Biometric scanner
The Brief
The client could not find an off-the-shelf fingerprint scanner that met its broad range of demanding requirements:
- Secure
- Low cost
- Robust
- Wireless
- Accurate & reliable
- Long-lasting, re-chargeable battery operation
We needed to work collaboratively with a team to integrate usability research and industrial, mechanical, and electronic design to pinpoint the optimal biometric sensor and create a solution that satisfied the aforementioned requirements.
The Solution
We supported the client with key embedded choices related to the biometric sensor, processor, Bluetooth solution, USB solution and power supply design. In the subsequent product design phase, we were responsible for electronics hardware design and integrating it with the industrial/mechanical design to ensure form and function were optimized.
We faced several challenges related to selecting and integrating biometric, USB, and Bluetooth-embedded software solutions. However, by working closely with the client’s in-house app team, a fully integrated product solution was delivered.
Rather than addressing each requirement separately, we collaborated with the client to develop innovative solutions from a cross-disciplinary perspective. By combining hardware and software design in support of clever user experience design, efficient power supply design can help extend battery charge life.
A key feature of the product was the requirement to perform reliably in challenging environmental conditions whilst maintaining sufficient battery charge life in a normal usage cycle of several hours.
It was only through an integrated system design approach that such exacting requirements could be met.
Usability was key to the client. Our hardware engineers worked closely with the client’s UX expertise to ensure the electronics complimented the ergonomic requirements of the product. This impacted the component choice, board layout and mechanical structure of the electronics.
The primary challenge in software terms was to bring together a number of third party software stacks and successfully integrate them with a number of sensors and modules. In addition, the integrated software solution had to operate reliably and coherently on a limited resource, low-cost processor.
How can we help you?
Call us on +44 1223 23 62 62, or fill in the contact form.
Fen Technology has been a valuable addition to the Xaar engineering team. They have allowed our engineers to remain focused on core developments and at the same time giving us the confidence that we can take on a greater developmental roadmap whilst retaining full intellectual ownership of all our product designs.
Fen was able to hit the ground running and, using their considerable skills and experience in Bluetooth product development, was able to quickly bring Securecom to a point where we were able to demonstrate a complete solution. As a result, we have asked Fen to continue to support Securecom towards Bluetooth Qualification and full production.
Fen has impressed us with how they have created a solution that has met both EMT’s needs of integration with our existing infrastructure and way of working, and provided a high quality feature enhancement to our product range.
Fen Technology’s skills and experience were a key factor in selecting them as a development partner. Fen’s ability to de-risk the design process was a significant benefit to us during the product development.
Fen Technology proved a worthy partner in supporting Nujira at a critical stage in the development of our leading-edge power amplification technology for the cellular infrastructure market. Fen’s experience and maturity of approach has given us the confidence to entrust them with a range of tasks that were integral to our early-stage development.
Fen’s engineers have done an excellent job in creating a sophisticated, flagship product that outperforms the competition with respect to price/performance ratio. The development methodology is mature and leads to qualitatively solid software, while Fen’s approach has been always persistent and professional.