Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: National Semiconductor
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 07 February 2003
Fingerprint sensor promises security
solution
National Semiconductor and Validity are working to develop a fingerprint imaging security solution for smart cards, remote controls, notebook computers, cellphones, PDAs, key fobs and other devices.
National Semiconductor and Validity are working to develop a unique fingerprint imaging security solution for smart cards, remote controls, notebook computers, cellphones, PDAs, key fobs and other devices National will provide analogue technologies, chip design expertise, investment capital and high-volume manufacturing capabilities
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 5 Jan 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Validity will provide its patented off-chip fingerprint image acquisition technology called Validator.
Financial terms of the agreement were not released.
"With today's heightened security concerns there is a huge, unmet need for a reliable, low-cost, error-proof biometric sensor for many kinds of electronic information devices", said Joe Montalbo, Vice President, Custom Solutions Group, National Semiconductor.
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"National and Validity will build and deliver a world-class security product that is so robust and adaptable that it can be built into a wide variety of devices".
"The investment, manufacturing and technology partnership with National Semiconductor will allow Validity to bring a high-volume product to market within a year", said Fred Benkley, President and CEO of Validity.
"The Validator fingerprint sensor solves all of the static discharge and wear problems by removing the need for direct finger-to-silicon contact.
Validity will lead the fingerprint sensor market by delivering a product that meets the reliability and cost demands of the consumer world".
The Validator consists of an integrated hardware and software solution.
It measures finger pressure, speed and position, and creates an image of a fingerprint.
The user's finger never touches silicon so there are no wear or static discharge issues.
Security is dramatically enhanced due to a unique swipe-sensor design that leaves no latent fingerprints on the device.
The Validator is also OEM-friendly and highly customisable due to its bendable construction and built-in reprogrammable Flash memory.
The heart of the system is a National 16bit microprocessor and analogue-processing unit that has 288 scanning channels.
It generates a high-quality 12.5mm-wide image at resolutions up to 500dot/in.
Users swipe their finger across the sensor, which accepts only good-quality scans.
The Validator uses industry-standard USB, SPI and LPC ports.
It also features software drivers for embedded OS and Windows-based machines.
National Semiconductor will manufacture chips for the Validator solution at its state-of-the-art wafer manufacturing facility in South Portland, Maine.
The chips will be built using National's 0.25-micron CMOS process.
The companies expect to ship samples to customers late in 2003 or early 2004.
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