COMBINATION TOUCH, HANDWRITING AND FINGERPRINT SENSOR

• US 20120092294A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ganapathi, Srinivasan Kodaganallur, Buchan, Nicholas Ian, Petersen, Kurt Edward, Burns, David William
• Application Number:
  US13/271,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092294A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04146 using pressure sensitive conductive elements delivering a boolean signal and located between crossing sensing lines, e.g. located between X and Y sensing line layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• 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 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus implementations of a display device with a cover glass apparatus that serves as a single or multi-touch sensor, as a handwriting (or note capture) input device, and in some configurations as a fingerprint sensor. Sensor functionality and resolution can be tailored to specific locations on the cover glass apparatus. In some such implementations, the area in which the fingerprint sensing elements are located may provide not only fingerprint detection, but also handwriting and touch functionality. In some other implementations, the fingerprint sensor may be segregated into a separate, high-resolution zone that only provides fingerprint functionality.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate;

a first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a first handwriting and touch sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a first fingerprint sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a first plurality of resistors formed on some, but not all, of the first plurality of electrodes;

a second plurality of resistors formed on the second plurality of electrodes;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a third plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a second handwriting and touch sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate; and

a fourth plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a second fingerprint sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate, the fourth plurality of electrodes having a spacing that is substantially the same as that of the second plurality of electrodes, the fourth plurality of electrodes having electrode positions that correspond to second electrode positions of the second plurality of electrodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a handwriting sensor zone of the apparatus includes the second plurality of resistors formed on the second plurality of electrodes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a force-sensitive resistor material disposed between the second plurality of electrodes and the fourth plurality of electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of resistors is formed on first instances of the first plurality of electrodes, wherein the first plurality of resistors is not formed on second instances of the first plurality of electrodes, and wherein the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes are configured as touch sensor electrodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the touch sensor electrodes are configured to detect changes in capacitance between the third plurality of electrodes and the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the touch sensor electrodes are configured to function as projected capacitive touch sensor electrodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a substantially transparent elastomeric material extending from the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes to the second substrate.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes are configured as handwriting sensor electrodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes are configured to detect changes in capacitance caused by changes in a distance between the third plurality of electrodes and the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes are configured to detect changes in resistance caused by changes in a distance between the third plurality of electrodes and the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the substantially transparent elastomeric material does not extend from the first instances of the first plurality of electrodes to the second substrate.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second instances of the first plurality of electrodes are configured to determine, according to the detected changes in capacitance, an analog change in a displacement of the second substantially transparent substrate caused by an applied force or pressure.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display;

a processor that is configured to communicate with the display, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device that is configured to communicate with the processor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to the display; and

a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor, wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

first substantially transparent substrate means;

first electrode means formed in a first handwriting and touch sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate means;

second electrode means formed in a first fingerprint sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate means, the second electrode means being spaced more closely than the first electrode means;

first resistor means formed on some, but not all, of the first electrode means;

second resistor means formed on the second electrode means;

second substantially transparent substrate means;

third electrode means formed in a second handwriting and touch sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate means; and

fourth electrode means formed in a second fingerprint sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate means, the fourth electrode means having a spacing that is substantially the same as that of the second electrode means, the fourth electrode means having first electrode positions that correspond to second electrode positions of the second electrode means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first resistor means are formed on first instances of the first electrode means, wherein the first resistor means are not formed on second instances of the first electrode means, and wherein the second instances of the first electrode means are configured as touch sensor electrode means.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor electrode means include means for detecting changes in capacitance between the third electrode means and the second instances of the first electrode means.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor electrode means include projected capacitive touch sensor electrode means.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first instances of the first electrode means include handwriting sensor electrode means.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second instances of the first electrode means include means for detecting changes in capacitance caused by changes in a distance between the third electrode means and the second instances of the first electrode means.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first instances of the first electrode means include means for detecting changes in resistance caused by changes in a distance between the third electrode means and the first instances of the first electrode means.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a first substantially transparent substrate;

a first plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a first handwriting and touch sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate;

a second plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a first fingerprint sensor zone of the first substantially transparent substrate, the second plurality of electrodes being spaced more closely than the first plurality of electrodes;

a first plurality of resistors formed on some, but not all, of the first plurality of electrodes;

a second plurality of resistors formed on the second plurality of electrodes;

a second substantially transparent substrate;

a third plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a second handwriting and touch sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate;

a fourth plurality of substantially transparent electrodes formed in a second fingerprint sensor zone of the second substantially transparent substrate, the fourth plurality of electrodes having a spacing that is substantially the same as that of the second plurality of electrodes, the fourth plurality of electrodes having electrode positions that correspond to second electrode positions of the second plurality of electrodes; and

a sensor control system configured for communication with the second and fourth pluralities of substantially transparent electrodes, the sensor control system being further configured for processing fingerprint sensor data according to electrical signals received from the second and fourth pluralities of substantially transparent electrodes.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the sensor control system is further configured for communication with the first and third pluralities of substantially transparent electrodes, the sensor control system being further configured for processing handwriting and touch sensor data according to electrical signals received from the first and third pluralities of substantially transparent electrodes.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a display;

a processor that is configured to communicate with the display, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device that is configured to communicate with the processor.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sensor control system includes the processor.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the sensor control system is separate from, but configured for communication with, the processor.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to control the display, at least in part, according to signals received from the sensor control system.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to control access to the display, at least in part, according to signals received from the sensor control system.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to control the display, at least in part, according to user input signals received from the sensor control system.