DE20109551U1 - mobile phone - Google Patents

Description

S 22.139 G-DE/ah DELSY Electronic Components AG June 7, 2001/ah

MOBILE PHONE

The present invention relates to a mobile phone.

Mobile phones, also known as "cell phones" or portable telephones, always pose the problem of clearly authenticating or identifying the legitimate user of the mobile phone. In other words, this means that only the person who owns the mobile phone and/or who is authorized to use it should be able to use the mobile phone.

In this context, it must be taken into account that the reliable authentication or identification of the authorized user of a mobile phone will continue to be of increasing importance, as mobile phones can already be used today to pay for goods and services, such as taxi rides; such applications, the number and breadth of which will continue to grow in the future, can be subsumed under the general term "m(obile)-commerce".

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Especially for financial transactions, but also for example to prevent actions with a criminal background, clear authentication or identification of the authorized user of the mobile phone is essential.

For this purpose, with conventional mobile phones it is necessary to enter a four-digit secret number - the so-called PIN code (PIN = personal identification number) - via the keypad of the mobile phone.

However, one disadvantage of this PIN procedure is that, on the one hand, the entry of such a secret number - with around fifty million mobile phones in use in the Federal Republic of Germany alone - cannot be unambiguous. On the other hand, it cannot rule out the misuse and/or unauthorized use of a mobile phone if an unauthorized person has gained knowledge of the secret number, for example by observing the secret number being entered unnoticed or by finding the secret number written down in a notebook or similar.

Based on the needs and requirements outlined above, the object of the present invention is to develop a mobile telephone in such a way that it can, with a probability bordering on absolute certainty, only be operated by persons authorized to do so.

This object is achieved in that a mobile telephone according to the teaching of the present invention has at least one device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification

with at least one light source for illuminating
and/or to illuminate the front area of a finger,

with at least one sensor unit that is
their the front area of the finger
assigned side at least one scanning unit for recording optical images of the front
area of the finger, and
with at least one processing unit for
Determining the characteristics of the front
Area of the finger, especially the
Fingerprint
having.

According to the teaching of the present invention, this solution is based on a completely new principle in the field of mobile phones in that the user of the mobile phone is authenticated using his fingerprint. In this context, however, it must be taken into account that a mobile phone can already guarantee relatively secure data transmission today:

As soon as the user of the mobile phone
typically by entering a PIN code - authorizes a transaction, such as a transfer or a stock trade, the data is encrypted and transmitted in a secure manner, whereby the recipient of the data can determine whether the transmitted data during transmission

have been viewed, altered and/or manipulated in any other way.

This is done through so-called "digital signatures", i.e. through an authorization of the transaction, whereby these digital signatures are issued by recognized "trusted third parties"; the recipient knows the identifier of the SIM card (SIM = Subscriber Identity Module), but not the user who initiated the transaction.

With regard to this conventional technology, however, it must be taken into account that the clear authentication or identification of the user is a problem in that this authentication or identification of the user has so far only been carried out via the PIN code and/or passwords. However, there is no personal authentication or identification of the actually authorized user, because anyone in possession of the PIN code and/or password can carry out transactions via the mobile phone, so that irrefutable assignment is not possible.

Rather, an irrefutable assignment to the authorized person can only be achieved on the basis of clear physical characteristics, i.e. by means of biometric procedures, whereby the evaluation of the human fingerprint proves to be the most suitable (and is also the only biometric characteristic recognized in court proceedings), because of all biometric procedures, fingerprint recognition offers the highest level of both user-friendliness and

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of security.

In contrast, other biometric methods, such as iris recognition and, to a limited extent, facial recognition, are not only technically more complex, but also carry the risk of unintentional or accidental triggering, because the user behaves passively and the eye or face of the user is recorded by the corresponding device without the user actively doing anything.

In contrast, placing the front part of the finger on a device for fingerprint authentication or identification is an active and conscious act, so that the user cannot later claim that he did not know that he had initiated a transaction with his finger; this also excludes the occurrence of data protection problems.

A device for fingerprint personal authentication or identification integrated into a mobile phone therefore guarantees the highest level of security when carrying out transactions via mobile networks, with the fingerprint providing an irrefutable guarantee of the authenticity or identity of the authorized user. This not only enables secure data transmission, but also the authorized initiation and personal assignment of a transaction.

In addition to the transactions described above, which in each case require separate authentication or

Identification, the present device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification can also be used to protect "merely" the use of the mobile phone for making telephone calls against unauthorized use:

To do this, the fingerprint is first "queried" instead of the PIN code when the mobile phone is switched on. In order to prevent unauthorized use of a mobile phone that is switched on but unattended or lost, a "screen saver"-type protection can be used after a short period of time, which prompts the user to authenticate or identify themselves again.

Such a renewed authentication or identification appears - unlike a renewed entry of the PIN code - reasonable insofar as only a brief placing of the finger on the device in question for dactyloscopic

Personal authentication or identification is required; in addition, the fingerprint can be "queried" again, i.e. requested, before a transaction is carried out.

Those skilled in the art will particularly appreciate with respect to the present invention that once the identity of the user is established, transactions can be authorized as when using conventional PIN codes. Thus, to increase security in mobile phone and m-commerce applications, the present device can

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for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification can be implemented without significant changes in existing infrastructures.

Furthermore, the present device for fingerprint personal authentication or identification can be fully integrated into a so-called "PKI" (= Public Key Infrastructure). This also leads to rapid dissemination and high acceptance of wireless applications for "e(lectronic)-commerce" and "m-commerce" via mobile phones.

In this context, however, an integration of the so-called "fingerprint matching" into a "PKI" is not absolutely necessary because this "fingerprint matching" already takes place on the SIM card of the mobile phone according to the present invention and is not carried out by a so-called external "certification authority".

To implement the above-mentioned requirements, functions and specifications, the invention now uses the device for dactyloscopic

Personal authentication or identification (two or more devices can also be implemented in the present mobile phone), by means of which characteristics (so-called "minutiae") of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, are optically recorded and electronically processed. For this purpose, at least one light source is provided for illuminating and/or transilluminating the front area of the finger.

In at least one sensor unit, which has at least one scanning unit for recording optical images of the front region of the finger on its side associated with the front region of the finger, the optical images of the finger coming from the front region of the same are sensed and subsequently further processed in at least one processing unit in which the characteristics of the front region of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, are determined and ascertained.

Thus, the present invention surprisingly enables personalization of mobile phones in such a way that only a person who places the front part of the finger on the device for dactyloscopic

Person authentication or identification and is authenticated or authorized by means of their fingerprint can operate the mobile phone.

In other words, this means that the authorization of the respective person is checked after placing the front part of the finger on the device integrated in the mobile phone in question, which can, for example, have a dimension of approximately 12.7 millimeters, or approximately 19 millimeters, or approximately 25.4 millimeters, and only in the positive case is the mobile phone released for use; consequently, any unauthorized use or any misuse by unauthorized persons, i.e. persons who have not been authenticated or identified by fingerprinting, is excluded.

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In this context, it must be taken into account that the device for fingerprint authentication or identification of persons must meet the strictest requirements in terms of functionality and robustness, since the device implemented in the mobile phone is exposed to strong mechanical stresses and must remain functional even outdoors in the rain or in the event of large temperature fluctuations.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device is arranged in the area of the display of the mobile phone, in particular to the side of the display and/or below the display. Such an arrangement of the device is ergonomically advantageous.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the device can also be arranged in the area of the keypad cover of the mobile phone, and in particular in the lower area of the keypad cover of the mobile phone.

If the present mobile telephone is to be further developed in a particularly inventive manner, the device is alternatively or additionally designed for the input of relative coordinates, in particular for the graphical input of position information in the plane, by means of at least one input means, for example by means of at least one finger and/or by means of at least one rod- or pen-shaped object; the relative coordinates can expediently be determined by the position of the optical images.

This optional feature is to be seen in the light of the fact that the device is designed to perform additional functions in addition to fingerprint recognition, which is of utmost importance in terms of cost efficiency and the limited space available in mobile phones.

In this way, the device can serve as a so-called "optical touchpad" and thus make the cursor keys and/or the "scroll wheel" on WAP-enabled mobile phones superfluous (WAP = Wireless Application Protocol).

According to an advantageous embodiment of the mobile telephone according to the present invention, the device designed as an optical sensor with at least one external light source serves as the basis, wherein the optical sensor scans the environment in a pixel-oriented manner (with, for example, approximately 240 pixels by approximately 360 pixels corresponding to an active area of approximately twelve millimeters by approximately eighteen millimeters) and records corresponding images.

As a result, this optical sensor registers object movements, which are interpreted as an immediate input action. There are various modes for the mobile phone that can also be combined with one another:

Cursor mode:

When directly simulating a (computer) mouse using the sensor surface, the cursor position

calculated by a finger or pen movement on the surface of the optical sensor and simultaneously transmitted to a connected system using at least one corresponding logic circuit; the use of the finger is just as possible as the use of a pen.

In this context, you can now set whether the cursor position changes statically or relatively due to the movement of the object (finger, pen, ...). In the latter case, i.e. with relative organization, the speed of the cursor pointer preferably depends logarithmically on the speed of the movement.

In the present invention, the simulation of the mouse buttons is expediently made possible by at least one quick touch of the optical sensor; it is also possible to mount switches adjacent to one another by means of a corresponding installation module, so that the entire sensor module can be tilted by tapping the optical sensor in order to trigger at least one mouse click.

Scroll mode:

When (directly) simulating a scroll wheel using the sensor surface, the speed and/or direction of the scroll functionality is determined by the movement of the object (finger, pen, ...) on the optical sensor module; the use of the switches within the corresponding built-in module can be used as a scroll signal for the scroll mode.

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For example, to control WAP functions (WAP = Wireless Application Protocol) in a mobile phone based on GPRS (GPRS = General Packet Radio Service) or GSM (GSM = Global System for Mobile communication), an optical sensor according to the present invention can be used instead of the conventional wheel. With an exemplary extension from, for example, twelve millimeters to, for example, eighteen millimeters, the optical sensor then replaces the conventional wheel in its full range of functions.

Here, too, the range of functions is the same as with conventional touchpads for entering relative coordinates; these are therefore more powerful than a normal mechanical wheel; in particular, the use of the optical sensor completely eliminates mechanical disadvantages such as jamming, contamination or failure of mechanical parts; the optical sensor also has significant advantages in terms of its price-performance ratio compared to conventional mechanical components.

According to a practical further development, the evaluation of the biometric data made available by the optical sensor in its full scope can also be carried out on the SIM card (SIM = Subscriber Identification Module) of the mobile phone, so that misuse of the biometric data is excluded.

Scanning mode:

When scanning the movement based on features on the sensor surface, the optical sensor is positioned below at least one operating unit and scans the surface; the movement of the object (finger, pen, ...) then moves the cursor pointer in a defined manner, similar to cursor mode.

Authentication or identification mode:

When the surface of the optical sensor is used to authenticate or identify a person, the fingerprint of the person in question is used to determine whether the person is authorized as a user to interact with the mobile phone assigned to the optical sensor.

In this context, the person skilled in the art of security technology will particularly appreciate that this is done synchronously with the operation of the "sensor cursor" and does not require any further user interaction; with these features, the entire mobile phone system is passively protected against unauthorized access.

If the present device for entering relative coordinates, in particular for graphically entering position information in the plane, is to be further developed in a particularly inventive manner, the optically sensitive sensor surface with a size of, for example, twelve millimeters by, for example, eighteen millimeters serves as a work surface or a so-called "touch pad" when using a so-called "touch pen" in order to track the movements of the finger or the pen and to control the

so-called "desktops" on the mobile phone display; the range of functions is at least the same as with conventional touchpads.

The way the device works differs from conventional touchpads in that the movements of the object (finger, pen, etc.) are registered by optically scanning the object. In this context, it is important to note that the surface of the optical sensor has an extremely high load-bearing capacity due to the optional use of at least one fiberglass plate in the form of a fiber-optic area, which will be described in more detail below, so that pens, ballpoint pens or the like can also be used for the movement sequences.

According to a particularly inventive development, the present device for entering relative coordinates has the possibility of reading in and/or comparing at least one signature, for example by making the signature in the original and then storing it in the at least one storage unit of the device.

Alternatively or in addition to this, there is also the possibility, which is essential to the invention, of storing at least one signature or at least one signature from a bank card, credit card, check card, smart card or the like in advance in the storage unit of the

present device.

When comparing, either at least one original signature or at least one original signature can be made on the device in question, or the signature or signature on the bank card, credit card, check card, smart card or the like can be read out and compared with the value stored in the memory unit of the device in question.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present mobile phone, at least one camera module, in particular at least one video camera module, can be integrated into the device without significant additional costs, wherein the optics of the camera module, which for example has at least one specially ground lens, can have, for example, a diameter of approximately 2.5 millimeters or an area of approximately 2.5 millimeters by approximately 2.5 millimeters.

The camera module, the optics of which are arranged, for example, in the direction of the front area of the finger and/or are also designed, for example, for facial recognition, can be integrated into a fiber optic area to be explained further below; alternatively or in addition to this, the optics of the camera module can be arranged in the area of a drive-over area to be explained further below.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the device is designed as an additional module that can be plugged onto the mobile phone

This significantly increases the operational readiness and flexibility in handling of the present invention.

Independently of this or in conjunction with the camera module and/or with the plug-on additional module, the operational readiness and flexibility of the present invention are also increased by the fact that the present mobile telephone can be used in the form of at least one remote control, for example in relation to an interactive television system or in relation to a motor vehicle locking system, according to a particularly inventive development.

According to an expedient embodiment of the present invention, the device integrated in the present mobile telephone is battery-operated. This follows from the fact that the mobile telephone must be carried, i.e. transported, for example on the body, so that a mobile electrical power supply is necessary.

In this context, it is recommended that the processing unit be assigned at least one accumulator unit, in particular at least one lithium-based accumulator unit, for supplying electrical voltage. Preferably, the accumulator unit and/or the battery unit, which also supplies the mobile phone itself with electrical voltage, is assigned to the device.

A particularly uniform illumination of the front area of the finger and thus particularly reliable results of the device integrated in the present mobile phone can be achieved by conveniently arranging the light source to the side of the scanning unit.

For the same purposes, the light can be emitted independently of or in addition to the light source in the direction of the side of the device integrated in the mobile telephone in question facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger.

Accordingly, the device in the present mobile phone enables sufficient illumination of the front area of the finger that produces reliable results, and in addition, the device integrated in the present mobile phone is completely visible and the process of fingerprint authentication or identification is comprehensible and transparent for the person to be authenticated or identified, and with which consistently good and reliable results can be achieved regardless of the respective ambient light conditions. For this purpose, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the duration and/or intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light source can be regulated depending on the ambient light conditions.

Therefore, an adaptive light control (= ALR or

ALC (adaptive light control) is provided, i.e. a type of "intelligent light control" through which the deficits of changing ambient light conditions, such as changing room lighting or changing sunlight, can be compensated for by the device integrated in the mobile phone or the algorithm controlling the device adapting to the respective lighting conditions.

For this purpose, the mobile phone is preferably provided with at least one control means for regulating the duration and/or intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light source. This control means can be used to carry out a continuous or temporary measuring process with which a permanently good image quality can be determined and with which, if required, an optimal saturation matched to contrast and depth of field can be achieved by means of short-term light pulses, whereby the short-term light pulses can be dosed in terms of their duration and/or intensity exactly to the amount of light actually required.

According to an advantageous development of the present invention, the control means comprises:

at least one detection module for detecting the ambient light conditions, wherein the
Recording module consistent with the
Sensor unit and/or as part of the
sensor unit can be designed;
at least one evaluation module for determining the
Duration and/or intensity of the light pulses in accordance with the data recorded by the detection module

Ambient light conditions, whereby the
Evaluation module uniformly with at least one
Evaluation unit and/or as part of at least
an evaluation unit which is preferably connected to the sensor unit
is subordinate; and

at least one memory module for storing threshold values determined for regulating the duration and/or intensity of the light pulses, wherein
the memory module uniformly with at least
a storage unit and/or as part
at least one storage unit
which is preferably arranged downstream of the sensor unit.

The mode of operation and the function of the control means is, for example, such that the detection module detects the respective ambient light conditions, these are evaluated and analyzed in the evaluation module and a comparison is made in the evaluation module with predetermined threshold values stored in the memory module.

Depending on the result of this comparison, the light source, which is connected to the control means and in particular to the evaluation module, is then addressed by the control means, whereby the duration and/or the intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light source is adapted to the determined ambient light conditions.

This allows the light pulses to be designed dynamically and adaptively in terms of both their duration and intensity in order to be able to adapt to any type of ambient light (e.g. strong sunlight, weak

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Sunlight, twilight, diffuse light, gaslight, moonlight, artificial lighting, ...) to provide the required light and thus to obtain high-contrast and deep-sharp images of the front area of the finger.

In particular, the adaptive light control can achieve illumination levels of zero lux to around 40,000 lux, with the latter illumination level roughly corresponding to direct sunlight. The results that can be achieved with this adaptive light control show an increase in contrast and depth of field of up to around eighty percent compared to conventional lighting systems with continuous light, with the type of light control according to the invention having the advantage that it can dose and provide the required amount of light in a time range of less than 100 milliseconds when the lighting conditions change, so that an almost constant image quality can be obtained in all conceivable lighting conditions.

