Pointing device with biometric sensor

Abstract

A pointing device incorporates a biometric sensor at a location such that when operating the pointing device in a normal manner, a user's hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's hand in proximity to and readable by the biometric sensor. In one embodiment, a computer trackball pointing device includes a fingerprint sensor which is equally well suitable for use by either a right-handed or a left-handed user. Along with positional information from a position sensor and user selection information from at least one user-depressable button, the pointing device also conveys to an attached computer system information associated with the user's identity detected by the fingerprint sensor. Such a pointing device is well suited to both transparent verification as well as continuous verification, for if a user removes his or her hand from the natural position when using the device, the user's fingerprint will no longer be detectable by the fingerprint sensor, and the computer system to which the pointing device is attached can be alerted as to the need to re-authenticate any additional attempts at using the pointing device.

1 . A pointing device comprising: 
 an interface for operably communicating with an electronic system;    a position sensor, responsive to user movement thereof, for conveying user positional information by way of said interface to the electronic system;    a user-depressable button for conveying user selection information by way of said interface to the electronic system; and    a biometric sensor disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner a user's hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's hand in proximity to and readable by said biometric sensor, said location equally well suitable for use by either a right-handed or a left-handed user.    
   
   
       2 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the biometric sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor for conveying information associated with the user's identity to the computer system.  
   
   
       3 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 2  wherein the information associated with the user's identity comprises a signal indicating whether the user is authorized to access the computer system.  
   
   
       4 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises storage means for storing information associated with the identity of at least one authorized user.  
   
   
       5 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 4  wherein information associated with the identity of at least one authorized user is operably received by the fingerprint sensor from the computer system for storage within the storage means.  
   
   
       6 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the information associated with the user's identity comprises a signal indicating attributes of the user's fingerprint, so that the computer system may determine whether the user is authorized to access the computer system.  
   
   
       7 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the attributes of the user's fingerprint comprises a digitized scanned image of the user's fingerprint.  
   
   
       8 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the attributes of the user's fingerprint comprises a compressed digital representation of the user's fingerprint.  
   
   
       9 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 6  wherein the attributes of the user's fingerprint comprises a digital representation of minutia of the user's fingerprint.  
   
   
       10 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the position sensor comprises a mouse.  
   
   
       11 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 2:   further comprising at least one button position; and    wherein the fingerprint sensor is disposed below a particular one of the at least one button positions.    
   
   
       12 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 11  wherein an operable button is located at the particular button position.  
   
   
       13 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 11  wherein an inoperable button is located at the particular button position.  
   
   
       14 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 11  wherein no button is located at the particular button position.  
   
   
       15 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the at least one button positions numbers three; and    the fingerprint sensor is disposed below a centermost button position of the three button positions.    
   
   
       16 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the position sensor comprises a trackball.  
   
   
       17 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 16  wherein the position sensor further includes a second trackball.  
   
   
       18 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 16  wherein the trackball is movably-connected to the pointing device to be positionable to either side of the fingerprint sensor.  
   
   
       19 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 18  wherein the trackball is rotatably-connected to the pointing device.  
   
   
       20 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the interface comprises a cabled interface.  
   
   
       21 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface.  
   
   
       22 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor includes an optical imaging array; and    the particular button position includes a transparent material through which the user's fingerprint may be imaged by the imaging array.    
   
   
       23 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor includes a capacitive imaging array located at the particular button position contactable by the user's finger so that the user's fingerprint may be imaged by the capacitive imaging array.    
   
   
       24 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 23  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor is incorporated into an operable button located at the particular button position.    
   
   
       25 . A pointing device comprising: 
 an interface for operably communicating with a computer system;    a base;    a trackball mounted upon the base;    an upper section connected to the base and including at least one button formed substantially on a top surface of the upper section; and    a fingerprint sensor mounted within the upper section and disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner, a user's hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's hand in proximity to and readable by said fingerprint sensor.    
   
   
       26 . A pointing device as in  claim 25  wherein: 
 the base is substantially circular in shape when viewed from above, thus having a generally circular perimeter; and    the trackball is mounted off-center on the base at a location intersecting the generally circular perimeter;    
   
   
       27 . A pointing device as in  claim 25  wherein: 
 the upper section is movably-connected to the base such that the trackball is positionable to both a position leftward of and rightward of the upper section.    
   
