Fingerprint scanning device with contact image sensing module

• US 7,391,006 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dyna Image Corp. (Diodes Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Semiconductor Corporation (Diodes Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yang, Wen-Chen, Cheng, Chia-Chu, Wang, Ming-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): MONBLEAU, DAVIENNE N
• Application Number:
  US11/242,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20060140458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/221, 382124-127, 356/71
• US Class Current: 250/221
• 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 scanning device and an electronic device with a fingerprint scanning function are proposed. The fingerprint scanning device has a contact image sensing module, a signal conversion controller, a module controller and an interface controller. The contact image sensing module captures a fingerprint image. The signal conversion controller converts this analog fingerprint image to a digital signal. The module controller controls the contact image sensing module and the signal conversion module. The interface controller transmits the digital signal to a controller in an electronic device. The contact image sensing module is used to lower the cost and lengthen the lifetime of use of the fingerprint scanning device, and to make the captured fingerprint image clearer. The interface controller is connected to the signal conversion module and the module controller to make the digital signal transmitted by the signal conversion controller more easily accessible.

Claims

1. A fingerprint scanning device comprising:

a contact image sensing module for capturing a fingerprint image, said contact image sensing module including a main circuit board, said main circuit board being a composite circuit board, said composite circuit board including a first rigid printed circuit board, a second rigid printed circuit board, a third rigid printed circuit board and at least a flexible printed circuit board, said first, second and third rigid printed circuit boards being electrically connected to said flexible printed circuit board to respectively form a first composite substrate, a second composite substrate and a third composite substrate;

a signal conversion controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and used to convert said analog fingerprint image to a digital signal;

a module controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller and used to control said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller; and

an interface controller electrically connected to said signal conversion controller and said module controller and used to control the transmission of said digital signal to a controller in an electronic device.

2. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said module controller and said interface controller are integrated into a single controller.

3. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface controller is further electrically connected with a wired communication interface and a wireless communication interface.

4. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said contact image sensing module further comprises:

a linear sensor array disposed on said main circuit board;

at least a motion sensor disposed on said main circuit board and parallel-arranged at one side of said linear sensor array;

a light source; and

a detection surface defined at one side of said linear sensor array and said motion sensor;

whereby a fingerprint is placed on said detection surface, and light of said light source is transmitted to said detection surface and reflected by said fingerprint to said linear sensor array and said motion sensor.

5. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 4,wherein a predetermined upward tilt angle is formed on each of said second and third composite substrates facing said first composite substrate, said linear sensor array and said motion sensor are disposed on said second composite substrate, and said light source is disposed on said third composite substrate.

6. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said linear sensor array and said motion sensor are electrically connected to said second rigid printed circuit board by means of chip-on-board.

7. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said light source is electrically connected to said third rigid printed circuit board by means of chip-on-board.

8. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said linear sensor array has a plurality of image sensors, and at least one of said image sensors corresponds to said motion sensor and is defined as a comparison sensor.

9. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said contact image sensing module has a light guide device, wherein an axis said light guide device is parallel to said linear sensor array, and one end of said light guide device is adjacent to said light source.

10. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said contact image sensing module has a focusing device, wherein an axis of said focusing device is parallel to said linear sensor array, and said focusing device is located between said light guide device and said linear sensor array.

11. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a reflecting surface and a light-emanating surface are formed along an axis of said light guide device, a detection surface is defined on said reflecting surface, and said light-emanating surface corresponds to said focusing device.

12. An electronic device with a fingerprint scanning function, comprising:

a fingerprint scanning device; and

a microprocessor;

wherein said fingerprint scanning device comprises;

a contact image sensing module for capturing a fingerprint image, said contact image sensing module including a main circuit board, said main circuit board being a composite circuit board, said composite circuit board including a first rigid printed circuit board, a second rigid printed circuit board, a third rigid printed circuit board and at least a flexible printed circuit board, said first, second and third rigid printed circuit boards being electrically connected to said flexible printed circuit board to respectively form a first composite substrate, a second composite substrate and a third composite substrate;

a signal conversion controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and used to convert said analog fingerprint image to a digital signal;

a module controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller and used to control said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller; and

an interface controller electrically connected to said signal conversion controller, said module controller, and said microprocessor, and used to control the transmission of said digital signal to said microprocessor.

13. An electronic device with a fingerprint scanning function, comprising:

a fingerprint scanning device; and

a communication interface;

wherein said fingerprint scanning device comprises;

a contact image sensing module for capturing a fingerprint image said contact image sensing module including a main circuit board, said main circuit board being a composite circuit board, said composite circuit board including a first rigid printed circuit board, a second rigid printed circuit board, a third rigid printed circuit board and at least a flexible printed circuit board, said first, second and third rigid printed circuit boards being electrically connected to said flexible printed circuit board to respectively form a first composite substrate, a second composite substrate and a third composite substrate;

a signal conversion controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and used to convert said analog fingerprint image to a digital signal;

a module controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller and used to control said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller; and

an interface controller electrically connected to said signal conversion controller, said module controller and said communication interface and used to control the transmission of said digital signal to said communication interface.

14. electronic device with a fingerprint scanning function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said communication interface is a wired communication interface.

15. The electronic device with a fingerprint scanning function as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a USB hub, wherein said communication interface is a USB communication interface and is connected to said USB hub.

16. The electronic device with a fingerprint scanning function as claimed in claim 13, wherein said communication interface is a wireless communication interface.

17. A fingerprint scanning device comprising:

a contact image sensing module for capturing a fingerprint image, wherein said contact image sensing module includes a main circuit board, said main circuit board is a composite circuit board, said composite circuit board comprising a first rigid printed circuit board, a second rigid printed circuit board, and a flexible printed circuit board, said first and second rigid printed circuit boards being electrically connected to said flexible printed circuit board to form a first composite substrate and a second composite substrate, respectively;

a signal conversion controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and used to convert said analog fingerprint image to a digital signal;

a module controller electrically connected to said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller and used to control said contact image sensing module and said signal conversion controller; and

an interface controller electrically connected to said signal conversion controller and said module controller and used to control the transmission of said digital signal to a contoller in an electronic device.

18. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said contact image sensing module further comprises:

a linear sensor array disposed on said main circuit board,

at least a motion sensor disposed on said main circuit board and parallel-arranged at one side of said linear sensor array;

a light source; and

a detection surface defined at one side of said linear sensor array and said motion sensor;

whereby a fingerprint is placed on said detection surface, and light of said light source is transmitted to said detection surface and reflected by said fingerprint to said linear sensor array and said motion sensor.

19. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 18,wherein a predetermined upward tilt angle is formed on each of said second composite substrate facing said first composite substrate, said linear sensor array and said motion sensor are disposed on said second composite substrate, and said light source is disposed on said first composite substrate.

20. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said linear sensor array and said motion sensor are electrically connected to said second rigid printed circuit board by means of chip-on-board.

21. The fingerprint scanning device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said light source is electrically connected to said first rigid printed circuit board by means of dual-in-line package.