JP2020126467A - Biometric authentication device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a biometric authentication device capable of guiding a finger for acquiring biometric authentication information to a predetermined position even when it is made compact in size.SOLUTION: A biometric authentication device comprises a biometric authentication sensor and a housing. The biometric authentication sensor, when any finger touches the sensor, acquires biometric authentication information from the finger. The housing has the biometric authentication sensor being arranged while exposed from a part of an outside surface thereof, and further is formed into a parallelepiped shape which has a groove for guiding the position of the finger at least at a part of the position where the finger touches when the finger touches the biometric authentication sensor, and is capable of holding by the fingers.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a biometric authentication device.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is known a technique in which a biometric authentication sensor is incorporated in hardware such as an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) of a bank, a personal computer, and a mobile phone terminal, and biometric authentication of a user is performed by the biometric authentication sensor. When a biometric sensor is incorporated in such hardware, it is easy to guide the position and direction to which the finger for acquiring biometric information is applied, depending on the shape of the hardware and the like.

However, it is conceivable that the biometric authentication device will be miniaturized and the biometric authentication sensor will be mounted on a medium or device that is large enough to be held by one hand. However, when the biometric authentication device is downsized, there is a possibility that the position and direction to which the finger for acquiring the biometric authentication information is applied may be unclear. Therefore, even a small biometric authentication device is required to be able to guide a finger for acquiring biometric authentication information to a predetermined position.

JP, 2008-244698, A

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a biometrics authentication device that can guide a finger for acquiring biometrics authentication information to a predetermined position even if it is small.

According to the embodiment, the biometric authentication device includes a biometric authentication sensor and a housing. The biometric sensor is contacted by one of the fingers and acquires biometric information from the finger. The casing has the biometric authentication sensor exposed at a part of the outer surface thereof, and at least a part of the position where the finger contacts when the finger contacts the biometric sensor, the position of the finger is located. It is formed in a rectangular shape having a guiding groove, which can be held by the fingers.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the same biometrics authentication apparatus. The perspective view which shows the example of a position of use of the same biometrics authentication apparatus. The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The side view which shows an example of use of the biometrics authentication system. The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The side view which shows an example of use of the biometrics authentication system. The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on other embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on other embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on other embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the biometrics authentication apparatus which concerns on other embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the biometric authentication device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the biometric authentication device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the biometric authentication device 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of using the biometric authentication device 1 to hold the biometric authentication device 1 with the right hand and acquire the biometric authentication information with the thumb 211.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the biometric authentication device 1 includes a processor 11, a biometric authentication sensor 12, an SE (Secure Element) 13, a wireless communication interface 14, and a battery 15. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the biometric authentication device 1 includes a processor 16, an SE 13, a wireless communication interface 14, and a battery 15, and a housing 16 that exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 to an outer surface.

The processor 11 performs processing and control necessary for the operation of the biometric authentication device 1. The processor 11 controls the biometrics sensors 12, SE13, and the wireless communication interface 14 in order to realize various functions of the biometrics authentication system 1 based on the program stored in the SE 13, for example. For example, the processor 11 encrypts and stores the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication sensor 12 by the SE 13, and transmits the biometric authentication information to the external terminal 100 for performing biometric authentication by the wireless communication interface 14. To do.

The processor 11 is, for example, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The processor 11 may be a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a SoC (System on a Chip), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Alternatively, the processor 11 may be a combination of these.

The biometric authentication sensor 12 acquires biometric authentication information of a biometric object, for example, biometric authentication information from one of the fingers. The biometric sensor 12 transmits the biometric information acquired from the finger to the SE 13 as image data. The biometric sensor 12 is, for example, a fingerprint sensor that acquires image data of a fingerprint from a finger. The biometric sensor 12 may be other than the fingerprint sensor, and may be, for example, a vein sensor that acquires a vein pattern of a finger as image data.

SE13 includes a memory capable of storing data and a cryptographic logic circuit. SE13 encrypts and stores the biometric authentication information.

The wireless communication interface 14 is an interface that transmits and receives information to and from the terminal 100 by wireless communication such as BlueTooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The battery 15 is, for example, a secondary battery.

The housing 16 is formed in a rectangular shape that fits in the fingers of one hand. Here, the rectangular shape that fits in the fingers of one hand is, for example, a hexahedron of a size that can be held by the fingers of one hand. In the present embodiment, the housing 16 is formed into, for example, a cubic shape that fits in a sphere having a diameter of 7 cm, and as a specific example, a cubic shape having 4 cm square or less. The casing 16 has, for example, ridges and corners formed into curved surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 16 houses, for example, the processor 11, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15, which are respectively mounted on the board. In addition, the housing 16 accommodates the substrate on which the biometric authentication sensor 12 is mounted, and exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 on a part of the outer surface. As a specific example, the housing 16 has an opening 21 for exposing the biometric sensor 12 on one surface thereof.

