
2317 Rev 1.1 (17NOV04)
AuthenTec Confidential Information
11
3. SENSOR OPERATION
3.1 Operation
Description
During an imaging event, the RF TruePrint Signal is conducted via the
Drive Ring to the users’ finger. The TruePrint Signal is them conducted
through and modulated by the “live layer” of the finger where the true
fingerprint originates. The imaging array (center strip region of the chip)
measures the TruePrint signal; the strength of which corresponds to either
a ridge or valley region.
The image array of the AES2501A sensor is composed of 16x192 pixels.
The array is scanned similarly to a sub-array in AuthenTec’s touch
sensors. During the imaging process, 16 pixels in a column are powered
up, sampled, and converted to 4-bit or 2-bit values. The high and low
reference voltages for the ADC are programmable via 7-bit DACs.
TruePrint
Signal
A/D
Converter
High Reference
Low Reference
Pixel Data
Pixel
Sense
Amp
Pixel
Antenna
Plate
Synthesizer
D/A
Converter
Output
Buffer
Drive
Ring
Figure 3-1 AES2501A Functional Diagram
The sensing element of each pixel is an RF sense-amplifier, which picks
up the TruePrint (high frequency AC) signal (125 KHz – 2MHz) that is
applied to the finger via the Finger Drive Ring, located prominently on the
sensor surface which fully encloses the pixel array. The pixel sense amps
receive, amplify, and buffer the signal.
Each pixel output is then converted into a level corresponding to the
strength of the received signal. Stronger signals are picked up from ridges
than valleys. This output is converted by an A/D converter whose
endpoints are adjustable via the Reference High and Reference Low
voltages.