Filip writes on Dev about the search to secure a fingerprint reader/sensor, one with some sort of documentation and ability to interface with in code. That process is often very much harder than one might anticipate (Ed: but is common to Adafruit developers who go to extraordinary lengths to provide code and documentation with their products).
Design for manufacturing is an important step. First is the application, then finding something suitable:
Finding the actual fingerprint reader for the job was not easy. Which is crazy considering how popular small fingerprint readers are – chances are, you have one in your pocket right now. The problem is that those parts are made specifically for mobile phone manufacturers, and don’t typically trickle down to the average maker. I think at the very beginning of this project, before I even decided to do it, I spent about a day’s worth of mashing different keywords together and browsing through parts.
I love this quote as to looking for a driver once a sensor is found:
Road Rage: So, the only thing left to do is write some software for the F446RE board that works with this sensor.
For which there are no Rust drivers.
low voice we’re gonna have to write a driver aren’t we
What is there are some Arduino examples and a library which we can shamelessly pilfer from. It’s okay because they were clearly shamelessly pilfered from Adafruit. No, really. As well as source code for what might be the TestDemo application. That folder they send you is really full of stuff – there’s apparently a .NET SDK, something for Android, two demo apps, and a copy of the aforementioned Adafruit fingerprint library, no doubt with some customisations of dubious quality.
The full post goes into detail any maker or designer will want to see.
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