Anthony P Russo

US Patent:

6518560, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Apr 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/560702

Inventors:

Hsueh-Li J. Yeh - Cupertino CA
Ericson W. Cheng - Santa Clara CA
Anthony P. Russo - New York NY

Assignee:

Veridicom, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H01L 3100

US Classification:

250214AG, 382115

Abstract:

An automatic gain amplifier is disclosed that dynamically improves the quality of scanned biometric information. According to one embodiment, an image distribution of the scanned biometric is generated. Next, areas of higher image distribution are identified. An iterative process of adjusting the gain of, for instance, a capacitive sensing, is employed until an optimum separation of the areas of higher image distribution is achieved. Once the optimum separation is achieved, the gain is applied to the biometric sensing device so that biometric information can be scanned with improved image clarity. Electronic circuitry and software for implementing the methods are disclosed.

US Patent:

7831070, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Feb 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/060846

Inventors:

Ericson W. Cheng - Santa Clara CA, US
Ricardo Dario Pradenas - Santa Cruz CA, US
Anthony P. Russo - New York NY, US
David L. Weigand - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Authentec, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382124, 382218

Abstract:

The present invention discloses an apparatus for determining the presence of a patterned object on the surface of a sensor. The apparatus comprises a sensor system coupled to a means for generating a control signal. The sensor system is configured to sense an image corresponding to the patterned object and to translate the image into image data. The means for generating a control signal generates a control signal if statistics of the image data exceed a pre-determined number of threshold levels. In a preferred embodiment, the patterned object is finger with a fingerprint on its surface and the sensor is fingerprint swipe sensor. Preferably, the threshold levels are software programmable.