# US 10,482,312 B2 · Finger scanner, and method of scanning a finger using the finger scanner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,312 B2 - Document ID: US10482312B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/556,057 - Filed: 2016-03-10 - Published: 2018-02-15 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-12 - Applicants: Changbang Pan - Inventors: Changbang Pan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482312B2 ## CPC - G06V 40/1394: {using acquisition arrangements} - G06V 40/1306: {non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing} - G06V 40/1335: {Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement} - G06V 40/1365: {Matching; Classification} - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract A finger scanner comprises a first member and a second member. The first member has a first contact surface configured to contact a first part of a finger, and the second member has a second contact surface adjacent to the first member and configured to contact a second part of the finger adjacent to the first part of the finger. The first contact surface has a first height and the second contact surface has a second height, with a fixed or variable height difference between the first height and the second height. The finger scanner further comprises a first fingerprint sensor associated with the first contact surface, and a second fingerprint sensor associated with the second contact surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A finger scanner, comprising: a first member and a second member, wherein the first member has a first contact surface configured to contact a first part of a finger, and the second member has a second contact surface adjacent to the first member and configured to contact a second part of the finger adjacent to the first part of the finger, wherein the first contact surface has a first height and the second contact surface has a second height, wherein the first height and the second height have a fixed or variable height difference; a first fingerprint sensor associated with the first contact surface; and a second fingerprint sensor associated with the second contact surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The finger scanner of claim 1, wherein the first member is fixed to the second member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The finger scanner according to claim 1, wherein the first member is movable relative to the second member between a first position in which the first contact surface is above the second contact surface, and a second position in which the first contact surface has been displaced relative to the first position; and wherein the finger scanner further comprises: a biasing assembly configured to exert a force on the first part of the finger through the first contact surface of the first member during displacement of the first member from the first position to the second position thereof, the force being directed from the second position towards the first position thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The finger scanner according to claim 3, wherein the biasing assembly comprises a spring member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The finger scanner according to claim 3, wherein the biasing assembly comprises a stop member limiting the displacement of the first member from the first position to the second position thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The finger scanner according to claim 3, wherein the biasing assembly is configured to substantially lower the force when the first member is in the second position thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The finger scanner according to claim 6, wherein the biasing assembly comprises a bladder made from a flexible resilient material, an interior volume of the bladder being in fluid communication with the an exterior of the bladder through an opening having a predetermined flow resistance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The finger scanner according to claim 6, wherein the biasing assembly comprises a first magnet part connected to the first member, and a second magnet part connected to the second member, at least one of the first magnet part and the second magnet part being energizable and de-energizable to hold and release the first member in position relative to the second member, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The finger scanner according to claim 6, wherein the biasing assembly comprises a ball point pen type mechanism holding the first member in at least one of the first position or the second position thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The finger scanner according to claim 1, further comprising: a force sensor for measuring a force exerted on at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The finger scanner according to claim 3, further comprising: a position detector for detecting a position of the first member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The finger scanner according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface is provided with a skin resistance sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The finger scanner according to claim 1, wherein a distance between an edge of the first contact surface and an edge of the second contact surface is at least 0.1 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The finger scanner according to claim 1, wherein the second contact surface at least partially surrounds the first member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The finger scanner according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface is shaped concavely. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The finger scanner according to claim 10, further comprising a processing device configured to: receive an output from the force sensor, the output from the force sensor representing a force measured by the force sensor; compare the force measured by the force sensor to a reference force; and if the measured force corresponds to the reference force, then activate the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor to provide respective outputs, the outputs from the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor representing fingerprint data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The finger scanner according to claim 11, further comprising a processing device configured to: receive an output from the position detector, the output from the position detector representing a position of the first member; determine from the output whether the position detected by the position detector corresponds to the second position of the first member; and if the detected position corresponds to the second position, then activate the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor to provide respective outputs, the outputs from the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor representing fingerprint data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The finger scanner according to claim 16, wherein the processing device further is configured to: receive the outputs from the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor; and process the outputs to determine finger data representative of the finger surface in contact with the first contact surface and the second contact surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The finger scanner according to claim 18, wherein the processing device further is configured to: compare the finger data with previously stored authentic finger data; and provide a signal indicating a degree of conformity between the finger data and the previously stored authentic finger data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The finger scanner according to claim 1, wherein the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor each comprise a sensor selected from a group of sensors comprising an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An identification device comprising the finger scanner according to claim 1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) An access control device comprising the finger scanner according to claim 1. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) A method of scanning a finger, the method comprising the steps of: providing a finger scanner according to claim 10; contacting the first contact surface and the second contact surface by the finger; pressing by the finger on the first contact surface and the second contact surface until a force measured by the force sensor corresponds to a reference force; and activating the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 3) A method of scanning a finger, the method comprising the steps of: providing a finger scanner according to claim 3; contacting a first part of the finger with the first contact surface of the first member in the first position thereof; pressing by the finger on the first member to move the first contact surface towards the second contact surface until the first member is in the second position thereof; and activating the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, further comprising: receiving outputs from the first fingerprint sensor and the second fingerprint sensor; and processing the outputs to determine finger data representative of the finger surface in contact with the first contact surface and the second contact surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, further comprising: comparing the finger data with previously stored authentic finger data; and providing a signal indicating a degree of conformity between the finger data and the previously stored authentic finger data.