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Electrostatic discharge protection of a capacitive type fingerprint sensing array

  • US 6,987,871 B2
  • Filed: 09/23/2002
  • Issued: 01/17/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:

  • a semiconductor integrated circuit;

    a plurality of sensor cells formed as part of the integrated circuit, each sensor cell comprising, a first capacitor late and a second capacitor plate, and an amplifier circuit having an input terminal connected to the first capacitor plate and an output terminal connected to the second capacitor plate to provide a feedback loop from the output of the amplifier circuit to the input of the amplifier circuit; and

    a conductive oath positioned within a dielectric layer between adjacent cells and formed as part of the integrated circuit to protect the sensor cell from an electrostatic potential, wherein the conductive path and the capacitor plates are embedded within said dielectric layer.

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