Apparatus and method for protecting fingerprint sensing circuitry from electrostatic discharge
First Claim
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1. A fingerprint sensor comprising:
- a non-conductive substrate having a sensing surface on a sensing surface side of the non-conductive substrate, across which a user swipes a finger in order to sense a fingerprint;
a fingerprint sensing circuit having fingerprint sensing components formed on a circuit component surface on a circuit component side of the non-conductive substrate, opposing the sensing surface on the sensing surface side of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the fingerprint sensor senses a fingerprint when the finger is swiped across the sensing surface; and
an electrostatic discharge conductor formed on the non-conductive substrate intermediate an area of electrostatic charge formed on the sensing surface and the fingerprint sensing circuit components formed on the circuit component surface.
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Abstract
A fingerprint sensor in accordance with the invention includes a non-conductive substrate providing a first surface onto which a user can apply a fingerprint to be sensed. A sensor circuit is applied to a second surface of the non-conductive substrate opposite the first surface to sense a fingerprint when juxtaposed proximally thereto. An electrostatic discharge conductor is applied to the non-conductive surface and is located between an area where a fingerprint is swiped and the sensor circuit. The electrostatic discharge conductor discharges electrostatic charge resulting from a user swiping a fingerprint across the first surface.
380 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A fingerprint sensor comprising:
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a non-conductive substrate having a sensing surface on a sensing surface side of the non-conductive substrate, across which a user swipes a finger in order to sense a fingerprint; a fingerprint sensing circuit having fingerprint sensing components formed on a circuit component surface on a circuit component side of the non-conductive substrate, opposing the sensing surface on the sensing surface side of the non-conductive substrate, wherein the fingerprint sensor senses a fingerprint when the finger is swiped across the sensing surface; and an electrostatic discharge conductor formed on the non-conductive substrate intermediate an area of electrostatic charge formed on the sensing surface and the fingerprint sensing circuit components formed on the circuit component surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrostatic discharge-protected fingerprint sensor comprising:
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a non-conductive substrate having a sensing surface and a circuit component surface on opposite sides of the non-conductive substrate wherein an electrostatic charge accumulates on the sensing surface as a result of contacting a finger of a user on the sensing surface of the non-conductive substrate; a fingerprint sensing circuit formed on the circuit component surface of the non-conductive substrate opposing the sensing surface and sensitive to electrostatic charge accumulating in an electrostatic charge region on the sensing surface; and an electrostatic discharge conductor formed on the non-conductive substrate intermediate the electrostatic charge region of the sensing surface and the circuit component surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fingerprint sensor comprising:
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a first non-conductive substrate; fingerprint sensing circuit components formed on a circuit component side of the first non-conductive substrate, the circuit component side of the first non-conductive substrate opposing a sensor side of the first non-conductive substrate; a second non-conductive substrate covering at least a portion of the first non-conductive substrate providing a sensing area, on a sensing surface on a sensing side of the second non-conductive substrate, onto which a user applies a finger; and an electrostatic discharge conductor formed on one of the first non-conductive substrate and the second non-conductive substrate, intermediate an area of electrostatic charge formed in the sensing area on the sensing surface of the second non-conductive substrate and the fingerprint sensing circuit components formed on the circuit component side of the first non-conductive substrate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A fingerprint sensor comprising:
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a non-conductive substrate providing a sensing surface onto which a user applies a finger to be sensed; a fingerprint sensing circuit applied to a circuit component surface of the non-conductive substrate, opposite the sensing surface, configured to sense a fingerprint, wherein the fingerprint sensing circuit further comprises a velocity sensor and an image sensor; and an electrostatic discharge conductor formed on the non-conductive substrate, intermediate an area of electrostatic charge accumulated on the sensing surface and the sensing circuit component surface of the nonconductive substrate.
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25. A method of protecting a fingerprint sensor from an accumulating electrostatic charge comprising:
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forming a non-conductive substrate having a sensing surface on a sensing surface side of the non-conductive substrate, allowing for a user to swipe a finger in order to sense a fingerprint; forming a fingerprint sensing circuit having fingerprint sensing components on a circuit component surface on a circuit component side of the non-conductive substrate, opposing the sensing surface on the sensing surface side of the non-conductive substrate, allowing for the fingerprint sensor to sense a fingerprint when the finger is swiped across the sensing surface; and forming an electrostatic discharge conductor on the non-conductive substrate intermediate an area of electrostatic charge accumulated on the sensing surface and the fingerprint sensing circuit components formed on the circuit component surface.
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Specification