FINGER BIOMETRIC SENSOR INCLUDING LATERALLY ADJACENT PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCER LAYER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20110032077A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Authen Tec Incorporated State of Incorporated Delaware
• Inventors: Williams, Daryl D., Van Vonno, Nicolaas W., Neil, James W., Jones, Richard J., Setlak, Dale R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,618,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.83
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.

Claims

1. A finger biometric sensor comprising:

a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the upper major surface;

a piezoelectric transducer layer adjacent to the at least one sidewall surface of said finger biometric sensing layer; and

a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to said piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes, at least one of said electrically conductive layers also cooperating with said finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.

2. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 wherein said at least one electrically conductive layer comprises a drive electrode for said finger biometric sensing layer.

3. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a drive circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to drive said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user'"'"'s finger.

4. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a sense circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to sense from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user'"'"'s finger.

5. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 4 further comprising:

a reading circuit coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for reading signals therefrom; and

a power up circuit for selectively powering up said reading circuit based upon said sense circuit.

6. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 4 wherein said sense circuit generates a pressure output signal related to an amount of pressure applied by the user'"'"'s finger.

7. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a matcher coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for determining a match based upon the at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger.

8. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a navigation circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one navigation function.

9. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a feedback circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one feedback function.

10. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 wherein said finger biometric sensing layer comprises an integrated circuit.

11. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a flexible mounting substrate overlying said piezoelectric transducer layer and said finger biometric sensing layer.

12. A finger biometric sensor comprising:

a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the upper major surface;

a piezoelectric transducer layer adjacent the at least one sidewall surface of said finger biometric sensing layer; and

a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to said piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes, at least one of said electrically conductive layers also cooperating with said finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic;

a drive circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to drive said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user'"'"'s finger; and

a sense circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to sense from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user'"'"'s finger.

13. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 12 wherein said at least one electrically conductive layer comprises a drive electrode for said finger biometric sensing layer.

14. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 12 further comprising:

a reading circuit coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for reading signals therefrom; and

a power up circuit for selectively powering up said reading circuit based upon said sense circuit.

15. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 12 wherein said sense circuit generates a pressure output signal related to an amount of pressure applied by the user'"'"'s finger.

16. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 12 further comprising a matcher coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for determining a match based upon the at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger.

17. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 12 further comprising a navigation circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one navigation function.

18. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 12 further comprising a feedback circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one feedback function.

19. A method of making a finger biometric sensor comprising:

providing a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the upper major surface;

positioning a piezoelectric transducer layer adjacent the sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer; and

coupling a plurality of electrically conductive layers to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes, at least one of the electrically conductive layers also cooperating with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.

20. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 19 wherein the at least one electrically conductive layer comprises a drive electrode for the finger biometric sensing layer.

21. The method according to claim 19 further comprising coupling a drive circuit coupled to the transducer electrodes to drive the piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user'"'"'s finger.

22. The method according to claim 19 further comprising coupling a sense circuit to the transducer electrodes to sense from the piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user'"'"'s finger.

23. The method according to claim 19 further comprising:

coupling a reading circuit to the finger biometric sensing layer for reading signals therefrom; and

providing a power up circuit for selectively powering up the reading circuit based upon the sense circuit.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein the sense circuit generates a pressure output signal related to an amount of pressure applied by the user'"'"'s finger.

25. The method according to claim 19 further comprising coupling a matcher to the finger biometric sensing layer for determining a match based upon the at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger.