Patent Publication Number: US-2019187816-A1

Title: Mouse with capacitance fingerprint sensor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to computer mice and more particularly to a mouse with a capacitance fingerprint sensor mounted on a top. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,919 to Dunton discloses a mouse comprising a substantially radiation transmissive mouse button; a fingerprint sensor to capture an image of a fingerprint when the user&#39;s finger is positioned over the mouse button; the fingerprint sensor comprising a light source to direct light through the mouse button, an optical, system for receiving light reflected from the user&#39;s finger over the mouse button and a sensor, wherein the light source, optical system and sensor are mounted to move with the mouse button. In short, radiation directed at the user&#39;s finger through the mouse button may be captured for image analysis and ultimately for fingerprint identification. Thus, the mouse may be used to identify users who wish to access a computer system. 
     While the device enjoys its success in the market, continuing improvements in the exploitation of computer mouse with security features are constantly being sought. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a mouse comprising 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 above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mouse according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  with the capacitance fingerprint sensor disengaged; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of the mouse of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  schematically depicts the capacitance fingerprint sensor being touched by the finger; and 
         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 
     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. 
     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 . 
     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&#39;s fingerprint when the user&#39;s finger is positioned on the capacitance fingerprint sensor  30 , and a fingerprint image conversion unit  32  for converting the user&#39;s fingerprint into fingerprint signals. 
     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. 
     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&#39;s finger is positioned on the capacitance fingerprint sensor  30 . Thus, the capacitance fingerprint sensor  30  may capture the user&#39;s fingerprint. 
     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.