MOUSE WITH FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION MODULES

Abstract

A mouse includes a housing, a circuit board, a plurality of fingerprint identification modules, a plurality of wires, and a microprocessor. The housing includes a plurality of cavities on a top, each cavity being configured to receive one of the fingerprint identification modules. The circuit board is disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is disposed on the circuit board and electrically connected to the fingerprint identification modules. Each wire is interconnected one of the fingerprint identification modules and the circuit board.

Claims

1. A mouse comprising a housing, a circuit board, a plurality of fingerprint identification modules, a plurality of wires, and a microprocessor wherein: the housing includes a plurality of cavities on a top, each cavity being configured to receive one of the fingerprint identification modules; the circuit board is disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the microprocessor; the microprocessor is disposed on the circuit board and electrically connected to the fingerprint identification modules; and each of the wires is interconnected one of the fingerprint identification modules and the circuit board.

2. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint identification module includes a fetching unit for capturing a user's fingerprint when the user's finger is positioned on the fingerprint identification module, and an identifying unit for converting the user's fingerprint into fingerprint signals.

3. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint identification module is a semiconductor sensor for capturing a digital image of ridges and valleys of a fingerprint pattern.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mouse according to the invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the capacitance fingerprint sensors disengaged;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mouse of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 4 schematically depicts the capacitance fingerprint sensor being touched by the finger; and

[0011] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the fingerprint image acquisition and processing device incorporated into the mouse of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a mouse in accordance with the invention comprises a housing 10, a circuit board 20, a plurality of fingerprint identification modules 30 and a microprocessor 40 as discussed in detail below.

[0013] The housing 10 includes a scroll wheel (not labeled) and left and right mouse buttons (not labeled). The housing 10 is well known in the art. Thus, its detailed description is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. The housing 10 further comprises a plurality of cavities 11 on a top. The fingerprint identification module 30 is disposed in the cavity 11.

[0014] The circuit board 20 is disposed in the housing 10 and electrically connected to the microprocessor 40. The fingerprint identification module 30 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3 specifically, one of a plurality of wires 25 is interconnected the fingerprint identification module 30 and the circuit board 20. The fingerprint identification module 30 includes a fetching unit 31 for capturing a user's fingerprint when the user's finger is positioned on the fingerprint identification module 30, and an identifying unit 32 for converting the user's fingerprint into fingerprint signals.

[0016] The microprocessor 40 is disposed on the circuit board 20 and electrically connected to the fingerprint identification module 30. The microprocessor 40 is configured to receive the fingerprint signals, analyze same, and ultimately identify the fingerprint. Thus, the mouse may be used to identify users who wish to access a computer.

[0017] The fingerprint identification module 30 is implemented as a semiconductor sensor having a plurality of sensing electrodes for capturing a digital image of ridges and valleys of a fingerprint pattern.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4 specifically, there is a difference between capacitance of a ridge 72 of the fingerprint and capacitance of a valley 71 of the fingerprint when the user's finger is positioned on the fingerprint identification module 30. Thus, the fingerprint identification module 30 may capture the user's fingerprint.

[0019] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.