The essential advantage of the invention of the present mobile phone is therefore to be seen in the "intelligent control", which adjusts the amount of light emitted as required and calculates and makes it available separately for each area around the object to be illuminated, i.e. around the front area of the finger, so that overexposure or underexposure is almost certainly excluded.

In this context, statically operating lighting units, such as those provided in conventional devices for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification by means of at least one fingerprint, have a further disadvantage in that the amount of light they provide cannot be emitted in relation to the object, i.e. a ten millimeter thick object is illuminated with the same amount of light as a five millimeter thick object, which results in blurring and sometimes overexposure.

In contrast, the device integrated in the present mobile phone conveniently enables the uniform illumination of an object, such as the front area of a finger, regardless of the thickness of the object, which may also have a greater or lesser light conductivity or a greater or lesser reflectivity, and regardless of whether this object is illuminated by stray light from the front, side and/or back.

Consequently, with the device integrated in the present mobile phone, it does not matter at what angle and from what location the light is irradiated onto the object to be illuminated; only the duration and/or the intensity of the additional light required has to be regulated individually for each area, since the recording of the optical images by the scanning unit is preferably controlled by means of light pulses emitted by the light source.

The advantages of the present adaptive light control ultimately lead to the fact that the characteristics (so-called "minutiae") of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, can be determined without significantly changing the exposure times while fully preserving the contrast and depth of field.

The control means for the adaptive light control is expediently designed as at least one logic component and/or as at least one logic circuit, in particular as at least one standard logic component or as at least one programmable logic (FPGA = field programmable gate array). Alternatively or in addition to this, the control means can also be designed as at least one digital signal processing unit (DSP
digital signal processor) and/or at least one microcontroller.

As already stated above, the control means provided for implementing the adaptive light control comprises, according to an expedient embodiment, at least one detection module, at least one evaluation module and at least one memory module.

If the detection module is preferably designed as a unit with the sensor unit and/or as part of the sensor unit, the photosensitive surface and/or the photosensitive layer of the sensor unit can, to a certain extent, self-regulate by means of the adaptive light control.
and for each of their areas - request the required amount of light, which is particularly important in

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works excellently when the

Evaluation module of the control means uniform with

the evaluation unit and/or as part of the evaluation unit.

Conventional devices for fingerprint authentication or identification of persons cannot achieve this because such known devices (cf. German patent application DE 44 04 918 A1) - if at all - regulate the incident light for the entire area of the scanning unit or the sensor unit inflexibly and rigidly.

In contrast, only adaptive light control is able to calculate and immediately deliver the amount of light required in terms of duration and/or intensity in the evaluation module in relation to optimal saturation for each area of the surface and/or layer of the scanning unit or sensor unit, given the ambient lighting conditions.

According to a particularly advantageous development of the present invention, it can be part of the adaptive light control (= ALR or ALC = "adaptive light control"), i.e. the "intelligent light control", that the electrical signals in the sensor unit and/or in the evaluation unit can be amplified over the different areas of the optical images.

In this context, it can be

essential to the invention, the

Amplification of electrical signals in the

Sensor unit and/or in the evaluation unit via

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to make the different areas of the optical images variable.

The background to this particularly advantageous development is the fact that the intensity distribution and consequently the contrast of the light scattered inside the front area of the finger is neither uniform nor constant across the entire width of the optical images, but is lower in the middle areas of the optical images than in the edge areas of the optical images, which may be related, among other things, to the fact that the at least one light source can be arranged laterally next to the scanning unit and that the light from the light source can be emitted in the direction of the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger.

As a result, less light reaches the central areas covered by the front area of the finger on the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger than the side areas, so that the intensity and - directly proportional to this - the contrast of the scattered light is weaker in the central areas than in the edge areas.

To remedy this shortcoming, according to a preferred development of the present invention, the amplification of the electrical signals in the

middle areas of the optical images can be larger, for example by a factor of 2 to 3, than the amplification of the electrical signals in the edge areas of the optical images. Such electronic modulation using variable amplification factors can be carried out in each line of the optical images.

This makes it possible to compensate in an elegant, electronic manner for the fact that the intensity and contrast of the scattered light is weaker in the central regions than in the peripheral regions, whereby the amplification can be selected selectively over the various regions of the optical images so that the output signal, which is directly proportional to the product of the respective scattered light intensity/contrast and the respective amplification factor, is of approximately constant intensity; this technical measure makes it possible to significantly improve the quality of the results obtainable with the device integrated in the present mobile telephone.

According to a further development of the present mobile telephone, which is essential to the invention, its device is designed for transition to a standby mode. This is advantageous in that the electrical voltage required to operate the device integrated in the present mobile telephone is obtained from batteries (accumulator unit, see above), possibly also with the help of solar collectors, so that the potential savings in this regard by providing a standby mode are very welcome.

For this purpose, at least one capacitive circuit can be provided, preferably integrated into the control means, by means of which the device integrated in the present mobile phone goes into the idle state (= so-called "sleep" mode) after a predetermined period of non-use and by means of which the device integrated in the present mobile phone is "woken up" again when it is put down or swiped with the front area of the finger, i.e. it goes back into an operational state.

In this sense, both a "sleep" function and a "wake up" function can be implemented in the device integrated in the present mobile phone, wherein the capacitive circuit should expediently be designed such that the device integrated in the present mobile phone, which is in the idle state, can be activated within a period of about ten milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds.

If the present invention is to be further developed in a particularly advantageous manner, at least one fiber-optic region is to be provided in the device integrated in the present mobile telephone, through which the optical images of the front region of the finger can be transported to the scanning unit.

To ensure proper transport of the light from the front area of the finger through the optional fiber optic area to the

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In order to ensure the smooth scanning of the scanning unit, the fibers in the fiber optic region are oriented essentially perpendicular to the entry surface and/or the exit surface of the fiber optic region according to a further development essential to the invention.

If the transport of the light originating from the front region of the finger to the scanning unit is to be optimized, the fibers of the fiber optic region according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention have a shape that tapers towards the scanning unit, i.e. the thickness of the fibers is variable in that this thickness preferably decreases continuously from the region associated with the front region of the finger towards the scanning unit.

For the same purposes, the fibers in the fiber optic region are arranged essentially parallel to one another according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Alternatively, the fibers in the fiber optic region can essentially have two directions, which are arranged at an angle to one another, according to a further development essential to the invention.

In this case, a preferred embodiment is one in which the fibers in the fiber optic region are arranged in layers, the fibers within a layer being arranged substantially parallel to one another and the fibers of adjacent layers being arranged at an angle to one another.

In the aforementioned preferred embodiment, the fibers of the fiber optic region arranged in one direction at an angle to the other direction are expediently provided for transporting light to the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger, while the fibers of the fiber optic region arranged in the other direction are expediently provided for transporting the optical images of the front region of the finger to the scanning unit.

In this context, it is particularly worth mentioning that the aforementioned preferred embodiment with two preferred directions for the fibers can make the arrangement of an optical system obsolete insofar as uniform illumination of the front region of the finger can be ensured by the fibers of the fiber optic region arranged in one direction at an angle to the other direction.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present mobile phone, at least some of the fibers in the fiber optic area are at least partially surrounded by (light) absorbing material in the form of a coating and/or in the form of a sheath.

As a result, any light entering from outside through a side surface of the fibers and/or light entering from a neighboring fiber is absorbed, so that only the light at one

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Light entering the fiber optic region at a specific point is transmitted through the fiber optic region to the exit surface thereof. In this way, a change in the light pattern obtained at the entrance surface of the fiber optic region is reliably avoided.

According to an alternative or supplementary, likewise particularly inventive development of the present mobile phone, at least some of the fibers in the fiber optic area are surrounded at least in sections by (light) reflecting material in the form of a coating and/or in the form of a sheath, which preferably reflects the light in the respective fiber back from the wall of this fiber into the interior of this fiber.

This facilitates the transport of the optical images through the fiber optic area to the scanning unit in that each fiber only transmits the light entering the fiber optic area at a specific area through the fiber optic area to the exit surface of the same. In this way, a change in the light pattern obtained at the entry surface of the fiber optic area is reliably avoided.

Irrespective of the aspect of any additional optical system to be arranged, an extension of the fibre optic area is recommended which extends into the area above the light source so that the latter is covered and protected from manual intervention.

Since the scanning unit should naturally only be reached by light that carries the information relating to the optical images, i.e. that is scattered from the front area of the finger, it is advisable to provide at least one opaque barrier layer within the fiber optic area, because this opaque barrier layer prevents light emitted by the light source from reaching the scanning unit directly, i.e. without scattering in the front area of the finger. The barrier layer can be implemented in the form of sealed fibers, for example.

In order to enable the scanning unit to detect the light signals directly and without being distorted by interference, an embodiment is preferred in which the scanning unit is directly adjacent to the fiber optic region and/or in which the scanning unit is attached to the exit surface of the fiber optic region.

In order to implement the "sleep" function described above, which is integrated in the device of the mobile telephone, as well as the "wake up" function described above, which is integrated in the device of the mobile telephone in a particularly inventive manner, recesses which form a mesh or grid, in particular in the form of tracks and/or in the form of lines, can be etched into the fiber optic area, preferably by means of acid, wherein at least one metal, in particular chromium, can be filled into these recesses.

so that the metal, especially chromium, is ported into the recesses.

The use of chromium is preferable due to the favorable properties of this metal, as chromium is both chemically and mechanically resistant, and the recesses cause only very little abrasion.

In this way, the fiber optic area is coated with a chrome mesh or chrome grid, through which not only the so-called "capacitive start" of the device integrated in the mobile phone can be implemented, but also a grounding effect and a discharge of the electrostatic charge transported through the front area of the finger, i.e. effective ESD protection (ESD = electrostatic discharge) can be achieved by means of electronics designed for this purpose.

The recesses expediently have a width of about five micrometers; since the fibers of the fiber optic area can have a diameter of about six micrometers and the pixels on the scanning unit can have dimensions of about fifty micrometers by about fifty micrometers, the chrome mesh or chrome grid does not cause any noticeable reduction in the quality of the optical images that can be obtained; the loss of brightness caused by the chrome mesh or chrome grid is also less than five percent.

With regard to the topology of the coating presented, the fiber optic region according to

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the device has at least one active zone and at least one passive zone, wherein two active zones are expediently provided, between which a passive zone is arranged.

In this context, the active zones, which are preferably approximately rectangular in shape, serve to trigger the capacitive start described above, which only occurs when the front area of the finger is correctly positioned, i.e. when the front area of the finger touches both active zones at the same time or rests on both active zones at the same time.

In contrast, the passive zone, which expediently occupies a larger area than the active zone and is preferably approximately rectangular in shape, has no electrical function but serves to maintain the optical properties uniformly over the entire fiber optic area.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the distance between the edge of the active zone and the edge of the passive zone is approximately fifty micrometers in order not to cause unnecessary dividing lines in the optical images, given an exemplary diameter of the fibers of the fiber optic region of approximately six micrometers and an exemplary dimensioning of the pixels on the scanning unit of approximately fifty micrometers by approximately fifty micrometers.

To enable easy positioning of the fiber optic

In order to achieve a connection of the area to the scanning unit, the width of the active zone and the passive zone can be selected to be at least the same size as and in particular slightly larger than the width of the scanning unit, for example by making the width of the active zone and the passive zone approximately thirteen millimetres and the width of the scanning unit approximately twelve millimetres.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mesh or grid and in particular the active zone is "bonded" and/or preferably galvanically connected by means of at least one conductor track to at least one associated contact, preferably from the top side, which expediently has an extension of approximately one millimeter to approximately two millimeters.

In this case, several, for example ten, conductor tracks, in particular chrome tracks, are advantageously provided, which are conveniently at least partially connected to one another and thus ensure a high redundancy of the connection to the associated contacts.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present mobile telephone with a device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification, the side of the fiber optic area facing the scanning unit is provided with at least one, in particular alphanumeric, identifier.

Such an identifier is particularly useful in the case of

of a breakdown or failure of the device integrated in the mobile phone, because in this case, instead of a digital personalization of the device integrated in the mobile phone - which is otherwise usual but can no longer be read in the event of a breakdown or failure (--> problems in the event of a warranty claim, among other things) - at least a unique authentication or identification number or the like can be included in the data set.

In this context, the present invention benefits from the fact that the device integrated in the mobile phone is essentially based on the principle of the optical sensor, so that the identifier can be read optically and incorporated into the data set to be transferred.

Thus, the provision of such an identifier provides a further optional security feature, whereby, in the event that a guarantee service becomes necessary, the identifier can also be read through the fibre optic area by means of a microscope or the like.

The identifier - applied, for example, when inserting the light sources - is expediently assigned to the respective device integrated in the mobile phone, in particular to the user or customer belonging to the respective device (--> special identifier), and is no longer accessible from the side of the fiber optic area facing away from the scanning unit, in particular cannot be changed or otherwise manipulated.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present mobile phone, the scanning unit is arranged in at least one crossing area to be swept over by the front area of the finger in a crossing direction, wherein the crossing area can preferably be designed in the shape of a slot and can preferably be delimited by two narrow sides and two long sides.

In this case, the long sides expediently run transversely, in particular approximately perpendicularly, to the direction of travel and to the narrow sides and are expediently designed to be several times larger than the narrow sides.

In this embodiment of the optionally provided crossing area, the recording of the optical images of the front area of the finger, which can preferably be converted into electrical signals, takes place to a certain extent on the basis of a spatial component which extends transversely, in particular approximately perpendicularly, to the crossing direction, and on the basis of a temporal component which is defined by the crossing of the expediently optically transparent crossing area with the front area of the finger.

As a result, the scanning unit takes up very little space and can be accommodated compactly in the drive-over area, so that the device can be easily integrated into the mobile phone.

Due to the reduced material expenditure and the space-saving design, a considerable

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Cost savings can be achieved, which makes not only the device itself but also the mobile phone in which the device is integrated inexpensive and thus competitive on international markets.

The device can be implemented in a particularly advantageous manner in a mobile phone if the scanning unit corresponds approximately in shape and size to the area over which the finger is moved. This technical measure also serves to ensure trouble-free and direct transport of the optical images of the front area of the finger from the area over which the finger is moved to the scanning unit.

Independently of this or in connection with this, it may be advisable to choose the dimension of the long sides so that they approximately correspond to the width of the front area of the finger. This ensures that the dactyloscopic features of the finger are recorded by the scanning unit across their entire width when the front area of the finger passes over the crossing area in the crossing direction.

In order to achieve a small and compact design not only of the scanning unit but also of the overtravel area, which is designed as at least one recess arranged in a plate, the dimensions of the narrow sides are in the order of magnitude of about 0.5 millimeters to about five millimeters, in particular in the order of magnitude of about two millimeters. The overtravel area and, correspondingly, the scanning unit are therefore very narrow in the overtravel direction.

educated.

If the present mobile phone is to be further developed in a particularly advantageous manner, it is recommended to assign at least one detection unit for detecting the ambient light conditions and/or at least one light reflector unit to the light source. The detection unit can determine which areas of the crossing area and/or which areas adjacent to the crossing area are currently being swept over by the front area of the finger:

If the detection unit reports weak or no light incidence, this indicates that the area assigned to the detection unit is currently being swept over by the front area of the finger; if, on the other hand, the detection unit reports normal and unobstructed light incidence, this indicates that the area assigned to the detection unit has already been swept over by the front area of the finger or will still be swept over by the front area of the finger.

In this context, it appears essential to the invention that the sequence of the aforementioned messages from the individual detection units can be used to determine, among other things, the speed at which the front area of the finger moves over the crossing area in the crossing direction, so that the aforementioned messages from the individual detection units can be coupled, coordinated and controlled by the scanning unit by means of light pulses emitted by the light source.

can be synchronized.

This works in a particularly excellent manner if, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detection unit and/or the light reflector unit is arranged around the light source, wherein the light emitted by the light source and/or the ambient light can be focused onto the respective detection unit by the respective light reflector unit.

The device can be implemented in a particularly advantageous manner in the mobile phone if the fiber optic area is provided in the crossing area and advantageously corresponds approximately to the crossing area in shape and size. This technical measure also serves to ensure trouble-free and direct transport of the optical images of the front area of the finger from the crossing area to the scanning unit.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present mobile phone, the scanning unit records the optical images line by line, i.e. the scanning unit functions as a line scanner when the front area of the finger is guided or pulled over the overtravel area. In this respect, it is recommended that the scanning unit be designed in such a way that it can record a large number of optical images per unit of time, particularly line by line, with a realistic order of magnitude being in the region of around 250 optical images per second.

In a manner essential to the invention, these

In particular, optical images recorded line by line are then combined in the sensor unit and/or in the processing unit to form an overall image for determining the characteristics of the front region of the finger, in particular the fingerprint.

As already explained above, in the present development the front area of the finger is drawn in the direction of travel over the travel area and thus over the scanning unit. It must be taken into account that such a sweep over the front area of the finger will not necessarily take place at a constant speed and in the case of several fingerprint authentication or identification processes will not necessarily take place at the same speed each time.

Not least for this reason, the recording of the optical images by the scanning unit is controlled according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention by means of light pulses emitted by the light source.