Moreover, the housing 16 has a groove 22 which is a part of the outer surface and at least a part of a position where a finger comes into contact when the finger is brought into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12. The groove 22 is provided, for example, at least at a position on the housing 16 where a finger different from the finger that contacts the biometric authentication sensor 12 contacts.

The groove 22 is formed, for example, to a depth that allows a finger to contact the bottom surface of the groove 22. Further, the groove 22 has, for example, a curved bottom surface. The shape of the groove 22 can be appropriately set, and for example, the bottom surface may be formed in a flat shape. However, the shape of the groove 22 is preferably such a depth and shape that the ball of the finger comes into contact with the bottom surface of the groove 22 when the housing 16 is gripped by the fingers.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the groove 22 is provided on, for example, one of four surfaces adjacent to the surface of the housing 16 having the opening 21 exposing the biometric sensor 12. The groove 22 is provided on the center side of one surface adjacent to the surface having the opening 21 in the direction orthogonal to the surface on which the opening 21 is provided, and extends along the direction parallel to the surface on which the opening 21 is provided. It

The groove 22 is provided, for example, between two opposing surfaces that are adjacent to the surface of the housing 16 on which the groove 22 is provided and the surface having the opening 21. In other words, the groove 22 crosses the surface on which the groove 22 is provided in the direction parallel to the surface on which the opening 21 is provided, and the two surfaces adjacent to the surface on which the groove 22 is provided and the surface having the opening 21 are opposed to each other. It is provided across the ridge portion formed by the surface on which the groove 22 is provided.

Explaining more specifically, when the surface provided with the opening 21 is the upper surface 16a and the surface facing the upper surface 16a is the lower surface 16b, the groove 22 is one of the four side surfaces 16c of the housing 16. It is provided on one surface 16c1. Further, the groove 22 extends in a direction in which the upper surface 16a and the lower surface 16b of the housing 16 face each other, in other words, a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and along a side surface 16c1 in which the groove 22 is provided. To be done. Further, the groove 22 extends to a pair of opposing side surfaces 16c2 adjacent to the side surface 16c1. As a result, when the side surfaces 16c2 are viewed from the front, the pair of side surfaces 16c2 are each notched in the cross-sectional shape of the groove 22 at a part of the side with the side surface 16c1 on which the groove 22 is extended.

According to the biometric authentication device 1 configured in this way, one of the four surfaces 16c adjacent to the surface 16a where the biometric authentication sensor 12 is exposed is along the surface 16a on which the biometric authentication sensor 12 is provided. A groove 22 extending in the vertical direction is provided. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the case 16 is gripped by the fingers of either the left or right hand, in this embodiment the right hand 200, and the thumb 211 is brought into contact with the biometric sensor 12, the index finger is inserted into the groove 22. 212 can be guided. When the index finger 212 is located in the groove 22, the position of the index finger 212 is guided by the groove 22, and, for example, the middle finger 213, the ring finger 214, and the little finger 215 are arranged on the surface 16b side facing the surface 16a on which the biometric sensor 12 is provided. It Then, by bringing the thumb 211 into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12, the case 211 is gripped by the thumb 211, the index finger 212, and the middle finger 213, and the fingerprint of the predetermined area of the thumb 211, that is, the fingerprint of the thumb 211 in the present embodiment. A part of the area that the user has comes into contact with the biometric sensor 12.

That is, when a finger is placed in the groove 22, the positional relationship between the other fingers and the housing 16 is also determined. As a result, the groove 22 has a positional relationship between the biometric authentication sensor 12 and the finger that contacts the biometric authentication sensor 12. To guide you.

In this manner, the biometric authentication device 1 can guide the direction and position of the finger with respect to the biometric authentication sensor 12 exposed on the outer surface of the housing 16 by the groove 22 provided in the housing 16. As a result, the biometric device 1 can easily apply the finger for acquiring biometric information in a predetermined direction and position with a simple configuration in which the groove 22 is provided even if the biometric device 1 is downsized.

Further, the user grasps the housing 16 with the groove 22 and grasps the manner and posture in which the finger is applied to the biometric sensor 12, so that the biometric sensor 12 can be used in the same manner and posture from the next time on. A finger for obtaining the authentication information can be touched. That is, when the same user grips the housing 16 with the groove 22 provided in the housing 16 and applies his/her finger to the biometric authentication sensor 12, the same posture and the direction and arrangement of the fingers are reproduced. It will be easy. As a result, when the same user uses the biometric authentication device 1, the biometric authentication device 1 can acquire the biometric authentication information of the same finger region.

