This application claims priority from United States provisional 61/981,193 filed April 17, 2014, entitled Fingerprint Based Input Device by same first named inventor Fai Koi Tarn, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of wearable input device for electronics. More specifically, the invention has a fingerprint sensor, signal transmitter, battery and software that translate acquired signals into usable information for a target device.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

There are many known devices and methods for registering information for electronics. From gesture recognition, with or without a wearable device, to a capacitance screen that can register finger(s) movement on a screen. With wearable electronics getting smaller (i.e. Google Glasses & Smart Watch), limiting input surface and footprint, conventional input methodology is no longer adequate.

The present invention seeks to provide an intuitive, wearable input device; and at the same time, provide added security to portable devices by utilizing fingerprint recognition with traditional password based login security.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises of a fingerprint reader, a transmitter, a battery, and software that can analyze and correlate received signal from the fingerprint sensor to stored fingerprint database of the user's hand. The fingerprint reader is preferably worn on the user's finger. When the reader comes into contact with the device with a exposed skin such as a finger or a palm, signals correlate the fingerprint pattern which are transmitted to the target device. The software can determine the location of the contact on the hand by matching the received fingerprint pattern to the reference fingerprint information stored in the database.

A fingerprint based input device provides input data to a connected electronic device.

A housing is configured to be worn on a finger. At least one fingerprint sensor is mounted on the housing. The fingerprint sensor is configured to detect a position of a fingerprint. The position of the fingerprint provides the input data to the connected electronic device. A central processing unit can store, analyze, and translate information from the fingerprint sensor to the connected device. The fingerprint based input device can have a signal transmitter to transmit translated information to a connected device wirelessly. A battery can provide electrical power to all components mounted on the housing. A cable connection can connect to connected device for data transmission and power supply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled design.

Fig.2 is a perspective view of the assembled design with the fingerprint sensor in a different position.

Fig. 3 is a cross section view of the assembled design worn by the index finger.

Fig.4 is the schematic of the wired design.

Fig. 5 is the schematic of the wireless design.

Fig. 6 is the schematic of a standalone design.

The following callout list of numbers can be a useful guide for referencing the element numbers of the drawings.

10 Fingerprint Sensor

11 Housing

12 Central Processing Unit

13 Signal Transmitter

14 Battery

15 Connected Device

20 Human Finger

21 Fingernail

22 Fingerprint

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled design of the present invention worn by the finger 20. In which, the fingerprint sensor 10 is mounted on the outer surface of the housing 11, where the fingerprint sensor 10 is placed opposite to the fingernail 21. Optionally, the fingerprint sensor 10 can be located at the tip of finger 20, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The choice of position of the fingerprint sensor 10 depends on the user's preference.

The housing can be formed as a thimble shaped sheath with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface has the fingerprint sensor 10 mounted upon it. The fingerprint sensor can be either a small flat plate or as technology advances possibly the entire exterior surface of the housing. The housing can be formed as a cylindrical sheath with a cylindrical cavity for retaining a fingertip or shaft.

The invention as shown in Fig. 1 can be worn, but not limited to, the thumb and use the invention to identify fingerprint 22 of the same hand to the thumb where the invention is worn. Whereas, invention as shown in Fig.2 can be worn, but not limited to, the index finger and use the invention to identify fingerprint 22 of the opposite hand.

The invention can be connected to target device with wired, or with wireless connection. In Fig.4, a wired design, the invention will obtain electrical power and transmit fingerprint 22 information through a wire to the connected device 15. The wire can be configured as a wire harness or a cable such as an RJ-45, USB or Fire Wire standard cable. In Fig. 5, a wireless design, the invention will equip with a battery 14 to provide electrical power, a central processing unit 12 to analysis the fingerprint 22 and a signal transmitter 13 to communicate with the connected device 15.

The invention has two modes, namely a training mode and an operation mode. In the training mode, the user is asked to match designated information, both numerical and alphabetical, to specific fingerprint 22. An output such as a screen can be provided for issuing prompts or queries to a user such as a graphical user interface. Alternatively, the housing may have an audio speaker.

The training mode begins by requesting the user, with the invention properly worn, to register the user's fingerprint 22, in a predetermined sequence, by the fingerprint sensor 10. Each unique fingerprint 22 is identified by the fingerprint sensor 10 and stored in memory of the central processing unit 12 and matched to a specific piece of information. After a training mode is completed at least once, the user can switch the invention into operational mode. Every time that a fingerprint 22 is identified by the fingerprint sensor 10, the central processing unit 12 will translate the fingerprint 22 into useful information, and transmit the information to the connected device 15 through the signal transmitter 13.

Alternatively, as Fig. 6 shows, the invention, without the central processing unit 12, the fingerprint sensor 10 will register the fingerprint 22, and the signal transmitter 13 will send the fingerprint 22 information to the connected device 15. In which case, the connected device 15 will perform the fingerprint 22 analysis, and based on the result, determine the location of the fingerprint 22 and provide the matching designated information as an input. The connected device can be connected wirelessly or by a wired connection.

Output can be provided by using chords. For example, a pair of fingerprint sensors can produce a combined signal. If worn on a right thumb, the fingerprint sensor can have right index finger input, a right middle finger input, a right ring finger input, and a right little finger input. The right index finger can contact the sensor partially, or at an angle to provide varying inputs. Additionally, when on a left thumb, the fingerprint sensor can have a left index finger input, a left middle finger input, a left ring finger input and a left little finger input. The left index finger can also contact the sensor partially, or at an angle to provide varying inputs.

Different inputs can be provided. A QWERTY keyboard can be simulated by adjusting finger position relative to the finger sensor. An ASCII output can also be provided by adjusting finger position relative to the finger sensor. The fingerprint sensor can be continuous to provide one or more gestures such as pinch to zoom or any other of the user interface gestures described in a variety of different patent publications such as United States publication 2006/0238520 to inventor Wayne Westerman entitled user interface gestures issued October 26, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, the fingerprint sensor can be used for mouse commands such as graphic design commands. For example, if the housing is worn on a thumb, the index finger can be used to pan, the middle finger can be used to select, the ring finger can be used to move and the middle finger can be used to rotate or transform.

When the fingerprint sensor is implemented without a cavity, the user can still hold a smart phone or other device having a fingerprint sensor on it. The fingerprint sensor can be configured to obtain the orientation of the finger so as to provide a vector input to allow the fingerprint sensor to track the orientation as well as the position of the finger. For example, if a fingerprint sensor is placed on the surface of a smart phone, the fingerprint sensor can receive an input that is an angle. A position such as an angle or a Cartesian coordinate can be sensed from fingerprint sensor. The angle can be expressed as a deviation from a preset angle, or a deviation of a middle of a fingerprint from a position on the sensor such as the center of the sensor.

Commercially available fingerprint sensors can sense the profile of different locations of the hand other than the tips of the fingers. Fingerprint input can include additional inputs that can be mapped to other portions of the hand, such as various locations on the palm, back of the hand, and fingers in locations other than the tips of the fingers.