Fingerprint sensor and integratable electronic display

• US 9,274,553 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Erhart, Richard Alexander, Nelson, Richard Brian, Wickboldt, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, JARED T
• Application Number:
  US13/454,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382124-127, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• 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 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger

Abstract

A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

an electronic device display comprising;

a display module configured to provide a visible display, and

a cover glass, configured to protect the display module, positioned above the display module;

a protective layer positioned above the cover glass of the electronic device display, wherein the protective layer has a thickness of approximately 1 mm or less and is configured to provide an interface for a finger to interact with the sensor system;

a fingerprint sensor, positioned between the cover glass of the electronic device display and the protective layer; and

a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor, configured to control the fingerprint sensor to capture a parameter of a fingerprint.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device display further comprises a touch sensor.

3. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the touch sensor is controllable by a touch sensor controller.

4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further coupled to a touch sensor.

5. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a mask layer having an upper surface adjacent the protective layer.

6. The sensor system of claim 5, wherein a conductive layer is disposed on a bottom surface of the mask layer, wherein the mask layer is positioned on a lower surface of the protective layer.

7. The sensor system of claim 5, wherein the mask layer further includes an indication of a fingerprint sensing area.

8. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the controller is part of a chip-on-flex assembly.

9. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises at least one conductive layer.

10. The sensor system of claim 9, wherein the at least one conductive layer comprises one or more of indium tin oxide, carbon nanotubes, metal nanowires, conductive transparent polymers, and fine line metal.

11. The sensor system of claim 9, wherein the at least one conductive layer comprises a flexible material.

12. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of each of a planarization layer, an optical coating, an optically clear adhesive, a clear plastic film, and a hard coat.

13. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the protective layer is selected from the group consisting of ultra thin glass and polyethylene terephthalate.

14. The sensor system of claim 13, further comprising a hard coating, wherein the hard coating is applied to the protective layer.

15. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the fingerprint sensor and the touch sensor comprise an integrally formed conductive layer.

16. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a display controller coupled to the display module and configured to control the visible display.

17. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further coupled to the display module and further configured to control the display module.

18. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the protective layer has a thickness of approximately 400 microns or less.

19. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the protective layer has a thickness of approximately 250 microns or less.

20. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the protective layer has a thickness of approximately 150 microns or less.

21. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to capture the parameter of the fingerprint when it is swiped or placed on an upper surface of the protective layer.

38. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein the protective layer is configured to provide an interface for the finger to interact with both the fingerprint sensor and the touch sensor.

22. A system comprising:

a protective layer, configured to provide an interface for a finger to interact with the system;

a fingerprint sensor disposed beneath the protective layer;

a cover glass disposed beneath the fingerprint sensor; and

a display module disposed beneath the cover glass such that the cover glass provides protection for the display module; and

a touch screen sensor disposed beneath the cover glass.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to sense a finger that comes in contact with an upper surface of the protective layer.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to sense a fingerprint swiped on the upper surface of the protective layer.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to sense a fingerprint placed on the upper surface of the protective layer.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a controller configured to control the fingerprint sensor.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a controller configured to control both the fingerprint sensor and the touch screen sensor.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a conductive layer formed on a bottom surface of the protective layer.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the protective layer comprises a flexible film, and the conductive layer is formed on a bottom surface of the flexible film.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the protective layer comprises a glass layer, and the conductive layer is formed on a bottom surface of the glass layer.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a conductive layer formed on a top surface of the cover glass.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the protective layer comprises a flexible film.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the protective layer comprises a glass layer.

35. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a transparent conductor and overlies at least a portion of the touch screen sensor.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the controller is disposed beneath the cover glass.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the controller is connected to the fingerprint sensor via a flexible connector wrapped around an edge of the cover glass.

34. A system comprising:

a protective layer, configured to provide an interface for a finger to interact with the system;

a fingerprint sensor disposed beneath the protective layer;

a cover glass disposed beneath the fingerprint sensor;

a display module disposed beneath the cover glass such that the cover glass provides protection for the display module; and

a touch screen sensor having a conductive layer,

wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a conductive layer formed on a same layer as the conductive layer of the touch screen sensor.