JP4764849B2 - Portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device equipped with a biometric authentication function.

  In recent years, portable electronic devices such as various portable electronic information terminals and mobile phones have become extremely multifunctional. Such a portable electronic device has a function of transmitting / receiving electronic information and image information through a wired / wireless network as well as a use / function as a conventional electronic notebook or telephone. Further, such portable electronic devices are provided with a bank settlement function, an electronic commerce function, a stock transaction function, and the like. In order to realize such various functions with a portable electronic device, such portable electronic devices have increased opportunities to start and execute various applications.

  When starting and executing various applications in the portable electronic device as described above, the user needs to input an ID and a password for each application. Similarly, when using a bank settlement function, an electronic commerce function, or the like, the user needs to input an account number or a personal identification number of the bank used. The above-mentioned ID and account number are usually stored in advance in a memory or the like and are not input by the user himself / herself, but the password and password are input by the user from a push button (ten-key) to authenticate and confirm the identity. Has been used for.

  However, using a password or personal identification number for personal authentication simplifies the system and reduces the cost, but the user is required to have security awareness. Therefore, if a password or password that is difficult to memorize is used to increase security, the user may forget the password or password. Further, if such a password or personal identification number is stored in the portable electronic device so as not to be forgotten by the user, there is a risk that it can be easily read and misused by others due to a delay in security.

  Therefore, when storing and saving various personal information (secret information) including passwords and personal identification numbers in the portable electronic device, the security setting is linked to a personal authentication method using biometric information that does not depend on the user, It is desired to protect and guard confidential information. Biometric information is a physical feature of an individual that is not remembered by humans, does not need to be written down on paper, and is not expected by a third party. In addition, forgery of biometric information is difficult, and it cannot be imitated even if it is looked at where biometric information is collated. Therefore, when the personal authentication has an important meaning, the personal authentication based on the verification of the biometric information is optimal.

Therefore, recently, personal authentication technology using such biometric information has attracted attention. For example, a technology of a personal authentication system in which a biometrics authentication device is combined with a mobile terminal is known (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).
JP 2004-272721 A

  However, fingerprint sensors, cameras, and the like that detect fingerprints, faces, and irises are expensive, and are problematic in terms of cost when mounted on portable electronic devices. On the other hand, as described in Patent Document 1, a configuration in which a biometrics authentication device is provided separately from a portable electronic device has a problem of lack of convenience.

  In addition, there is a method to realize vein authentication and internal fingerprint authentication by using reflected light (reflective type) or transmitted light (transmissive type) of light emitted from the light source. However, there is a problem that the detection accuracy is low, and in the case of the transmission type, there is a problem that although the detection accuracy is high, it is difficult to accurately assemble the portable electronic device.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device in which a transmission type biometric authentication element with high detection accuracy is assembled with low cost.

The present invention proposes the following matters in order to solve the above problems.
(1) The present invention provides a portable electronic device including an upper casing and a lower casing connected via a first hinge part, and the upper casing includes a light source for detecting biometric information. A portable electronic device is proposed in which the lower casing is provided with detection means for detecting biometric information by transmitted light.

  According to the present invention, the upper housing is provided with the light source for detecting the biometric information, and the lower housing is provided with the detecting means for detecting the biometric information by the transmitted light. Therefore, transmissive biometric authentication can be realized by receiving the transmitted light from the light source provided in the upper casing by the detection means provided in the lower casing.

  (2) The present invention proposes a portable electronic device according to (1), wherein the upper casing includes a display unit, and the light source is provided inside the display unit. Yes.

  According to this invention, the upper casing is provided with the display means, and the light source is provided inside the display means. Therefore, the transparent biometric authentication can be realized by using the basic structure of the portable electronic device as it is.

  (3) In the portable electronic device according to (1) or (2), the detection unit detects biometric information when light from the light source becomes substantially perpendicular to a detection surface. The portable electronic device characterized by this is proposed.

  According to this invention, the detection means moves the upper housing, and detects biometric information when the light from the light source becomes substantially perpendicular to the detection surface. Therefore, the transparent biometric authentication can be realized by using the basic structure of the portable electronic device as it is.

  (4) According to the present invention, in the portable electronic device of (1), the first hinge portion is positioned at a position where the light from the light source is substantially perpendicular to the detection surface of the detection means. A portable electronic device characterized by fixing a body is proposed.

  According to the present invention, the first hinge portion fixes the upper housing at a position where the light from the light source is substantially perpendicular to the detection surface of the detection means. Therefore, it is possible to realize transmission biometric authentication with higher accuracy.

  (5) According to the present invention, in the portable electronic device of (1), the upper housing is configured by a first housing and a second housing via a second hinge portion, and the light source is the first light source. The first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are provided at a position where the light from the light source is substantially perpendicular to the detection surface of the detection means. The portable electronic device characterized by fixing the housing | casing and 2nd housing | casing is proposed.

