Patent ID: 6049620
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: G01B,G06F,G06K,G07C

Abstract:
A method for detecting a fingerprint from a finger surface, the method using a plurality of sense elements, the method comprising the steps of:placing the finger surface over the plurality of sense elements;measuring electrical signals from the plurality of sense elements, the electrical signals indicative of an interaction between the plurality of sense elements and the finger surface;forming the electrical signals into a representation of the fingerprint from the finger surface;evaluating the quality of the representation of the fingerprint; andif the representation is of poor quality due to a quality of the finger surface, adjusting a gain of the plurality of sense elements, and measuring the electrical signals again to form another representation of the fingerprint,wherein adjusting the gain includes adjusting a current feeding into each of the plurality of sense elements or adjusting a time interval before a measurement is made.