International Business Machines Corporation

Gregory Fraser Russell

James Lewis Levine

Evan G Colgan

Thomas Guthrie Zimmerman

Jianying Hu

Michael Alan Schappert

Thomas Yu-Kiu Kwok

Kenneth Blair Ocheltree

Clifford A Pickover

Myron Dale Flickner

Arnon Amir

James Randal Moulic

Michael Peter Perrone

Barton Allen Smith

Eugene Henry Ratzlaff

Richard L Garwin

Jayashree Subrahmonia

John Ferdinand Pitrelli

David Bruce Koons

Diego Doval

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for verifying identity using a plurality of biometric samples collected during a pre-enrollment phase, where the plurality of biometric samples concern one or more biometric measures. In one embodiment, the biometric measure comprises an individual's signature, samples of which are collected over a period of time prior to an enrollment procedure. Collecting signatures over a period of time prior to an enrollment procedure allows a more robust signature model to be developed since the signature model will reflect natural, statistically significant, variations that occur over time. During an enrollment procedure, the user then attests to the validity of the signatures collected during the pre-enrollment phase. Valid signatures are used to construct a signature model that will be used to authenticate signatures provided during later transactions. Apparatus and methods of the invention additionally encompass collecting biometric samples of other biometric measures such as, for example, facial appearance, during a pre-enrollment phase.

Apparatus and methods for verifying identity using biometric information collected during a pre-enrollment phase

Improved techniques are disclosed for adapting signature verification systems to natural signature variations. For example, a technique for adapting a signature verification system to variations in a signature of a user includes the following steps/operations. One or more signature samples are obtained from the user. The one or more obtained signature samples are submitted by the user as part of a regular authentication procedure associated with the signature verification system. A reference set of signature samples for the user is updated through selection of one or more signature samples from the obtained signature samples, such that the updated reference set is usable by the signature verification system for verifying subsequent signature samples attributed to the user. The selection of the one or more signature samples used to update the reference set is conditioned on a false rejection rate of the user when at least one obtained signature sample of the user is authenticated and on an identification check when no obtained signature sample is authenticated.

Method and apparatus for rolling enrollment for signature verification

The techniques in the present invention allow both text and handwritten queries, and the queries can be single-word or multiword. Generally, each handwritten word in a handwritten document is converted to a document stack of words, where each document stack contains a list of text words and a word score of some type for each text word in the list. The query is also converted to one or more stacks of words. A measure is determined from each query and document stack. Documents that meet search criteria in the query are then selected based on the query and the values of the measures. The present invention also performs multiple recognitions, with multiple recognizers, on a handwritten document to create multiple recognized transcriptions of the document. The multiple transcriptions are used for document retrieval. In another embodiment, a single transcription is created from the multiple transcriptions, and the single transcription is used for document retrieval.

Retrieving handwritten documents using multiple document recognizers and techniques allowing both typed and handwritten queries

A digital pen that has a writing tip includes an ultrasonic (US) transducer on a pen body that generates frames of US pulses toward a receiver base in response to an infrared (IR) synchronizing signal from the base. The first pulse of a frame is adjusted by a modulo of the US period &tgr; when the time of arrival (TOA) of the first pulse varies from an expected TOA by more than one-half &tgr;. The TOAs of successive i pulses in the frame, which are one wavelength apart from each other, are adjusted forward in time by subtracting from each pulse TOA (i&minus;1)&tgr;, and then several of the adjusted pulse TOAs in a single frame are averaged together to determine a frame TOA. The frame TOAs from plural receivers on the base are then triangulated to determine a pen position for that frame, with the pen positions being input to a handwriting recognition module.

Digital pen using ultrasonic tracking

A system and method for calibration-free tracking of a user's eye gaze vector and point of regard even if substantial head movement or rotation occurs. The preferred embodiment includes two synchronized interlaced cameras, each viewing the user's eye and having on-axis lighting that is alternately modulated. An image difference between lighted and unlighted images of the eye is used to identify a user's pupil. A plane containing the gaze vector is defined by rotating a base plane through the angle in a camera image plane between a pupil center, a first glint, and a second glint. The intersection of two such planes (one from each camera), defines the gaze vector. The gaze position is the intersection of the gaze vector with the object being viewed by the user. Alternate embodiments are also described.

Calibration-free eye gaze tracking

Using a writing surface, such as paper on a portable digital notebooks (PDNs) or the surface of a digital white board, users draw, on the fly, selectable items such as buttons with text inside. The user could even draw symbols, on the fly, in the air with his/her finger. The user then selects the drawn selectable item to initiate a function.

Dynamic creation of selectable items on surfaces

The present invention provides for touch input functionality in a liquid crystal display having a plurality of cells each comprising a first substrate having a common electrode integrated thereon, a second substrate having a pixel electrode integrated thereon, and liquid crystal material disposed between the common electrode and pixel electrode. A first conductive layer (signal layer) and second conductive layer (guard plane layer) are integrated onto the first substrate and disposed between the first substrate and the common electrode. Contact position of a touch input device with the first substrate is determined by applying a first signal to the signal layer. A second signal is applied to the guard plane layer to thereby lower capacitive coupling between the signal layer and the common electrode. The second signal may be generated by scaling amplitude and/or phase shifting the first signal. Response to the first signal is measured to determine contact position of the touch input device. Preferably, the portion of the signal layer disposed opposite the pixel electrode is a patterned layer of black matrix material, and the guard plane layer may be a transparent ITO layer. Alternatively, portions of the signal layer and guard plane layer disposed opposite the pixel electrode may be a patterned layer of black matrix material. A resistor network may be coupled to the signal layer to linearize resistance of the signal layer in a horizontal and vertical direction. By lowering the capacitive coupling between the signal layer and the common electrode, the guard plane layer and signal applied thereto enables the determination of contact position of a portion of the human body (such as a finger or a toe) based upon the measured response to the source signal. The present invention may be in display systems wherein a matrix of display elements are viewed from above a first side of a substrate and the display elements are disposed on the second side (i.e., the opposite side) of the substrate.

