Pointing device with biometric skin-contact sensor, and corresponding method
AssigneeTouch Biometrix Limited
InventorsHenricus Derckx, Wilhelmus Van Lier, Michael A. Cowin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a pointing device for controlling the position of a pointer in a graphical user interface, GUI, of a computer. The device comprises: an operation interface for sensing operation by an operator of the device for controlling the pointer in the GUI, and a biometric skin-contact sensor configured to obtain biometric identifier data, for identifying the operator, by sensing contact of surface contours of the operator's skin. The biometric skin-contact sensor is a contact surface of the operation interface configured to obtain the biometric identifier data during the operation to control the pointer.
Claims20
A pointing device for controlling the position of a pointer in a graphical user interface, GUI, of a computer, the device comprising:
- an operation interface for sensing operation by an operator of the device for controlling the pointer in the GUI, wherein operation of the GUI and/or the pointer in the GUI is controlled based on the obtained biometric identifier data for said operator;
- a biometric skin-contact sensor configured to obtain biometric identifier data, for identifying the operator, by sensing contact of surface contours of the operator's skin;
- wherein the biometric skin-contact sensor is a contact surface of the operation interface configured to obtain the biometric identifier data during the operation to control the pointer;
- and
- wherein the biometric skin-contact sensor comprises an array of sensor pixels, each sensor pixel comprising a voltage-controlled impedance, VCI, and a capacitive sensing electrode, wherein the capacitive sensing electrode is coupled to the control terminal of the VCI and a conductive channel of the VCI is connected between a reference signal supply and an input to a read-out circuit.
A pointing device for controlling the position of a pointer in a graphical user interface, GUI, of a computer, the device comprising:
- an operation interface for sensing operation by an operator of the device for controlling the pointer in the GUI;
- and
- a biometric skin-contact sensor configured to obtain biometric identifier data, for identifying the operator, by sensing contact of surface contours of the operator's skin;
- wherein the biometric skin-contact sensor is a contact surface of the operation interface configured to obtain the biometric identifier data during the operation to control the pointer;
- and
- wherein the operation interface comprises:
- a movement sensor for sensing movement of the device for controlling the position of the pointer based on movement of the device;
- and
- a scroll sensor for causing scrolling in the GUI, wherein the scrolling is controlled based on obtained biometric identifier data;
- wherein the biometric skin-contact sensor comprises an array of sensor pixels, each sensor pixel comprising a voltage-controlled impedance, VCI, and a capacitive sensing electrode, wherein the capacitive sensing electrode is coupled to the control terminal of the VCI and a conductive channel of the VCI is connected between a reference signal supply and an input to a read-out circuit.
A method of controlling a graphical user interface, GUI, of a computer, the method comprising:
- sensing operation by an operator of an operation interface of a pointing device for controlling a pointer in the GUI wherein the pointing device comprises a contact surface comprising a biometric skin-contact sensor;
- in response to said sensing, operating the biometric skin-contact sensor to obtain biometric identifier data, suitable for identifying the operator, by sensing contact of surface contours of the operator's skin with the contact surface, wherein operation of the GUI and/or the pointer in the GUI is controlled based on the obtained biometric identifier data;
- wherein the biometric skin-contact sensor comprises an array of sensor pixels each sensor pixel comprising a voltage-controlled impedance, VCI, and a capacitive sensing electrode, wherein the capacitive sensing electrode is coupled to the control terminal of the VCI and a conductive channel of the VCI is connected between a reference signal supply and an input to a read-out circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.