The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
May. 16, 1997
Dale R. Setlak, Melbourne, FL (US);
John Cornett, Melbourne Beach, FL (US);
Brian Kilgore, Melbourne, FL (US);
Daryl Williams, Palm Bay, FL (US);
Dave Gebauer, West Melbourne, FL (US);
Authentic, Inc., Melbourne, FL (US);
Abstract
A fingerprint sensor includes an array of fingerprint sensing elements; analog-to-digital (A/D) converters having a controllable range; a scanner to perform sequential A/D conversions of predetermined ones of the array of fingerprint sensing elements; and a range determining and setting circuit for controlling the range of the A/D converters based upon prior A/D conversions to thereby provide enhanced conversion resolution. A plurality of A/D converters are preferably used for simultaneously converting analog signals from a corresponding plurality of fingerprint sensing elements. The A/D converters may include at least one reference voltage input for permitting setting of first and second points of the range. The range scale determining and setting circuit may generate a histogram based upon prior A/D conversions. In addition, the range scale determining and setting circuit may set a default range for initial ones of the fingerprint sensing elements.