With Apple mobile phones now taking a lead in using this technology, this biometric recognition technique is certain to see an increasing prevalence in normal daily living. As an example, fingerprint recognition lock products will save users the trouble of carrying along bulky and easy to mislay keys.

In order to seize present day business opportunities, Holtek has actively entered into the fingerprint recognition technology area. With technical cooperation and a sound investment strategy in its partner company, Gingy Technology, and by using its own Holtek ARM based 32-bit microcontroller, Holtek has been able to successfully produce a full range of ultra-thin optical fingerprint recognition technology products, meeting all the requirements of miniaturisation and low cost.

Holtek optical fingerprint sensors are based on the patented "TrueSecure" 3D fingerprint recognition technology, which uses special materials and optical systems, allowing them to obtain a good effective area in an extremely short optical path. The whole optical module thickness can be reduced to 6.5 mm. They incorporate both the advantages of chip types and optical types, have lower costs, a large image capturing area and a small size outline.

The thickness of its second generation solutions have been reduced to 4.9 mm, which will give it an excellent market placement for some special purpose areas such as tablet computers, financial trading and remote control products. For its third generation solutions, which will be released in the fourth quarter of 2014, the thickness will be reduced to only 3.0 mm, further increasing its competitive advantages in the ultra-thin mobile device market area.

The Holtek optical fingerprint modules subdivide into three categories. The GT series of devices (GT-5110E1/5120E2) are Parallel Interface fingerprint sensors. In these devices, the original image data is sent to the external hardware via their 24-pin interface.

These products allow companies to develop their own recognition algorithm solutions. The GTU series (GTU-5110B3/B4/B6) are USB interface fingerprint sensors, in which the fingerprint images are transferred to a PC or a mobile phone through a USB interface.

For these devices Holtek will also provide related system drivers, such as for Windows and Linux. The GTM series (GTM-5110C2R/C3/C31/C5/C51) are embedded fingerprint modules, which include a fingerprint sensor and a Holtek ARM Cortex-M3 32-bit microcontroller as well as integrating the necessary fingerprint recognition internal algorithms.

They include either a UART or USB external interface allowing them to fully implement the full range of fingerprint recognition operations such as enrollment, identification and erase using specific simple protocols. They provide a rapid and convenient means of integrating full fingerprint recognition functions. The GTM series can store 20, 200 or 2000 fingerprints depending upon the different application requirements.

These different kinds of Holtek optical fingerprint modules are not only limited to higher security applications, but are also suitable for use in a wide range of related applications such as Tablet PCs, smart phones, network identity authentication, notebook computers, rugged laptops, industrial hosts, POS terminals, mouse, keyboards, external drives, pen drives, electronic door locks, car locks, access control systems, remote control protection, safe boxes, lockers, gun cabinets etc.

Features:

－ Ultra thin optical fingerprint sensor, low-distortion, high-resolution fingerprint images

－ Easy to use plate style sensors, 360 degree rotation in either direction

－ Excellent quality and stability

－ Recognition of dry fingers, superior anti-fake fingerprint performance

－ Highly static resistant durable sensors nearing that of linear capacitive pricing providing cost effective solutions

－ Full range of development kits, including reliability reports, reference sources, reference bodies, circuit diagrams etc