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

• US 9,092,653 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Setlak, Dale R., Neil, James Warren, Williams, Daryl D., Van Vonno, Nicolaas W., Jones, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US14/108,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20140105469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 capable of generating signals related to at least one finger biometric characteristic;

a piezoelectric transducer layer laterally adjacent said finger biometric sensing layer; and

a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to said piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes, at least one of said electrically conductive layers comprising a drive electrode capable of cooperating with said finger biometric sensing layer and coupling a radio frequency (RF) signal with a finger.

2. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a drive circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes and capable of driving said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the finger.

3. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a sense circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes and capable of sensing from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the finger.

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

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

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

5. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 3 wherein said sense circuit is capable of generating a pressure output signal related to pressure applied by the finger.

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

7. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a navigation circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes and capable of 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 and capable of 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 finger biometric sensing layer.

10. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 1 wherein the at least one finger biometric characteristic comprises a fingerprint pattern.

11. A method for making a finger biometric sensor comprising:

forming a finger biometric sensing layer capable of generating signals related to at least one finger biometric characteristic;

forming a piezoelectric transducer layer laterally adjacent the finger biometric sensing layer; and

forming a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes, at least one of the electrically conductive layers comprising a drive electrode capable of cooperating with the finger biometric sensing layer and coupling a radio frequency (RF) signal with a finger.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising forming a drive circuit coupled to the transducer electrodes and capable of driving the piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the finger.

13. The method according to claim 11 further comprising forming a sense circuit coupled to the transducer electrodes and capable of sensing from the piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the finger.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein forming the finger biometric sensing layer comprises forming the finger biometric sensing layer as part of an integrated circuit.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the at least one finger biometric characteristic comprises a fingerprint pattern.

16. A finger biometric sensor comprising:

a finger biometric sensing layer capable of generating signals related to at least one finger biometric characteristic and comprising a plurality of electric field sensing pixels;

a piezoelectric transducer layer laterally adjacent said finger biometric sensing layer; and

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

17. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 16 wherein at least one of said plurality of electrically conductive layers is capable of cooperating with said finger biometric sensing layer.

18. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 16 further comprising a drive circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes and capable of driving said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the finger.

19. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 16 further comprising a sense circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes and capable of sensing from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the finger.

20. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 16 further comprising a matcher coupled to said finger biometric sensing layer and capable of determining a match based upon the at least one finger biometric characteristic.

21. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 16 wherein said finger biometric sensing layer comprises an integrated circuit finger biometric sensing layer.

22. The finger biometric sensor according to claim 16 wherein the at least one finger biometric characteristic comprises a fingerprint pattern.

23. A method for making a finger biometric sensor comprising:

forming a finger biometric sensing layer capable of generating signals related to at least one finger biometric characteristic and comprising a plurality of electric field sensing pixels;

forming a piezoelectric transducer layer laterally adjacent the finger biometric sensing layer; and

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

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein forming the plurality of electrically conductive layers comprises forming at least one of said electrically conductive layers to be capable of cooperating with said finger biometric sensing layer.

25. The method according to claim 23 further comprising forming a drive circuit coupled to the transducer electrodes and capable of driving the piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the finger.

26. The method according to claim 23 further comprising forming a sense circuit coupled to the transducer electrodes and capable of sensing from the piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the finger.

27. The method according to claim 23 wherein forming the finger biometric sensing layer comprises forming the finger biometric sensing layer as part of an integrated circuit.

28. The method according to claim 23 wherein the at least one finger biometric characteristic comprises a fingerprint pattern.