Liquid crystal display device employing a guard plane between a layer for measuring touch position and common electrode layer

The present invention provides for touch input functionality in a liquid crystal display having a plurality of cells each comprising a first substrate having a common electrode integrated thereon, a second substrate having a pixel electrode integrated thereon, and liquid crystal material disposed between the common electrode and pixel electrode. A first conductive layer (signal layer) and second conductive layer (guard plane layer) are integrated onto the first substrate and disposed between the first substrate and the common electrode. Contact position of a touch input device with the first substrate is determined by applying a first signal to the signal layer. A second signal is applied to the guard plane layer to thereby lower capacitive coupling between the signal layer and the common electrode. Response to the first signal is measured to determine contact position of the touch input device. Preferably, the portion of the signal layer disposed opposite the pixel electrode is a patterned layer of black matrix material, and the guard plane layer may be a transparent ITO layer. Alternatively, portions of the signal layer and guard plane layer disposed opposite the pixel electrode may be a patterned layer of black matrix material.

Liquid crystal display device employing a guard plane between a layer

A sensor grid system (10), and a method of operating a sensor grid system, having a first array of inductors (14a) and a second array of inductors (14b). The first and the second arrays are each responsive to a moveable coil (18) that transmits an electromagnetic signal for having a detectable signal induced therein. The method includes a first step of determining an expected position of the coil relative to an array of inductors. A next step selects a pair of inductors that are located near to the expected position. A third step measures the signals induced into the pair of inductors, and a fourth step, based on the measurement step, determines any additional inductors from which measurements are required to interpolate the actual position of the coil. A fifth step measures the signals induced into the determined ones of the additional inductors, and a sixth step computes and reports the actual position of the coil based on the results of the first and the second steps of measuring.

Optimal scan sequence for RF magnetic digitizers

A digitizer tablet (10) has an array of conductors that define a sensing plane (12) for sensing an electromagnetic signal generated by a pointing device (16) disposed external to the plane. The tablet includes circuitry, coupled to the array of conductors, for determining a magnitude of an electrical signal or signals induced within the array of conductors by the pointing device. The tablet also includes a data processor (30) that is responsive to the determined magnitude for accurately estimating both a position and an angular orientation of the pointing device relative to a coordinate system associated with the sensing plane. A first position estimate derived from a zero-crossing estimator is used to position a weighting function, which is employed in a weighted least squares fit of a line to the data, resulting in a second zero-crossing estimate of the position of the pointing device. On this second position estimate another weighting function is centered and a tilt estimation is obtained. The tilt estimation is employed to derive a correction for the position estimate.

Pen position and tilt estimators for a digitizer tablet

Shielding materials used in electromagnetic digitizers which are packaged in a notebook computer environment. Shielding materials with sufficiently high magnetic permeability to increase the magnetic signal detected by the digitizer sensor grid can be used in such an environment, and can be placed in direct contact with the sensor grid. Aluminum or copper shields can also be placed in direct contact with the sensor grid to provide the requisite shielding. A combination of conductive and ferrite material can also be used as the conductive base material provides for shielding and a layer of ferrite material increases the magnetic signal and prevents signal attenuation by the conductor.

Shielding materials for electromagnetic digitizers

A method displays a visual 'trail' (12b) behind a moving cursor (12a) so that the cursor does not disappear from a liquid crystal display (12) during rapid cursor movement. The method interpolates and displays one or more intermediate cursor locations between a previous cursor location and a present cursor location. A method also extrapolates one or more future cursor locations (12c) from a present location and prematurely turns on, or biases, pixels located at the extrapolated future locations so that a significantly shorter period of time is required to cause the pixels to become visually distinct. The method also interpolates intermediate cursor locations between the present location and the one or more extrapolated locations and prematurely turns on the pixels at the interpolated locations.

Cursor for LCD displays

An inductive pen (16) repetitively transmits pulses of an oscillatory signal having a characteristic frequency. Pen state information, such as pen tip contact switch information, are encoded by a number of techniques. These techniques include pulse width modulation or pulse position modulation, so as to convey pen state information to a digitizing tablet in a manner that does not adversely affect pen position determinations. The pen state information may also be encoded on the oscillating signal by Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), Phase Shift Keying (PSK), or Amplitude Modulation (AM). A digitizer tablet (10) includes circuitry for detecting the transmitted pen state information, the circuitry accommodating the selected modulation scheme. The tablet is responsive to the transmitted pulses for placing tablet circuitry in a low-power consumption state between pulses so as to conserve tablet power.

Pulsed pen for use with a digitizer tablet

A digitizer tablet (10) having an array of conductors that define a sensing plane (12) for sensing an electromagnetic signal generated by a pointing device (16) disposed external to the plane. The tablet includes circuitry, coupled to the array of conductors, for determining a magnitude of an electrical signal or signals induced within the array of conductors by the pointing device. The tablet also includes a data processor (30) that is responsive to the determined magnitude for accurately estimating both a position and an angular orientation of the pointing device relative to a coordinate system associated with the sensing plane. The array of conductors is comprised of an x-axis sensor array (14a) and a y-axis sensor array (14b). Each sensor array includes a plurality of differentially interconnected and overlapping coil pairs. Each coil of a coil pair includes a major loop having auxiliary loops coupled to each end thereof for compensating for unmeasured magnetic fields beyond an end of the coil.

Growing community of inventors

Yorktown Heights, NY, United States of America

Gregory Fraser Russell