Further, in the acquisition of the biometric authentication information, since the area and the direction in which the biometric authentication information of the finger is detected can be the same area, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the authentication itself of the biometric authentication device 1. Further, since the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication sensor 12 has the same direction, the processing of the biometric authentication information acquired by the processor 11 such as changing the direction of the biometric authentication information can be reduced. The biometric authentication device 1 can reduce power consumption by reducing the processing of the acquired biometric authentication information.

Further, the housing 21 is provided with the opening 21 (the biometric authentication sensor 12) and the groove 22, so that the user can easily determine the posture of the housing 16 only by touching the opening 21 and the groove 22. You can Therefore, the case 16 can easily obtain biometric information in the same manner and posture even when performing biometric authentication in a dark place or when being used by a visually impaired person.

As described above, according to the biometric authentication device 1 according to the first embodiment, by providing the groove 22, it is possible to guide the finger for acquiring biometric authentication information to a predetermined position even if the size is small. In addition, according to the biometric authentication device 1, it is possible to easily apply the fingers holding the housing 16 to a predetermined position and direction.

(Second embodiment)
The biometric authentication device 1A according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 5. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the biometric authentication device 1A according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of using the biometric authentication device 1A to hold the biometric authentication device 1A with the right hand 200 and acquire the biometric authentication information with the index finger 212. In addition, among the configurations of the biometric authentication device 1A according to the second embodiment, the same configurations as those of the biometric authentication device 1 according to the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. To do.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the biometric authentication device 1A includes a processor 11, a biometric sensor 12, an SE (Secure Element) 13, a wireless communication interface 14, and a battery 15. The biometric authentication device 1A also includes a housing 16A that houses the processor 11, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15, and exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 to the outer surface.

The housing 16A is formed in a rectangular shape that fits in the fingers of one hand. In the present embodiment, the housing 16A is formed into, for example, a cubic shape that fits into a spherical body having a diameter of 7 cm, and as a specific example, a cubic shape with 4 cm square or less. The housing 16A has, for example, ridges and corners formed into curved surfaces.

The housing 16A houses, for example, the processor 11, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15, which are respectively mounted on the substrate. In addition, the housing 16A houses the substrate on which the biometric sensor 12 is mounted, and exposes the biometric sensor 12 on a part of the outer surface. As a specific example, the housing 16</b>A has an opening 21 that exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 on one surface thereof.

In addition, the housing 16A has a groove 22 which is a part of the outer surface and at least a part of a position where a finger comes into contact when the biometric sensor 12 is brought into contact with the finger. The groove 22 is provided at least at a position, for example, of a finger of the housing 16A, which is different from a finger that is in contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12 and is in contact with the groove.

The groove 22 is formed, for example, to a depth that allows a finger to contact the bottom surface. Further, the groove 22 has, for example, a curved bottom surface. The shape of the groove 22 can be appropriately set, and for example, the bottom surface may be formed in a flat shape. However, the shape of the groove 22 is preferably such a depth and shape that the ball of the finger comes into contact with the bottom surface of the groove 22 when the housing 16A is gripped by the fingers.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the groove 22 is provided on, for example, two opposing surfaces of the four surfaces adjacent to the surface of the housing 16A having the opening 21 exposing the biometric authentication sensor 12. That is, the housing 16A according to the second embodiment differs from the housing 16 according to the first embodiment described above in the number of grooves 22 and the positions where the grooves 22 are provided.

The groove 22 is provided, for example, in the center of each of two opposing surfaces adjacent to the surface having the opening 21 in a direction orthogonal to the surface provided with the opening 21, and along the direction parallel to the surface provided with the opening 21. Extending in the same direction. The two grooves 22 are provided at symmetrical positions on the opposite surfaces of the housing 16A.

The groove 22 is provided, for example, between two opposing surfaces adjacent to the two opposing surfaces of the housing 16A where the groove 22 is provided and the surface having the opening 21. In other words, the groove 22 has two surfaces adjacent to both the surface on which the groove 22 is provided and the surface on which the opening 21 is provided so as to traverse the surface on which the groove 22 is provided in a direction parallel to the surface including the opening 21. It is provided across the ridge formed by the surface on which 22 is provided.

More specifically, when the surface on which the opening 21 is provided is the upper surface 16a and the surface facing the upper surface 16a is the lower surface 16b, the groove 22 is a relative surface of the four side surfaces 16c of the housing 16A. It is provided on the two side surfaces 16c1. Further, the groove 22 extends in a direction in which the upper surface 16a and the lower surface 16b of the housing 16A face each other, in other words, a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and along a side surface 16c1 in which the groove 22 is provided. To be done. Further, the groove 22 extends to the two opposing side surfaces 16c2 adjacent to the two opposing side surfaces 16c1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, when the side surfaces 16c2 are viewed from the front, the pair of side surfaces 16c2 has two side surfaces 16c1 in which the grooves 22 are extended and a part of a side portion thereof has a cross-sectional shape of the groove 22. Cut out into.