   
       28 . A pointing device as in  claim 27  wherein the upper section is rotatably-connected to the base.  
   
   
       29 . A pointing device as in  claim 26  wherein the upper section is fixably-connected to the base.  
   
   
       30 . A pointing device as in  claim 25  wherein the upper section comprises: 
 a plurality of button positions formed substantially on a rearward portion of the top surface of the upper section; and    wherein the fingerprint sensor is located beneath a particular one of the button positions.    
   
   
       31 . A pointing device as in  claim 30  wherein an operable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position.  
   
   
       32 . A pointing device as in  claim 30  wherein no operable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position.  
   
   
       33 . A pointing device as in  claim 30  wherein an inoperable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position.  
   
   
       34 . A pointing device as in  claim 25  wherein: 
 the interface includes a cable passing through a rear surface of the upper section.    
   
   
       35 . A pointing device as in  claim 25  wherein: 
 the interface includes a wireless interface having a transducer disposed at a rear surface of the upper section.    
   
   
       36 . A pointing device as in  claim 28  wherein: 
 when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located leftward of the upper section, a right-handed user's hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's right hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user's right thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball; and    when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located rightward of the upper section, a left-handed user's hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's left hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user's left thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball.    
   
   
       37 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor includes an optical imaging array; and    the particular button position includes a transparent material through which the user's fingerprint may be imaged by the imaging array.    
   
   
       38 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 30  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor includes a capacitive imaging array located at the particular button position contactable by the user's finger so that the user's fingerprint may be imaged by the capacitive imaging array.    
   
   
       39 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 38  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor is incorporated into an operable button located at the particular button position.    
   
   
       40 . A pointing device comprising: 
 an interface for operably communicating with a computer system;    a base which is substantially circular in shape when viewed from above, thus having a generally circular perimeter;    a trackball mounted off-center on the base at a location along the generally circular perimeter,    an upper section connected to the base and including at least one button formed substantially on a top surface of the upper section; and    a fingerprint sensor mounted within the upper section and disposed at a location such that when operating said pointing device in a normal manner a user's hand rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's hand in proximity to and readable by said fingerprint sensor.    
   
   
       41 . A pointing device as in  claim 40  wherein: 
 the upper section is rotatably-connected to the base such that the trackball is positionable to both a position leftward of and rightward of the upper section.    
   
   
       42 . A pointing device as in  claim 41  wherein the upper section comprises: 
 a plurality of button positions formed substantially on a rearward portion of the top surface of the upper section; and    wherein the fingerprint sensor is located beneath a particular one of the button positions.    
   
   
       43 . A pointing device as in  claim 42  wherein: 
 an operable button of the pointing device is located at the particular button position; and    the interface includes a cable passing through a rear surface of the upper section.    
   
   
       44 . A pointing device as in  claim 41  wherein: 
 when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located leftward of the upper section, a right-handed user's hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's right hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user's right thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball; and    when the upper section is rotated such that the trackball is located rightward of the upper section, a left-handed user's hand, when operating the device in a normal manner, rests naturally in a position to place a finger of the user's left hand in proximity to and readable by the fingerprint sensor and the user's left thumb in a position to comfortably move the trackball.    
   
   
       45 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 42  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor includes an optical imaging array; and    the particular button position includes a transparent material through which the user's fingerprint may be imaged by the imaging array.    
   
   
       46 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 42  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor includes a capacitive imaging array located at the particular button position contactable by the user's finger so that the user's fingerprint may be imaged by the capacitive imaging array.    
   
   
       47 . A pointing device as recited in  claim 46  wherein: 
 the fingerprint sensor is incorporated into an operable button located at the particular button position.    
   
   
       48 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an electronic system requiring controlled access to certain capabilities and resources thereof;    a pointing device attached to said electronic system, said pointing device comprising 
 an interface for operably communicating with the electronic system;  
 a position sensor, responsive to user movement thereof, for conveying user positional information by way of said interface to the electronic system;  
 a user-depressable button for conveying user selection information by way of said interface to the electronic system; and