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:
Aug. 12, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 28, 2005
Srinivasan K. Ganapathi, Fremont, CA (US);
Joseph J. Pritikin, Mountain View, CA (US);
Srinivasan K. Ganapathi, Fremont, CA (US);
Joseph J. Pritikin, Mountain View, CA (US);
Fidelica Microsystems, Milpitas, CA (US);
Abstract
A sensor for a textured surface (e.g., a fingerprint) is provided. The sensor includes a flexible substrate and a flexible membrane supported above the substrate by one or more spacers. The sensor also includes multiple pressure sensor elements responsive to a separation between parts of the membrane and corresponding parts of the substrate. The membrane is conformable to the textured surface being sensed, so the variation in separation between substrate and membrane is representative of the textured surface being sensed. Such pressure sensors can be included in fingerprint authentication subsystems including associated integrated electronic circuitry (e.g., encryption, image processing, fingerprint matching, communication and/or location determination circuitry). Such subsystems can be included in various access control systems (e.g., smart cards and mobile electronics). Unpackaged IC chips can be included on the flexible substrate or can be disposed on a separate electronics substrate attached to the sensor.