Integrated fingerprint sensor and navigation device

• US 9,001,040 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Dean, Gregory Lewis, Erhart, Richard Alexander, Jandu, Jaswinder, Russo, Anthony, Thompson, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): MISTRY, RAM A
• Application Number:
  US12/792,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-178, 382124-126
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0336 Mouse integrated fingerprint sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed in a first embodiment of the invention as including a non-conductive substrate providing a first surface onto which a user can apply a fingerprint. A fingerprint sensing circuit is applied to a second surface of the non-conductive substrate opposite the first surface. The fingerprint sensing circuit is capable of sensing a fingerprint through the non-conductive substrate. A navigation device is positioned adjacent to (e.g., below) the non-conductive substrate and is capable of being manipulated by the user through the non-conductive substrate.

Claims

1. A user device comprising:

a device housing having a shell comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;

an opening extending through the outer surface of the shell;

a user input navigation device extending through the opening;

a non-conductive flexible substrate overlaid on a top surface of the user input navigation device, the non-conductive flexible substrate providing a first surface onto which a user can apply a biometric object, and a second surface opposite the first surface onto which a biometric object image sensing device, comprising a plurality of biometric object image sensing element traces is applied, the plurality of biometric object image sensing element traces comprising one of a plurality of signal transmitting lines and at least one signal receiving line, forming an array of capacitive gap biometric object image sensing pixel elements, and at least one signal transmitting line and a plurality of signal receiving lines forming an array of capacitive gap biometric object image sensing pixel elements; and

the first surface abutting the inner surface of the shell and the second surface abutting the top surface of the user input navigation device.

2. The user device of claim 1 wherein the biometric object comprises a finger of a user.

3. The user device of claim 1 wherein the biometric object image comprises a fingerprint of a user.

4. The user device of claim 1 wherein the user input navigation device comprises a graphical user interface pointing device.

5. The user device of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller mounted on the second surface of the non-conductive flexible substrate opposite the first surface in abutting relationship with the inner surface of the shell and in electrical communication with the biometric object image sensing element traces on the second surface of the non-conductive flexible substrate.