US 12,249,173 B2
Biometric sensor with presence sensors
Robert Mueller, Riemerling (DE); Matias N. Troccoli, Kirkland, WA (US); and King Hong Kwan, Bellevue, WA (US)
Assigned to NEXT Biometrics Group ASA, Oslo (NO)
Filed by NEXT Biometrics Group ASA, Oslo (NO)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/524,538.
Application 18/524,538 is a continuation of application No. 17/642,834, granted, now 11,854,291, previously published as PCT/EP2020/076279, filed on Sep. 21, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/902,609, filed on Sep. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0096126 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06V 40/13 (2022.01); G06V 40/12 (2022.01)
CPC G06V 40/1306 (2022.01) [G06V 40/1394 (2022.01); G06V 40/1365 (2022.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fingerprint sensor system, comprising:
an active thermal sensor pixel matrix comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the pixel matrix having a boundary defining a perimeter of the pixel matrix;
a plurality of presence sensors disposed at least partially within the boundary of the pixel matrix, wherein the plurality of presence sensors comprise a plurality of electrodes disposed at least partially within the boundary of the pixel matrix, and the plurality of electrodes include pairs of electrodes having a first electrode and a second electrode disposed adjacent to the first electrode; and
an image acquisition controller coupled to the pixel matrix and to the plurality of presence sensors, the image acquisition controller configured to:
receive signals from the plurality of presence sensors, wherein the signals reflect capacitive measurements including first capacitive measurements from the first electrode and second capacitive measurements from the second electrode;
determine when either of the first capacitive measurements and the second capacitive measurements reflect a change in capacitance above the predetermined threshold;
identify, based on the signals, a scan region, wherein the scan region is a portion of the pixel matrix that is in contact with or adjacent to a specimen; and
obtain image data only from pixels of the plurality of pixels that are within the scan region for generating an image of the specimen.