Method and apparatus for determining a physiological parameter using a fingerprint sensor on a portable electronic device

An apparatus comprising:

• a portable electronic device housing;
• a fingerprint sensor coupled to the portable electronic device housing, the fingerprint sensor configured to capture a live scan of a fingerprint pattern from a finger on a touch surface;
• and
• a controller coupled to the portable electronic device housing and coupled to the fingerprint sensor, the controller including:
• an image capture module configured to capture a plurality of images corresponding to an area beneath a surface of skin using the fingerprint sensor;
• an image comparison module configured to compare image characteristics corresponding to at least a first image of the plurality of images with image characteristics corresponding to at least a second image of the plurality of images;
• and
• a physiological parameter determination module configured to determine a physiological parameter based on comparing the image characteristics.

A method comprising:

• operating a fingerprint sensor in a fingerprint reader mode including capturing a live scan of a fingerprint pattern from a finger on a touch surface to authenticate a user of a portable electronic device;
• changing fingerprint sensor parameters to switch the fingerprint sensor from the fingerprint reader mode to a heart rate determination mode;
• capturing a plurality of images corresponding to an area beneath a surface of skin using the fingerprint sensor;
• comparing image characteristics corresponding to at least a first image of the plurality of images with image characteristics corresponding to at least a second image of the plurality of images;
• determining a heart rate based on comparing the image characteristics;
• and
• outputting data corresponding to the heart rate.