the body area network communication circuitry to be in an at least partly inactive mode during a time slot during which said system is in said fingerprint sensing state.
12. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein said sensing signals are sampled in a first frequency range, and the signal sent in said body area network communication state is sent in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range, wherein the communication signal is being sent at least partly in a time duration which overlaps with a time duration at which said sensing signals are sampled.
13. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said body area network communication circuitry comprises a transceiver for sending information obtained from said electronic unit to an external electronic device (308).
14. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said body area network communication circuitry comprises a transceiver for sending communication signal to said electronic unit.
15. The combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, configured to:
- perform, in said a fingerprint sensing state, a user authentication procedure to authenticate the user,
- when the result of the authentication procedure indicates a successful authentication of the user, read, using the body area network communication circuitry, information from said electronic unit.
16. An electronic device (100), comprising: - a combined fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system according to any one of claim 1 to 15; and
- a control unit for:
- providing an authentication request for said finger to the fingerprint sensing system;
- receiving an authentication signal from the fingerprint sensing system; and
- performing at least one action if said authentication signal indicates authentication success.
17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.
PCT/SE2018/050663 2017-06-26 2018-06-20 Fingerprint sensing and body area network communication system WO2019004903A1 (en)

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