Infineon Technologies AG has introduced two new fingerprint sensor ICs, the CYFP10020A00 and CYFP10020S00, specifically designed for automotive applications. These sensors aim to meet the growing demand for biometric authentication in vehicles, offering an easy-to-use and reliable alternative to traditional methods like PIN entry or smartphone-based authentication.
Biometrics in the Automotive Industry: A Rising Trend
Fingerprint sensing is becoming increasingly popular in the automotive industry due to its convenience, security, and ease of use. Unlike PINs or smartphone-based access, fingerprint sensors provide seamless authentication without requiring additional devices, making the driving experience more comfortable. This technology also enables personalized in-vehicle settings and secure payment authentication for services like parking, charging, and tolls.
Optimized for Automotive and Beyond
The CYFP10020A00 and CYFP10020S00 sensors are built to integrate seamlessly with Infineon’s TRAVEO T2G microcontroller family. Both sensors meet AEC-Q100 standards, ensuring they meet the reliability requirements of the automotive sector. However, their use cases are not limited to vehicles—they can also serve authentication needs in other sectors, such as secure building access and payment systems.
Infineon has partnered with Precise Biometrics to incorporate the BioMatch algorithm software into these sensors, providing an advanced fingerprint identification and authentication solution.
Temperature Range and Capacitive Precision
Each sensor is designed to operate in a wide range of environmental conditions:
- CYFP10020A00: Supports an operating temperature range from -40°C to +85°C.
- CYFP10020S00: Designed to withstand higher temperatures, operating from -40°C to +105°C.
These sensors feature high-precision capacitive technology, accurately capturing the ridge and valley patterns of the user’s fingerprint. Additionally, the sensors detect touch-down and lift-off events, enhancing user interaction. They can even function as mini trackpads, allowing users to scroll through menus or select options by sliding their finger across the sensor’s surface.
Customizable Design and Secure Data Handling
One of the key advantages of these fingerprint sensors is their flexibility in design. They can be customized to work with different coatings and bezels, giving automotive manufacturers freedom to align the sensors with their design goals.
Both models feature an 8 x 8 mm sensing area housed in an 8.9 x 9.3 mm BGA package, with power supply options ranging from 1.8V to 5.5V. For security, fingerprint data is encrypted using AES hardware encryption directly on the chip, and the data is transmitted to the host microcontroller through an SPI interface. This ensures secure and efficient communication with the TRAVEO T2G MCU or other compatible microcontrollers.
Availability and Showcase at OktoberTech™ 2024
The CYFP10020A00 and CYFP10020S00 fingerprint sensors are now available, along with an evaluation kit (KIT-FPG1-T2G-B-E-2M) to help developers explore their capabilities.
These sensors will also be featured at Infineon’s OktoberTech™ 2024 technology forum, scheduled to take place on October 17 in Silicon Valley. This global event will provide an opportunity for industry experts to explore how Infineon’s innovations are transforming the automotive and industrial sectors.
For more details, visit www.infineon.com/psocfpg1.
Infineon’s launch of these automotive-qualified fingerprint sensors reflects the increasing role of biometric solutions in enhancing both security and convenience for drivers. With support for personalization, payment authentication, and advanced data encryption, these sensors are set to play a significant role in the next generation of smart vehicles.
