Invented by Yipeng Lu, David Horsley, Hao-Yen Tang, Bernhard Boser, University of California
The Market For MUT Fingerprint ID System
The market for MUT fingerprint ID systems is rapidly developing and expanding. It offers a new level of biometric authentication in personal electronics, healthcare, and security applications.
MUTs represent a revolutionary advancement over previous ultrasonic sensors due to their small size, ease of fabrication and seamless integration with electronics. These features represent a vast improvement over currently available bulky mechanical scanners that often fail due to inadequate cooling.
Consumer Electronics
The consumer electronics market is a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to evolve and develop with new products. There are numerous established and emerging players within this field, creating high competition. Nevertheless, industry analysts forecast a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% in terms of value over the forecast period.
Factors such as technological advances and a growing trend towards smart devices are driving growth in this market. Appliances equipped with voice assistance, Bluetooth or WI-Fi connectivity are becoming more popular due to their convenience. Furthermore, manufacturers are shifting their focus towards producing easy-to-use and convenient products which should further propel growth within this space.
Traditional fingerprint sensors, which may malfunction due to wet, dry or oily fingers, are susceptible to errors due to skin condition. MUT fingerprint ID systems have the potential to revolutionize how we use our personal electronic devices as well as many other consumer goods by accurately detecting fingerprints regardless of skin condition.
For instance, the MUT fingerprint ID system could be included as an add-on feature on smartphones to allow users to unlock their devices with just their fingertips without needing to enter passwords. This would be a major security improvement since it eliminates the risk of hacking or theft.
Additionally, the MUT fingerprint ID system can be integrated into door locks and other access control devices to allow people to unlock their doors with their fingerprints. This feature has the potential to prevent unauthorized entry into homes as well as protect private properties from criminals.
Furthermore, the MUT fingerprint ID system could be added as an extra security layer in firearms to guard against unauthorized use and accidents. This could be done in combination with digital trigger locks that are internet enabled.
The MUT fingerprint ID system offers a compact size and sturdy solid-state construction, making it an ideal fit for incorporation into existing consumer product designs. Furthermore, its cost per unit is orders of magnitude lower than current systems, making it suitable for many different uses.
Healthcare
The healthcare market for MUT fingerprint ID system is driven by the need to protect sensitive patient and hospital data. This issue has become particularly pressing in several countries due to governmental requirements that hospitals maintain stringent security protocols in order to preserve patient privacy and prevent unauthorized access to personal information and medical records.
Healthcare biometric systems utilize multiple scanning methods to identify and authenticate patients based on their unique behavioral patterns and physical features. These measures may include face, palm, retina thumbprint or fingerprint scans.
Fingerprint scanning is a widely-used biometric technique in healthcare security because it’s accurate and dependable. Additionally, it helps comply with government regulations while acting as a strong deterrent against fraudulent activity.
This technology, when coupled with other security measures such as card readers and keypad systems, ensures users do not gain access to sensitive information. Moreover, it helps reduce costs by eliminating paper-based record management systems.
Another advantage of this technology is its compatibility, meaning companies can incorporate it with existing consumer products without making design modifications. This enables companies to create entirely new personal identification products at much lower costs than traditional technologies, according to David Kelly, chief marketing officer at Imprivata – an authentication provider.
The MUT fingerprint ID system utilizes piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs). These small devices offer many benefits, such as low cost production, easy integration with electronics and low power consumption.
PMUTs (Personal Mobile Unit Trackers) can be integrated on the surface of many personal electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, with the sensor placed near where a user’s fingerprint would normally rest.
In some instances, a phased array of transducers can be utilized to produce an intensely focused acoustic beam. This is accomplished by properly adjusting the phase delay on each channel of data input. The array can then be configured so that all sonic energy is directed toward one specific location.
The healthcare biometrics market is expected to experience tremendous growth in the foreseeable future. This technology plays a vital role in improving patient safety, protecting patient data and providing high-quality healthcare. Furthermore, it helps reduce medical services’ costs while increasing workplace efficiency.
Biometrics
The market for MUT fingerprint ID systems in biometrics is expected to expand over time as more companies adopt this innovative technology and its unique advantages. The MUT fingerprint sensor can easily be embedded into any existing consumer electronic product with minimal modification needed, making it a great addition to personal devices such as cell phones and other small portable electronic gadgets.
The MUT fingerprint sensor can also be applied in other applications, such as providing tradespeople with temporary access to parts of a building with remote entry capabilities. This provides high levels of security and convenience without interfering with legitimate users who need to finish their tasks or deliver packages.