According to the biometric authentication device 1A configured in this manner, the two surfaces 16c1 of the four surfaces 16c adjacent to the surface 16a where the biometric authentication sensor 12 is exposed are provided along the surface 16a on which the biometric authentication sensor 12 is provided. A groove 22 extending in the vertical direction is provided. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the housing 16A is gripped by either the left or right hand, that is, the finger of the right hand 200 in this embodiment, and the thumb 211 is brought into contact with the biometric sensor 12, the two grooves 22 are provided. The thumb 211 and the middle finger 213 can be guided to. When the thumb 211 and the middle finger 213 are located in the groove 22, the positions of the thumb 211 and the middle finger 213 are guided by the groove 22, and, for example, the ring finger 214 and the little finger 215 are on the surface 16b side facing the surface 16a on which the biometric sensor 12 is provided. Is located in.

When the ring finger 214 contacts the surface 16b, the housing 16A is gripped by the thumb 211, the middle finger 213, and the ring finger 214. Further, by bringing the index finger 212 into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12, a predetermined area of the index finger 212, in this embodiment, a part of the area having the fingerprint of the index finger 212 comes into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12.

That is, when a finger is placed in the two grooves 22, the positional relationship between the other fingers and the housing 16A is determined, and as a result, the groove 22 is formed between the biometric authentication sensor 12 and the finger contacting the biometric authentication sensor 12. Guide the positional relationship.

Thus, the biometric device 1A can guide the position of the finger with respect to the biometric sensor 12 exposed on the outer surface of the housing 16A by the two grooves 22 provided in the housing 16A. As a result, even if the biometric device 1A is downsized, it is possible to easily apply the finger to a predetermined position with a simple configuration in which the groove 22 is provided.

Further, the user grasps the housing 16A with the groove 22 and grasps the manner and posture in which the finger is applied to the biometric authentication sensor 12, so that the biometric sensor 12 can be biometrically attached to the biometric authentication sensor 12 from the next time onward. A finger for obtaining the authentication information can be touched. That is, when the same user holds the housing 16A and applies his/her finger to the biometric authentication sensor 12 by the groove 22 provided in the housing 16A, it is possible to reproduce the same posture and the arrangement of fingers. It will be easy. As a result, when the same user uses the biometric authentication device 1, the biometric authentication device 1A can acquire the biometric authentication information of the similar finger region.

As described above, according to the biometric device 1A according to the second embodiment, by providing the two grooves 22, it is possible to guide the finger for acquiring biometric information to a predetermined position even if the size is small. In addition, according to the biometric device 1A, the fingers holding the housing 16A can be easily applied to a predetermined position and direction.

(Third Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the biometric authentication device 1B according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the biometric authentication device 1B according to the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of using the biometric authentication device 1B to hold the biometric authentication device 1 with the right hand 200 and acquire the biometric authentication information with the index finger 212. Among the configurations of the biometric authentication device 1B according to the third embodiment, the same configurations as the biometric authentication device 1 according to the first embodiment and the biometric authentication device 1A according to the second embodiment described above are The same reference numerals are given and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the biometric authentication device 1B includes a processor 11, a biometric authentication sensor 12, an SE (Secure Element) 13, a wireless communication interface 14, and a battery 15. Further, the biometric authentication device 1B includes a housing 16B that houses the processor 11, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15, and exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 to the outer surface.

The housing 16B is formed in a rectangular shape that fits into the fingers of one hand. In the present embodiment, the housing 16B is formed into, for example, a cubic shape that fits in a sphere having a diameter of 7 cm, and as a specific example, a cubic shape having 4 cm square or less. The housing 16B has, for example, ridges and corners formed into curved surfaces.

The housing 16B houses, for example, the processor 11, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15, which are respectively mounted on the board. Further, the housing 16B accommodates the substrate on which the biometric authentication sensor 12 is mounted, and exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 on a part of the outer surface. As a specific example, the housing 16B has an opening 21 for exposing the biometric authentication sensor 12 on one surface thereof.

Further, the housing 16B has a groove 22B which is a part of the outer surface and at least a part of the position where the finger contacts when the finger is brought into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12. The groove 22B is provided at least at a position, for example, of the fingers of the housing 16B, which is different from the finger that is in contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12, and is in contact with the housing 16B.