As already indicated above, the at least one light source fulfills an important function in the adaptive light control within the scope of the present invention. It should be taken into account here that in order to uniformly illuminate the front area of the finger, in most practical applications more than one light source is provided, for example two light sources or in particular four light sources, which can be arranged symmetrically to one another.

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and/or which can be arranged laterally or in a ring shape, in particular substantially evenly distributed, around the crossing area.

With regard to the aspect of optical recognition of the characteristic features (so-called "minutiae") of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, already mentioned above, according to a particularly advantageous development of the present invention, at least one determination device is provided for determining the speed and/or the position of the front area of the finger.

By determining the respective speed and/or the respective position of the front area of the finger, the individual optical images recorded can be combined to form a meaningful overall image that allows dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification.

In this context, the detection device can preferably be formed by at least one of the light sources, whereby the light source should expediently emit the light essentially in the direction of travel. This enables distance measurement or observation or direction finding by means of the light emerging from the light source, for example according to a method from measurement or control technology.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the investigative body may, for essentially the same purposes,

at least one inductive element and/or
at least one capacitive element and/or
have at least one extensive light element.

In this context, determining the respective speed and/or the respective position of the front region of the finger is particularly facilitated if the detection device is approximately slot-shaped and/or approximately strip-shaped and/or if the detection device extends approximately at right angles to the crossing region, in particular approximately in the crossing direction.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present mobile phone, the respective duration and/or the respective intensity of the light pulses emitted by the respective light source can be selectively regulated in adaptation to the ambient lighting conditions.

In other words, this means that the respective duration and/or the respective intensity of the light pulses emitted by the individual light sources can be controlled independently of one another, in particular depending on predetermined threshold values. All light sources can therefore be controlled independently of one another, with the respective duration and/or the respective intensity preferably being calculated individually for each light source in the evaluation module.

Not only the control of the light sources and the number of light sources, but also their arrangement

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plays an essential role in the present invention. Since the light source can be arranged laterally next to the scanning unit and the light from the light source can be emitted in the direction of the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger, sufficient illumination of the front area of the finger is made possible, producing reliable results.

In this case, the light falls on the front area of the finger essentially from the side, with at least part of the light penetrating into the interior of the front area of the finger and being scattered there, with the scattering occurring essentially in all directions, including in the direction of the scanning unit; thus, the present invention is based to a certain extent on transmitted light technology, i.e. the optical images of the front area of the finger are processed as transmitted light images.

During the process of dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification, the surface of the front part of the finger bearing the skin ridges or papillary lines is placed on the fiber optic area or passed over the area where it is moved, so that the skin ridges or papillary lines successively and line by line "close" the entrances of the fibers of the optionally provided fiber optic area, so that in these areas of the fiber optic area closed by the skin ridges or papillary lines

no or only very little light scattered inside the front area of the finger, so-called transmitted light, reaches the scanning unit.

In the areas of the recesses between the skin ridges or papillary lines, however, more scattered light reaches the fibers of the optionally provided fiber optic area and consequently through the fiber optic area to the scanning unit, which preferably has at least one photosensitive surface and/or at least one photosensitive layer, so that an extremely sensitive instrument for the dactyloscopic authentication or identification of persons, in particular based on the areas of the skin ridges or papillary lines and based on the areas between the skin ridges or papillary lines, is provided within the mobile phone.

The recorded optical images of the front area of the finger thus reach the scanning unit and are then analyzed and processed by means of the evaluation unit preferably assigned to the scanning unit, which in an advantageous embodiment is part of the processing unit.

The data collected during the analysis and

Processing of data and information received

expediently in at least one of the

Scanning unit preferably assigned

Storage unit, which in an advantageous embodiment is part of the processing unit, collected and stored.

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Independently of this or in connection with this, the evaluation unit can analyze the characteristics of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, and compare them with characteristics stored in the storage unit in order to achieve individual dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification.

While the evaluation unit, which may be designed as at least one electronic circuit, in particular as at least one ASIC (= Application-Specific Integrated Circuit
application-specific integrated circuit), according to a preferred embodiment determines the characteristics (so-called "minutiae") of the front region of the finger, in particular of the fingerprint, the memory unit, which is designed for example as at least one chip unit, in particular as at least one SIM (= Subscriber Identification Module), according to a preferred embodiment (temporarily) stores the optical images and person-specific data, in particular dactyloscopic data, electronically.

In other words, this means that the SIM card contained in the mobile phone has a particularly important function within the scope of the present invention. The SIM card is the property of the mobile operator or network provider and contains information about the respective mobile phone customer.

The SIM card makes the user of a

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specific mobile phone insofar as any mobile phone can be operated with the SIM card, provided that it is not provided with a temporary or permanent "SIM lock" (a "SIM lock" is understood to mean a mandatory link between a specific SIM card and a specific mobile phone; this link can only be removed by the mobile operator or the network provider, but not by the user).

The SIM card authorizes mobile data transfers in the name of the customer registered on the SIM card and ensures that the call costs are billed to the corresponding customer. However, this does not protect against misuse, because anyone who comes into possession of the SIM card can use it to its full extent.

The associated PIN code (PIN = personal identification number) can also be copied or stolen by unauthorized persons, so that the authenticity or identity of the user cannot be conventionally verified.

Through "fingerprint matching" directly on the SIM card, the authenticity or identity of the user can be verified in a secure and irrefutable manner. For this purpose, the function of the SIM card is expanded according to the teaching of the present invention as follows:

The SIM card is initially equipped with a PIN code by the manufacturer, which is communicated to the customer

When the authorized user uses the mobile phone for the first time, he or she will be asked to register his or her fingerprint after entering the PIN code: To do this, the customer places his or her finger on the device integrated in the mobile phone for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification; the PIN code is then replaced by the fingerprint template, which is stored on the SIM card.

From now on, every authentication or identification involves a comparison (so-called "matching") of the finger placed on the device for fingerprint personal authentication or identification with the information stored on the SIM card. This "matching" takes place on the SIM card, which means that no data is exchanged with the SIM card or even with the outside world.

This provides a very high level of security in that the user of the mobile phone is who he claims to be. Any transaction via the mobile phone that requires authentication will only be authorized if the user successfully authenticates or identifies himself as an authorized user.

This security can be further increased by allowing the transition from the PIN code to the "fingerprint template" only once and only once by the SIM card; if necessary, the

Changes made when a license agreement is concluded are saved directly by the mobile operator or network provider in the protected area of the SIM card.

If the present invention is to be further developed in a particularly inventive manner, it is advisable to allow access to the mailbox of the mobile phone only after successful authentication using the fingerprint; it is also advisable to store the personal settings of the mobile phone on the SIM card so that these personal settings can only be changed by the authorized user using the fingerprint.

Furthermore, the present invention enables the integration of a payment and credit card function into a mobile phone. There are, for example, the following three possibilities:

By dialing a special telephone number, payment and billing can be made via the service provider's telephone charges; a new "fingerprint matching" may be required for confirmation, but this can be dispensed with if the use of the mobile phone is already sufficiently protected.

For secure transmission of credit card information, for example, up to five debit/credit cards can be stored on the SIM card. A payment is made by the user selecting the desired payment method from a menu and authenticating themselves through "fingerprint matching";

The respective credit card data is then transmitted from the SIM card to the recipient without the credit card number being visible to third parties.

When paying, for example in a restaurant, the information is transmitted from the mobile phone using Bluetooth technology to a suitable credit card reader with a receiving interface, in particular with a Bluetooth receiving interface, in the restaurant.

With regard to the above-described applications according to the present invention, it can be stated that the increased security through fingerprint matching generates benefits for all parties in that it creates a strong trust in the security of so-called "m(obiIe-)commerce" or so-called mobile "e(lectronic-)commerce", which leads to a wider range of products and services as well as to greater customer acceptance, resulting in increased use and consequently higher sales for all parties; the increased security also results in fewer losses due to fraud and misuse.

The "fingerprint matching" on the SIM card using the device integrated in the present mobile phone can be regarded as a key technology for the so-called "m(obiIe-)commerce" or for the so-called mobile "e(lectronic-)commerce", because experience teaches that without sufficient security it is difficult to create broad acceptance for mobile transactions.

In other words, this means that the predicted exponential growth of so-called "m(obiIe-)commerce" or so-called mobile "e(lectronic-)commerce" will only be possible with the availability of the present, recognized secure device for dactyloscopic

There are no longer any limits to personal authentication or identification.

Consequently, no other system meets the high requirements for functionality and robustness nearly as well as the device integrated in the present mobile phone; other security elements, such as smart cards or the like, increase security by adding further complexity, but ultimately they do not offer complete security either, because they can - just like passwords or PIN codes (PIN = personal identification number) - be stolen and/or passed on; consequently, smart cards or the like can at best be seen as complementary and can be made even more secure by additional "fingerprint matching".

The "fingerprint matching" guarantees a clear authentication or identification of the authorized user, without disclosing or storing personal data; the mobile phone establishes a telecommunications connection and the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification integrated in the mobile phone ensures that it is a "personal" connection.

It is also important that the device integrated in the present mobile phone is completely visible and that the process of fingerprint authentication or identification is understandable and transparent for the person to be authenticated or identified, because this person only has to place the front part of their finger on the fiber optic area in a psychologically favorable manner or move it in the direction of travel over the area and thereby stroke it with the front part of the finger, but not insert the finger into a cavity or opening.

Furthermore, an optional feature of the mobile phone that is essential to the invention is the design for life detection (so-called "life support"), i.e. due to the differences in brightness between the areas of the skin ridges or papillary lines and the areas between the skin ridges or papillary lines, the present invention also makes it possible to observe or examine whether the illuminated object, such as the front area of the finger, is "alive", i.e., for example, has blood flowing through it and/or has a pulse.

In this context, the device integrated in the present mobile phone can be designed to determine the oxygen saturation in the blood of the anterior region of the finger, for example by comparing the results obtained for two different wavelengths.

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According to a particularly essential development of the invention, the method for life detection (so-called "life support") is based on an optical measurement of the constant decrease in the oxygen content due to the constriction of the blood vessels when the front area of the finger is pressed onto the fiber-optic area of the device integrated in the present mobile phone.

In this context, the underlying principle is that oxygen is extracted from the blood by the surrounding tissue as it flows through the veins, while the blood is simultaneously burdened with carbon dioxide; in this case, a certain flow equilibrium is established in the ratio of oxyhemoglobin to carboxyhemoglobin. If the blood flow, i.e. the throughput of blood per unit of time, is changed, a different flow equilibrium is established.

If the front part of the finger is placed on the fiber optic area, the pressure causes the blood vessels to constrict. The resulting increased flow resistance reduces the blood flow through the tissue, so that the ratio of oxyhemoglobin to carboxyhemoglobin shifts to the disadvantage of oxyhemoglobin. The oxygen uptake of the surrounding tissue remains constant.

The time of the measurement(s) is now crucial. The first measurement should be taken at the moment the front part of the finger is placed on the skin, preferably triggered by a capacitive start. A series of - for example, around fifteen - measurements within a relatively short period of time - for example

within about half a second - shows a clear monotonous drop in the blood oxygen level until a new flow equilibrium is established. This effect is significant and is sufficient for a clear identification of a living finger.

If the capacitive start described above and thus a detection of the moment of constriction are not possible for application-specific reasons, this method for life detection (so-called "life support") can also be implemented with an integrated pressure sensor according to a preferred embodiment.

This shows a change in the blood oxygen level depending on the - always slightly - fluctuating pressure of the front part of the finger on the fiber optic area. As a rule, this is sufficient to provide a significant result; difficulties can only arise in people with insufficient blood flow to their fingers, because the oxygen-rich blood flows very slowly back to the tips of the fingers, so that the oxygen content is relatively low.

With the present invention, for example, a person could only be identified as authenticated or authorized if his or her current pulse rate does not deviate from the stored pulse rate by more than ten percent, either upwards or downwards; thus, the pulse rate becomes a further criterion for person authentication or identification.

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These additional biometric data, for example concerning the pulse rate, reduce the probability of errors in the authentication or identification process because they make it possible to distinguish the "living" finger of the person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting from an earlier print of this finger.

The existing data on the changes in the transparency of the front area of the finger make it possible to calculate the pulse rate of the person to be authenticated or identified, preferably in the processing unit, and to use the transparency curve obtained in this way for medical purposes, analogous to an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Furthermore, the device integrated in the mobile phone can also be used to create optical images whose degree of sharpness is so high that even the sweat glands in the front area of the finger, which are arranged differently for each person, can be clearly and distinctly recognized, so that it is also possible to use the sweat glands for personal authentication or identification.

According to an advantageous development of the present invention, the light source is arranged on the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing the scanning unit. This is a sufficient prerequisite for the light from

the light source can be emitted in the direction of the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger, i.e. the front area of the finger of the person to be authenticated or identified by dactyloscopic means is illuminated from below.

Furthermore, the light source can be conveniently arranged at a distance from the scanning unit. This structural separation of the light source and the scanning unit is advisable insofar as, in order to achieve correct operation of the device integrated in the present mobile phone, light should not pass directly from the light source into the scanning unit; instead, only light that has previously been scattered inside the front area of the finger and therefore carries dactyloscopic information regarding the skin ridges or papillary lines should pass into the scanning unit, which preferably operates on a semiconductor basis, in particular on a silicon basis.

According to a further development of the present mobile telephone that is essential to the invention, the light from the light source can be radiated laterally onto the side of the device integrated in the present mobile telephone that faces away from the scanning unit and is to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger.

This further development is particularly relevant if the light source in a preferred form

is arranged to the side next to or just on the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger; in this development, the light source can also be arranged horizontally and emit the light "flat" onto the front area of the finger.

Optionally, the light source can be designed as a pulsed light source which is designed to emit pulsed light, so that the device integrated in the present mobile phone can, for example, also operate on battery power due to the pulsed, precisely dosed light (accumulator unit; see above).

In any case, a significant reduction in the power required to operate the device integrated in the present mobile phone can be achieved because the ambient light can be used and the additional light required can be precisely dosed using the adaptive light control. The pulse duration of the emitted light pulses is advantageously in the order of magnitude of almost zero milliseconds to around ninety milliseconds.

In correspondence thereto, the mobile telephone may comprise at least one pulse generator unit for controlling the light source, wherein the pulse generator unit is expediently arranged between the light source and at least one control element for the scanning unit.

In order to signal the respective operating state of the device integrated in the present mobile telephone to the person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one display device is provided for displaying the various operating states of the device integrated in the present mobile telephone.

In this case, the display device can expediently have at least one single-colour or multi-coloured light display which signals the various operating states of the device integrated in the mobile telephone in question (for example, green light: "Device is ready for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification" or "Device has properly dactyloscopically authenticated or identified the person"; red light: "Device is not ready for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification" or "Device has not properly dactyloscopically authenticated or identified the person").

If one wishes to design the present invention in a particularly elegant and/or compact manner in this context, it is recommended to integrate the display device into the light source and/or to design the display device and the light source in a uniform manner.

For example, in order to enable people with color vision deficiencies to detect the current operating status of the device integrated in the mobile phone

In order to enable this, the display device can, according to an advantageous alternative or supplementary embodiment, also signal the various operating states of the device integrated in the present mobile telephone by means of at least one flashing and/or pulsating light signal.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present invention, at least one optical system is arranged downstream of the light source. Such an optical system performs a certain protective function, i.e. the optical system prevents the person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting from touching the sensitive and easily damaged light source when placing the front area of the finger on the fiber optic area or when moving the front area of the finger over the overtravel area.

In a particularly advantageous manner, however, the optical system is designed to redirect the light emitted by the light source to the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger and/or to evenly and/or diffusely distribute the light emitted by the light source to the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger.

This ensures uniform illumination of the

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front area of the finger, creating informative optical images from the front area of the finger. This is essential for the convincing functioning of the device integrated in this mobile phone.

Preferably, the optical system is designed as at least one filter, as at least one lens, as at least one prism, as at least one light guide, as at least one light-guiding element and/or as at least one mirror, wherein the use of the aforementioned optical elements alone or in combination depends, for example, on the space available or on the required degree of illumination.

It is advisable to choose plastic as the material for the optical system, both to fulfil the protective function described above and with regard to light distribution. Plastic is an inexpensive and robust material that has impressive optical properties, particularly in transparent versions.

In order to fulfil the protective function explained above, it may further be expedient if at least the side of the optical system facing away from the light source is coated with at least one material that is permeable to the light from the light source, in particular with a material that is permeable to infrared light and/or visible light.

This protects the often sensitive optical

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System is protected against damage, for example scratches, and/or contamination, whereby the coating with translucent material also makes cleaning of the optical system easier.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present mobile telephone, at least one advantageously ergonomically shaped finger guide is provided on the side of the device integrated in the present mobile telephone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger.

Such a finger guide, which can be designed in the form of a groove, for example, makes it substantially easier for a user, for example a person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting, to handle the device integrated in the present mobile phone, not only psychologically but also practically, because the person to be authenticated or identified instinctively understands, by arranging the finger guide, in which (traverse) direction and in which position the traverse area on the side facing away from the scanning unit is to be swept over by the front area of the finger. In this context, the traverse area is preferably arranged centrally within the finger guide.

