Electronic devices and corresponding methods for enrolling fingerprint data and unlocking an electronic device

An electronic device, comprising:

• a memory storing a plurality of fingerprint reference data files;
• one or more sensors identifying whether a mechanical support condition of the electronic device is a hand supported condition or a surface supported condition;
• a fingerprint sensor receiving fingerprint data;
• and
• one or more processors selecting a prioritized fingerprint data reference file from the plurality of fingerprint reference data files as a function of the mechanical support condition and authenticating an authorized user of the electronic device by comparing the fingerprint data to the prioritized fingerprint data reference file before comparing the fingerprint data to any other fingerprint reference data files of the plurality of fingerprint reference data files.

A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

• enrolling, with a fingerprint sensor, fingerprint data corresponding to at least two fingers of an authorized user of the electronic device by storing, with one or more processors, the fingerprint data as at least two fingerprint reference data files in a memory of the electronic device;
• determining, with one or more sensors, a mechanical support condition of the electronic device;
• determining, with the one or more sensors, a physical location of the fingerprint sensor on the electronic device;
• receiving additional fingerprint data with the fingerprint sensor while the electronic device is in the mechanical support condition;
• selecting, by the one or more processors as a function of the mechanical support condition and the physical location of the fingerprint sensor, one fingerprint reference data file of the at least two fingerprint reference data files as a selected fingerprint reference data file;
• and
• authenticating the authorized user of the electronic device by comparing, with the one or more processors, the additional fingerprint data to the selected fingerprint data reference file before comparing the fingerprint data to any other fingerprint reference data file stored in the memory.