Another advantage of the MUT fingerprint sensor is its low power dissipation. This can significantly extend battery life, especially for devices powered by batteries such as smartphones or other portable electronic gadgets.
In most implementations, the MUT fingerprint sensor consumes less than 1 mJ of energy per finger print acquisition. This is significantly better than optical and capacitive sensors which may consume significant amounts of power when reading a print.
MUT fingerprint sensors operate only when a valid fingerprint is recognized, thus saving energy consumption. This mode of operation makes them ideal for many applications and allows the on-switch to be replaced in personal electronics devices like mobile phones or tablet computers.
The MUT fingerprint sensor’s primary advantage lies in its capacity to detect both epidermis (skin surface) and dermis (subcutaneous) layers of a finger. This makes it ideal for applications where skin may be contaminated with dirt or moisture, leading to errors with optical or capacitive sensors.
The MUT fingerprint sensor can be utilized in a variety of applications such as home automation systems, security access systems and medical devices. Furthermore, this fingerprint sensor serves to combat identity theft – an issue which is growing at an alarming rate.
Security
The market for MUT fingerprint ID systems in security is expected to expand as more products become internet-enabled, such as digital gun safes. This makes it harder for unauthorized individuals to get guns and reduces deaths caused by firearm accidents.
At present, several types of fingerprint scanners are available for security-critical applications. Ultrasonic sensors are the most popular choice as they offer excellent fidelity and sensitivity to both dermis and epidermal skin conditions; however, these devices tend to be large, expensive, and slow in scanning speed.
Another type of fingerprint scanner is a capacitive fingerprint scanner, which is more compact and consumes less power than its ultrasonic counterpart. This high fidelity makes it suitable for applications that need frequent re-verification such as on-switches in smart phones or other devices that require frequent verification.
Another type of fingerprint scanner is a piezoelectric MUT (PMUT) fingerprint sensor. Although smaller than an ultrasonic sensor, it offers higher resolution and sensitivity. It detects both dermis and epidermal layers on fingers with minimal power dissipation.
One feature that sets the MUT fingerprint ID system apart from other fingerprint sensors is its capability to scan a focused acoustic beam in two axes using a phased array of transducers. Unlike traditional mechanical scanning techniques that involve driving the beam, this one uses an array of transducers for narrow beams and small scanning steps.
The pitch between each MUT in an array determines scanning step size, enabling a narrow beam to be scanned with high resolution. Furthermore, each MUT group’s acoustic impedance can be increased for more directional beams, increasing scanning resolution while cutting power consumption and decreasing device size.
Traditional fingerprint identification systems, which require mechanical scanning of the fingerprint, lack efficiency. The MUT fingerprint ID system simplifies integration of biometric sensing technology into a device for improved sensitivity and accuracy in detection, thus increasing system dependability. Furthermore, its small size and robust solid-state construction allow for the creation of entirely new classes of consumer products with unique capabilities due to its small size and robust solid state construction.
The University of California invention works as follows
MEMS ultrasound fingerprint identification systems are available. The systems can detect both epidermis- and dermis fingerprint patterns in three dimensions. The systems can also be made and used in a variety of ways, including devices that incorporate the systems.
Background for MUT fingerprint ID system
The micromachined ultrasonic fingerprint identification system (MUT) of the present invention represents a breakthrough in personal authentication. This new generation of personal identification is unprecedented in its small size, solid-state construction and lower cost than existing systems. It will have a transformative impact on personal electronic devices and other consumer goods as well as entry enablement devices.
The MUT fingerprint identification system is a new fingerprint sensor that uses an array of ultrasonic transmitters. The MUT fingerprint ID system is smaller than existing ultrasonic fingerprint scanners made from bulk piezoelectric materials. It can be easily fabricated, integrated with electronics, and electronic scans are fast. These features are a major improvement on the current available, bulky and susceptible mechanical scanners. This ultrasonic fingerprint sensor eliminates the need for mechanical scanning as required by older ultrasonic fingerprint sensors.
Conventional fingerprint sensors are capacitive sensors that are used in consumer electronics applications. They are very prone to errors due wet, dry, or oily fingers. Optic sensors can detect dirt on fingers. The ultrasonic sensor located at the core MUT fingerprint ID system is able to detect fingerprints on both the epidermis (subcutaneous) and optical layers, unlike both capacitive or optical sensors.
MUT fingerprint ID system uses both epidermis and dermis detection to determine the correct fingerprint pattern. Therefore, the sensor is not sensitive to moist or contamination. Optic and capacitive sensors, however, are more sensitive to contamination. “The MUT fingerprint ID system can electronically scan the focused audio beam at a long distance (from many mm to many cm) with a small step size (?50?m).
