Finger biometric sensor including laterally adjacent piezoelectric transducer layer and associated methods

• US 8,604,905 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AuthenTec Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Setlak, Dale R., Neil, James W., Williams, Daryl D., Jones, Richard J., Van Vonno, Nicolaas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US12/907,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/5.83
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.

Claims

1. A finger biometric sensor comprising:

a finger biometric sensing layer having opposing first and second major surfaces and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface;

a piezoelectric transducer layer adjacent the second major surface of said finger biometric sensing layer;

a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to said piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes; and

a finger drive electrode adjacent said finger biometric sensing layer and said piezoelectric transducer layer, and configured to couple a radio frequency (RF) signal with the user'"'"'s finger.

2. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a drive circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to drive said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user'"'"'s finger.

3. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a sense circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to sense from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user'"'"'s finger.

4. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 3 further comprising:

a reading circuit coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for reading signals therefrom; and

a power up circuit for selectively powering up said reading circuit based upon said sense circuit.

5. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 3 wherein said sense circuit generates a pressure output signal related to an amount of pressure applied by the user'"'"'s finger.

6. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a matcher coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for determining a match based upon the at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger.

7. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a navigation circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one navigation function.

8. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a feedback circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one feedback function.

9. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 wherein said finger biometric sensing layer comprises an integrated circuit.

10. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a mounting substrate below said piezoelectric transducer layer.

11. A finger biometric sensor comprising:

a finger biometric sensing layer having opposing first and second major surfaces and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface;

a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the second major surface of said finger biometric sensing layer; and

a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to said piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes;

a finger drive electrode adjacent said finger biometric sensing layer and said piezoelectric transducer layer, and configured to couple a radio frequency (RF) signal with the user'"'"'s finger;

a drive circuit coupled to said first and second transducer electrodes to drive said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user'"'"'s finger; and

a sense circuit coupled to said first and second transducer electrodes to sense from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user'"'"'s finger.

12. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 11 further comprising:

a reading circuit coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for reading signals therefrom; and

a power up circuit for selectively powering up said reading circuit based upon said sense circuit.

13. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 11 wherein said sense circuit generates a pressure output signal related to an amount of pressure applied by the user'"'"'s finger.

14. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 11 further comprising a matcher coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for determining a match based upon the at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger.

15. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 11 further comprising a navigation circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one navigation function.

16. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 11 further comprising a feedback circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one feedback function.

17. A method of making a finger biometric sensor comprising:

providing a finger biometric sensing layer having opposing first and second major surfaces and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface;

coupling a piezoelectric transducer layer to the second major surface of the finger biometric sensing layer;

coupling a plurality of electrically conductive layers to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes; and

positioning a finger drive electrode adjacent the finger biometric sensing layer and the piezoelectric transducer layer, the finger drive electrode for coupling a radio frequency (RF) signal with the user'"'"'s finger.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising coupling a drive circuit coupled to the transducer electrodes to drive the piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user'"'"'s finger.

19. The method according to claim 17 further comprising coupling a sense circuit to the transducer electrodes to sense from the piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user'"'"'s finger.

20. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:

coupling a reading circuit to the finger biometric sensing layer for reading signals therefrom; and

providing a power up circuit for selectively powering up the reading circuit based upon the sense circuit.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the sense circuit generates a pressure output signal related to an amount of pressure applied by the user'"'"'s finger.

22. The method according to claim 17 further comprising coupling a matcher to the finger biometric sensing layer for determining a match based upon the at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger.

23. A finger biometric sensor comprising:

a finger biometric sensing layer having opposing first and second major surfaces and comprising a plurality of electric field sensing pixels for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface, the generated signals based upon a respective sensed electric field;

a piezoelectric transducer layer adjacent the second major surface of said finger biometric sensing layer; and

a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to said piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes.

24. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 23 further comprising a drive circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to drive said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user'"'"'s finger.

25. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 23 further comprising a sense circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to sense from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user'"'"'s finger.

26. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 25 further comprising:

a reading circuit coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for reading signals therefrom; and

a power up circuit for selectively powering up said reading circuit based upon said sense circuit.

27. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 25 wherein said sense circuit generates a pressure output signal related to an amount of pressure applied by the user'"'"'s finger.

28. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 23 further comprising a matcher coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer for determining a match based upon the at least one biometric characteristic of the user'"'"'s finger.

29. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 23 further comprising a navigation circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one navigation function.

30. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 23 further comprising a feedback circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes for performing at least one feedback function.