The groove 22B is formed, for example, to a depth that allows a finger to contact the bottom surface. Further, the groove 22B has, for example, a curved bottom surface. The shape of the groove 22B can be appropriately set, and for example, the bottom surface may be formed in a flat shape. However, the shape of the groove 22B is preferably such a depth and shape that the ball of the finger comes into contact with the bottom surface of the groove 22B when the housing 16B is gripped by the finger.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the groove 22B is provided on, for example, two opposing surfaces of the four surfaces adjacent to the surface of the housing 16B having the opening 21 that exposes the biometric sensor 12.

The groove 22B is provided in the center of each of two opposing surfaces adjacent to the surface having the opening 21 in a direction orthogonal to the surface provided with the opening 21, and a direction along a direction parallel to the surface provided with the opening 21. Extend to.

The groove 22B extends, for example, from one side portion to a midway portion in a direction parallel to the surface having the opening 21 on the two opposing surfaces provided with the groove 22B of the housing 16B. In other words, the length of the groove 22B in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the length of one side of the surface on which the groove 22B is provided. As a result, the groove 22B extends from the ridge between the surface on which the groove 22B is provided and the surface on which the groove 22B is provided from the ridge between one of the two surfaces adjacent to the surface on which the groove 22B is provided and the surface having the opening 21. The groove 22</b>B extends to a midway portion of the surface on which the groove 22</b>B is provided.

That is, the housing 16B according to the third embodiment has a configuration in which the shape of the groove 22B is different from that of the groove 22 of the housing 16A according to the above-described second embodiment.

More specifically, when the surface provided with the opening 21 is the upper surface 16a and the surface opposite to the upper surface 16a is the lower surface 16b, the groove 22B is parallel to the four side surfaces 16c of the housing 16B. It is provided on the two opposing side surfaces 16c1. Further, the groove 22B extends in a direction in which the upper surface 16a and the lower surface 16b of the housing 16B face each other, in other words, a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and along a side surface 16c1 in which the groove 22B is provided. To be done.

Further, the groove 22B extends from one side surface 16c2 of the two opposing side surfaces 16c2 adjacent to the two opposing side surfaces 16c1 toward the other side surface 16c2 to a midway portion of the side surface 16c1.

The other end of the groove 22B on the side surface 16c side is formed in a semicircular shape. As a result, when the side surface 16c2 is viewed from the front, one side surface 16c2 of the pair of side surfaces 16c2 has two side surfaces 16c1 to which the groove 22B extends and a part of a side portion thereof has a cross-sectional shape of the groove 22B. As shown in FIG. 7, the other side surface 16c2 of the pair of side surfaces 16c2 has two side surfaces 16c1 to which the groove 22B extends and a part of a side portion thereof has a cross-sectional shape of the groove 22B. Do not cut into

According to the biometric authentication device 1B configured as described above, the two surfaces 16c1 facing each other of the four surfaces 16c adjacent to the surface 16a where the biometric authentication sensor 12 is exposed are provided along the surface 16a on which the biometric authentication sensor 12 is provided. A groove 22B extending in the vertical direction is provided. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the casing 16B is held by one of the left and right hands, that is, the finger of the right hand 200 in this embodiment, and the thumb 211 is brought into contact with the biometric sensor 12, the two grooves 22B are provided. The thumb 211 and the middle finger 213 can be guided to. When the thumb 211 and the middle finger 213 are located in the groove 22B, the positions of the thumb 211 and the middle finger 213 are guided by the groove 22B. For example, the ring finger 214 and the little finger 215 are on the surface 16b side facing the surface 16a on which the biometric sensor 12 is provided. Is located in.

Then, the ring finger 214 comes into contact with the surface 16b, so that the housing 16B is gripped by the thumb 211, the middle finger 213, and the ring finger 214. Further, by bringing the index finger 212 into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12, a predetermined area of the index finger 212, in this embodiment, a part of the area having the fingerprint of the index finger 212 comes into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12.

That is, in the biometric authentication device 1B, similarly to the biometric authentication device 1A described above, when a finger is positioned in the two grooves 22B, the positional relationship between the other fingers and the housing 16B is determined, and as a result, the groove 22B is , And guides the positional relationship between the biometric authentication sensor 12 and a finger in contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12.

In addition, one end in the longitudinal direction of the groove 22B extends to the adjacent side face 16c2, and the other end is provided to the front of the adjacent side face 16c2 in the longitudinal direction. In the biometric authentication device 1B, the orientation of the housing 16B is determined by the shape of the groove 22B. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the biometric authentication device 1A described above, it is easy to reproduce the direction of the finger with respect to the housing 16B. As a result, when the same user uses the biometric authentication device 1B, the biometric authentication device 1B can acquire biometric authentication information of a similar finger region.

