SZ Finger print scanner - False negatives

Does anyone know how to reduce false negatives (which of course increases false negatives) on the SZs?

It would make life easier, because I only get false negatives

PS. Buy my SZ160p/c please

 

1) Don't run your finger across it too fast
2) make sure your hands isn't too cold/hot

 

Hm my fingerprint doesnt show the menu now and I have no idea why ...I think its time to reinstall the Protector software

 

Originally, I had thought that false negatives might be related to cold fingers and wrinkling of fingers after a shower. However, the weather has improved considerably here in Northern California and my fingers are not as cold as they had been.

I think that I am seeing a relationship to ambient light levels. In my bedroom, which is not well lit before sunrise and after sunset, I get many more false negatives than at the office, which is very well lit. Maybe the fingerprint scanner needs a certain amount of light to "see" the fingerprint?

The other factor that I think I am noting is the warmth of my SZ160P. When it is cold, as in booting up in the morning, I note more false negatives than after it has been running for a while, even keeping the other variables (light level and finger temperature) constant. This is illustrated by the fact that I have more false negatives at boot time (using the fingerprint scanner to enter my password) than I do later in calling up a password-protected website.

 

The sensor detects capacitance, not light.

http://www.upek.com/products/technology/active.asp

Humidity would play more of a role...

 

Thanks for that link, SkrunchaMunch. That is an interesting description of how the technology works. However, I'm not sure that it explains the variability in response at different times and in different locations.

 

After several frustrating attempts to figure out the mood changes of the fingerprint sensor in my SZ110/B, I have trained myself to do the following, achieving a higher rate of success:

1) Rest your finger over the sensor for about a second (as explained in the video tutorial included in the Protector Suite QL software, this has to be around the first joint of your finger), and

2) Slide your finger (kind of slowly).

I have no real explanation for this to be working better. As seen in the Power Management Tab of the Properties of the sensor (right-clicking on Device Manager>Biometric>TouchChip Fingerprint Coprocessor). The default option is to "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

My only “explanation” is that the resting of your finger for about a second might wake up the sensor if it has gone asleep to save power. I must say, however, that I have experienced the "sleeping sensor syndrome" working on either AC or battery. Hope this helps…

 

I live in a very dry semi-desert region, although on some days the clouds decend upon us and cause the humidty to go sky high, but damp and cold. However, usually it doesn't work.

 

I have found that simply pushing a little harder has all but done away with false negatives for me.

 

crack goes the scanner. I hate biometrics anyhow ;P
I'll try this. Thanks all.

 

i still think the bottom line is that a program like roboform is 100% faster and works everytime. the only thing it cant do is startup