Electronic apparatus equipped with touch panel capable of identifying fingerprint

• US 20090021487A1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Tien, Kai-Wen
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

The invention discloses a touch panel capable of identifying fingerprints. The touch panel includes a touch layer and a fingerprint sensing layer. The touch layer is used for sensing a specific location touched by a finger. The fingerprint sensing layer is disposed under the touch layer and includes a storage unit, multiple receiving modules, multiple transmitting modules, and a control module. The storage unit stores a first fingerprint data corresponding to the finger. Each receiving module respectively corresponds to one of the transmission modules. According to the specific location, one of the transmission modules transmits a signal, and the signal is then reflected by the finger to the corresponding receiving module. The control module converts the signal received by the receiving module into a second fingerprint data and then determines whether the second fingerprint data conforms to the first fingerprint data.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising:

a touch layer, for sensing a specific position touched by a finger; and

a fingerprint sensing layer, disposed under the touch layer, the fingerprint sensing layer comprising;

a storage unit, for storing a first fingerprint data corresponding to the finger;

a plurality of receiving modules;

a plurality of transmission modules, each of the receiving modules being respectively and correspondingly disposed with one of the transmission modules, one of the transmission modules transmitting out a signal according to the specific position, the signal being reflected to the corresponding receiving module by the finger; and

a control module, for converting the signal received by the receiving module into a second fingerprint data, and for recognizing whether the second fingerprint data matches the first fingerprint data;

wherein the receiving modules and the transmission modules can be rotatably disposed on a circumference of the fingerprint sensing layer.

2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the touch layer comprises:

a protection layer for the finger touching thereon at the specific position; and

a position sensing layer, disposed under the protection layer and for sensing the specific position.

3. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the position sensing layer is a resistance sensing layer or a capacitance sensing layer.

4. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted by the transmission module is a light or an ultrasonic wave.

5. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the storage unit further comprises a corresponding data for indicating a corresponding relationship between both the transmission module and the receiving module with the specific position.

6. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the receiving module further comprises a variable-gain amplifier (VGA) for amplifying the received signal.

7. The touch panel of claim 6, wherein the specific position touched by the finger is limited to edges of the touch panel.

8. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the receiving module further comprises a control circuit, and the control circuit comprises an A/D converter for converting an analog signal into a digital signal.

9. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a display layer disposed under the fingerprint sensing layer.

10. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein each of at least two of the transmission modules respectively transmits out the signal according to the specific position, the signals are reflected to the corresponding receiving modules by the finger, and the control module selectively converts each of the signals into the second fingerprint data according to intensities of the signals.

11. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a touch panel, comprising;

a touch layer, for sensing a specific position touched by a finger;

a fingerprint sensing layer, disposed under the touch layer, the fingerprint sensing layer comprising;

a plurality of receiving modules; and

a plurality of transmission modules, each of the receiving modules being respectively and correspondingly disposed with one of the transmission modules, one of the transmission module transmitting out a signal according to the specific position, the signal being reflected to the corresponding receiving module by the finger; and

a processing unit, comprising;

a storage unit, for storing a first fingerprint data corresponding to the finger; and

a control module, for converting the signal received by the receiving module into a second fingerprint data, and for recognizing whether the second fingerprint data matches the first fingerprint data;

wherein the receiving modules and the transmission modules can be rotatably disposed on a circumference of the fingerprint sensing layer.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the touch layer comprises:

a protection layer, for the finger touching thereon at the specific position; and

a position sensing layer, disposed under the protection layer and for sensing the specific position.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the position sensing layer is a resistance sensing layer or a capacitance sensing layer.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signal transmitted by the transmission module is a light or an ultrasonic wave.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the storage unit further comprises a corresponding data for indicating a corresponding relationship between both the transmission module and the receiving module with the specific position.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiving module further comprises a variable-gain amplifier (VGA) for amplifying the received signal.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the specific position touched by the finger is limited to edges of the touch panel.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiving module further comprises a control circuit, and the control circuit comprises an A/D converter for converting an analog signal into a digital signal.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a display layer disposed under the fingerprint sensing layer.

20. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of at least two of the transmission modules respectively transmits out the signal according to the specific position, the signals are reflected to the corresponding receiving modules by the finger, and the control module selectively converts each of the signals into the second fingerprint data according to intensities of the signals.