Capacitive sensor packaging

• US 9,268,989 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pope, Benjamin J., Arnold, Shawn, Corlett, Barry J., Gilton, Terry L., Husaini, Syed, Webster, Steven, Myers, Scott A., Hill, Matthew D., Lyon, Benjamin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles V
• Application Number:
  US14/855,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20160004896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 161 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1353 Extracting features related to minutiae or pores
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a cover glass positioned over a first surface of the electronic device;

a display positioned below the cover glass;

a button assembly positioned adjacent to the display, the button assembly comprising;

a fingerprint sensor;

a first rigid substrate positioned below the fingerprint sensor;

a circuit element positioned below the first rigid substrate and electrically connected to the fingerprint sensor; and

a stiffener positioned below the circuit element.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a button positioned over the fingerprint sensor in an aperture in the cover glass.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the button comprises a lens.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the button is formed with an anisotropic dielectric material.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the anisotropic dielectric material comprises sapphire.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a switch element positioned below the stiffener, wherein the switch element and the fingerprint sensor are positioned with respect to the button such that the electronic device receives fingerprint information when a finger contacts the button and the electronic device receives button-push information when the button is pressed.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the switch element comprises a dome switch.

8. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a touch-responsive control element positioned below the stiffener.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a capacitive fingerprint sensor.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a trim at least partially surrounding the capacitive fingerprint sensor.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the cover glass is formed with an anisotropic dielectric material.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the anisotropic dielectric material comprises sapphire.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a cover glass positioned over a first surface of the electronic device;

a display positioned below the cover glass;

a button assembly positioned adjacent to the display, the button assembly comprising;

a fingerprint sensor;

a flexible circuit element positioned below the fingerprint sensor and electrically connected to the fingerprint sensor; and

a stiffener positioned below the flexible circuit element.

14. The electronic device as in claim 13, further comprising a rigid substrate positioned between the fingerprint sensor and the flexible circuit element.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a button positioned over the fingerprint sensor in an aperture in the cover glass.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the button comprises a lens.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the button is formed with an anisotropic dielectric material.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a switch element positioned below the stiffener, wherein the switch element and the fingerprint sensor are positioned with respect to the button such that the electronic device receives fingerprint information when a finger contacts the button and the electronic device receives button-push information when the button is pressed.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the switch element comprises a dome switch.

20. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a touch-responsive control element positioned below the stiffener.

21. The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising at least one grounding element disposed on at least one side of the capacitive fingerprint sensor.

22. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a capacitive fingerprint sensor.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, further comprising a trim at least partially surrounding the capacitive fingerprint sensor.

24. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the cover glass is formed with an anisotropic dielectric material.