If the mobile phone is to be developed in a particularly clever way according to the present invention, it is recommended to design the optical system as a finger guide.

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In this way, the advantages of the finger guidance, namely, among other things, ensuring an optimal sweep of the front area of the finger to capture the characteristics, in particular the fingerprint, are expediently combined with the advantages of the optical system, namely, among other things, the function as a deflection component for the light generated and the guarantee of a clean, uniform illumination of the front area of the finger to be illuminated.

In this context, it is worth mentioning that the adaptive light control is particularly advantageous in achieving smooth and uniform transitions for the most diverse areas of the overall image. The interaction of the adaptive light control with the optionally implemented finger guide in the optical system therefore guarantees uniform light distribution on the object to be illuminated with the greatest possible contrast.

The requirements set out above with regard to the coating of the optical system with translucent material also apply to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, in which at least the scanning unit and/or at least the side of the fiber optic area facing away from the scanning unit and/or at least the side of the traversing area facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger are coated with at least one material that is permeable to the light from the light source, in particular with

coated with a material that is transparent to infrared light and/or visible light.

In this case, such a coating can be of essential importance to the invention insofar as an undamaged, i.e., among other things, unscratched, and clean scanning unit and/or a similar fiber optic area and/or a similar travel area is essential for proper functioning of the device integrated in the present mobile phone.

Both in the case of the optical system and in the aforementioned case, according to an advantageous embodiment, the material permeable to the light from the light source is varnish.

With regard to the present invention, it can be advantageous if the light source is a light-emitting diode (LED), the advantage of such light-emitting diodes being in particular that they are very small and can therefore also be used in devices integrated in the present mobile phone in which little space is available due to miniaturization, as is the case with the mobile phone according to the present invention. Other advantages are the low weight, the robust design, the low operating voltage and the long service life of light-emitting diodes.

According to a preferred development of the present invention, the light source emits infrared light, wherein the infrared light has, for example, a wavelength of approximately 900

nanometers.

The light source, which in a suitable embodiment can also emit infrared light of two different wavelengths, should have a power of, for example, about 0.1 milliwatts to about five watts, in particular a power of about two milliwatts to about 100 milliwatts, in order to avoid disproportionately high heating of the device integrated in the mobile phone in question.

In order to give the device integrated in the present mobile phone a certain stability, the sensor unit is expediently arranged on at least one carrier unit. This carrier unit can in turn be arranged on at least one circuit board unit.

Between the light source and the scanning unit, at least one opaque barrier layer can be provided, which serves the same purposes as the barrier layer within the fiber optic region. In this context, the material of the barrier layer opaque to the light from the light source can be, for example, varnish.

If the present mobile telephone is to be further developed in a manner essential to the invention, at least one filter, preferably designed as a linear filter, is provided in order to absorb disturbing and excess ambient light and consequently to reliably exclude oversaturation of the scanning unit.

In other words, this means that the adaptive light control is optimally effective when the scanning unit does not, for example, go into an oversaturation state "on its own" due to normal daylight, whereby such an oversaturation state can be prevented in a practical manner precisely by arranging the filter, because this filter enables the device integrated in the present mobile phone to work even when the ambient light intensity is more than about 3,000 lux, whereby a realistic upper limit is probably an ambient light intensity of about 40,000 lux.

For this purpose, the filter expediently has an absorption level of about 99 percent, which means that the light-absorbing filter ultimately acts like a "dark room" (in contrast to the filter with a "window" disclosed in the German laid-open specification DE 44 04 918 Al, which does not offer effective protection against oversaturation and cannot take on the function of a "dark room").

The arrangement of the filter within the device integrated in the present mobile phone is determined by the structure, dimensions and intended use of the device integrated in the present mobile phone.

However, it seems appropriate

the filter between the fiber optic area
and the scanning unit; and/or
the filter on the scanning unit

•&igr;···*

the side of the finger that is to be covered or swept over, facing away from the front area of the finger.
in this mobile phone integrated
device; and/or

the filter on the side facing the scanning unit of the present mobile phone
integrated device; and/or
the filter must be provided within the fiber optic area.

According to a particularly advantageous development of the present invention, it can be part of the adaptive light control (= ALR or ALC = "adaptive light control"), i.e. the "intelligent light control", to make the absorption level of the filter variable over the different areas of the optical images.

The background to this particularly advantageous development is the fact that the intensity distribution and consequently the contrast of the light scattered inside the front area of the finger is neither uniform nor constant across the entire width of the optical images, but is lower in the middle areas of the optical images than in the edge areas of the optical images.

This is due, among other things, to the fact that the at least one light source can be arranged laterally next to the scanning unit and that the light from the light source is directed towards the side of the mobile phone integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger.

device can be radiated.

As a result, less light reaches the central areas covered by the front area of the finger on the side of the device integrated in the present mobile phone facing away from the scanning unit and to be covered or swept over by the front area of the finger than the side areas, so that the intensity and - directly proportional to this - the contrast of the scattered light is weaker in the central areas than in the edge areas.

To remedy this shortcoming, according to a preferred development of the present invention, the absorption coefficient of the filter in the edge regions of the optical images can be greater, for example by a factor of about 2 to 3 and/or by about six decibels to about ten decibels, than the absorption coefficient of the filter in the middle regions of the optical images.

It is therefore an optional technical measure essential to the invention, in which the density of the optical filter is designed to be variable over the different areas of the optical images in such a way that the density in the edge areas of the filter is greater, and in this case, for example, by a factor of about 2 to 3 and/or by about six decibels to about ten decibels greater, than the density of the filter in the middle areas of the optical images.

This allows the fact that

compensated for by the fact that the intensity and contrast of the scattered light is weaker in the central areas than in the peripheral areas, whereby the degree of absorption can be selected selectively across the various areas of the optical images so that the output signal, which is directly proportional to the quotient of the respective scattered light intensity/contrast and the respective degree of absorption, is of approximately constant intensity; this technical measure enables the quality of the results obtainable with the device integrated in the present mobile telephone to be significantly improved.

In this context, it should not be overlooked that the optional technical measure of optical modulation described above has the further advantage over the optional technical measure of electronic modulation by means of an amplification factor described above that an amplification of interference, such as electronic noise or the like, is excluded during optical modulation, particularly in the middle areas of the optical images; in fact, such undesirable interference can even be reduced by optical modulation.

The scanning unit can expediently comprise at least one component or at least one circuit based on CMOS technology (CMOS = complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor), whereby extremely low power consumption can be achieved.

According to a particularly inventive development of the present invention, the component based on CMOS technology, i.e. the so-called "CMOS sensor", can be made extremely thin using a type of planing technique. In this context, the "CMOS sensor" has sufficient storage space and is also highly ESD-resistant (ESD = electrostatic discharge).

In this context, the expert in the field of security technology will particularly appreciate that with the thinner CMOS component, i.e. with the thinner "CMOS sensor", ambient light or a small light-emitting diode, for example, which can be inserted from below in the silicon, is basically sufficient for illumination.

Another significant advantage of the CMOS technology design is not only the extremely low power consumption of only about 25 to 30 microamperes in the idle state (= so-called "sleep" mode), but also the inventive feature that the "CMOS sensor" carries the entire control and lighting electronics.

Furthermore, the manufacturing process in CMOS technology enables an increase in both the quality and the performance values in terms of digitization depth and dynamics; the optimal values are determined from the existing information for each image area by automatic software-implemented image correction in the "CMOS sensor", so that a homogeneous image is created.

Alternatively or in addition to this, at least

a charge-coupled component or at least one charge-coupled circuit (CCD = charge coupled device) may be provided. This may in particular be at least one single-area CCD which functions as a light-sensitive unit and which does not have a separate light-protected area.

In this context, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that it is advantageous that CCD scanning units require a semiconductor surface that is only about half the area conventionally required, because with CCD scanning units, the image obtained can be read out immediately in the dark phase and does not have to be transported to a light-insensitive area, as is the case with conventional scanning units, which usually takes up about fifty percent of the sensor surface and from which the image is finally read out.

The image formation and the reading of the charges take place in an integrated form in the light-sensitive unit, whereby the process of image formation and the process of reading the charges are separated from each other in time, but not spatially, in contrast to dual-area CCDs.

One of the advantages of single-area CCDs is that they are significantly easier and cheaper to manufacture than dual-area CCDs, because the number of components in single-area CCDs is only about half as large as in dual-area CCDs, while the dimensions of the light-sensitive unit are essentially the same.

In this context, however, it must be taken into account that single-area CCDs cannot be used with continuous or steady illumination of the object to be illuminated, because if the image formation process and the readout process were to run simultaneously, an undesirable mixing of the resulting images would occur.

For this reason, as already explained above, the light source can be designed as a pulsed light source which is designed to emit pulsed light. In correspondence with this, the mobile telephone according to the present invention can have at least one pulse generator unit for controlling the light source, wherein the pulse generator unit is expediently arranged between the light source and at least one control element for the scanning unit.

In this context, the person skilled in the art will appreciate as particularly advantageous that the illumination of the front region of the finger with light pulses results in a significant reduction in the instabilities and irregularities in the optical images obtained and, as a result, also in the electrical signals generated.

These effects are a direct consequence of the short light pulses, preferably lasting about one millisecond, whereby the influence of the blood flow in the front area of the finger to be illuminated on the quality of the optical images obtained becomes negligible.

Furthermore, by reducing the image build-up time, the influence of the ambient lighting conditions on the optical imaging of the skin relief is also significantly reduced.

Consequently, the use of the device integrated in the present mobile phone makes it possible to obtain clear and sharp optical images containing all information about the interior and/or the surface of the front area of the finger at a specific point in time, instead of blurred optical images which arise when using constant illumination and an exposure time corresponding to the image lead time.

This improvement in the quality of the optical images obtained makes it possible to significantly reduce the frequency and probability of errors in fingerprint authentication or identification. It is also now possible to increase the information content of fingerprint images by processing image sequences by obtaining additional biometric data, such as the characteristics of the pulse of the person to be authenticated or identified, and thus further improve the security of fingerprint authentication or identification.

The use of pulsed light sources not only leads to the significant improvement in image quality described above, but also allows at least one camera with single-area CCDs to be used as a light-sensitive

units. The use of single-area CCDs makes it possible to obtain high-quality images of larger areas. This enlargement of the areas, together with the improvement in the stability of the optical images, leads to a further reduction in the probability of errors in fingerprint personal authentication or identification.

In this case, the manufacture of single-area CCDs with a diagonal of the light-sensitive area of, for example, about 16 millimeters to, for example, about 24 millimeters and with a fiber optic input is a technically rather uncomplicated task, which makes it possible to manufacture relatively simple and inexpensive devices integrated in the present mobile phone. Furthermore, the devices integrated in the present mobile phone with single-area CCDs have less information distortion than devices with other types of charge displacement.

The use of single-area CCDs in devices operating with continuous or steady illumination is not possible because the continuous or steady light falls on the CCDs not only during the image formation phase but also during the readout phase and thus a mixing of the charges would occur, which would make it impossible to obtain clear optical images of the skin relief of the front area of the finger.

Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention are described below in the

·

·

72

Drawings are described with reference to Figures 1A to 7C, which illustrate, by way of example, six embodiments of the mobile telephone according to the present invention.

It shows:

Fig. 1A shows a first embodiment of a mobile telephone with a device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification according to the present invention, in a perspective overall view;

Fig. IB shows the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification integrated in the mobile telephone from Fig. IA, in cross-sectional view along the section line I - I in Fig. IA;

Fig. 2A shows a second embodiment of a mobile telephone with a device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification according to the present invention, in a perspective overall view;

Fig. 2B shows the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification integrated in the mobile phone from Fig. 2A, in cross-sectional view along the section line II - II in Fig. 2A;

Fig. 2C shows the fiber optic section integrated in the device of Fig. 2B,

under supervision;

Fig. 3A shows a third embodiment of a mobile telephone with a device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification according to the present invention, in a perspective overall view;

Fig. 3B shows the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification integrated in the mobile telephone from Fig. 3A, in cross-sectional view along the section line III - III in Fig. 3A;

Fig. 3C shows a section of the fiber optic area of the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification from Fig. 3B integrated in the mobile phone from Fig. 3A;

Fig. 3D shows the section of the fiber optic area from Fig. 3C in partial elevation;

Fig. 4A shows a fourth embodiment of a mobile telephone with a device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification according to the present invention, in a perspective overall view;

Fig. 4B shows the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification integrated in the mobile phone from Fig. 4A, in an enlarged view;

Fig. 4C shows the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification from Fig. 4B integrated in the mobile phone from Fig. 4A,

in cross-sectional view along the section line IV - IV in Fig. 4B;

Fig. 5A shows a fifth embodiment of a mobile telephone with a device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification according to the present invention, in a perspective overall view;

Fig. 5B shows the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification integrated in the mobile phone from Fig. 5A, in cross-sectional view along the section line V - V in Fig. 5A;

Fig. 6A shows a sixth embodiment of a mobile telephone with a device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification according to the present invention, in a perspective overall view;

Fig. 6B shows the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification integrated in the mobile phone from Fig. 6A, in an enlarged view;

Fig. 6C shows the device for dactyloscopic personal identification integrated in the mobile phone from Fig. 6A.

authentication or identification from Fig. 6B,

in cross-sectional view along the section line VI - VI in Fig. 6B;

Fig. 6D shows a section of the fiber optic region of the device for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification from Figs. 6B and 6C integrated in the mobile telephone from Fig. 6A;

Fig. 6E shows the section of the fiber optic region from Fig. 6D in partial elevation;

Fig. 7A is a diagram in which the contrast of the light scattered inside the front region of the finger is schematically plotted against the width of the optical images;

Fig. 7B is a diagram in which the amplification of the electrical signals selected for the device for fingerprint personal authentication or identification from Figs. 1B, 4B and 4C integrated in the mobile telephones from Figs. 1A and 4A is plotted schematically over the width of the optical images; and

Fig. 7C is a diagram showing the fingerprint authentication or identification device of Figs. 2B and 5B integrated in the mobile phones of Figs. 2A and 5A.

selected absorption schematically over the
Width of the optical images plotted
is.

Identical or similar components or features of the invention are provided with identical reference numerals in Figures 1A to 7C.

The six embodiments of a mobile phone shown in Figures 1A to 7C each have a device 1 (see Figures 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A) for fingerprint personal authentication or identification.

This device 1 in turn has several light sources 10 (see Figures 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 4C, 5B and 6C) for illuminating and/or transilluminating the front region of a finger.

Furthermore, the device 1 is equipped with a sensor unit 40 (see Figures 1B, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B and 6C) which has a scanning unit 402 (see Figures 1B, 2B, 3B, _4C , 5B and 6C) for recording optical images of the front area of the finger on its side associated with the front area of the finger, and with a processing unit 70 (see Figures 1B, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B and 6C) for determining the characteristics (so-called "minutiae") of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint.

The special feature of the mobile phone shown as an example in Figures IA, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A is that the user of the mobile phone can use his fingerprint

authenticated or identified.

This enables, to a certain extent, a personalization of mobile telephones in such a way that only a person who has placed the front part of the finger on the device 1 for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification and who is considered authenticated or authorized by means of his fingerprint can operate the mobile telephone.

In other words, this means that the authorization of the respective person is checked after placing the front part of the finger on the device 1 and only in the positive case is the mobile phone released for use; consequently, any misuse of the mobile phone by unauthorized persons, i.e. persons who have not been fingerprinted or identified, is excluded.

Here, the device 1 is in the second

embodiment (see Figure 2A) , in the fifth

embodiment (see Figure 5A) and the sixth

embodiment (see Figure 6A) in the area of the keypad cover 3 of the mobile phone,

namely at the bottom of the keypad cover 3 of the mobile phone.

In contrast, the device 1 in the first embodiment (see Figure 1A), the third embodiment (see Figure 3A) and the fourth embodiment (see Figure 4A) is arranged in the area of the display 2 of the mobile phone, namely to the side of the display 2 (see first

Embodiment according to Figure 1A and fourth embodiment according to Figure 4A) or below the display 2 (cf. third embodiment according to Figure 3A).

This is ergonomically advantageous because an arrangement of the device 1 close to the display 2 of the mobile phone corresponds to the gripping position that is usual for mobile phones, in which the thumb and four fingers enclose the housing of the mobile phone, so that the front area of the thumb comes to rest on the device 1 integrated close to the display 2 "automatically" and without any contortions.

Such an arrangement of the device 1 close to the display 2 of the mobile phone is also welcome from a security point of view, because in this way the dactyloscopic authentication or identification - for example in a sudden emergency call situation - takes place intuitively, i.e. without lengthy thinking, so that the mobile phone is immediately ready for use.

As can be seen from Figures 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A, the device 1 is battery-operated. This follows from the fact that the mobile telephone must be carried, i.e. transported, for example on the body, so that a mobile electrical power supply is necessary.

For this purpose, a lithium-based accumulator unit is assigned to the mobile phone for the electrical power supply, whereby the device 1 is powered by this

► · · · ψ m

Battery unit, which also supplies the mobile phone itself with electrical voltage.

