MOUSE WITH CAPACITANCE FINGERPRINT SENSOR

Abstract

A mouse includes a housing; a mouse interface circuitry disposed in the housing; a capacitance fingerprint sensor disposed on a top of the housing and electrically connected to the mouse interface circuitry; and a microprocessor disposed on the mouse interface circuitry and electrically connected to the capacitance fingerprint sensor. The capacitance fingerprint sensor includes a fingerprint image acquisition unit for capturing a user's fingerprint when the user's finger is positioned on the capacitance fingerprint sensor, and a fingerprint image conversion unit for converting the user's fingerprint into fingerprint signals. Thus, the mouse may be used to identify users who wish to access a computer.

Claims

1. A mouse, comprising: a housing; a mouse interface circuitry disposed in the housing; a capacitance fingerprint sensor disposed on the housing and electrically connected to the mouse interface circuitry; and a microprocessor disposed on the mouse interface circuitry and electrically connected to the capacitance fingerprint sensor.

2. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a top cavity with the capacitance fingerprint sensor disposed therein.

3. The mouse of claim 1, wherein the capacitance fingerprint sensor includes a fingerprint image acquisition unit for capturing a user's fingerprint when the user's finger is positioned on the capacitance fingerprint sensor, and a fingerprint image conversion unit for converting the user's fingerprint into fingerprint signals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mouse according to the invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the capacitance fingerprint sensor disengaged;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mouse of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 4 schematically depicts the capacitance fingerprint sensor being touched by the finger; and

[0010] 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

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a mouse in accordance with the invention comprises housing 10, a mouse interface circuitry 20, a capacitance fingerprint sensor 30 and a microprocessor 40 as discussed in detail below.

[0012] 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 cavity 11 on a top. The capacitance fingerprint sensor 30 is disposed in the cavity 11.

[0013] The mouse interface circuitry 20 is disposed in the housing 10 and electrically connected to the microprocessor 40. The capacitance fingerprint sensor 30 is electrically connected to the mouse interface circuitry 20. As shown in FIG. 3, a wire 25 is interconnected the capacitance fingerprint sensor 30 and the mouse interface circuitry 20. The capacitance fingerprint sensor 30 includes a fingerprint image acquisition unit 31 for capturing a user's fingerprint when the user's finger is positioned on the capacitance fingerprint sensor 30, and a fingerprint image conversion unit 32 for converting the user's fingerprint into fingerprint signals.

[0014] The microprocessor 40 is disposed on the mouse interface circuitry 20 and electrically connected to the capacitance fingerprint sensor 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.

[0015] The capacitance fingerprint sensor 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. As shown in FIG. 4, 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 capacitance fingerprint sensor 30. Thus, the capacitance fingerprint sensor 30 may capture the user's fingerprint.

[0016] 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.