# US 11,113,376 B2 · Detection system, fingerprint sensor, and method of finger touch authentication thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,113,376 B2 - Document ID: US11113376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/907,117 - Filed: 2020-06-19 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-20 - Assignees: Novatek Microelectronics Corp. - Applicants: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp. - Inventors: Sheng-Ruei Hsu; Chi-Ting Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113376B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 1/1671: {Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop (G06F1/1666 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - G06F 1/169: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033)} - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06V 40/1365: {Matching; Classification} - G06F 2203/0338: Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image - G06F 2203/04104: Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract The present invention discloses a method of finger touch authentication through a fingerprint sensor. The method includes obtaining a plurality of touch operations through the fingerprint sensor, detecting a pattern of the plurality of touch operations; comparing the pattern with a registered pattern to generate a comparison result, and authenticating the plurality of touch operations on the basis of the comparison result, wherein the pattern indicates at least one feature, and the fingerprint sensor is capable of authenticating a fingerprint of a user after or before the finger touch authentication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of finger touch authentication for an electronic device comprising a fingerprint sensor comprising a fingerprint sensing array and a processing device coupled to the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor and a memory device for storing a program code for instructing the processing device to perform finger touch authentication and for storing registered data of a user, the registered data comprising a registered pattern and a registered fingerprint, the method comprising configuring the processing device according to the program code stored in the memory device to perform the following steps: obtaining a fingerprint of the user sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor; obtaining a plurality of touch operations sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor when the fingerprint is sensed by the fingerprint sensing array; obtaining a pattern of the plurality of touch operations; comparing the fingerprint with the registered fingerprint stored in the memory device to generate a first comparison result; comparing the pattern with the registered pattern stored in the memory device to generate a second comparison result; and controlling an electronic device to perform a corresponding operation according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding operation comprises determining whether to authenticate the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the corresponding operation further comprises unlocking an operating system of an electronic device or approving an application service when the user is authenticated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined to be authenticated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern indicates at least one feature, and the at least one feature comprises a number of the plurality of touch operations and at least one of a plurality of touch locations and a plurality of durations corresponding to the plurality of touch operations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature further comprises a plurality of slide directions corresponding to a plurality of slide operations and a number of slide direction change between two of the plurality of slide operations. ### Claim 10 A detection system capable of user authentication comprising: a fingerprint sensor comprising a fingerprint sensing array for detecting a plurality of touch operations; a processing device coupled to the sensing array of the fingerprint sensor; and a memory device coupled to the processing device, for storing a program code to instruct the processing device to execute a process of finger touch authentication and for storing registered data of a user, the registered data comprising a registered pattern and a registered fingerprint, wherein the process comprises: obtaining a fingerprint of the user sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor; obtaining a plurality of touch operations sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor when the fingerprint is sensed by the fingerprint sensing array; obtaining a pattern of the plurality of touch operations; comparing the finger print with the registered fingerprint stored in the memory device to generate a first comparison result; comparing the pattern with the registered pattern stored in the memory device to generate a second comparison result; and controlling an electronic device to perform a corresponding operation according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The detection system of claim 10, wherein the corresponding operation comprises determining whether to authenticate the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The detection system of claim 11, wherein the corresponding operation further comprises unlocking an operating system of an electronic device or approving an application service when the user is authenticated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The detection system of claim 11, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined to be authenticated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The detection system of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, or the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The detection system of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The detection system of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The detection system of claim 10, wherein the pattern indicates at least one feature, and the at least one feature comprises a number of the plurality of touch operations and at least one of a plurality of touch locations and a plurality of durations corresponding to the plurality of touch operations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The detection system of claim 10, wherein the at least one feature further comprises a plurality of slide directions corresponding to a plurality of slide operations and a number of slide direction change between two of the plurality of slide operations. ### Claim 19 A fingerprint sensor capable of user authentication comprising: a fingerprint sensing array configured to sense a plurality of touch operations and a fingerprint; a processing device coupled to the fingerprint sensing array; and a memory device coupled to the processing device, for storing a program code to instruct the processing device to execute a process of finger touch authentication and for storing registered data of a user, the registered data comprising a registered pattern and a registered fingerprint, wherein the process comprises: obtaining a fingerprint of the user sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor; obtaining a plurality of touch operations sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor when the fingerprint is sensed by the fingerprint sensing array; obtaining a pattern of the plurality of touch operations; comparing the fingerprint with the registered fingerprint stored in the memory device to generate a first comparison result; comparing the pattern with the registered pattern stored in the memory device to generate a second comparison result; and controlling an electronic device to perform a corresponding operation according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The fingerprint sensor of claim 19, wherein the corresponding operation comprises determining whether to authenticate the user. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The fingerprint sensor of claim 20, wherein the corresponding operation further comprises unlocking an operating system of an electronic device or approving an application service when the user is authenticated. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The fingerprint sensor of claim 20, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is authenticated. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The fingerprint sensor of claim 22, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, or the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is not authenticated. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The fingerprint sensor of claim 22, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The fingerprint sensor of claim 22, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The fingerprint sensor of claim 19, wherein the pattern indicates at least one feature, and the at least one feature comprises a number of the plurality of touch operations and at least one of a plurality of touch locations and a plurality of durations corresponding to the plurality of touch operations. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The fingerprint sensor of claim 19, wherein the at least one feature further comprises a plurality of slide directions corresponding to a plurality of slide operations and a number of slide direction change between two of the plurality of slide operations. ### Claim 28 A detection device for use in a detection system capable of user authentication, the detection system comprises a fingerprint sensor comprising a fingerprint sensing array and a memory device for storing a program code for instructing the processing device to perform finger touch authentication and for storing registered data of a user, the registered data comprising a registered pattern and a registered fingerprint, the detection device comprising: a processing device coupled to the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor, and configured to execute a process of finger touch authentication according to a program code stored in the memory device, wherein the process comprises: obtaining a fingerprint of the user sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor; obtaining a plurality of touch operations sensed by the fingerprint sensing array of the fingerprint sensor when the fingerprint is sensed by the fingerprint sensing array; obtaining a pattern of the plurality of touch operations; comparing the fingerprint with the registered fingerprint stored in the memory device to generate a first comparison result; comparing the pattern with the registered pattern stored in the memory device to generate a second comparison result; and controlling an electronic device to perform a corresponding operation according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The detection device of claim 28, wherein the corresponding operation comprises determining whether to authenticate the user. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The detection device of claim 29, wherein the corresponding operation further comprises unlocking an operating system of an electronic device or approving an application service when the user is authenticated. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The detection device of claim 29, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is authenticated. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The detection device of claim 31, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, or the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is not authenticated. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The detection device of claim 31, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations does not match with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint matches with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The detection device of claim 31, wherein the step of determining whether to authenticate the user according to both the first comparison result and the second comparison result comprises: when the second comparison result indicates that the pattern of the plurality of touch operations matches with the registered pattern, and the first comparison result indicates that the fingerprint does not match with the registered fingerprint, the user is determined not to be authenticated. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The detection device of claim 28, wherein the pattern indicates at least one feature, and the at least one feature comprises a number of the plurality of touch operations and at least one of a plurality of touch locations and a plurality of durations corresponding to the plurality of touch operations. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The detection device of claim 28, wherein the at least one feature further comprises a plurality of slide directions corresponding to a plurality of slide operations and a number of slide direction change between two of the plurality of slide operations.