Flash-interfaced fingerprint sensor
AssigneeSymwave, Inc.
InventorsXia Lei, Christopher Thomas, Jun Ye
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Flash-interfaced Fingerprint Sensor is disclosed. The sensor device interfaces directly with a flash memory interface chip. The flash memory interface chip incorporates the system for interfacing with flash memory devices, a fingerprint sensor/detector system, and an encryption subsystem for encrypting data being passed to and from the flash memory devices and the host computing device. The device further employs an advanced encryption approach that entails fingerprint decryption and verification on the host computer rather than on the portable memory apparatus. Once verification at the host computer is complete, memory and host functionality is enabled.
Claims17
A fingerprint sensing flash drive device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a circuit substrate contained in said housing;
- at least one flash memory device operatively bonded to said circuit substrate;
- a flash fingerprint sensor device operatively bonded to said circuit substrate;
- a flash interface device in direct electrical communication with said at least one flash memory device and said flash fingerprint sensor device;
- and
- a plug extending from said housing and in communication with said flash interface device.
A functionality permission granting method for granting access to electronic data or host computer functionality, said electronic data stored on a fingerprint sensing flash drive device having a housing, a circuit substrate contained in said housing, at least one flash memory device operatively bonded to said circuit substrate, a flash fingerprint sensor device operatively bonded to said circuit substrate, a flash interface device in direct electrical communication with said at least one flash memory device and said flash fingerprint sensor device, and a plug extending from said housing and in communication with said flash interface device, said stored electronic data being accessed by said host computing system comprising a socket configured to accept said plug, a microprocessor, storage means, input means, and output means, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting said plug into said socket;
- obtaining fingerprint data by swiping a finger over said flash fingerprint sensor device;
- transferring said fingerprint data from said flash fingerprint sensor to said host computer via said circuit substrate, flash interface device, plug and socket;
- analyzing said transferred fingerprint data by a host driver application being executed by said host computer;
- and
- granting or denying said permissive functionality responsive to said analyzing.
A fingerprint sensing flash drive device, consisting essentially of:
- a housing;
- a circuit substrate contained in said housing;
- one or more flash memory devices operatively bonded to said circuit substrate;
- a flash fingerprint sensor device operatively bonded to said circuit substrate;
- a flash interface device in direct electrical communication with said at least one flash memory device and said flash fingerprint sensor device;
- and
- a plug extending from said housing and in communication with said flash interface device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.