The battery unit is designed in such a way that after charging the battery unit, a capacity is maintained for approximately one week; in order to prevent a surprising and unexpected failure of the battery unit, the battery unit emits an acoustic-optical warning signal when a predetermined remaining operating time of approximately five hours is reached.

As can be seen from Figures 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A, the mobile phone is provided with a transmitting/receiving unit 4 in the form of a conventional antenna known per se for the wireless transmission of data and information, in particular data and information for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification. In this way, the authorization to use the mobile phone can also be granted "wirelessly", i.e. for example by means of radio signals.

In other words, this means that by means of the wireless transmission of data and information, a comparison of data and information, in particular with regard to the data and information of the dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification, is possible both before and after the mobile phone is used.

But additional data, such as the person using the mobile phone or the number and exact time of calls made with the mobile phone, can also be transmitted and registered by a central authority.

This will not only provide more transparency in

use of mobile phones, but also a significant increase in security,

because it can be a kind of

"Black Box" function should be implemented, which all

transmits and communicates relevant data and information via wireless transmission.

The provision of wireless transmission of data and information when using the GPS standard (GPS = Global Positioning System = satellite-based system for worldwide positioning and location determination) also includes the possibility of precisely locating the current location of the mobile phone, which is a significant advantage, for example, in the event of the mobile phone being accidentally lost or stolen.

The design, functionality, structure and effect of the device 1 integrated in the mobile phone for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification are explained in detail below:

By arranging the light sources 10 laterally next to a fiber optic area 30 of constant density (see Figures IB, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B and 6C) and thus directing the light from the light sources 10 into

Direction towards the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 402, which is to be covered by the front region of the finger (cf. first, second and third embodiments) or to be swept over (cf. fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments), the light incident on the front region of the finger occurs essentially from the side.

At least part of the light penetrates into the interior of the front area of the finger and is scattered there, so that the scattering occurs essentially in all directions, including in the direction of the fiber optic area 30; thus, the invention illustrated with reference to Figures 1A to 7C is based to a certain extent on transmitted light technology, i.e. the optical images of the front area of the finger are processed as transmitted light images.

When the surface of the front area of the finger bearing the skin ridges or papillary lines is placed on the device 1 during the process of dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification (see first, second and third embodiments) or the device 1 is swept over (see fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments), the skin ridges or papillary lines successively and line by line "close" the entrances of the fibers 310 (see Figures 3C, 3D, 5D and 5E) of the fiber optic area 30, so that in these areas of the fiber optic area 30 closed by the skin ridges or papillary lines, no or very little scattered light, so-called

* &PSgr;&PSgr; · · 9 ♦♦ ·

Transmitted light enters the scanning unit 402.

In the areas of the recesses between the skin ridges or papillary lines, however, more scattered light reaches the fibers 310 of the fiber optic area 30 and consequently through the fiber optic area 30 to the scanning unit 402, so that an extremely sensitive instrument for the dactyloscopic authentication or identification of persons, in particular based on the areas of the skin ridges or papillary lines and based on the areas between the skin ridges or papillary lines, is provided.

The fibers 310 in the fiber optic region 30 are surrounded by (light) reflecting material in the form of a coating, which reflects the light in the respective fiber 310 from the wall of this fiber 310 back into the interior of this fiber 310.

This facilitates the transport of the optical images through the fiber optic region 30 to the scanning unit 402 in that each fiber 310 only transmits the light entering the fiber optic region 30 at a specific region through the fiber optic region 30 to the exit surface thereof. In this way, a change in the light pattern obtained at the entrance surface of the fiber optic region 30 is avoided.

The optical images of the front area of the finger recorded in this way thus pass through the fibers 310 of the fiber optic area 30 into the scanning unit 402 arranged downstream of the fiber optic area 30, which is part of the sensor unit 40, and are then processed by means of the sensor unit 40

downstream processing unit 70 analyzes and processes.

Due to the differences in brightness between the areas of the skin ridges or papillary lines and the areas between the skin ridges or papillary lines, the invention shown in Figures 1A to 7C also makes it possible to observe or examine whether the illuminated object, such as the front area of the finger, is "alive", i.e., for example, has blood flowing through it and/or has a pulse (so-called "life support").

The method for life detection (so-called "life support") is based on an optical measurement of the continuous decrease in oxygen content due to the constriction of the blood vessels when pressure is applied from the front part of the finger to the fiber optic area 3 0 of the device 1 integrated in the mobile phone.

In this context, the underlying principle is that oxygen is extracted from the blood by the surrounding tissue as it flows through the veins, while the blood is simultaneously burdened with carbon dioxide; in this case, a certain flow equilibrium is established in the ratio of oxyhemoglobin to carboxyhemoglobin. If the blood flow, i.e. the throughput of blood per unit of time, is changed, a different flow equilibrium is established.

If the front part of the finger is placed on the fiber optic area 3 0, the

the pressure on the blood vessels. The resulting increased flow resistance reduces the blood flow through the tissue, so that the ratio of oxyhemoglobin to carboxyhemoglobin shifts to the disadvantage of oxyhemoglobin. The oxygen uptake of the surrounding tissue remains constant.

The decisive factor is the time of the measurement(s). The first measurement is taken at the moment the front part of the finger is placed on the skin, preferably triggered by a capacitive start. A series of
for example, around fifteen - measurements within a relatively short period of time - for example within about half a second - shows a clear monotonous drop in the blood oxygen level until a new flow equilibrium is established. This effect is significant and is sufficient for a clear authentication or identification of a living finger.

Furthermore, with the invention illustrated in Figures 1A to 7C, a person can only be identified as authenticated or as authorized if his or her current pulse rate does not deviate from the stored pulse rate by more than ten percent, either upwards or downwards; thus, the pulse rate becomes a further criterion for person authentication or identification.

In this context, the method for detecting life using the pulse is based on the functional principle explained above. However, the periodic flow through the veins caused by the pulse is also taken into account.

new blood and the subsequent breakdown of oxygen, whereby about two to four pulse cycles are required, which are studied in detail using Fourier analysis.

The pulse can be measured after placing the front part of the finger on the fiber optic area 30 in the resting state, which can also be done after the extraction of the optical images obtained; this shortens the response time of the device 1 integrated in the mobile phone.

These additional biometric data relating to the pulse rate reduce the probability of error in the authentication or identification process because they make it possible to distinguish the living finger of the person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting from an impression of this finger obtained previously, in particular a "placebo finger".

The existing data on the changes in the transparency of the front area of the finger make it possible to calculate the pulse rate of the person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting and to use the transparency curve obtained in this way for medical purposes, analogous to an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Furthermore, the device 1 can also be used to determine optical images whose degree of sharpness is so high that even the person-specific, individual-specific images located in the front area of the finger

arranged sweat glands are clearly and distinctly recognizable, so that during operation of the device 1 integrated in the mobile phone it is possible to also use the sweat glands for personal authentication or identification.

The device 1 integrated in the mobile phone is completely visible, and the process of dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification is comprehensible and transparent for the person to be authenticated or identified, because this person only has to place the front area of his finger on the device 1 in a psychologically favorable manner (cf. first, second and third embodiments) or to guide it in the direction of travel y over the travel area 240 and to stroke it with the front area of the finger (cf. fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments), but does not have to insert the finger into a cavity or an opening.

The invention illustrated by means of the embodiments is further characterized in that the duration and intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light sources 10 can be regulated depending on the ambient light conditions, i.e. an adaptive light control (= ALR or ALC = "adaptive light control"), thus a type of "intelligent light control" is provided, by means of which the deficits of changing ambient light conditions, such as changing room lighting or changing sunlight, can be compensated for by the

Embodiments or the algorithm controlling the device 1 adapt to the respective lighting conditions.

For this purpose, the exemplary devices 1 integrated in the mobile phone each have a control means 40, 70 for regulating the duration and intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light sources 10:

With this control means 40, 70, which is designed as a digital signal processing unit (DSP = digital signal processor) with a microcontroller, a continuous or temporary measuring method can be carried out with which a permanently good image quality can be determined and with which, if required, an optimal saturation coordinated with contrast and depth of field can be achieved by means of short-term light pulses, wherein the short-term light pulses are dosed in their duration and intensity exactly to the amount of light actually required.

The control means 40, 70 has a detection module 40 for detecting the ambient light conditions, wherein the detection module 40 is formed integrally with the sensor unit 40 in the embodiments.

The detection module 40 is followed by an evaluation module 70a for determining the duration and intensity of the light pulses in adaptation to the ambient light conditions detected by the detection module 40, wherein the evaluation module 70a is designed uniformly with an evaluation unit 70a which is arranged downstream of the sensor unit 40 and to which

will be discussed in more detail below.

The detection module 40 is also followed by a memory module 70b for storing threshold values determined for regulating the duration and intensity of the light pulses, wherein the memory module 70b is designed uniformly with at least one memory unit 70b which is arranged downstream of the sensor unit 40 and which will be discussed in more detail below.

Once the detection module 40 has detected the respective ambient light conditions, these are evaluated and analyzed in the evaluation module 70a, with a comparison being made in the evaluation module 70a with predetermined threshold values stored in the storage module 70b.

Depending on the result of this comparison, the light sources 10, which are connected to the control means 40, 70 and in particular to the evaluation module 70a, are addressed by the control means 40, 70, wherein the duration and intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light sources 10 are adapted to the determined ambient light conditions.

This allows the light pulses to be designed dynamically and adaptively in terms of both their duration and intensity in order to provide the required light for every type of ambient light (for example, strong sunlight, weak sunlight, twilight, diffuse light, gas light, moonlight, artificial lighting, ...) and thus to produce high-contrast and deep-sharp images.

To obtain images of the front area of the finger.

In particular, with adaptive lighting control, illuminance levels from zero lux to around 40,000 lux can be achieved, with the latter illuminance value roughly corresponding to direct sunlight:

The results that can be achieved with this adaptive light control show an increase in contrast and depth of field of up to about eighty percent compared to conventional lighting systems with continuous light, whereby the type of light control illustrated as an example has the advantage that it can dose and provide the required amount of light in a time range of less than 100 milliseconds when the lighting conditions change, so that an almost constant image quality can be obtained in all conceivable lighting conditions.

Therefore, a significant advantage of the device 1 shown as an example is the "intelligent control" which adjusts the amount of light emitted as required and calculates and makes it available separately for each area around the object to be illuminated, i.e. around the front area of a finger, so that overexposure or underexposure in the device 1 is almost certainly excluded.

The device 1 also enables the uniform illumination of an object, such as the front area of a finger, regardless of the strength of the

object, which may also have a more or less strong light conductivity or a more or less strong reflectivity, and regardless of whether this object is illuminated by stray light from the front, side and/or back.

As a result, it does not matter at what angle and from what point the light is shone on the object to be illuminated; only the duration and intensity of the additional light required must be regulated individually for each area. The advantages of the adaptive light control present ultimately mean that a finger image can be captured without significantly changing the exposure times and while fully preserving the contrast and depth of field.

As already indicated above, the control means 40, 70 provided for implementing the adaptive light control has a detection module 40, an evaluation module 70a and a memory module 70b. If the detection module 40 is designed as a unit with the sensor unit 40 (see Figures IB, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B and 6C), the photosensitive surface of the scanning unit 402 can, so to speak, request the required amount of light itself - for each of its areas - by means of the adaptive light control, which works excellently because the evaluation module 70a of the control means 40, 70 is designed as a unit with the evaluation unit 70a (see Figures IB, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B and 6C).

The adaptive light control is therefore able to

to calculate for each area of the surface of the scanning unit 402 the amount of light required in terms of duration and intensity in the evaluation module 70a in relation to optimum saturation in view of the ambient light conditions and to deliver this immediately.

With regard to the effects of the adaptive light control, it is of substantial importance in the illustrated embodiments of the present invention that a filter 90 designed as a linear filter (cf. Figures 1B, 2B, 3B, 4C, 5B and 6C) is provided in order to absorb disturbing and excess ambient light and consequently to reliably exclude oversaturation of the scanning unit 402.

In other words, this means that the adaptive light control is optimally effective when the scanning unit 402 does not go into an oversaturation state "on its own", for example due to normal daylight, whereby such an oversaturation state is prevented precisely by the arrangement of the filter 90, because this filter 90 enables the device 1 to work even when the ambient light intensity is more than about 3,000 lux, whereby a realistic upper limit is likely to be an ambient light intensity of about 40,000 lux. For this purpose, the filter 90 has an absorption level of about 99 percent, i.e. the light-absorbing filter 90 acts like a "darkroom".

Arranging the filter 90 within the respective

Device 1 is determined by the structure, dimensions and purpose of device 1. Thus,

in the first and fourth embodiments (see Figures 1B and 4C), the filter 90 is arranged between the fiber optic region 30 and the scanning unit 402; in the second and fifth embodiments (see Figures 2B and 5B), the filter 90 is arranged on the side of the fiber optic region 30 facing the scanning unit 402 and here within the fiber optic region 30; and in the third and sixth embodiments (see Figures 3B and 6C), the filter 90 is arranged on the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 402 and on the side to be covered by the front region of the finger (see Figure 3B) or to be scanned over (see Figure 6C) .

As already indicated above, the light sources 10 fulfill an important function in the adaptive light control within the scope of the present invention. It should be noted here that for the purpose of uniform illumination of the front area of the finger, more than one light source is provided in the embodiments (two light sources 10 or four light sources 10), which are arranged symmetrically to one another or which are arranged in a ring shape, in particular essentially evenly distributed, around the fiber optic area 30 (cf. for example the fourth embodiment according to Figure 4B).

The respective duration and the respective intensity of the light emitted by the respective light source 10

In the embodiments, light pulses can be selectively controlled to adapt to the ambient lighting conditions.

In other words, this means that the respective duration and the respective intensity of the light pulses emitted by the individual light sources 10 can be controlled independently of one another, in particular depending on predetermined threshold values. Consequently, all light sources 10 can be controlled independently of one another, with the respective duration and the respective intensity being calculated individually for each light source 10 in the evaluation module 70a.

The evaluation unit 70a and the storage unit 70b have already been mentioned above. These are

in the first and fourth embodiments
(see Figures IB and 4C) in structural unit
as control means 70, which is connected to the
Light sources 10 as well as a carrier unit 50 and a circuit board unit 60 with the
Sensor unit 4 0 is connected;
in the second and fifth embodiments
(see Figures 2B and 5B) in structural separation
as control means 70, which is provided via
a printed circuit board unit 60 with the
Light sources 10 as well as a carrier unit 50 and the circuit board unit 60 with the
Sensor unit 40 is connected; and
in the third and sixth embodiments
(see Figures 3B and 6C) into a

Printed circuit board unit 60 structural and functional
integrated.

While the evaluation unit 70a, which is designed as an electronic circuit, namely as an ASIC (= Application-Specific Integrated Circuit
While the memory unit 70b, which is designed as a chip unit, namely as a SIM (= Subscriber Identification Module), determines the characteristics of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, the memory unit 70b, which is designed as a chip unit, namely as a SIM (= Subscriber Identification Module), stores the optical images and person-specific data, in particular fingerprint data, electronically.

Independently of this or in connection with this, the evaluation unit 70a analyses the characteristics (so-called "minutiae") of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, and compares these with characteristics stored in the storage unit 70b in order to achieve an individual dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification. The data and information obtained during the analysis and processing can also be collected and (re)stored in the storage unit 70b downstream of the sensor unit 40.

Thus, the data and information, in particular the fingerprint data and information, of persons to be authenticated or identified by dactyloscopic means are stored in the storage unit 70b, whereby the data and information obtained during an authentication or identification process from the current optical images of the front area of the finger in the evaluation unit 70a

calculated data and information can be related to and compared with the data and information stored in the storage unit 7 0b.

If this comparison results in a match, the person using the device 1 is considered to be identified, authenticated or even authorized, so that this person is permitted to use the mobile phone; if there is no match, however, the person using the device 1 is considered to be unidentified, unauthenticated or even unauthorised, so that this person is still prohibited from using the mobile phone.

Depending on the type of use and the area of application of the mobile phone, the authorization to operate the mobile phone can be carried out exclusively via the storage unit 70b or, in the case of a larger number of authorized persons, can be stored in the conventional SIM card, which is known per se, whereby the corresponding choice can be made by the manufacturer of the mobile phone or by an authority authorized to do so.

As already indicated above, the embodiments shown are characterized by the fact that, on the one hand, sufficient illumination of the front area of the finger is possible, producing reliable results, but on the other hand, both the device 1 itself is completely visible and the process of dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification for the

The person to be authenticated or identified is traceable and transparent.

The first and second embodiments (cf. Figures 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B) differ from the third embodiment (cf. Figures 3A and 3B) in that the device 1 in the third embodiment is designed not only for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification but also for entering relative coordinates x, y, preferably determined by the position of the optical images, by means of an input means, for example by means of a finger or by means of a rod- or pen-shaped object.

This feature of the third embodiment (see Figures 3A and 3B) is to be seen not least in view of the fact that the device 1 is designed to take over additional functions in addition to fingerprint recognition, which is of utmost importance in view of cost efficiency and the limited space available in mobile telephones.

In this way, the flat device 1 in the third embodiment (see Figures 3A and 3B) serves as a so-called "optical touchpad" and thus makes the cursor keys and/or the "scroll wheel" superfluous in WAP-enabled mobile phones (WAP = Wireless Application Protocol).

