Multi-layered sensing with multiple resolutions

• US 9,261,991 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid M., Love, Robert T., Slaby, Jiri
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRACIA, GARY S
• Application Number:
  US13/928,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20140359756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 726/19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

A display component (108) displays multiple icons that a user can touch. A multi-layered sensing component (104) includes at least a high resolution sensing component (204) and a low resolution sensing component (202). The low resolution sensing component is activated to detect objects touching the multi-layer sensing component. In response to the low resolution sensing component detecting an object touching one of the multiple icons, the low resolution sensing component is deactivated and at least a portion of the high resolution sensing component over the touched icon is activated. The high resolution sensing component senses the user'"'"'s fingerprint, which is authenticated. After sensing the user'"'"'s fingerprint, the high resolution sensing component is deactivated and the low resolution sensing component is reactivated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying, by a device, multiple icons at a display structure of the device,

wherein the display structure comprises;

a display screen for displaying the multiple icons;

a low resolution sensor situated above the display screen for detecting touches;

a separation layer situated above the low resolution sensor;

a high resolution sensor situated above the separation layer for detecting fingerprints; and

a protective layer situated above the high resolution sensor;

activating, by the device, the low resolution sensor of the display structure for detecting touches at the protective layer;

detecting, by the device, using the low resolution sensor, an object touching a location of the display structure at which one of the multiple icons is displayed; and

responsive to detecting the object touching the location of the display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed;

deactivating, by the device, the low resolution sensor; and

activating, by the device, at least one area of the high resolution sensor of the display structure for detecting fingerprints, the at least one area corresponding to the location of the display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the device, using the low resolution sensor, the at least one area of the high resolution sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing, by the device, using the high resolution sensor, a fingerprint in at least the at least one area;

authenticating, by the device, the fingerprint; and

responsive to authenticating the fingerprint;

deactivating, by the device, the high resolution sensor; and

activating, by the device, the low resolution sensor.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising enabling, by the device, an application associated with the one icon of the multiple icons to execute based on an identity of a user associated with the fingerprint.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the at least one area of the high resolution sensor comprises activating a portion of the high resolution sensor that overlaps the location at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed or is at least within a threshold distance of the location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the high resolution sensor comprises a sensing grid, and activating the at least one area of the high resolution sensor comprises activating one or more drive lines and sense lines of the sensing grid located at the location at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed or that are at least within a threshold distance of the location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is a first location, the method further comprising:

deactivating, by the device, the high resolution sensor;

activating, by the device, the low resolution sensor;

detecting, by the device, using the low resolution sensor, an object touching a second location of the display structure at which an additional one of the multiple icons is displayed; and

while the object detecting the object touching the additional one of the multiple icons keeping, by the device, the low resolution sensor activated and the high resolution sensor deactivated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the at least one area of the high resolution sensor comprises activating the at least one area of the high resolution sensor in a medium resolution mode that is less than a full resolution of the high resolution sensor.

9. A device comprising:

a display controller configured to display multiple icons at an external display structure, wherein the external display structure comprises;

a display screen for displaying the multiple icons;

a low resolution sensor situated above the display screen and configured to detect an object touching a location of the external display structure at which one of the multiple icons is displayed;

a separation layer situated above the low resolution sensor;

a high resolution sensor situated above the separation layer and configured to sense a fingerprint in at least one area corresponding to the location of the external display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed; and

a protective layer situated above the high resolution sensor,

wherein the display controller is further configured to activate the low resolution sensor of the external display structure for detecting the object touching the location of the external display structure by at least detecting touches at the protective layer.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the display controller is further configured to:

deactivate the low resolution sensor while the high resolution sensor is activated for sensing the fingerprint, and

reactivate the low resolution sensor after the high resolution sensor senses the fingerprint.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the display controller is further configured to deactivate portions of the high resolution sensor other than the at least one area.

12. The device of claim 9, the high resolution sensor comprising a sensing grid, and the at least one area comprising one or more drive lines and sense lines of the sensing grid located at the location of the external display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed or that are at least within a threshold distance of the location.

13. A device comprising:

a display structure comprising;

a display screen for displaying multiple icons;

a low resolution sensor situated above the display screen for detecting touches;

a separation layer situated above the low resolution sensor;

a high resolution sensor situated above the separation layer for detecting fingerprints; and

a protective layer situated above the high resolution sensor;

a display controller configured to display the multiple icons at the display screen; and

a sensor controller configured to;

activate the low resolution sensor for detecting touches at the protective layer;

detect, using the low resolution sensor, an object touching a location of the display structure at which one of the multiple icons is displayed; and

responsive to the low resolution sensor detecting the object touching the location of the display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed;

deactivate the low resolution sensor; and

activate at least one area of the high resolution sensor for detecting fingerprints, the at least one area corresponding to the location of the display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is being displayed.

14. The device of claim 13, the sensor controller being further configured to determine, using the low resolution sensor, the at least one area of the high resolution sensor.

15. The device of claim 13, the sensor controller being further configured to:

determine, using the low resolution sensor, multiple additional areas of the high resolution sensor that correspond to multiple additional locations of the display structure at which the low resolution sensor detects concurrent touches; and

activate the multiple additional areas of the high resolution sensor.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising a driver and a multiplexer configured to activate different parts of the high resolution sensor at different times.

17. The device of claim 13, further comprising a driver configured to activate the high resolution sensor and the low resolution sensor at different times.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the sensor controller is further configured to activate the at least one area of the high resolution sensor by at least activating a portion of the high resolution sensor that overlaps the location of the display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed or is at least within a threshold distance of the location.

19. The device of claim 13, the high resolution sensor comprising a sensing grid, and wherein the sensor controller is configured to activate the at least one area of the high resolution sensor by at least activating one or more drive lines and sense lines of the sensing grid located at the location of the display structure at which the one of the multiple icons is displayed or that are at least within a threshold distance of the location.