초록 ▼

A portable telecommunication device includes a radio transceiver within a portable housing, a fingerprint sensor carried by the housing, and an authorizing feature for permitting use of the radio transceiver based upon the fingerprint sensor sensing a fingerprint of an authorized user. The authorizi

A portable telecommunication device includes a radio transceiver within a portable housing, a fingerprint sensor carried by the housing, and an authorizing feature for permitting use of the radio transceiver based upon the fingerprint sensor sensing a fingerprint of an authorized user. The authorizing may be performed locally or based upon a remote authorization signal. The portable telecommunication device may be cellular telephone. Accordingly, unauthorized users may not be permitted to use the cellular telephone and accumulate charges without the owner's consent. The invention may also be used with law enforcement or other telecommunications devices, for example, where it is desired to prevent reception or transmission on designated bands by unauthorized users. The device may also include a user identification feature for transmitting a user identification signal to a remote device based upon a sensed fingerprint. The portable telecommunication device may operate with one or both of audio and data signals. The portable telecommunication device is preferably based upon a lightweight and reliable integrated circuit fingerprint sensor. This integrated circuit may include a substrate, and at least one electrically conductive layer adjacent the substrate and comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes. The at least one electrically conductive layer may further comprise portions defining a respective shield electrode for each electric field sensing electrode.

대표청구항 ▼

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.] A portable telecommunication device having enhanced security and comprising:a portable housing;a radio transceiver within said housing;an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by said housing, said integrated fingerprint sensor comprisinga substrate,at least

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.] A portable telecommunication device having enhanced security and comprising:a portable housing;a radio transceiver within said housing;an integrated circuit fingerprint sensor carried by said housing, said integrated fingerprint sensor comprisinga substrate,at least one electrically conductive layer adjacent said substrate and comprising portions defining an array of electric field sensing electrodes; anda z-axis anisotropic dielectric layer adjacent said at least one electrically conductive layer and opposite said substrate, for focusing an electric field at each of the electric field sensing electrodes, the z-axis being normal to the at least one electrically conductive layer;authorizing means carried by said housing for permitting use of said radio transceiver based upon said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor sensing a fingerprint of an authorized user; anda rechargeable battery carried by said housing for powering said radio transceiver, said integrated circuit fingerprint sensor and said authorizing means.