In detail, the device designed as an optical sensor with external light sources 10 serves as the basis

• t

♦ » *►♦» ♦· ·» »♦ »

1, wherein the device 1 scans the environment in a pixel-oriented manner (with approximately 240 pixels by approximately 360 pixels corresponding to an active area of approximately twelve millimeters in height by approximately eighteen millimeters in width; cf. Figure 3A) and records corresponding images.

As a result, the device 1 registers object movements, which are evaluated as an immediate input action. There are various modes for the mobile phone that can also be combined with one another:

Cursor mode:

When directly simulating a (computer) mouse using the surface of the device 1, the cursor position is calculated by a finger or pen movement on the surface of the device 1 and simultaneously transmitted to the connected system using at least one corresponding logic circuit; the use of the finger is just as possible as the use of a pen.

In this context, you can now set whether the cursor position changes statically or relatively due to the movement of the object (finger, pen, ...). In the latter case, i.e. with relative organization, the speed of the cursor pointer preferably depends logarithmically on the speed of the movement.

The simulation of the mouse buttons is made possible in the third embodiment (see Figures 3A and 3B) by at least one quick touch of the device 1; also, by means of a corresponding

Built-in module allows adjacent installation of switches so that by tapping on the device 1 the entire sensor module can be tilted to trigger at least one mouse click.

Scroll mode:

When (directly) simulating a scroll wheel using the surface of the device 1, the speed and/or direction of the scroll functionality is determined by the movement of the object (finger, pen, ...) on the optical sensor module; the use of the switches within the corresponding built-in module can be used as a scroll signal for the scroll mode.

This allows you to control WAP functions (WAP
Wireless Application Protocol) in the mobile phone exemplified in Figure 3A based on GPRS (GPRS = General Packet Radio Service) or on GSM (GSM = Global System for Mobile communication), the device 1 according to Figures 3A and 3B can be used instead of the conventional wheel. With the exemplary expansion from twelve millimeters to eighteen millimeters shown in Figure 3A, the device 1 then replaces the conventional wheel in its full range of functions.

Here too, the range of functions is the same as with conventional touchpads for entering relative coordinates; these are therefore more powerful than a normal mechanical wheel; in particular, the use of the present device 1 eliminates mechanical disadvantages such as jamming, soiling or failure of mechanical parts,

completely; the present device 1 also has significant advantages in terms of its price-performance ratio compared to conventional mechanical components.

The evaluation of the biometric data made available by the device 1 in its full scope of functions takes place on the SIM card (SIM = Subscriber Identification Module) of the mobile phone according to Figure 3A, so that misuse of the biometric data is excluded.

Scanning mode:

When scanning the movement based on features on the surface of the device 1, the optical sensor scans the surface; the movement of the object (finger, pen, ...) then causes the cursor pointer to move in a defined manner, similar to cursor mode.

Authentication or identification mode:

When the surface of the device 1 is used to authenticate or identify a person, the fingerprint of the person in question is used to determine whether the person is authorized as a user to interact with the mobile phone assigned to the device 1. This takes place synchronously with the operation of the "sensor cursor" and does not require any further user interaction, so that the entire mobile phone system is passively protected against unauthorized access.

Thus, the present device 1 according to Figures 3A and 3B also serves to enter relative

»♦ * ·· ·· tts e * ·

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Coordinates, in particular for graphically entering position information in the plane, so that the optically sensitive sensor surface functions as a work surface or as a so-called "touch pad" when using a so-called "touch pen" in order to track the movements of the finger or the pen and to be able to control the so-called "desktop" on the display of the mobile phone; the range of functions is at least the same as with conventional touch pads.

The mode of operation of the present device 1 differs from conventional touchpads in that the movements of the object (finger, pen, ...) are registered by optically scanning the object.

In this context, it should be emphasized that the surface of the device 1 has an extremely high load-bearing capacity due to the use of a fiberglass plate in the form of the fiber optic region 3 0, so that pencils, ballpoint pens or the like can also be used for the movement sequences.

Furthermore, the device 1 according to Figures 3A and 3B has the option of reading in and comparing a signature, for example by making the original signature and then storing it in the storage unit 70b of the device 1.

It is also possible to use a signature or a signature from a bank card, credit card, check card, smart card or similar

5 Ii" Vl ! &Iacgr; ! ^: -i ^: V":

101

to be read in advance into the memory unit 70b of the device 1:

When comparing, either an original signature or an original signature can be made on the device 1 or the signature or signature on the bank card, credit card, check card, smart card or the like can be read out and compared with the value stored in the memory unit 70b of the device 1.

The first, second and third embodiments (cf. Figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B) differ from the fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments (cf. Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B and 6C) further in that in the fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments the scanning unit 402 is arranged in a travel region 240 (cf. Figures 4B, 4C, 5B, 6B and 6C) to be swept over by the front region of the finger in a travel direction y.

This crossing area 240 is slot-shaped and is delimited by two narrow sides 240s and two long sides 2401. In this context, it can be seen from Figures 4B and 6B that the long sides 2401 run perpendicular to the crossing direction y and to the narrow sides 240s and are many times larger than the narrow sides 240s.

The fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments shown in Figures 4A to 6C are therefore based on the principle that the recording of the

»« ···· »f ♦♦ I«

102

The optical images of the front region of the finger that can be converted into electrical signals are created on the basis of a spatial component that extends perpendicular to the direction of travel y and on the basis of a temporal component that is defined by the front region of the finger sweeping over the optically transparent travel region 240.

Thus, in the fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments, the scanning unit 402 is arranged within the crossing area 240 to be swept over by the front area of the finger in the crossing direction y. As a result, the scanning unit 402 takes up very little space and can be accommodated compactly in the crossing area 240, so that the device 1 according to Figures 4A to 6C can be easily integrated into a mobile phone.

Due to the reduced material expenditure and the space-saving design of the device 1 according to Figures 4A to 6C, a considerable cost saving can also be achieved, as a result of which not only the device 1 itself, but also the mobile phone in which the device 1 is integrated, is inexpensive and thus also competitive on international markets.

As can be seen from a comparison of the top view of Figure 4B with the cross-sectional view of Figure 4C and from a comparison of the top view of Figure 6B with the cross-sectional view of Figure 6C, the scanning unit 4 02 corresponds approximately in shape and size to the overrun area 240. This

This technical measure also serves to ensure trouble-free and immediate transport of the optical images of the front area of the finger from the travel area 240 to the scanning unit 402 located underneath.

Furthermore, it can be seen from Figures 4B and 6B that the dimensions of the long sides 24 01 correspond approximately to the width of the front area of the finger. This ensures that the dactyloscopic features of the finger are recorded across their entire width by the scanning unit 4 02 when the front area of the finger passes over the traversing area 240 in the traversing direction y.

In order to manifest a small and compact design not only of the scanning unit 402, but also of the overtravel area 240 formed as a recess arranged in a plate (cf. Figures 4B and 6B), the overtravel area 240 and, correspondingly, the scanning unit 402 are designed to be very narrow in the overtravel direction y.

Thus, the scanning unit 402 records the optical images line by line, i.e. the scanning unit 402 functions as a line scanner when the front area of the finger is guided or pulled over the travel area 240.

In this sense, the scanning unit 402 can record a plurality of optical images per unit of time, in particular line by line, whereby these line-by-line recorded optical images are then stored in the sensor unit 40 and in the processing unit 70

104

to determine the characteristics (so-called "minutiae") of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, to form an overall image.

In the fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments shown in Figures 4A to 6C, the front area of the finger is drawn in the direction of travel y over the travel area 240 and consequently over the scanning unit 402. It should be noted that such a sweep of the front area of the finger does not necessarily take place at a constant speed and, in the case of several dactyloscopic authentication or identification processes, does not necessarily take place at the same speed each time.

Not least for this reason, the recording of the optical images by the scanning unit 402 is controlled by means of light pulses emitted by the light source 10.

As can be seen from Figures 4C, 5B and 6C, a fiber optic region 30 is provided in the traversing region 240, through which the optical images of the front region of the finger can be transported to the scanning unit 402.

In this case, the fiber optic area 30 corresponds approximately in shape and size to the traversing area 240. This technical measure also serves to ensure trouble-free and direct transport of the optical images of the front area of the finger from the traversing area 240 to the scanning unit 402.

ff With ·· ·

105

With regard to the aspect of optically recognizing the characteristic features of the front area of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, already mentioned above, a determination device 180 for determining the speed and the position of the front area of the finger is provided in the fourth embodiment (see Figure 4B) and in the sixth embodiment (see Figure 6B).

By determining the respective speed and the respective position of the front area of the finger, the individual optical images recorded can be combined to form a meaningful overall image that allows dactyloscopic person authentication or identification.

For this purpose, in the fourth embodiment (see Figure 4B), the detection device 180 is formed by a light source 10' which emits the light essentially in the direction of travel y. This light source 10' enables a distance measurement by means of observation or direction finding using the light emerging from the light source 10' according to a method from measurement or control technology.

In the sixth embodiment (see Figure 6B), the detection device 180 has an inductive element in the form of one or more coils for the same purposes. Determining the respective speed and the respective position of the front area of the finger is facilitated by the fact that the detection device 180 is essentially slot-shaped and is perpendicular to the travel area 24 0, i.e. in

Overtravel direction y.

Furthermore, in the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a supplementary device designed as a camera module 170 is integrated (see Figures 6A and 6B), wherein this camera module 170 is partially integrated in the fiber optic region 30 and wherein the optics of the camera module 170 have a diameter of approximately 2.5 millimeters.

Since the optics of the camera module 170 are designed for face recognition, when certain face-specific features of a person are stored in the storage/processing unit 70 (see Figure 6C) of the device 1 according to the sixth embodiment, a direct comparison of the stored face-specific features of the person with the actual face-specific features of the person recorded by the camera module 170 can be carried out; depending on the result of this comparison, a blocking function or a release function can then be activated in the device 1 according to the sixth embodiment.

In addition, the camera module 170 can also be used to take an image, for example in the form of a photograph, which is extremely useful when questions of credibility or evidence arise in court. Not least for these reasons, the optics of the camera module 170 are arranged in the direction of the front area of the finger (see Figure 6B).

In the case of the device shown in Figures IB, 2B, 4C and 5B

f 9 11 · ·

first, second, fourth and fifth

Embodiment of the present invention is

the light sources 10 each as a lens

formed optical system 20 made of plastic.

On the one hand, this optical system 20 performs a certain protective function, i.e. the optical system 20 prevents the person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting from touching the sensitive and easily damaged light sources 10 when placing the front area of the finger.

In particular, however, the optical system 20 is designed to redirect the light emitted by the light sources 10 to the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 402 and to cover or sweep over the front area of the finger, and to diffusely distribute the light emitted by the light sources 10 on the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 402 and to cover or sweep over the front area of the finger (cf. first and second embodiments) or (cf. fourth and fifth embodiments).

This ensures uniform illumination of the front area of the finger, thereby producing informative optical images originating from the front area of the finger. This is essential for the convincing functioning of the device 1.

The fourth and fifth shown in Figures 4C and 5B respectively

108

In this context, the embodiment of the present invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the optical system 20 is designed as an ergonomically shaped finger guide.

Therefore, on the side of the travel area 240 facing away from the scanning unit 402 and over which the front area of the finger is to be swept, an ergonomically shaped finger guide is provided, which is designed in the form of a groove (see Figure 4B) and by means of which the handling of the device is made substantially easier for a user of the device 1, for example a person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting, not only psychologically but also practically:

By arranging the finger guide, the person to be authenticated or identified instinctively understands in which (travel) direction y and in which position the travel area 240 on the side facing away from the scanning unit 402 is to be swept over by the front area of the finger. In this context, the travel area 240 is arranged centrally within the finger guide (see Figures 4B and 6B).

Consequently, the advantages of the finger guide, namely, among other things, ensuring an optimal sweeping process of the front area of the finger for capturing the characteristics (so-called "minutiae"), in particular the fingerprint, are combined with the advantages of the optical system 20, namely, among other things, the function as a deflection component for the generated light and the

109

Ensuring a clean, even illumination of the front area of the finger to be illuminated.

In this context, it is worth mentioning that the adaptive light control enables smooth and uniform transitions to be achieved for the most diverse areas of the overall image. The interaction of the adaptive light control with the finger guidance implemented in the optical system 2 0 therefore guarantees uniform light distribution on the object to be illuminated with the greatest possible contrast.

In the first and fourth embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 1B and 4C, the side of the optical system 20 facing away from the light sources 10 is coated with a material 80 that is transparent to the light from the light sources 10, that is to say with a material 80 that is transparent to infrared light.

This protects the often sensitive optical system 20 from damage, for example from scratches, and/or from contamination, wherein the coating with translucent material 80 also facilitates the cleaning of the optical system 20.

In the same way, in the first and fourth embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 1B and 4C, the side of the fiber optic region 30 facing away from the scanning unit 402 is provided with the light source 10

transparent material, i.e. coated with material 80 that is transparent to infrared light.

In this case, such a coating of the fiber optic region 30 can be of essential importance in that an undamaged, i.e., unscratched, and clean fiber optic region 30 is essential for proper functioning of the device 1.

Both in the case of the optical system 20 and in the case of the fiber optic region 30, the material 80 permeable to the light from the light sources 10 is varnish.

In the first and third embodiments of the present invention, a supplementary device designed as a camera module 1' is integrated (cf. Figures 1A and 3A), wherein the optics of the camera module 1' have a diameter of approximately 2.5 millimeters.

Since the optics of the camera module 1' are designed for face recognition, certain face-specific features of a person can be stored in the memory unit 70b or in the processing unit 70 of the mobile phone, so that the mobile phone is blocked or released by directly comparing the face-specific features of the person stored in the memory unit 70b or in the processing unit 70 with the actual face-specific features of the person recorded by the camera module 1 ■ depending on the result of this comparison.

111

In the second embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the device 1 (see Figure 2B) integrated in the mobile phone (see Figure 2A) goes into the idle state (= so-called "sleep" mode) after a predetermined period of non-use and that the device 1 integrated in the mobile phone is "woken up" again when it is put down or swiped with the front area of the finger, i.e. it goes back into an operational state.

In this context, in the device 1 integrated in the mobile phone, both the "sleep" function and the "wake up" function are implemented by means of recesses 150 in the form of tracks and/or in the form of lines, which form a mesh or grid, being etched into the fiber optic region 30 by means of acid, wherein a metal, namely chromium, is filled into these recesses 150; in other words, this means that the chromium is ported into the recesses 150.

The use of chromium is preferable here due to the favorable properties of this metal, since chromium is both chemically and mechanically resistant, whereby the recesses 150 cause only very little abrasion on the fiber optic area 3 0.

Thus, the fiber optic area 30 is coated with a chrome mesh or chrome grid, through which not only the so-called "capacitive start" of the device 1 can be implemented, but also a

Grounding effect and a discharge of the electrostatic charge transported through the front area of the finger, i.e. effective ESD protection (ESD = electrostatic discharge
electrostatic discharge) can be achieved by means of electronics designed for this purpose.

The recesses 150 have a width of approximately five micrometers; since the fibers 310 of the fiber optic region 30 have a diameter of approximately six micrometers and the pixels on the scanning unit 402 have a dimension of approximately fifty micrometers by approximately fifty micrometers, the chrome mesh or chrome grid does not cause any noticeable reduction in the quality of the optical images that can be obtained; the loss of brightness caused by the chrome mesh or chrome grid is also less than five percent.

With respect to the topology of the coating shown, the fiber optic region 30 has two active zones 302, 306 and a passive zone 304 located between the active zones 302, 306, as can be seen from the top view of Figure 2C.

In this context, the rectangular active zones 302, 306 serve to trigger the capacitive start described above, which only occurs when the front area of the finger is correctly positioned, that is, when the front area of the finger touches both active zones 302, 306 at the same time or rests on both active zones 302, 306 at the same time.

In contrast, the has a larger area than

113

The passive zone 304, which is also rectangular and occupies the active zones 302, 306, has no electrical function but serves to maintain the optical properties uniformly over the entire fiber optic region 30.

In this case, the distance between the edge of the active zone 302, 306 and the edge of the passive zone 304 is approximately fifty micrometers in order not to cause unnecessary dividing lines in the optical images, given a diameter of the fibers 310 of the fiber optic region 30 of approximately six micrometers and a dimensioning of the pixels on the scanning unit 402 of approximately fifty micrometers by approximately fifty micrometers.

In order to achieve a simple positioning of the fiber optic region 30 to the scanning unit 402, the width of the active zones 302, 306 and the passive zone 304 is selected to be slightly larger than the width of the scanning unit 402: The width of the active zones 302, 306 and the passive zone 304 is approximately thirteen millimeters, whereas the width of the scanning unit 402 is approximately twelve millimeters.

As can be seen from the exemplary illustration in Figure 2C, the active zones 302 and 306 are bonded and galvanically connected from the top side by means of two conductor tracks 152, 154 and 156, 158, each with an associated contact ("pad") 160 and 161, respectively, wherein the contacts 160, 161 each have an extension of approximately one millimeter to approximately two millimeters.