  According to this invention, the light source is provided in the first casing, and the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are configured such that the light from the light source is substantially perpendicular to the detection surface of the detection means. The first housing and the second housing are fixed at various positions. Accordingly, both the light source and the detection means may be arranged in parallel to the housing surface, and the incorporation into the portable electronic device is facilitated.

  (6) According to the present invention, in the portable electronic device of (1) to (5), a touch sensor is provided on the upper surface of the detection means, and the light source and the detection are detected when the touch sensor is activated in a non-operating state. A portable electronic device characterized by activating the means has been proposed.

  According to this invention, the touch sensor is provided on the upper surface of the detection means, and the light source and the detection means are activated when the touch sensor is activated in a non-operating state. Therefore, since the light source and the detection means are activated only when biometric authentication is performed, unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that transparent biometric authentication can be realized without changing the basic structure of a portable electronic device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Note that the constituent elements in the present embodiment can be appropriately replaced with existing constituent elements and the like, and various variations including combinations with other existing constituent elements are possible. Therefore, the description of the present embodiment does not limit the contents of the invention described in the claims.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In the description, a mobile phone will be described as an example of the mobile electronic device.

<Configuration of mobile phone>
As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile phone 1 as a mobile electronic device according to the present embodiment includes an upper housing 3 and a lower housing 4 connected via a hinge portion 2. In addition, a light source 6 is provided in the display unit 5 of the upper housing 3, and a sensor 8 is provided in the operation button 7 of the lower housing 4, thereby realizing transmissive biometric authentication. .

  That is, infrared light emitted from the light source 6 is obtained by placing a user's finger or palm on the upper surface of the sensor 8 of the lower housing 4 and closing the upper housing 3 by a predetermined angle as shown in FIG. Irradiates the user's finger or palm, and the transmitted light from the user's finger or palm is read by the sensor 8, whereby biometric authentication such as vein authentication or internal fingerprint authentication can be performed.

  In order to perform the biometric authentication described above, the infrared light emitted from the light source 6 needs to enter the sensor 8 substantially vertically. The closed state in which the housing 4 is closed, the open state in which the upper housing 3 and the lower housing 4 are on the same plane, and the angle at which the infrared light emitted from the light source 6 enters the sensor 8 substantially vertically. You may enable it to implement | achieve three states of the state to fix.

<Functional block of mobile phone>
As shown in FIG. 3, the functional block of the mobile phone 1 as the mobile electronic device according to the present embodiment includes a light source 6, a sensor 8, a biometrics detection unit 11, a storage unit 12, a touch sensor 13, It is comprised from the control part 14. FIG.

  The light source 6 emits infrared light, and the sensor 8 reads transmitted light from the user's finger or palm irradiated with infrared light. The biometrics detection unit 11 analyzes the biometric information input from the sensor 8, performs feature extraction, converts the extraction result into digital information, and outputs the digital information to the control unit 14.

  The storage unit 12 stores registered biometric information registered for personal authentication and information such as a name and a user ID for identifying the user of the mobile phone 1 in association with each other. The touch sensor 13 is disposed on the upper surface of the sensor 8 and detects that the user's finger or palm is touched.

  The control unit 14 controls the overall operation of the mobile phone 1 according to an operating system and various application software stored in a storage device (not shown). In this embodiment, the light source 6 and the sensor 8 are activated when the touch sensor 13 detects that the user's finger or palm has been touched while the mobile phone 1 is idling. Further, the biometric information detected by the biometric detection unit is collated with the registered biometric information stored in the storage unit 12.

<Authentication processing in mobile phones>
Next, an authentication process in the mobile phone according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the control unit 14 confirms whether or not the mobile phone 1 is idling (step S101). At this time, if it is not in the idling state (“No” in step S101), it returns to the original state and waits. On the other hand, when the mobile phone 1 is in the idling state (“Yes” in step S101), it is confirmed whether or not the touch sensor has reacted (step S102). If the touch sensor does not react (“No” in step S102), the process returns to the original state and waits. If the touch sensor reacts (“Yes” in step S102), the light source 6 and the sensor 8 are used. Is activated (step S103).

  After the light source 6 and the sensor 8 are activated, the user operates the upper housing 3 so that the infrared light emitted from the light source 6 enters the sensor 8 substantially vertically, or the mechanism of the hinge unit 2 is used. When the infrared light emitted from the light source 6 is fixed at an angle at which the infrared light is incident on the sensor 8 substantially vertically, the biometric detection unit 11 acquires biometric information (step S104).

  The biometrics detection unit 11 analyzes the acquired biometric information, performs feature extraction, converts the extraction result into digital information, and outputs the digital information to the control unit 14 (step S105). The control unit 14 compares the data-converted biometric information input from the biometric detection unit 11 with the registered biometric information stored in the storage unit 12 (step S106).

