FINGERPRINT SENSING MODULE

• US 20200134277A1
• Filed: 07/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Egis Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Egis Technology Inc., Igistec Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lin, Yu-Hsuan, Po, Tang-Hung, Chiu, Hsien-Hsiang, Wang, Chung-Yi
• Granted Patent: US 10,824,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification

Abstract

A fingerprint sensing module includes a fingerprint sensing pixel array, a plurality of column circuitries and a constant current circuit. The fingerprint sensing pixel array includes a plurality of sensing pixels in an array arrangement. Each column circuitry is electrically coupled to a row of the sensing pixels via a corresponding row signal line. The constant current circuit generates a bias voltage to the column circuitries according to a reference current. In response to the bias voltage level, a row output current provided by each column circuitry and flowing through each row of the sensing pixels is equal to or close to the reference current. Since the row output current coincides with the reference current, the row output current is not adversely affected by the external factors.

Claims

1. A fingerprint sensing module, comprising:

a fingerprint sensing pixel array for sensing a fingerprint signal, wherein the fingerprint sensing pixel array comprises a plurality of sensing pixels in an array arrangement;

a plurality of column circuitries, wherein each column circuitry is electrically coupled to a row of the sensing pixels via a corresponding row signal line; and

a constant current circuit for generating a bias voltage to the column circuitries according to a reference current,

wherein, in response to the bias voltage level, a row output current provided by each column circuitry and flowing through each row of the sensing pixels is equal to or close to the reference current.

2. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant current circuit is a differential amplifier or a current mirror circuit, and the constant current circuit provides the bias voltage to a transistor of each column circuitry.

3. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the current mirror circuit has a basic current mirror configuration, a cascode current mirror configuration, a Wilson current mirror configuration or a Widlar current mirror configuration

4. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant current circuit comprises:

a current source providing the reference current; and

;

a biasing circuit, wherein a first terminal of the biasing circuit is electrically coupled to the current source to receive the reference current, a second terminal of the biasing circuit is electrically coupled to a baseline voltage, and a third terminal of the biasing circuit is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the biasing circuit, and wherein the bias voltage is generated on the third terminal in response to the reference current.

5. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the biasing circuit comprises a bias transistor, the first terminal is a drain terminal of the bias transistor, the second terminal is a source terminal of the bias transistor, and the third terminal is a gate terminal of the bias transistor.

6. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant current circuit comprises:

a current source providing the reference current; and

a biasing circuit comprising a first bias transistor and a second bias transistor, wherein a first terminal of the first bias transistor is electrically coupled to the current source and a third terminal of the first bias transistor, a second terminal of the first bias transistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal and a third terminal of the second bias transistor, and a second terminal of the second bias transistor is electrically coupled to a baseline voltage,

wherein the bias voltage is generated on the third terminal of the first bias transistor and the third terminal of the second bias transistor, and provided to the column circuitry in response to the reference current.

7. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the column circuitries comprises a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein a first terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to the row signal line, a second terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the second transistor, a third terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to the third terminal of the first bias transistor, a second terminal of the second transistor is electrically coupled to another baseline voltage, and a third terminal of the second transistor is electrically coupled to the third terminal of the second bias transistor.

8. A fingerprint sensing module, comprising:

a fingerprint sensing pixel array for sensing a fingerprint signal, wherein the fingerprint sensing pixel array comprises a plurality of sensing pixels in an array arrangement;

a plurality of column circuitries, wherein each column circuitry is electrically coupled to a column of the sensing pixels via a corresponding column signal line;

a current source providing a reference current; and

a biasing circuit, wherein a first terminal of the biasing circuit is electrically coupled to the current source to receive the reference current, a second terminal of the biasing circuit is electrically coupled to a baseline voltage, and a third terminal of the biasing circuit is electrically coupled to the column circuitries,

wherein the bias voltage is generated on the third terminal of the biasing circuit in response to the reference current, wherein in response to the bias voltage, a row output current is provided by each column circuitry, and the row output current is equal to or close to the reference current.

9. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensing pixel in each pixel column comprises a pixel transistor, and each column circuitry comprises a constant current transistor, wherein a drain terminal of the constant current transistor is electrically coupled to a drain terminal of the pixel transistor.

10. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the current source is electrically coupled to the first terminal and the third terminal of the biasing circuit, and the pixel transistor and a gate terminal of the constant current transistor are electrically coupled to the third terminal of the biasing circuit, so that a current mirror circuit is defined by the current source, the biasing circuit and the column circuitries collaboratively.

11. The fingerprint sensing module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the biasing circuit comprises a bias transistor, wherein the first terminal is a drain terminal of the bias transistor, the second terminal is a source terminal of the bias transistor, and the third terminal is a gate terminal of the bias transistor.