Patent ID: 7164411
Filing Date: 2007-01-16
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
1. An optical user interface for controlling a portable electric device, the user interface comprising: optical contact means for forming at least a portion of a fingerprint when contacting the contact means with a finger; illuminating means for illuminating at least a portion of the optical contact means using primary optical radiation so that secondary optical radiation representing the portion of the fingerprint is generated; and detecting means for receiving at least a portion of the secondary optical radiation and converting the portion of the secondary optical radiation into an electric signal, the electric signal representing the portion of the fingerprint and being used for controlling the electric device, wherein the optical contact means comprises a stripe-like optical contact surface, with which the finger is brought into contact for forming a slice of the fingerprint; wherein the illuminating means are arranged to confine the illumination to the stripe-like optical contact surface; and wherein the detecting means are arranged to confine the reception of the secondary optical radiation to the stripe-like optical contact surface and converting the secondary optical radiation into an electric signal, the electric signal representing the slice of the fingerprint.