  The control unit 14 determines whether or not both pieces of information match (step S107). If both pieces of information match (“Yes” in step S107), the use of the mobile phone 1 as a portable electronic device is permitted. However, if the two information do not match (“No” in step S107), the use of the cellular phone 1 as a portable electronic device is prohibited (step S108).

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize transparent biometric authentication without changing the basic structure of the mobile phone.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the functional block of the mobile phone and the authentication processing in the mobile phone are the same as in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile phone 1 as the mobile electronic device according to the present embodiment includes an upper housing 3 a and 3 b connected by the hinge portion 9, and a lower housing connected by the upper housing 3 b and the hinge portion 2. It is comprised from the side housing | casing 4. FIG. In addition, a light source 6 is provided in the display unit 5 of the upper casing 3a, and a sensor 8 is provided in the operation button 7 of the lower casing 4, thereby realizing transmissive biometric authentication. .

  In the present embodiment, the angle between the upper housing 3a and the upper housing 3b is changed by the hinge portion 9, and the display portion 5 side surface and the lower housing of the upper housing 3a are changed by the hinge portion 2 and the hinge portion 9. 4 is fixed in parallel with the surface on the operation button side. As a result, infrared light emitted from the light source 6 enters the sensor 8 substantially vertically, and the transmitted light from the user's finger or palm is read by the sensor 8, thereby performing biometric authentication such as vein authentication or internal fingerprint authentication. It can be carried out.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, there is no need to finely adjust the mounting angle of the light source 6 and the sensor 7 as in the first embodiment, and the light source 6 is placed on the surface of the upper housing 3a on the display unit 5 side. Since the sensor 7 may be attached in parallel to the operation button side surface of the lower housing 4, the light source 6 and the sensor 7 can be easily assembled.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the functional block of the mobile phone and the authentication processing in the mobile phone are the same as in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the mobile phone 1 as a mobile electronic device according to the present embodiment includes an upper housing 3 and a lower housing 4 connected via a hinge portion 2. The upper housing 3 is composed of two housings, and one housing is rotatably supported by a hinge portion that is not clearly shown. Further, a light source 6 is provided in the back surface portion of the upper housing 3, and a sensor 8 is provided in the operation button 7 of the lower housing 4, thereby realizing transmissive biometric authentication.

  That is, by placing a user's finger or palm on the upper surface of the sensor 8 of the lower housing 4 and closing the upper housing 3 by a predetermined angle, the infrared light emitted from the light source 6 causes the user's finger or palm to pass. By irradiating and reading the transmitted light from the user's finger or palm with the sensor 8, biometric authentication such as vein authentication or internal fingerprint authentication can be performed.

  In order to perform the biometric authentication described above, the infrared light emitted from the light source 6 needs to enter the sensor 8 substantially vertically. The closed state in which the housing 4 is closed, the open state in which the upper housing 3 and the lower housing 4 are on the same plane, and the angle at which the infrared light emitted from the light source 6 enters the sensor 8 substantially vertically. You may enable it to implement | achieve three states of the state to fix.

  In the present embodiment, since the light source 6 is provided on the back surface of the upper housing 3, the light source 6 can be easily incorporated as compared with the first embodiment.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be used for a portable electronic device such as a notebook computer or a PDA.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 1 is a side view of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment. It is an authentication processing flow of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone, 2, 9 ... Hinge part, 3, 3a, 3b ... Upper housing | casing, 4 ... Lower housing | casing, 5 ... Display part, 6 ... Light source, 7 ... Operation buttons, 8 ... Sensor, 11 ... Biometrics detection unit, 12 ... Storage unit, 13 ... Touch sensor, 14 ... Control unit

Claims (5)

In a portable electronic device composed of an upper housing and a lower housing connected via a first hinge part,
A light source for detecting biometric information in the upper housing;
The lower housing is provided with detection means for detecting biometric information by transmitted light ,
The portable electronic device characterized in that the detection means detects biometric information when light from the light source becomes substantially perpendicular to a detection surface . The upper housing includes display means;
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is provided inside the display unit. Said first hinge portion, light from the light source is characterized by fixing the upper casing to a position such that substantially perpendicular to the detection surface of the detection means according to claim 1 or claim 2 The portable electronic device as described in. The upper casing is constituted by a first casing and a second casing via a second hinge portion, and the light source is provided in the first casing, and the first hinge portion The second hinge portion fixes the first housing and the second housing at a position where light from the light source is substantially perpendicular to a detection surface of the detection means. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 or 2 . A touch sensor on the upper surface of the detecting means, in the non-operating state, and, when the touch sensor is activated, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by activating the light source and the detection means Portable electronic device.

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