Single-Chip Fingerprint IC

Fujitsu Microelectronics America Inc. and Phoenix Technologies Ltd. have teamed up to create a single-chip, USB-based fingerprint sensor IC for notebook computers. The new solution enables computer manufacturers to incorporate fingerprint access systems in their products without adding an extra application-specific IC (ASIC) to accommodate the USB port.

"With this, there's a cost, size and power advantage," notes Philip Hopkins, product manager for the Embedded Solutions Business Group at Fujitsu. "Instead of adding an extra chip, we're using the processing power of the CPU."

Up to now, Hopkins says, most notebook computer manufacturers had to use an extra chip - typically an ASIC - if they wanted the higher communication speeds of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Increasingly, many product developers were willing to invest the extra cost and sacrifice the extra board space because the USB protocol enables data to be transferred to and from digital devices at speeds much greater than those offered by conventional serial ports.

"It's becoming a market requirement for many PC manufacturers," Hopkins says.

The new product from Fujitsu and Phoenix Technologies is designed for use with fingerprint sensors that attach internally, through the so-called "P0" USB port, or with "tethered" sensors that attach to external USB ports. Known as the MBF320, it operates on a 200 muA standby current and consumes 45 mW of power during regular operation. It also measures 16 x 6.5 x 0.9 mm and incorporates a 24-MHz Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), along with its USB 2.0 interface. Pre-boot user authentication technology for the device is developed by Phoenix, while fingerprint-matching algorithms and biometric software come from Cogent Systems.

The new design could provide advantages for makers of notebook and tablet-style computers, both of which are increasingly incorporating fingerprint security systems into their products. Industry analysts estimate that the biometric sensor market will more than double in size between 2006 and 2010, going from $2.17 billion to $5.74 billion annually, mainly on the strength of notebook computer sales.

Fujitsu executives claim the new controller will reduce the development work normally needed for notebook makers to incorporate a fingerprint sensor in the keyboard because none of its sub-systems are vendor-specific.

"It's a standardized architecture offering fast time to market," Hopkins says. "A lot of notebook manufacturers are integrating this technology into their keyboards, and fast time to market is what they need."