Further, in the acquisition of the biometric authentication information, the area and the direction in which the biometric authentication information of the finger is detected can be set to the same area, so that it is possible to improve the accuracy of the authentication itself of the biometric authentication device 1B. Further, since the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication sensor 12 has the same direction, the processing of the biometric authentication information acquired by the processor 11 such as changing the direction of the biometric authentication information can be reduced. The biometric authentication device 1B can reduce power consumption by reducing the processing of the acquired biometric authentication information.

As described above, according to the biometric authentication device 1B of the third embodiment, by providing the two grooves 22B, it is possible to guide the finger for acquiring biometric authentication information to a predetermined position even if the size is small. .. In addition, according to the biometric authentication device 1B, the fingers holding the housing 16B can be easily applied to a predetermined position and direction.

(Fourth Embodiment)
The biometric authentication device 1C according to the fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the biometric authentication device 1C according to the fourth embodiment. In addition, among the configurations of the biometric authentication device 1C according to the fourth embodiment, the same configurations as those of the biometric authentication device 1 according to the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. To do.

As shown in FIG. 8, the biometric authentication device 1C includes a processor 11, a biometric authentication sensor 12, an SE (Secure Element) 13, a wireless communication interface 14, and a battery 15. In addition, the biometric authentication device 1C includes a housing 16C that houses the processor 11, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15, and exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 to the outer surface.

The housing 16C is formed in a rectangular shape that fits into the fingers of one hand. Here, the rectangular shape that fits in the fingers of one hand is, for example, a hexahedron of a size that can be held by the fingers of one hand. In the present embodiment, the housing 16C is formed into, for example, a cubic shape that fits in a sphere having a diameter of 7 cm, and as a specific example, a cubic shape having 4 cm square or less. The casing 16C has, for example, ridges and corners formed into curved surfaces.

The housing 16C houses, for example, the processor 11, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15, which are respectively mounted on the board. The housing 16C accommodates the board on which the biometric sensor 12 is mounted and exposes the biometric sensor 12 on a part of the outer surface. As a specific example, the housing 16C has an opening 21 for exposing the biometric authentication sensor 12 on one surface thereof.

Further, the housing 16C has a groove 23 which is a part of the outer surface, and at least a part of a position where a finger comes into contact when the finger is brought into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12. The groove 23 is provided, for example, at least at a position on the housing 16C where a finger that contacts the biometric authentication sensor 12 contacts.

The groove 23 is formed, for example, to a depth that allows a finger to contact the bottom surface. The bottom surface of the groove 23 is, for example, flat. The shape of the groove 23 can be set as appropriate, and for example, the bottom surface may be formed in a curved shape. However, the shape of the groove 23 is preferably such a depth and shape that the ball of the finger comes into contact with the bottom surface of the groove 23 when the finger comes into contact with the biometric sensor 12.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the groove 23 is, for example, one of four surfaces adjacent to the surface having the opening 21 that exposes the biometric authentication sensor 12 of the housing 16C and the surface having the opening 21. It is provided at the center of the ridge.

More specifically, when the surface on which the opening 21 is provided is the upper surface 16a and the surface facing the upper surface 16a is the lower surface 16b, the groove 23 includes the upper surface 16a and the four side surfaces 16c of the housing 16C. It is provided at the ridge with any one surface 16c1.

According to the biometric authentication device 1 configured as described above, the groove 23 is provided in a part of the ridge portion that is continuous with the surface 16a where the biometric authentication sensor 12 is exposed. Therefore, when the casing 16C is gripped by the finger of either the left or right hand, and when any one of the fingers is brought into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12, the groove 23 is guided to the belly of the finger contacting the biometric authentication sensor 12. can do. For example, when acquiring biometric information from the thumb 211, the belly of the thumb 211 contacts the groove 23. Similarly, when the biometric information is acquired from the index finger 212, the belly of the index finger 212 contacts the groove 23.

That is, by applying a finger for obtaining biometric authentication information to the groove 23 and bringing the finger into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12, the direction and position of the finger with respect to the biometric authentication sensor 12 can be guided. Further, by guiding the finger for acquiring biometric information to the biometric sensor 12, it is possible to guide the direction and position of another finger with respect to the housing 16C. As a result, even if the biometrics authentication system 1C is downsized, it is possible to easily apply the finger to a predetermined direction and position with a simple configuration in which the groove 23 is provided.

Therefore, the user grasps the manner and posture in which the finger is applied to the biometric sensor 12, so that the finger for contacting the biometric sensor 12 with the same manner and posture from the next time can be brought into contact with the biometric sensor 12. You can That is, when the same user grips the housing 16C and applies his/her finger to the biometric authentication sensor 12 by the groove 23 provided in the housing 16C, the same posture and the direction and arrangement of the fingers are reproduced. It will be easy. As a result, the biometric authentication device 1C can acquire biometric authentication information of a similar finger region when the same user uses the biometric authentication device 1C.

