Apparatus and method for sterilizing fingerprint recognition area

A method of sterilizing a fingerprint recognition area performed by an apparatus for sterilizing the fingerprint recognition area, the method comprising:

• emitting a sterilizing light onto at least one finger contact unit for obtaining a fingerprint image on which a body of a user is contacted by using a sterilizing light emitting unit;
• sensing the sterilizing light emitted onto the at least one finger contact unit for obtaining the fingerprint image;
• and
• determining an ON timing of the sterilizing light emitting unit after performing user authentication for the user, calculating energy of the sterilizing light based on the sensed sterilizing light from the ON timing of the sterilizing light emitting unit, and determining an OFF timing of the sterilizing light emitting unit based on a result of comparing an accumulated value of the calculated energy of the sterilizing light with a predetermined reference energy,
• wherein the predetermined reference energy is adjusted based on a time during which the body of the user contacts with the at least one finger contact unit and the predetermined reference energy is adjusted regardless of a number of times that the body of the user has contacted with the at least one finger contact unit, and
• wherein, when the predetermined reference energy is adjusted to be greater, the control unit redetermines the ON timing and the OFF timing so that a duration between the ON timing and the OFF timing becomes longer.

An apparatus for sterilizing a fingerprint recognition area, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one finger contact unit for obtaining a fingerprint image on which a body of a user is contacted;
• a sterilizing light emitting unit configured to emit the sterilizing light onto the at least one finger contact unit for obtaining the fingerprint image;
• at least one optical sensing unit configured to sense the sterilizing light emitted onto the at least one finger contact unit for obtaining the fingerprint image;
• and
• a control unit configured to determine an ON timing of the sterilizing light emitting unit after performing user authentication for the user, calculate energy of the sterilizing light based on the sterilizing light sensed by the at least one optical sensing unit from the ON timing of the sterilizing light emitting unit, and determine an OFF timing of the sterilizing light emitting unit based on a result of comparing an accumulated value of the calculated energy of the sterilizing light with a predetermined reference energy,
• wherein the at least one optical sensing unit comprises:
• a first optical sensing unit configured to sense a direct light emitted from the sterilizing light emitting unit;
• a second optical sensing unit configured to sense a first reflected light that the sterilizing light, which is emitted from the sterilizing light emitting unit, is reflected by the at least one finger contact unit for obtaining the fingerprint image;
• a third optical sensing unit configured to sense a second reflected light that the sterilizing light, which is emitted from the sterilizing light emitting unit, is reflected by the body of the user or an object;
• and
• a fourth optical sensing unit configured to sense a transmitted light that the sterilizing light, which is emitted from the sterilizing light emitting unit, is transmitted through the at least one finger contact unit for obtaining the fingerprint image.