Integrated Fingerprint Sensor and Display

• US 20110102567A1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Validity Sensors Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Erhart, Richard Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,336,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement

Abstract

A fingerprint swipe sensor includes fingerprint sensor lines disposed on a surface of an LCD protective glass covered on an opposite surface with motion sensing lines. The fingerprint swipe sensor also includes a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image when a user'"'"'s finger is swiped about the fingerprint sensor lines.

Claims

1. A fingerprint swipe sensor, comprising:

fingerprint sensor lines disposed on a surface of an LCD protective glass covered on an opposite surface with motion sensing lines; and

a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image when a user'"'"'s finger is swiped about the fingerprint sensor lines.

2. A fingerprint swipe sensor according to claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor lines are located between the LCD protective glass and a user protective coating.

3. A fingerprint swipe sensor according to claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor lines are made of a substantially transparent conductive material.

4. A fingerprint swipe sensor according to claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor lines are made of indium tin oxide.

5. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen having an integrated fingerprint swipe sensor, the LCD screen comprising:

an LCD module configured to produce a visible display;

a motion sensor circuit located above the LCD module;

a protective layer located above the motion sensor circuit and configured to durably receive a user'"'"'s finger surface;

fingerprint sensor lines disposed between the motion sensor circuit and the protective layer; and

a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image when a user'"'"'s fingerprint is swiped about the sensor lines.

6. An LCD screen according to claim 5, further comprising an LCD controller coupled to the LCD module and configured to control the visible display of the LCD module.

7. An LCD screen according to claim 6, wherein the LCD controller is further coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines and further configured to control the fingerprint sensor lines.

8. An LCD screen according to claim 5, wherein the motion sensor circuitry is integrated with the fingerprint sensor lines.

9. An LCD screen according to claim 5, wherein the fingerprint sensor lines are made of a substantially transparent conductive material.

10. An LCD screen according to claim 5, wherein the fingerprint sensor lines are made of indium tin oxide.

11. A method of assembling an LCD display device having motion circuitry and fingerprint sensor circuitry, the method comprising:

providing a printed circuit board;

mounting an LCD controller on the printed circuit board;

mounting an LCD module above the printed circuit board;

applying motion sensor circuitry onto a first side of a clear protective layer;

applying fingerprint sensor circuitry on the first side of the clear protective layer; and

mounting the clear protective layer to the LCD module.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising mounting a user protective surface above the clear protective layer.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the LCD controller is configured to control the motion sensor circuitry and the fingerprint sensor circuitry.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising connecting the LCD controller to the motion sensor circuitry and the fingerprint sensor circuitry.

15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising mounting a fingerprint sensor controller on the printed circuit board.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising connecting the LCD controller to the motion sensor circuitry and connecting the fingerprint sensor controller to the fingerprint sensor circuitry.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the fingerprint sensor circuitry includes fingerprint sensor lines made of a substantially transparent conductive material.

18. A method of assembling an LCD display device having motion circuitry and fingerprint sensor circuitry, the method comprising:

mounting an LCD controller on a printed circuit board;

mounting an LCD module above the printed circuit board;

applying motion sensor circuitry onto a first side of the LCD module;

applying fingerprint sensor circuitry on a first side of a clear protective layer; and

mounting the clear protective layer to the LCD module such that the fingerprint sensor circuitry is located between the motion sensor circuitry and the clear protective layer.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the LCD controller is configured to control the motion sensor circuitry and the fingerprint sensor circuitry.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising mounting a fingerprint sensor controller on the printed circuit board.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising connecting the LCD controller to the motion sensor circuitry and connecting the fingerprint sensor controller to the fingerprint sensor circuitry.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein the fingerprint sensor circuitry includes a plurality of fingerprint sensor lines made of a substantially transparent conductive material.