Further, in the acquisition of the biometric authentication information, the area in which the biometric authentication information of the finger is detected and the orientation thereof can be set to the same area, so that the accuracy of the authentication itself of the biometric authentication device 1C can be improved. Further, since the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication sensor 12 has the same direction, the processing of the biometric authentication information acquired by the processor 11 such as changing the direction of the biometric authentication information can be reduced. The biometric authentication device 1C can reduce power consumption by reducing the processing of the acquired biometric authentication information.

Further, by providing the groove 23 in the housing 16C, the attitude of the housing 16C with respect to the housing 16C can be easily determined only by the user's touch. Therefore, the housing 16C can easily obtain biometric information in the same manner and posture even when performing biometric authentication in a dark place or when being used by a low vision person.

As described above, according to the biometric authentication device 1C of the fourth embodiment, by providing the groove 23, it is possible to easily apply a finger for acquiring biometric authentication information to a predetermined position and direction even if the size is small. ..

The above-described embodiment is presented as an example, and the biometric authentication device is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described example, the configuration in which the grooves 22 and 22B are provided on any one of the side surfaces 16c of the housings 16, 16A, and 16B, or two opposing surfaces, and the ridge portions of the upper surface 16a and the side surfaces 16c of the housing 16B. Although the configuration in which the groove 23 is provided in the above is described, the configuration is not limited to these configurations. That is, in the biometric authentication device, by providing a single groove or a plurality of grooves on any of the outer surfaces of the housing, the position of the finger that comes into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12 is directly with respect to the biometric authentication sensor 12, or Any configuration that can indirectly provide guidance may be used. Further, the groove provided on the side surface 16c of the housing may be configured such that at least one end portion is arranged on the surface on which the groove 22 is provided and the ridge portion of the surface adjacent to the surface.

For example, the groove 22 provided in the housing 16 described above may be the groove 22B provided in the housing 16B. The housing 16 has the groove 22B, and the ridge portion at which one end of the groove 22B is arranged allows the housing 16 to be divided into right-hand and left-hand.

Further, for example, as shown in a housing 16D of a biometric device 1D according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the groove 22 may be provided on three side surfaces 16c1 adjacent to the upper surface 16a where the opening 21 is provided. .. With the biometric authentication device 1D having such a configuration, the thumb 211 and the index finger 212 are respectively provided like the biometric authentication device 1 according to the first embodiment and the biometric authentication device 1A according to the second embodiment described above. The position and direction of the biometric sensor 12 can be guided.

Further, for example, as shown in a housing 16E of a biometrics authentication system 1E according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, in addition to the groove 22 for guiding a finger holding the housing 16E, the biometrics sensor 12 is contacted. The groove 23 for guiding the finger may be further provided. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the groove 22E may be provided on the lower surface 16b opposite to the upper surface 16a provided with the opening 21 of the housing 16E. When the groove is provided on the lower surface 16b, it is preferable that the lower surface 16b has a shape capable of guiding the direction of the housing 16E. Further, the groove provided on the lower surface 16b may have a shape different from that of the groove 22B in accordance with the shape of the finger that contacts the lower surface 16b.

Further, in the above-described example, an example in which the two grooves 22 and 22B provided on the opposite side surfaces 16c of the housings 16A and 16B have the same arrangement and shape, respectively, is not limited to this. Similarly, the grooves 22, 22B, and 23 have been described as extending in one direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the grooves 22, 22B, and 23 can be appropriately set as long as they have a shape capable of guiding the fingers.

For example, as shown in a housing 16F of a biometric authentication device 1F according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a groove 22B is provided on one side surface 16c1 of two facing side surfaces 16c1 of the housing 16F, and the other side surface 16c1. 16c1 may be provided with a groove 22F having a shape different from that of the groove 22B. In this way, by making the shapes of the two grooves 22B and 22F provided on the opposite side surfaces 16c different, it is possible to form along the shape of the fingers that hold the housing 16F, and thus the housing 16F is easy to hold. Become.

In addition, the housing 16F in which the two grooves 22B and 22F have an asymmetrical shape can be set for the right hand and the left hand, for example, by disposing the grooves 22B and 22F having different shapes. As a result, even if the biometric authentication device 1F is small, it is possible to guide a finger for acquiring biometric authentication information to a predetermined position with high accuracy, and it is possible to further improve the accuracy of the authentication itself of the biometric authentication device 1F. it can. Further, the shape of the groove for guiding the fingers may be, for example, a so-called order shape which is formed in the housing 16 in conformity with the shape of the fingers of the user. Further, although an example in which the end of the groove 22B described above has a semicircular shape has been described, for example, the end of the groove 22B may be an end extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the groove 22B.

