Patent ID: 7289649

Claim:
A fingerprint imager for capturing an image of a fingerprint comprising: a single sensor integrated circuit having an imaging array having a plurality of sensors arranged along an x-axis for capturing a sub-image of the fingerprint at one time wherein the fingerprint is moved with respect to the imaging array in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the x-axis; and a mechanism for determining a change in the position of the fingerprint with respect to time and controlling the image capture of the imaging array that includes a navigation array having a plurality of sensors for capturing navigation images of a portion of the fingerprint as the fingerprint moves with respect to the navigation array; and a navigation engine, coupled to the navigation array, the navigation engine configured for controlling when the imaging array captures sub-images, and further configured for receiving the navigation images and based thereon for determining a delta x, which is then compared to a predetermined x unit value for determining the amount of movement of a fingerprint generally along the x-axis and for determining a delta y, which is then compared to a predetermined y unit value for determining the amount of movement of a fingerprint along a y-axis that is generally perpendicular to the x-axis, wherein the navigation engine directs the rate at which the imaging array captures sub-images of the fingerprint in response to the rate of movement of the fingerprint.