Patent ID: 7274808
Filing Date: 2007-09-25
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for imaging a fingerprint in one of at least two different modes of operation, one of the modes being a stylus mode and another of the modes being a finger recognition mode, said apparatus comprising: a swipe interface having an elongated sensing area on a surface thereof against which a portion of the tip of a human finger may be placed, said elongated sensing area being smaller than the tip of the human finger in at least one dimension; a light source for emitting light to illuminate the portion of the tip of the human finger placed against the surface of said swipe interface; a mode switch for selecting one of the at least two different modes of operation; and an optical image sensor for capturing light reflected from the portion of the tip of the human finger as an image thereof, producing image data representing a sequence of images resulting from motion of the human finger across said swipe interface wherein the image data is used for fingerprint recognition when the apparatus is in the finger recognition mode of operation and is used for identifying a written communication character when the apparatus is in the stylus mode of operation and wherein the intensity of light emitted by the light source during the finger recognition mode of operation is configured to be greater than the intensity of light emitted by the light source during the stylus mode of operation.