Further, in the above-mentioned example, the case of the biometric authentication device has been described as a cubic shape as an example of a cubic shape that can be fit into the fingers of one hand, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in a biometric authentication device 1G according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the housing 16G is formed in, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape so as to fit in the fingers of one hand. For example, in the case of the rectangular parallelepiped housing 16G, one surface may be 4 cm square or less and long in one direction. As a specific example, the housing 16F is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that can be held by the fingers of one hand, such as 3 cm×3 cm×6 cm.

Such a casing 16G guides a finger holding the casing 16G to a part of the outer surface thereof, more specifically, to the side surface 16c1 on the longer side of the side surfaces 16c adjacent to the upper surface 16a where the opening 21 is provided. It suffices that the groove 22G is provided. Note that the groove 22G preferably has a shape such that the ball of the finger holding the housing 16G can come into contact with the bottom surface of the groove 22G, like the grooves 22 and 22B described above. The opening 21 may be provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface 16a. By thus forming a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in one direction, the area that can be touched by the fingers for gripping the housing 16G increases, so that the housing 16G can be easily gripped.

Further, by using the rectangular parallelepiped casing 16G, the mountable area of the substrate arranged in the casing 16G can be increased. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the processor 11, the biometric sensor 12, the SE 13, the wireless communication interface 14, and the battery 15 may be mounted on one board 17.

Further, in the example described above, the biometric authentication device 1A has the configuration in which the groove 22 extending across the opposite side surfaces 16c2 is provided symmetrically with respect to the opposite side surfaces 16c1, but the present invention is not limited to this. .. For example, the biometric device 1A guides the direction of the housing 16A to a part of the outer surface of the housing 16A, for example, the upper surface 16a where the opening 21 of the housing 16A is provided, or one end side in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface of the groove 22. A guide portion such as a small protrusion may be further provided. Even if the direction of the housing 16A cannot be confirmed from the shape of the groove 22 by visually recognizing such a protrusion or touching it with a finger, the direction of the housing 16A can be confirmed by the guide portion. ..

Further, in the above-described example, an example has been described in which each biometric authentication device is held by a finger and acquires biometric authentication information, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the housing is placed on the desk, and the finger is brought into contact with the biometric authentication sensor 12 with the lower surface 16b being in contact with the desk and the fingers being brought into contact with the grooves 22, 22B, and 23. It may be.

In the example described above, the example in which the biometric sensor 12 acquires biometric information from a finger is not limited to this. The biometric sensor 12 may be configured to acquire biometric information from any part of the hand.

According to the biometric authentication device of at least one embodiment described above, by providing the housing with the groove for guiding the fingers, the finger for acquiring the biometric information can be guided to a predetermined position even if the size is small. ..

While some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and the gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the scope equivalent thereto.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G... Biometric authentication device, 11... Processor, 12... Biometric sensor, 14... Wireless communication interface, 15... Battery, 16, 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F, 16G... Housing, 16a... Top surface, 16b... Bottom surface, 16c, 16c1, 16c2... Side surface, 17... Substrate, 21... Opening, 22, 22B, 22E, 22F, 22G, 23... Groove, 100... Terminal , 200... right hand, 211... thumb, 212... index finger, 213... middle finger, 214... ring finger, 215... little finger.

Claims (9)

A biometric sensor that touches one of the fingers and acquires biometric information from the finger,
While arranging the biometric sensor exposed on a part of the outer surface, a groove for guiding the position of the finger is provided at least at part of the position where the finger contacts when the finger contacts the biometric sensor. A casing having a rectangular shape that can be held by the fingers,
A biometric authentication device including. The biometric device according to claim 1, wherein the groove is provided in at least a part of a position where the fingers holding the casing come into contact with each other. The biometric device according to claim 2, wherein the groove is provided on any one surface of the housing and a surface adjacent to a surface of the housing where the biometric sensor is exposed. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the groove is provided on two opposing surfaces that are adjacent to a surface of the housing where the biometrics sensor is exposed. The groove is formed to be long in one direction, and at least one end in the longitudinal direction is provided up to a surface adjacent to a surface on which the groove is provided in a direction parallel to a surface of the housing where the biometric sensor is exposed. The biometrics authentication system according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The biometric device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the groove is provided in at least a part of a position of the finger in contact with the biometric sensor of the housing. The biometric authentication device according to claim 6, wherein the groove is provided at a ridge portion of a surface of the housing that is exposed to the biometric authentication sensor and a surface of the housing that is adjacent to a surface of the housing that is exposed to the biometric authentication sensor. The biometric authentication device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in a cubic shape. The biometric authentication device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the biometric authentication sensor is arranged on one side in a longitudinal direction.