FingerTIP Evaluation Kit From Infineon Accelerates Biometric ID Product Development

Miniature Fingerprint Sensor Chip, Software and Documentation Bundle Speeds Design of Embedded Biometric ID in PCs, Portable, and Kiosk End Products

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 1999-- Infineon Technologies Corporation (formerly Siemens Microelectronics, Inc.) has begun customer shipments of the FingerTIP(TM) Evaluation Kit. The evaluation kit enables integration of a miniature fingerprint sensor into a wide variety of end-products including PCs, notebook computers, handheld devices, set-top boxes, ATMs, point of sale terminals, ticketing kiosks, building access systems, or any other application that would benefit from replacing PIN- or password-based user identification with biometric-based verification.

Jeff Davis, marketing manager of Infineon Security and Chip Card division commented: ``The FingerTIP chip makes biometric verification a practical option for a wide range of electronic products. The chip is compact, reliable and robust enough to convert a previously exotic technology -- biometric user ID -- into an everyday reality. The Evaluation Kit gives hardware and software development teams the tools they need to put the chip through its paces and get FingerTIP-based products to market as fast as possible.''

FingerTIP Sensor Chip

The FingerTIP chip is a small (18mm x 21mm x 1.5mm) IC embedding a 288 x 224 pixel contact sensor array that images the lines and ridges of a human fingerprint when a user touches the device. Each pixel has an 8-bit data depth, enabling evaluation of subtle gradations (256 shades of gray) of a fingertip and their translation into a set of indices -- the key identifying features of an individual fingerprint. Imaging and data transfer of an impression takes only 100 milliseconds. The chip also incorporates extensive electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection features, able to withstand static electricity jolts of up to 8 kilovolts. The chip's packaging is designed for low-cost end product manufacturing and high reliability in a wide spectrum of environmental conditions and long-term use and abuse scenarios.

In parallel with the chip, Infineon has developed an extensive library of biometric recognition algorithms that enable fast, accurate comparisons of stored user fingerprints and those captured in a FingerTIP transaction.

FingerTIP Evaluation Kit

The evaluation kit bundles a FingerTIP IC-based module, a power supply, full documentation and biometric fingerprint recognition algorithm software, PC-compatible device drivers and software development tools. Documentation covers all subjects relevant to FingerTIP-based product design including electronic characteristics, mechanical specifications, software development manuals and sample program code. The kit runs on PCs supporting the Microsoft Windows (Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT) operating system.

Pricing and Availability

Infineon Technologies Corporation quotes North America first-unit pricing of the FingerTIP Evaluation Kit at USD $1,150. Benchmark OEM quantity prices of the FingerTIP biometric verification module start at USD $25 depending on configuration options. For additional technical information on the FingerTIP Evaluation Kit or the FingerTIP IC, readers should contact [email protected]

About Infineon

Infineon Technologies AG, formerly Siemens' Semiconductor Group, based in Munich, Germany, is the 10th largest semiconductor manufacturer worldwide according to Dataquest. Infineon provides semiconductor solutions for the telecommunications, automotive, data networking, consumer electronics, and industrial automation markets. The company's comprehensive product portfolio includes integrated system ICs, memory and high frequency components, smart card ICs, discrete semiconductors and power ICs, sensors and fiber optic components. In fiscal 1997/98, the company achieved sales of $3.8 billion (DM 6.7 billion) and employed 25,000 people worldwide.

Infineon Technologies Corporation is the company's North American affiliate, with headquarters at 1730 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95112. For more information, contact 800/777-4363; 408/501-6000; or see http://www.infineon.com/.

Note to Editors: Publication-quality images of the FingerTIP Evaluation Kit are available from the Infineon press contact.

FingerTIP is a trademark of Infineon Technologies AG.

Other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Any statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements. Infineon Technologies AG undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

     Infineon Technologies
     Martin Chorich, 408/501-6390
     [email protected]

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