Ultrasonic fingerprint sensors are highly reliable and can be used in security-critical areas such as banking. Ultrasonic sensors are currently limited to a single transducer, which is mechanically scanned. This makes them too expensive, slow and heavy for consumer electronics (e.g.
The MUT fingerprint identification system features a micromachined ultrasonic array and an electronic scanning method that can be used in a live scan mode.
The MUT fingerprint identification system of the present invention offers unique capabilities to existing personal electronics devices with minimal design modifications, adding a new dimension to consumer products.” The MUT fingerprint ID system provides the basis for entirely new personal identification products.
The MUT fingerprint ID system is smaller than conventional ultrasonic fingerprint scanners based on bulk piezoelectric transducers and can be easily fabricated and integrated with electronics. It has an electronic scanning feature that replaces mechanical scanning, which means it responds quickly. The MUT fingerprint ID system has unique engineering designs that solve the problem of near-isotropic sound propagation, which results in poor directivity. This limitation severely limits the application of previous systems.
The MUT fingerprint ID system design options combine many of their features to offer the best benefits to specific needs. You can choose which option will give you the best benefit for the entire system and your specific application. These features will be discussed separately below. However, some examples will be provided. The designing engineer will choose or modify them to meet the needs of the entire system as well as the devices that the MUT fingerprint identification system will be used.
Before we describe the invention in more detail, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited by particular embodiments as these may vary. As those skilled in the art will see, the invention can include many alternatives, modifications, or equivalents. It should also be noted that the terminology used in this document is intended only to describe particular embodiments and is not meant to limit the invention’s scope.
Where a range is given, it is understood that every intervening value between the upper and lowest limits of that range, and any other declared or intervening value within that stated range is included in the invention. These smaller ranges’ upper and lower limits may be included separately and include the invention. However, the exclusions of any limit within the range are not required. The invention includes any ranges that exclude either or both of these limits if the range is stated to include one or both limits.
Certain ranges of numerical values are presented herein, with the term ‘about.? preceding them. “about” is the term used to indicate that the numerical values are preceded by the term?about. The term?about? is used in this context to indicate literal support for the number it precedes. It can also be used to indicate a number that is close to or approximately that number. When a number is close to or approximately a specific recited one, the nearest or closest unrecited number could be a number that, in its context, provides the substantial equivalent to the specifically recited.
It should be noted that the singular forms ‘a?, ‘an?, and/or?the are used in this claim and the attached claims. If the context requires otherwise, plural referents can be used. You can also make the claims to exclude any optional elements. This statement serves as an antecedent for the use of exclusive terminology such as “solely”,? ?only? ?only? limitation.
As those skilled in the art will see from this disclosure, each embodiment described and illustrated herein contains discrete components and features that can be easily separated from or combined with any other embodiments. This does not limit the scope or spirit the present invention. Any method can be performed in the order in which it is described or in any other way that is logically feasible.
All publications and patents cited within this specification are herein incorporated as if they were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated. They are also incorporated herein by refer to describe and disclose the methods and/or materials with which the publications are cited. Citing any publication does not mean that it is entitled to be disclosed prior to its filing date. The dates of publication may differ from actual publication dates, which could be necessary to be independently verified.
Unless otherwise stated, all technical terms and scientific terms used in this invention have the same meanings as those commonly understood by an ordinary skilled person of the art to which it belongs. Any method or material similar to the ones described herein may also be used for the practice and testing of the invention. However, the following are representative methods and materials.
Micromachined Ultrasonic transducer elements
The MUT fingerprint identification system stands out from other ultrasonic fingerprint sensors by the fact that it uses micromachined ultrasonic transmitters (MUTs) in its design. Beyond preliminary research efforts, no MUTs (CMUTs or PMUTs) have been used to fingerprint sensing.
Currently, there are two types of MUTs available: piezoelectric and capacitive. These are explained in the examples below of the MUT fingerprint identification system. Depending on the intended application and other engineering design considerations, other MUTs could also be used in the MUT fingerprint identification system.
PMUTs and the CMUTs look similar. The PMUT and CMUT have a flexurally-vibrating membrane as their basic structure. The MUT releases sound by vibrating this thin membrane.
The PMUT has a piezoelectric coating. This is what makes it different from the CMUT. The piezoelectric layer generates mechanical motion when applied electric field is applied. The CMUT, on the other hand, is equipped with two conductive layers. Both the wafer and the fixed counter electrode (or membrane) are conductive. The counter-electrode and the membrane are both conductive. This creates an electrostatic force.
