Harris Corporation

Authentec, Inc.

John C Schmitt

Dale R Setlak

Mark E Boss

Steven D Wilson

Ellery Y Chan

Karl W McCalley

A method for indexing and searching a plurality of reference fingerprints to determine if a sample fingerprint matches one of the reference fingerprints includes the steps of: determining respective index values for the reference fingerprints and the sample fingerprint based upon characteristics of the fingerprints and with the index values being generally evenly distributed and continuous over a relatively large population of individuals; selecting a first subset of the reference fingerprints having index values in a first range relative to the index value of the sample fingerprint; and comparing the sample fingerprint to each fingerprint of the first subset of reference fingerprints to thereby determine if there is a match between the sample fingerprint and one of the reference fingerprints and without comparing the sample fingerprint to all of the reference fingerprints. The step of determining index values for the reference fingerprints and the sample fingerprint preferably comprises determining same based upon ridge flow curvature of the fingerprints. The step of selecting the first subset of reference fingerprints preferably comprises selecting same based upon an expected confidence value for locating the sample fingerprint in the first subset. Apparatus aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Methods and related apparatus for fingerprint indexing and searching

A machine includes a mechanical linkage and or drive coupled to a housing and generating at least one of shock and vibration when functioning. The machine further includes an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by the housing and being resistant to at least one of shock and vibration, and an enabling circuit for selectively enabling functioning of the linkage/drive based upon sensing a fingerprint of an authorized machine operator by the integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. Accordingly, only authorized operators may use the machine. Moreover, the integrated fingerprint sensor is shock and vibration resistant so that it can be coupled to the machine housing and still function accurately and reliably. The enabling circuit may also include a memory for storing data related to at least one fingerprint for at least one authorized operator, and may determine matching of a sensed fingerprint with the stored data. The machine may also be a firearm which generates a substantial shock upon firing. The integrated circuit fingerprint sensor may be carried by the housing and may cooperate with the firearm safety lock to allow only an authorized user to fire the firearm.

Machine including vibration and shock resistant fingerprint sensor and

A portable telecommunication device includes a radio transceiver within a portable housing, a fingerprint sensor carried by the housing, and an authorizing feature for permitting use of the radio transceiver based upon the fingerprint sensor sensing a fingerprint of an authorized user. The authorizing may be performed locally or based upon a remote authorization signal. The portable telecommunication device may be cellular telephone. Accordingly, unauthorized users may not be permitted to use the cellular telephone and accumulate charges without the owner's consent. The invention may also be used with law enforcement or other telecommunications devices, for example, where it is desired to prevent reception or transmission on designated bands by unauthorized users. The device may also include a user identification feature for transmitting a user identification signal to a remote device based upon a sensed fingerprint. The portable telecommunication device may operate with one or both of audio and data signals. The portable telecommunication device is preferably based upon a lightweight and reliable integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. This integrated circuit may include a substrate, and at least one electrically conductive layer adjacent the substrate and comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes. The at least one electrically conductive layer may further comprise portions defining a respective shield electrode for each electric field sensing electrode.

Portable telecommunication device including a fingerprint sensor and

Method and related apparatus for fingerprint indexing and searching

A system having enhanced security includes: a plurality of components; at least one security circuit associated with at least one component; and at least one master circuit associated with at least one component and connected in communication with the security circuit. More particularly, the security circuit when in the virgin state is switchable to a desired enrolled state for the master circuit. The master circuit according to one aspect of the invention preferably determines if the security circuit is in the virgin state and switches the security circuit to the desired enrolled state. The master circuit also preferably prevents operation of the system responsive to a security circuit being in an enrolled state other than the desired enrolled state for the master circuit. A security circuit may be restored to the virgin state in response to a user token or a fingerprint of the user. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

System including separable protected components and associated methods

An access control system includes a fingerprint enrolling station for sensing a fingerprint of a person and enrolling the person as an authorized person based upon the sensed fingerprint. The system also includes an access triggering device to be carried by the authorized person, and an access controller for granting access to an authorized person bearing the access triggering device. The access triggering device preferably cooperates with the enrolling station to store authorization data for an authorized person based upon the sensed fingerprint. The access triggering device also preferably includes a wireless transmitter, such as a passive transponder, for transmitting an authorization signal related to the stored authorization data. In addition, the access controller preferably includes a wireless receiver, such as including a transponder powering circuit, for receiving the authorization signal and granting access responsive to the wireless transmitter being in proximity to the wireless receiver. The authorized person bearing the access trigger device may unobtrusively be granted access merely by approaching the access location.

Access control system including fingerprint sensor enrollment and

A fingerprint sensing device includes a fingerprint sensor, a processor for determining an actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor relative to a desired fingerprint position, and a finger position indicator for generating a finger position indication to assist the user in positioning the finger to the desired fingerprint position based upon the actual fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor. The processor preferably calculates a fingerprint center point defining the actual fingerprint position. The fingerprint sensor may be provided by an electric field sensor in integrated circuit form. The finger position indicator may be provided by a visual indicator, such as a desired position image indicia generator for generating image indicia on a display screen relating to the desired fingerprint position on the fingerprint sensor, and wherein an actual fingerprint position image is also generated relative to the desired position image indicia on the display screen. The desired position image indicia may preferably be a desired fingerprint center point indicia image. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Fingerprint sensing apparatus with finger position indication

An apparatus for indexing and searching a plurality of reference fingerprints to determine if a sample fingerprint matches one of the reference fingerprints includes a device for: determining respective index values for the reference fingerprints and the sample fingerprint based upon characteristics of the fingerprints and with the index values being generally evenly distributed and continuous over a relatively large population of individuals; selecting a first subset of the reference fingerprints having index values in a first range relative to the index value of the sample fingerprint; and comparing the sample fingerprint to each fingerprint of the first subset of reference fingerprints to thereby determine if there is a match between the sample fingerprint and one of the reference fingerprints and without comparing the sample fingerprint to all of the reference fingerprints. The device for determining index values for the reference fingerprints and the sample fingerprint preferably includes a device for determining same based upon ridge flow curvature of the fingerprints. The device for selecting the first subset of reference fingerprints preferably includes a device for selecting same based upon an expected confidence value for locating the sample fingerprint in the first subset.

Apparatus for fingerprint indexing and searching

Method for fingerprint indexing and searching

Fingerprint sensing method with finger position indication

A mechanism for examining a body of text and identifying its language compares successive trigrams into which the body of text is parsed with a library of sets of trigrams. For a respective language-specific key set of trigrams, if the ratio of the number of trigrams in the text, for which a match in the key set has been found, to the total number of trigrams in the text is at least equal to a prescribed value, then the text is identified as being possibly written in the language associated with that respective key set. Each respective trigram key set is associated with a respectively different language and contains those trigrams that have been predetermined to occur at a frequency that is at least equal to a prescribed frequency of occurrence of trigrams for that respective language. Successive key sets for other languages are processed as above, and the language for which the percentage of matches is greatest, and for which the percentage exceeded the prescribed value as above, is selected as the language in which the body of text is written.

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Indialantic, FL, United States of America

John C Schmitt