ULTRASONIC IMAGING WITH ACOUSTIC RESONANT CAVITY

• US 20150198699A1
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuo, Nai-Kuei, Djordjev, Kostadin Dimitrov, Chuei, Nao Sugawara, Ranganathan, Ranjith
• Granted Patent: US 9,817,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/02 using reflection of acoustic waves G01S15/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52017 particularly adapted to short-range imaging G01S7/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing

Abstract

Techniques describe structures and methods for generating larger output signals and improving image quality of ultrasonic sensors by inclusion of an acoustic cavity in the sensor stack. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic sensor unit may be tuned during manufacturing or during a provisioning phase to work with different thicknesses and materials. In some embodiments, a standing wave signal may be generated using an acoustic cavity in the ultrasonic sensor unit for capturing an ultrasonic image of an object placed on a sensor surface. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor may include an ultrasonic transmitter, a piezoelectric receiver, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer and a TFT substrate positioned between the transmitter and the receiver, one or more adhesive layers, and optional cover materials and coatings. The thickness, density and speed of sound of the sensor materials and associated adhesive attachment layers may be used to attain the desired acoustic cavity and improved performance.

Claims

1. A method for generating an image of a target object, comprising:

applying a plurality of excitation signal pulses to an ultrasonic transmitter of an ultrasonic sensor unit, wherein a frequency of the plurality of excitation signal pulses is selected to generate an ultrasonic standing wave signal inside the ultrasonic sensor unit and wherein the plurality of excitation signal pulses are applied for a duration to allow buildup of energy for the ultrasonic standing wave signal over a first threshold level;

detecting a change in one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal associated with an interaction between the ultrasonic standing wave signal and the target object using an ultrasonic receiver of the ultrasonic sensor unit; and

generating the image of the target object based on the detected change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic standing wave signal results from constructive interference of generated ultrasonic wave signals with one or more reflected ultrasonic signals inside an acoustic cavity of the ultrasonic sensor unit at the selected frequency.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more ultrasonic reflected signals are generated from reflection of the ultrasonic wave signals off one or more boundaries of the ultrasonic sensor unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal is detected while the excitation signal pulses are being applied to the ultrasonic transmitter of the ultrasonic sensor unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal is detected after the excitation signal pulses are applied to the ultrasonic transmitter of the ultrasonic sensor unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration is based on passing of a reference time period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration is based on a number of the excitation signal pulses.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the number of the excitation signal pulses is 4 pulses or more, 5 pulses or more, or 6 pulses or more.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal includes detecting a change in amplitude of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal includes detecting a change in phase of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic sensor unit is an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and the target object is a finger.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein an image of the fingerprint is generated by detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal by touching of a ridge of the finger to a sensor surface of the ultrasonic sensor unit.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the ultrasonic transmitter, the ultrasonic receiver and a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate form an acoustic resonant cavity inside the ultrasonic sensor unit and wherein the ultrasonic standing wave signal is generated inside the ultrasonic sensor unit using the acoustic resonant cavity.

14. An ultrasonic sensor system, comprising:

an ultrasonic transmitter configured to receive a plurality of excitation signal pulses, wherein a frequency of the received excitation signal pulses is selected to generate an ultrasonic standing wave signal inside an ultrasonic sensor unit of the ultrasonic sensor system and wherein the excitation signal pulses are received for a duration to allow buildup of energy in the ultrasonic standing wave signal over a first threshold level;

an ultrasonic receiver configured to detect a change in one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal associated with an interaction between the ultrasonic standing wave signal and a target object; and

a control unit configured to generate an image of the target object based on the detected change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

15. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 14, wherein at least the ultrasonic transmitter, the ultrasonic receiver, and a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate form an acoustic cavity inside the ultrasonic sensor unit.

16. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 15, wherein the TFT substrate is positioned between the transmitter and the receiver.

17. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 14, wherein the ultrasonic sensor unit includes a cover layer positioned over the ultrasonic receiver.

18. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 14, wherein the selected frequency for the excitation signal pulses is based on a thickness of an acoustic cavity, a density of the acoustic cavity, a speed of sound in the acoustic cavity, or any combination thereof.

19. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 14, wherein the ultrasonic standing wave signal results from constructive interference of generated ultrasonic wave signals with one or more reflected ultrasonic signals inside the ultrasonic sensor unit at the selected frequency.

20. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 14, wherein the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal is detected while the excitation signal pulses are being received by the ultrasonic transmitter.

21. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 14, wherein the duration is based on a number of the excitation signal pulses.

22. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 14, wherein detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal includes detecting a change in amplitude or phase of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

23. An ultrasonic sensor system, comprising:

means for applying a plurality of excitation signal pulses to an ultrasonic transmitter of an ultrasonic sensor unit, wherein a frequency of the excitation signal pulses is selected to generate an ultrasonic standing wave signal inside the ultrasonic sensor unit and wherein the excitation signal pulses are applied for a duration to allow buildup of energy for the ultrasonic standing wave signal over a first threshold level;

means for detecting a change in one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal associated with an interaction between the ultrasonic standing wave signal and a target object; and

means for generating an image of the target object based on the detected change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

24. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 23, wherein the duration is based on a number of the excitation signal pulses.

25. The ultrasonic sensor system of claim 23, wherein detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal includes detecting a change in amplitude or phase of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising instructions to:

apply a plurality of excitation signal pulses to an ultrasonic transmitter of an ultrasonic sensor unit, wherein a frequency of the plurality of excitation signal pulses is selected to generate an ultrasonic standing wave signal inside the ultrasonic sensor unit and wherein the plurality of excitation signal pulses are applied for a duration to allow buildup of energy for the ultrasonic standing wave signal over a first threshold level;

detect a change in one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal associated with an interaction between the ultrasonic standing wave signal and a target object using an ultrasonic receiver of the ultrasonic sensor unit; and

generate the image of the target object based on the detected change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the duration is based on passing of a reference time period.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the duration is based on a number of the excitation signal pulses.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein detecting the change in the one or more characteristics of the standing wave signal includes detecting a change in amplitude or phase of the standing wave signal, or both.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the change in the one or more characteristics of the ultrasonic standing wave signal is detected while the excitation signal pulses are being applied to the ultrasonic transmitter of the ultrasonic sensor unit.