Two are spaced apart from each other

»w t ft* »ft #· ·«

114

arranged conductor tracks in the form of chrome tracks 152, 154 or 156, 158 are provided, by which a high redundancy of the connection to the associated contacts 160 or 161 is ensured.

With regard to the fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 5B, it is particularly noteworthy that the side of the fiber optic region 30 facing the scanning unit 402 is provided with an alphanumeric identifier 190.

Such an identifier 190 has significant advantages, particularly in the event of a breakdown or failure of the device 1, because in this case, instead of a digital personalization of the device 1 - which is otherwise usual but can no longer be read in the event of a breakdown or failure (--> problems in the event of a warranty claim, among other things), at least a unique authentication or identification number or the like can be included in the data set.

Since the device 1 according to the fifth embodiment (see Figure 5B) is also essentially based on the principle of the optical sensor, the identifier 190 can be read optically and incorporated into the data set to be transferred. Thus, the provision of the identifier 190 provides a further security feature, whereby in the event that a guarantee is required, the identifier 190 can also be read through the fiber optic area 30 using a microscope or the like.

115

The identifier 190 - applied, for example, when inserting the light sources 10 - is assigned to the device 1 according to Figure 5B, in particular to the user or customer belonging to the device 1 according to Figure 5B (--> special identifier), and is no longer accessible from the side of the fiber optic area 30 facing away from the scanning unit 402, i.e. cannot be changed or otherwise manipulated.

With regard to the first and fourth embodiments of the present invention, it is also necessary to specifically mention that part of the adaptive light control (= ALR or ALC "adaptive light control"), i.e. the "intelligent light control", is to make the amplification of the electrical signals in the sensor unit 40 or in the evaluation unit 70a variable over the different areas &khgr; (cf. Figures 7A and 7B) of the optical images.

The background to this is the fact that the intensity distribution and hence the contrast of the light scattered inside the front area of the finger is neither uniform nor constant over the entire width &khgr; of the optical images, but is lower in the middle areas of the optical images than in the edge areas of the optical images (cf. diagram in Figure 7A, in which the contrast of the light scattered inside the front area of the finger is schematically plotted over the width &khgr; of the optical images).

This is due, among other things, to the fact that the light sources 10 are located laterally next to the fiber optic

116

Area 3 0 are arranged and that the light from the light sources 10 can be emitted in the direction of the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 4 02, the side to be covered by the front area of the finger (cf. first embodiment) or to be scanned (cf. fourth embodiment).

As a result, less light reaches the central areas covered by the front area of the finger on the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 4 02, which is to be covered by the front area of the finger (cf. first embodiment) or to be scanned over (cf. fourth embodiment), than in the lateral areas, so that the intensity and - directly proportional to this - the contrast of the scattered light in the central areas is weaker than in the edge areas.

To remedy this shortcoming, in the first and fourth embodiments, the amplification of the electrical signals in the central regions of the optical images is approximately a factor of 2 to 3 greater than the amplification of the electrical signals in the edge regions of the optical images (see diagram in Figure 7B, in which the amplification of the electrical signals selected for device 1 is schematically plotted over the width x of the optical images). Such electronic modulation by means of variable amplification factors is carried out in each line of the optical images.

This allows electronically accomplished

the fact that the intensity and contrast of the scattered light is weaker in the central areas than in the peripheral areas (see Figure 7A) can be compensated, whereby the amplification can be selected selectively over the different areas &khgr; of the optical images so that the output signal, which is directly proportional to the product of the respective scattered light intensity/contrast (see Figure 7A) and the respective amplification factor (see Figure 7B), is of approximately constant intensity; this technical measure significantly improves the quality of the results obtainable with the first and fourth embodiments.

With regard to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, it is also necessary to mention that each light source 10 is assigned a detection unit 12 (see Figures 4B and 4C) for detecting the ambient light conditions and a light reflector unit 14 (see Figures 4B and 4C). The detection unit 12 can determine which areas of the crossing area 24 0 and which areas adjacent to the crossing area 24 0 are currently being swept over by the front area of the finger:

If the detection unit 12 reports a weak or no incidence of light, this indicates that the area assigned to the detection unit 12 is currently being covered by the front area of the finger; if, on the other hand, the detection unit 12 reports a normal and unobstructed incidence of light, this indicates that the area assigned to the detection unit 12 is already covered by the front area of the

9 ·» · 9 · t

finger has been swept over or will still be swept over by the front part of the finger.

In this context, the sequence of the aforementioned messages from the individual detection units 12 can be used to determine, among other things, the speed at which the front area of the finger moves over the crossing area 240 in the crossing direction y, so that the aforementioned messages from the individual detection units 12 can be coupled, coordinated and synchronized with the control of the recording of the optical images by the scanning unit 402 by means of light pulses emitted by each light source 10.

This works particularly well because the detection unit 12 and the light reflector unit 14 are arranged around the light source 10, whereby the light emitted by the light source 10 and the ambient light are focused onto the respective detection unit 12 by the respective light reflector unit 14.

The second or fifth embodiment differs from the first or fourth embodiment not only in that neither the optical system 2 0 nor the fiber optic area 30 has a material applied that is permeable to the light from the light sources 10, but above all in that the light sources 10 are arranged on the side of the fiber optic area 30 facing the scanning unit 402, i.e. they are located below the fiber optic area 3 0

• «

119

(see Figures 2B and 5B).

This is a sufficient prerequisite for the light from the light sources 10 to be emitted in the direction of the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 402, the side to be covered by the front area of the finger (cf. second embodiment) or to be swept over (cf. fifth embodiment), i.e. the front area of the finger of the person to be authenticated or identified dactyloscopically is illuminated from below.

With regard to the second and fifth embodiments of the present invention, it is also necessary to specifically mention that part of the adaptive light control (= ALR or ALC "adaptive light control"), i.e. the "intelligent light control", is to make the absorption level of the filter 90 variable over the different areas &khgr; (cf. Figures 7A and 7C) of the optical images.

The background to this is the fact that the intensity distribution and hence the contrast of the light scattered inside the front area of the finger is neither uniform nor constant over the entire width &khgr; of the optical images, but is lower in the middle areas of the optical images than in the edge areas of the optical images (cf. diagram in Figure 7A, in which the contrast of the light scattered inside the front area of the finger is schematically plotted over the width &khgr; of the optical images).

4 9 · t·t

This is due, among other things, to the fact that the light sources 10 are arranged on the side of the fiber optic region 30 facing the scanning unit 402, i.e. they are located below the fiber optic region 30, and that the light from the light sources 10 can be emitted in the direction of the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 402, which side is to be covered by the front region of the finger (cf. second embodiment) or to be swept over (cf. fifth embodiment).

As a result, less light reaches the central areas covered by the front area of the finger on the side of the device 1 facing away from the scanning unit 402, the area to be covered by the front area of the finger (see second embodiment) or to be scanned over (see fifth embodiment), than the side areas, so that the intensity and - directly proportional to this - the contrast of the scattered light in the central areas is weaker than in the edge areas.

To remedy this shortcoming, in the second and fifth embodiments of the present invention, the density of the optical filter 90 and, consequently, the absorption level in the edge regions of the optical images is greater by a factor of about 2 to 3 or by about six decibels to about ten decibels than the absorption level of the filter 90 in the middle regions of the optical images (cf. diagram in Figure 7C, in which the absorption of the filter 90 selected for the device 1 is schematically shown over

the width &khgr; of the optical images is plotted).

This makes it possible to compensate, by means of optical modulation, for the fact that the intensity and contrast of the scattered light is weaker in the central regions than in the peripheral regions (see Figure 7A).

In this context, the absorption coefficient can be selected selectively over the different areas &khgr; of the optical images so that the ratio of the respective/m

The output signal is of approximately constant intensity and is directly proportional to the scattered light intensity/contrast (see Figure 7A) and the respective absorption coefficient (see Figure 7C); this technical measure significantly improves the quality of the results obtainable with the second and fifth embodiments.

Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present invention shown, the light sources 10 are arranged laterally spaced from the scanning unit 402. This structural separation of light sources 10 and scanning unit 402 is advantageous in that, in order to achieve proper operation of the device 1, it is necessary to avoid light reaching the scanning unit 402 directly from the light source 10; instead, only light that has previously been scattered inside the front area of the finger and therefore carries information regarding the skin ridges or papillary lines should reach the scanning unit 402.

·

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The first, second, fourth and fifth embodiments further differ from the third and sixth embodiments in that the fibers 310 in the fiber optic region 30 are arranged substantially parallel to one another in order to ensure proper transport of the light bearing optical images originating from the front region of the finger through the fiber optic region 30 to the scanning unit 402.

Alternatively, the fibers 310, 320 in the fiber optic region 30 of the third and sixth embodiments (see Figures 3B, 3C, 3D, 6C, 6D and 6E) essentially have two directions which are arranged at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to one another.

Here, the fibers 310, 320 in the fiber optic region 30 are arranged in layers, i.e. the fibers 310, 320 within a layer are essentially parallel to one another and the fibers 310, 320 of adjacent layers are arranged at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to one another.

In this connection, in the third and sixth embodiments (see Figures 3B, 3C, 3D, 6C, 6D and 6E), the fibers 320 of the fiber optic region 30 arranged in one direction at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the other direction are provided for transporting the light of the light source 10 to the side of the fiber optic region 30 facing away from the scanning unit 402, while the fibers 310 of the fiber optic region 30 arranged in the other direction are provided for transporting the

123

optical images are provided for the scanning unit 40.

In this context, it is particularly important to note that the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3B, 3C, 3D, 6C, 6D and 6E with two preferred directions for the fibers 310, 320 makes the arrangement of an optical system 20 (cf. first, second, fourth and fifth embodiments) obsolete insofar as uniform illumination of the front region of the finger is ensured by the fibers 320 of the fiber optic region 30 arranged in one direction at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the other direction.

Irrespective of the aspect of omitting the optical system 20, an extension for the fiber optic region 30 is possible which extends into the region above the light source 10, so that the latter is covered and protected from manual intervention (cf. Figures 3B and 6C).

Since the scanning unit 402 should naturally only be reached by light that carries the information relating to the optical images, i.e. that is scattered from the front area of the finger, in the second and fifth embodiments of the present invention two barrier layers 130 are provided within the fiber optic area 30, which are opaque to the light from the light sources 10. These barrier layers 130 prevent light emitted by the light sources 10 from reaching the scanning unit 402 directly, i.e. without scattering in the front area of the finger.

^: i "V:

Two barrier layers 140, which in the embodiments of the present invention shown are each provided between the light source 10 and the scanning unit 402 and which are also opaque to the light from the light sources 10, serve the same purposes as the barrier layers 130 within the fiber optic region 30 (cf. second and fifth embodiments).

It should also not go unmentioned that in the third and sixth embodiments of the present invention (comparable to the first and fourth embodiments of the present invention), the side of the fiber optic region 30 facing away from the light sources 10 is coated with a material 80 that is transparent to the light from the light sources 10, that is to say with a material 80 that is transparent to infrared light, for example with commercially available clear varnish.

This protects the often sensitive fiber optic area 3 0 from damage, for example from scratches by vandals, and/or from soiling, whereby the coating with translucent material 80 also facilitates the cleaning of the fiber optic area 3 0.

Furthermore, the third and sixth embodiments of the present invention have a display device 65 (see Figures 3B, 6B and 6C) for displaying the various operating states of the device 1. In order to provide the person to be authenticated or identified by fingerprinting

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In order to signal the respective operating state of the device, the display device 65 is provided with a light display which also enables persons with color vision deficiencies to detect the respective operating state of the device 1 by means of a correspondingly flashing light signal.

Furthermore, the mobile phone according to the third and sixth embodiments is also designed for the transition to a rest state (= so-called "sleep" mode), which creates savings potential with regard to the power consumption of the device 1:

For this purpose, a capacitive circuit 75 (see Figures 3B and 6C) integrated in the control means 40, 70 is provided, by means of which the device 1 goes into "sleep" mode after a predetermined period of non-use and by means of which the device 1 is "woken up" again when covered (see third embodiment) or swiped (see sixth embodiment) with the front area of the finger, i.e. it goes back into an operational state.

In this sense, both a "sleep" function and a "wake up" function are implemented in the device 1, wherein the capacitive circuit 75 is designed such that the device 1 integrated in the mobile phone, which is in the idle state, can be activated within a period of approximately ten milliseconds to approximately 100 milliseconds.

Claims (154)

