# US 10,482,058 B2 · Biometric sensing system and communication method

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- Number: US 10,482,058 B2
- Document ID: US10482058B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/046,809
- Filed: 2018-07-26
- Published: 2019-01-31
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-27
- Assignees: NXP B.V.
- Applicants: NXP B.V.
- Inventors: Thomas Suwald; Arne Burghardt; Tobias Voigt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482058B2

## CPC

- G06F 13/4295: {using an embedded synchronisation}
- G06F 1/04: Generating or distributing clock signals or signals derived directly therefrom
- G06F 1/3228: Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
- G06F 13/4291: {using a clocked protocol}
- G06K 19/0718: {the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors (fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00)}
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a biometric sensing system is provided, comprising: a sensor module configured to generate sensing data; a processing unit configured to process data received from said sensor module; wherein the sensor module and the processing unit are communicatively coupled to each other via a universal synchronous asynchronous receiver transmitter (USART) communication interface. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding communication method is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding computer program is provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A biometric sensing system comprising:
a sensor module configured to generate sensing data;
a processing unit configured to process data received from said sensor module;
wherein the sensor module and the processing unit are communicatively coupled to each other via a universal synchronous asynchronous receiver transmitter, USART, communication interface, wherein the USART communication interface comprises only a clock line and a data line and wherein the clock line of the USART communication interface is directly connected to the sensor module and to the processing unit and wherein the data line of the USART communication interface is directly connected to the sensor module and to the processing unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module and the processing unit are configured to communicate with each other in a half-duplex mode of communication.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to operate in a master mode and the sensor module is configured to operate in a slave mode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide a clock signal to the sensor module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to assert a signal on the clock line and wherein the sensor module is configured to wake up in response to receiving said signal on the clock line.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is configured to signal an interrupt request to the processing unit by pulling the data line low.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to transmit a reset instruction to the sensor module by pulling the clock line low for a predefined amount of time.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a microcontroller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit and the sensor module are configured to operate in a sleep mode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a message length in dependence on the data received from the sensor module.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A smart card, an internet-of-things device or a wearable device comprising the system of claim 1.

### Claim 12

A method of communicating between a sensor module and a processing unit in a biometric sensing system, wherein the sensor module generates sensing data and the processing unit processes data received from said sensor module, and wherein sensor module and the processing unit communicate with each other via a universal synchronous asynchronous receiver transmitter, USART, communication interface, wherein the USART communication interface comprises only a clock line and a data line and wherein the clock line of the USART communication interface is directly connected to the sensor module and to the processing unit and wherein the data line of the USART communication interface is directly connected to the sensor module and to the processing unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor module and the processing unit communicate with each other in a half-duplex mode of communication.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores executable instructions that, when executed by a sensor module or a processing unit, cause said sensor module and processing unit to carry out the method of claim 12.