Cosmetically hidden electrostatic discharge protection structures

• US 10,152,146 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Demenschonok, Filipp, Longo, Sheila A., Rosen, David Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Danny
• Application Number:
  US14/856,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20170077696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 361212, 361220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/60 Protection against electrostatic charges or discharges, e.g. Faraday shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0248 for electrical or thermal protection, e.g. electrostatic discharge [ESD] protection

Abstract

Cosmetically hidden electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structures and systems are disclosed herein. In one example, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an integrated circuit and an ESD protection structure positioned at least partially around a perimeter of the integrated circuit, where the ESD protection structure is configured to protect the integrated circuit from an electrostatic discharge strike. The electronic device further includes a concealing layer positioned on a surface of the ESD protection structure, the concealing layer configured to at least partially conceal the ESD protection structure from view.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a fingerprint sensor integrated circuit configured to analyze a fingerprint of a user of the electronic device;

an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure positioned at least partially around a perimeter of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit, the ESD protection structure configured to protect the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit from an electrostatic discharge strike; and

a concealing layer positioned on a surface of the ESD protection structure, the concealing layer comprising a conductive paint composition configured to at least partially conceal the ESD protection structure from view.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the ESD protection structure comprises a metal plated trace.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the metal plated trace is a gold plated trace.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the ESD protection structure is a continuous structure positioned around the entire perimeter of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the ESD protection structure comprises multiple segments positioned around less than the entire perimeter of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a surface layer positioned on a surface of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit such that the surface layer is exposed to the user of the electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the surface layer is a non-conductive layer or comprises a conductivity less than a conductivity of the concealing layer.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the surface layer is a glass layer.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the surface layer is a paint layer, and

wherein the surface layer and the concealing layer are a same paint color.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit and the ESD protection structure are individually positioned on a substrate layer, either directly on the substrate layer or through an intermediate soldering layer, such that the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit and the ESD protection structure are positioned on a same plane.

19. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive paint composition comprises a latex paint or an acrylic paint composition.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the conductive paint composition comprises graphite powder.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a substrate;

an integrated circuit positioned on a surface of the substrate, defining a plane at the surface of the substrate;

an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure positioned at least partially around a perimeter of the integrated circuit, wherein the ESD protection structure is configured to protect the integrated circuit from an electrostatic discharge strike, and wherein the ESD protection structure extends from the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the substrate; and

a concealing layer positioned on a surface of the ESD protection structure, wherein the surface of the concealing layer is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, wherein the concealing layer is configured to at least partially conceal the ESD protection structure from view, and wherein the concealing layer is positioned between the ESD protection structure and the integrated circuit.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the integrated circuit is a fingerprint sensor integrated circuit.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the ESD protection structure comprises a metal plated trace.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the concealing layer is a conductive paint layer.

15. An input device comprising:

a fingerprint sensor integrated circuit configured to analyze a fingerprint of a user of the electronic device;

an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure positioned at least partially around a perimeter of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit;

the ESD protection structure configured to protect the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit from an electrostatic discharge strike;

a concealing layer positioned on a surface of the ESD protection structure, the concealing layer comprising a conductive paint composition configured to at least partially conceal the ESD protection structure from view; and

an external paint layer positioned on a surface of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit such that the external paint layer is exposed to the user of the electronic device.

16. The input device of claim 15, further comprising:

a trackpad, wherein a surface of the trackpad is at a same height as a surface of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit.

17. The input device of claim 15, further comprising:

a keyboard having a plurality of keys, wherein a surface of the plurality of keys of the keyboard is at a same height as a surface of the fingerprint sensor integrated circuit.

18. The input device of claim 15, wherein the conductive paint composition comprises graphite powder.