1. Mobile telephone comprising at least one device ( 1 ) for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification - with at least one light source ( 10 ) for illuminating and/or transilluminating the front area of a finger, - with at least one sensor unit ( 40 ) which has on its side associated with the front region of the finger at least one scanning unit ( 402 ) for recording optical images of the front region of the finger, and - with at least one processing unit ( 70 ) for determining the characteristics of the front region of the finger, in particular the fingerprint. 2. Mobile telephone according to claim 1, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is alternatively or additionally designed for input of relative coordinates (x, y) preferably determined by the position of the optical images by means of at least one input means. 3. Mobile telephone according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one finger and/or at least one rod- or pin-shaped object is provided as input means. 4. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mobile telephone is designed as at least one remote control by means of the device ( 1 ). 5. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is designed for reading and/or comparing at least one signature or at least one signature. 6. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one camera module ( 1 ' or 170 ), in particular at least one video camera module, can be integrated into the device ( 1 ). 7. Mobile telephone according to claim 6, characterized in that the optics of the camera module ( 1 ' or 170 ) - is arranged towards the front area of the finger and/or - designed for facial recognition. 8. Mobile telephone according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the camera module ( 1 ' or 170 ) has a diameter of approximately 2.5 millimeters or an area of approximately 2.5 millimeters by approximately 2.5 millimeters. 9. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the processing unit ( 70 ) has at least one evaluation unit ( 70a ) and at least one storage unit ( 70b ). 10. Mobile telephone according to claim 9, characterized in that the memory unit ( 70 b) is designed as at least one chip unit, in particular as at least one SIM (= Subscriber Identification Module), and/or - that the optical images and person-specific data, in particular dactyloscopic data, can be electronically (temporarily) stored in the storage unit ( 70b ). 11. Mobile telephone according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in - that the evaluation unit ( 70 a) is designed as at least one electronic circuit, in particular as at least one ASIC (= Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) and/or - that the evaluation unit ( 70a ) determines the characteristics of the front region of the finger, in particular the fingerprint. 12. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the evaluation unit ( 70a ) compares the characteristics of the front region of the finger, in particular the fingerprint, with characteristics stored in the storage unit ( 70b ). 13. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is assigned at least one accumulator unit and/or at least one battery unit, in particular lithium-based, for the electrical voltage supply. 14. Mobile telephone according to claim 13, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is assigned the accumulator unit and/or the battery unit which supplies the mobile telephone with electrical voltage. 15. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the mobile telephone is provided with at least one transmitting/receiving unit ( 4 ) for the wireless transmission of data and information, in particular data and information for dactyloscopic personal authentication or identification. 16. Mobile telephone according to claim 15, characterized in that the wireless transmission of the data and information is based on the "Bluetooth" standard and/or on the GPRS standard (General Packet Radio Service) and/or on the GPS standard (GPS = Global Positioning System) and/or on the GSM standard (Global System for Mobile Communication) and/or on the LAN standard (Local Area Network) and/or on the UMTS standard (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System). 17. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that at least one control means ( 40 , 70 ) is provided for regulating the duration and/or the intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light source ( 10 ). 18. Mobile telephone according to claim 17, characterized in that the control means ( 40 , 70 ) - at least one detection module for detecting the ambient light conditions; - at least one evaluation module for determining the duration and/or intensity of the light pulses in adaptation to the ambient light conditions detected by the detection module; and - at least one memory module for storing threshold values for controlling the duration and/or intensity of the light pulses having. 19. Mobile telephone according to claim 18, characterized in that the detection module is formed integrally with the sensor unit ( 40 ) and/or as part of the sensor unit ( 40 ). 20. Mobile telephone according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the evaluation module is designed integrally with the evaluation unit ( 70a ) and/or as part of the evaluation unit ( 70a ). 21. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the memory module is formed integrally with the memory unit ( 70b ) and/or as part of the memory unit ( 70b ). 22. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that the control means ( 40 , 70 ) is designed as at least one logic component and/or as at least one logic circuit. 23. Mobile telephone according to claim 22, characterized in that at least one standard logic component or a programmable logic (FPGA = field programmable gate array) is provided as control means ( 40 , 70 ). 24. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 17 to 23, characterized in that the control means ( 40 , 70 ) is designed as at least one digital signal processing unit (DSP = digital signal processor). 25. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 17 to 24, characterized in that the control means ( 40 , 70 ) is designed as at least one microcontroller. 26. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is designed for transition to a standby state. 27. Mobile telephone according to claim 26, characterized in that at least one capacitive circuit ( 75 ) is provided, by means of which the device ( 1 ) goes into the idle state after a predetermined period of non-use. 28. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 17 to 25 and according to claim 27, characterized in that the capacitive circuit ( 75 ) is integrated into the control means ( 40 , 70 ). 29. Mobile telephone according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the capacitive circuit ( 75 ) is designed such that the device ( 1 ) in the idle state can be activated within a period of time of about ten milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds. 30. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that at least one fiber optic region ( 30 ) is provided in the device ( 1 ), through which the optical images of the front region of the finger can be transported to the scanning unit ( 402 ). 31. Mobile telephone according to claim 30, characterized in that the fibers ( 310 ) in the fiber optic region ( 30 ) are oriented substantially perpendicular to the entry surface and/or the exit surface of the fiber optic region ( 30 ). 32. Mobile telephone according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that the fibers ( 310 ) in the fiber optic region ( 30 ) are arranged substantially parallel to one another. 33. Mobile telephone according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that the fibers ( 310 , 320 ) in the fiber optic region ( 30 ) have essentially two directions which are arranged at an angle (a) to one another. 34. Mobile telephone according to claim 33, characterized in that the fibers ( 310 , 320 ) in the fiber optic region ( 30 ) are arranged in layers, the fibers ( 310 , 320 ) within a layer being arranged substantially parallel to one another and the fibers ( 310 , 320 ) of adjacent layers being arranged at an angle (α) to one another. 35. Mobile telephone according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in - that the fibres ( 320 ) of the fibre optic region ( 30 ) arranged in one direction at an angle (α) to the other direction are provided for transporting light to the side of the device ( 1 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger, and - that the fibers ( 310 ) of the fiber optic region ( 30 ) arranged in the other direction are intended to transport the optical images of the front region of the finger to the scanning unit ( 402 ). 36. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 35, characterized in that at least some of the fibers ( 310 , 320 ) in the fiber optic region ( 30 ) are at least partially surrounded by absorbent material in the form of a coating and/or in the form of a sheath. 37. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 36, characterized in that at least some of the fibers ( 310 , 320 ) in the fiber optic region ( 30 ) are surrounded at least in sections by reflective material in the form of a coating and/or in the form of a sheath. 38. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 37, characterized in that the fiber optic region ( 30 ) has an extension which extends into the region above the light source ( 10 ). 39. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 38, characterized in that at least one opaque barrier layer ( 130 ) is provided within the fiber optic region ( 30 ). 40. Mobile telephone according to claim 39, characterized in that the barrier layer ( 130 ) is realized in the form of sealed fibers ( 310 ). 41. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 40, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) is directly adjacent to the fiber optic region ( 30 ) and/or that the scanning unit ( 402 ) is attached to the exit surface of the fiber optic region ( 30 ). 42. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 41, characterized in that recesses ( 150 ) which are composed of a mesh or grid, in particular in the form of tracks and/or in the form of lines, are etched into the fiber optic region ( 30 ), preferably by means of acid. 43. Mobile telephone according to claim 42, characterized in that the recesses ( 150 ) are filled with at least one metal, in particular with chromium. 44. Mobile telephone according to claim 42 or 43, characterized in that the recesses ( 150 ) have a width of about five micrometers. 45. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 42 to 44, characterized in that the fiber optic region ( 30 ) has at least one active zone ( 302 ; 306 ) and at least one passive zone ( 304 ). 46. Mobile telephone according to claim 45, characterized in that two active zones ( 302 ; 306 ) are provided, between which a passive zone ( 304 ) is arranged. 47. Mobile telephone according to claim 45 or 46, characterized in that the active zone ( 302 ; 306 ) occupies a smaller area than the passive zone ( 304 ). 48. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 45 to 47, characterized in that the active zone ( 302 ; 306 ) and the passive zone ( 304 ) are each approximately rectangular. 49. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 45 to 48, characterized in that the distance between the active zone ( 302 ; 306 ) and the passive zone ( 304 ) is approximately fifty micrometers. 50. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 45 to 49, characterized in that the width of the active zone ( 302 ; 306 ) and the passive zone ( 304 ) is at least equal to and in particular slightly larger than the width of the scanning unit ( 402 ). 51. Mobile telephone according to claim 50, characterized in that the width of the active zone ( 302 ; 306 ) and the passive zone ( 304 ) is approximately thirteen millimeters and that the width of the scanning unit ( 402 ) is approximately twelve millimeters. 52. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 42 to 51, characterized in that the mesh or grid and in particular the active zone ( 302 ; 306 ) is connected to at least one associated contact ( 160 ; 161 ) by means of at least one conductor track ( 152 , 154 ; 156 , 158 ). 53. Mobile telephone according to claim 52, characterized in that the contact ( 160 ; 161 ) has an extension of about one millimeter to about two millimeters. 54. Mobile telephone according to claim 52 or 53, characterized in that a plurality of conductor tracks ( 152 , 154 ; 156 , 158 ) arranged at a distance from one another are provided. 55. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 52 to 54, characterized in that the conductor tracks ( 152 , 154 ; 156 , 158 ) are at least partially connected to one another. 56. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 55, characterized in that the side of the fiber optic region ( 30 ) facing the scanning unit ( 402 ) is provided with at least one, in particular alphanumeric, identifier ( 190 ). 57. Mobile telephone according to claim 56, characterized in that the identifier ( 190 ) is assigned to the respective device ( 1 ). 58. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 57, characterized in that the camera module ( 1 ' or 170 ) is integrated into the fiber optic area ( 30 ). 59. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 58, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is arranged in the region of the display ( 2 ) of the mobile telephone. 60. Mobile telephone according to claim 59, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is arranged laterally of the display ( 2 ) and/or below the display ( 2 ). 61. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 60, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is arranged in the region of the keypad cover ( 3 ) of the mobile telephone. 62. Mobile telephone according to claim 61, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is arranged in the lower region of the keypad cover ( 3 ) of the mobile telephone. 63. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 62, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is designed as an additional module which can be plugged onto the mobile telephone. 64. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 30 to 63, characterized in that the fibers ( 310 , 320 ) of the fiber optic region ( 30 ) have a shape tapering towards the scanning unit ( 402 ). 65. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 64, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) is arranged in at least one traversing region ( 240 ) to be swept over by the front region of the finger in a traversing direction (y). 66. Mobile telephone according to claim 65, characterized in that the overrun area ( 240 ) is optically transparent. 67. Mobile telephone according to claim 65 or 66, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) corresponds approximately in shape and size to the travel area ( 240 ). 68. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 65 to 67, characterized in that the overrun area ( 240 ) is slot-shaped and is delimited by two narrow sides ( 240 s) and two long sides ( 240 l). 69. Mobile telephone according to claim 68, characterized in that the long sides ( 2401 ) run transversely, in particular approximately perpendicularly, to the direction of travel (y) and to the narrow sides (240 s) and are designed to be many times larger than the narrow sides ( 240 s). 70. Mobile telephone according to claim 68 or 69, characterized in that the dimension of the long sides ( 240 l) corresponds approximately to the width of the front region of the finger. 71. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 68 to 70, characterized in that the dimension of the narrow sides ( 240 s) is in the order of magnitude of approximately 0.5 millimeters to approximately five millimeters, in particular in the order of magnitude of approximately two millimeters. 72. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 65 to 71, characterized in that the overrun region ( 240 ) is designed as at least one recess arranged in a plate. 73. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 65 to 72, characterized in that the optics of the camera module ( 1 ' or 170 ) is arranged in the region of the drive-over area ( 240 ). 74. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 73, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) is assigned at least one detection unit ( 12 ) for detecting the ambient light conditions and/or at least one light reflector unit ( 14 ). 75. Mobile telephone according to claim 74, characterized in that the detection unit ( 12 ) and/or the light reflector unit ( 14 ) is arranged around the light source ( 10 ). 76. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 65 to 75, characterized in that the fiber optic region ( 30 ) is provided in the overrun region ( 240 ). 77. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 65 to 76, characterized in that the fiber optic region ( 30 ) corresponds approximately in shape and size to the overrun region ( 240 ). 78. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 77, characterized in that at least one detection device ( 180 ) is provided for determining the speed and/or the position of the front region of the finger. 79. Mobile telephone according to claim 78, characterized in that the detection device ( 180 ) is formed by at least one ( 10 ') of the light sources ( 10 ). 80. Mobile telephone according to claim 79, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ') emits the light substantially in the direction of travel (y). 81. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 78 to 80, characterized in that the determination device ( 180 ) - at least one inductive element and/or - at least one capacitive element and/or - at least one extensive light element having. 82. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 78 to 81, characterized in that the detection device ( 180 ) is approximately slot-shaped and/or approximately strip-shaped. 83. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 78 to 82, characterized in that the detection device ( 180 ) extends approximately at right angles to the crossing area ( 240 ). 84. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 78 to 83, characterized in that the detection device ( 180 ) extends approximately in the direction of travel (y). 85. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 84, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) records the optical images line by line. 86. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 85, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) records a plurality of optical images per unit of time. 87. Mobile telephone according to claim 86, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) records approximately 250 optical images per second. 88. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 87, characterized in that the recording of the optical images by the scanning unit ( 402 ) is controlled by means of light pulses emitted by the light source ( 10 ). 89. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 88, characterized in that the optical images can be converted into electrical signals. 90. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 89, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) is arranged laterally next to the scanning unit ( 402 ). 91. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 90, characterized in that the light from the light source ( 10 ) can be emitted in the direction of the side of the device ( 1 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger. 92. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 91, characterized in that the duration and/or the intensity of the light pulses emitted by the light source ( 10 ) can be regulated depending on the ambient light conditions. 93. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 92, characterized in that the electrical signals in the sensor unit ( 40 ) and/or in the evaluation unit ( 70a ) can be amplified over the different areas of the optical images. 94. Mobile telephone according to claim 93, characterized in that the amplification of the electrical signals in the sensor unit ( 40 ) and/or in the evaluation unit ( 70a ) is variable over the different areas of the optical images. 95. Mobile telephone according to claim 93 or 94, characterized in that the amplification of the electrical signals in the central regions of the optical images is greater than the amplification of the electrical signals in the peripheral regions of the optical images. 96. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 93 to 95, characterized in that the amplification of the electrical signals in the central regions of the optical images is approximately a factor of 2 to 3 greater than the amplification of the electrical signals in the edge regions of the optical images. 97. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 96, characterized in that more than one light source ( 10 ) is provided. 98. Mobile telephone according to claim 97, characterized in that four light sources ( 10 ) are provided. 99. Mobile telephone according to claim 97 or 98, characterized in that the light sources ( 10 ) are arranged symmetrically to one another. 100. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 97 to 99, characterized in that the light sources ( 10 ) are arranged laterally or annularly around the crossing area ( 240 ). 101. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 97 to 100, characterized in that the light sources ( 10 ) are arranged evenly distributed around the crossing area ( 240 ). 102. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 97 to 101, characterized in that the respective duration and/or the respective intensity of the light pulses emitted by the respective light source ( 10 ) can be selectively regulated in adaptation to the ambient light conditions. 103. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 97 to 102, characterized in that the respective duration and/or the respective intensity of the light pulses emitted by the individual light sources ( 10 ) can be controlled independently of one another. 104. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 97 to 103, characterized in that the respective duration and/or the respective intensity of the light pulses emitted by the individual light sources ( 10 ) can be controlled as a function of predetermined threshold values. 105. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 104, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) is arranged on the side of the device ( 1 ) facing the scanning unit ( 402 ). 106. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 105, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) is arranged laterally spaced from the scanning unit ( 402 ). 107. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 106, characterized in that the light from the light source ( 10 ) can be irradiated laterally onto the side of the device ( 1 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger. 108. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 107, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) is designed as a pulsed light source. 109. Mobile telephone according to claim 108, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) is designed to emit light pulses with a pulse duration of almost zero milliseconds to about ninety milliseconds. 110. Mobile telephone according to claim 108 or 109, characterized in that at least one pulse generator unit is provided for controlling the light source ( 10 ). 111. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 110, characterized in that at least one display device ( 65 ) is provided for displaying the various operating states of the device ( 1 ). 112. Mobile telephone according to claim 111, characterized in that the display device ( 65 ) has at least one single-color or multi-color illuminated display which signals the various operating states of the device ( 1 ). 113. Mobile telephone according to claim 111 or 112, characterized in - that the display device ( 65 ) is integrated into the light source ( 10 ) and/or - that the display device ( 65 ) and the light source ( 10 ) are of uniform design. 114. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 111 to 113, characterized in that the display device ( 65 ) signals the various operating states of the device ( 1 ) by at least one flashing and/or pulsating light signal. 115. Mobile telephone according to claim 59 or 60 and according to at least one of claims 111 to 114, characterized in that the display device ( 65 ) is formed integrally with the display ( 2 ). 116. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 115, characterized in that at least one optical system ( 20 ) is arranged downstream of the light source ( 10 ). 117. Mobile telephone according to claim 116, characterized in that - that the optical system ( 20 ) redirects the light emitted by the light source ( 10 ) to the side of the device ( 1 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger and/or - that the optical system ( 20 ) distributes the light emitted by the light source ( 10 ) evenly and/or diffusely on the side of the device ( 1 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger. 118. Mobile telephone according to claim 116 or 117, characterized in that the optical system ( 20 ) is designed as at least one filter, as at least one lens, as at least one prism, as at least one light guide, as at least one light guiding element and/or as at least one mirror. 119. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 116 to 118, characterized in that the optical system ( 20 ) is made of plastic. 120. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 116 to 119, characterized in that at least the side of the optical system ( 20 ) facing away from the light source ( 10 ) is coated with material ( 80 ) permeable to infrared light and/or visible light. 121. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 120, characterized in that at least one finger guide is provided on the side of the device ( 1 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger. 122. Mobile telephone according to claim 121, characterized in that the finger guide is ergonomically shaped. 123. Mobile telephone according to claim 121 or 122, characterized in that the finger guide is groove-shaped. 124. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 121 to 123, characterized in that the override region ( 240 ) is arranged centrally within the finger guide. 125. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 116 to 120 and according to at least one of claims 121 to 124, characterized in that the optical system ( 20 ) is designed as a finger guide. 126. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 125, characterized in that at least the scanning unit ( 402 ) and/or at least the side of the fiber optic region ( 30 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and/or at least the side of the traversing region ( 240 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ) and to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger is coated with material ( 80 ) that is permeable to infrared light and/or to visible light. 127. Mobile telephone according to claim 120 or 126, characterized in that the material ( 80 ) permeable to infrared light and/or visible light is varnish. 128. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 127, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) is a light emitting diode (LED). 129. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 128, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) emits infrared light. 130. A mobile telephone according to claim 129, characterized in that the infrared light has a wavelength of about 900 nanometers. 131. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 130, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) emits infrared light of two different wavelengths. 132. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 131, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) has a power of about 0.1 milliwatts to about five watts. 133. Mobile telephone according to claim 132, characterized in that the light source ( 10 ) has a power of about two milliwatts to about 100 milliwatts. 134. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 133, characterized in that the sensor unit ( 40 ) is arranged on at least one carrier unit ( 50 ). 135. Mobile telephone according to claim 134, characterized in that the carrier unit ( 50 ) is arranged on at least one printed circuit board unit ( 60 ). 136. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 135, characterized in that at least one opaque barrier layer ( 140 ) is provided between the light source ( 10 ) and the scanning unit ( 402 ). 137. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 39, 40 or 136, characterized in that the material of the opaque barrier layer ( 130 , 140 ) is lacquer. 138. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 137, characterized in that at least one filter ( 90 ) is provided. 139. Mobile telephone according to claim 138, characterized in that the filter ( 90 ) is a linear filter. 140. Mobile telephone according to claim 138 or 139, characterized in that the filter ( 90 ) is arranged between the fiber optic region ( 30 ) and the scanning unit ( 402 ). 141. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 138 to 140, characterized in that the filter ( 90 ) is arranged on the side of the device ( 1 ) facing away from the scanning unit ( 402 ), which is to be covered or swept over by the front region of the finger and/or on the side of the device ( 1 ) facing the scanning unit ( 402 ). 142. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 138 to 141, characterized in that the filter ( 90 ) is provided within the fiber optic region ( 30 ). 143. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 138 to 142, characterized in that the filter ( 90 ) has an absorption rate of about 99 percent. 144. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 138 to 143, characterized in that the absorption coefficient of the filter ( 90 ) is variable over the different regions of the optical images. 145. Mobile telephone according to claim 144, characterized in that the absorption coefficient of the filter ( 90 ) in the edge regions of the optical images is greater than the absorption coefficient of the filter ( 90 ) in the central regions of the optical images. 146. Mobile telephone according to claim 144 or 145, characterized in that the absorption of the filter ( 90 ) in the edge regions of the optical images is approximately a factor of 2 to 3 greater and/or approximately six decibels to approximately ten decibels greater than the absorption of the filter ( 90 ) in the central regions of the optical images. 147. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 146, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) has at least one photosensitive surface and/or at least one photosensitive layer. 148. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 147, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) operates on a semiconductor basis. 149. Mobile telephone according to claim 148, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) operates on a silicon basis. 150. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 149, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) has at least one component based on CMOS technology or at least one circuit based on CMOS technology (CMOS - complementary MOS). 151. Mobile telephone according to claim 150, characterized in that the component based on CMOS technology or the circuit based on CMOS technology is integrated on at least one SmartCard. 152. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 151, characterized in that the scanning unit ( 402 ) has at least one charge-coupled component or at least one charge-coupled circuit (CCD = charge coupled device). 153. Mobile telephone according to at least one of claims 1 to 152, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is designed for life detection (so-called "life support"). 154. Mobile telephone according to claim 131 and according to claim 153, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is designed to determine the oxygen saturation in the blood of the front region of the finger by comparing the results obtained for the two different wavelengths.