US Patent 9922235 Authenticating a user through fingerprint recognition

Provided is a method for authenticating a user in an electronic device. In illustrative embodiments, a fingerprint input from the user is be detected by receiving detection signals for respective sample points across an area of the fingerprint input. A determination value may be computed, which represents a degree of distribution of the detection signals according to signal strengths. It is then determined whether the determination value falls outside a preset reference range. If the determination value falls outside the preset reference range, the method determines that the fingerprint input from the user is invalid.