Fingerprint sensor and integratable electronic display

• US 9,400,911 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• 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:
  US13/099,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20110267298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• Field of Search: 348/161, 382124-127
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement

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 system, comprising:

a cover glass;

a fingerprint sensor formed of direct build-up patterned conductors disposed on the cover glass, wherein the direct build-up patterned conductors are passive traces forming an image sensing array of capacitively coupled drive elements and pick up elements;

a flexible connector connected to the patterned conductors;

a chip mounted on the flexible connector, the chip being configured to control the fingerprint sensor, wherein the chip comprises an excitation circuit for energizing the drive elements and a detection circuit for detecting corresponding signals received from the pickup elements; and

a display module below the cover glass, the display module being configured to produce a visible display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover glass is formed from a chemically hardened glass.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a touch sensor below the cover glass.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the fingerprint sensor is positioned such that it overlays a portion of the touch sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a protective layer positioned over the cover glass and the fingerprint sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the protective layer is a protective glass layer.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the protective layer is a flexible film.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is positioned on an upper surface of the cover glass.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is formed of transparent patterned conductors.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is fully or partially covered by a mask layer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the display module comprises a glass layer.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible connector and the chip form a chip-on-flex (COF) structure.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a touch sensor, wherein the chip is further configured to control the touch sensor and the display module.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the chip is positioned below the cover glass.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible connector is attached at an upper surface of the cover glass, and the flexible connector is wrapped around the cover glass to position the chip below the cover glass.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible connector is attached at a lower surface of the cover glass, and the chip is positioned below the cover glass.

17. A system comprising:

a cover glass configured to protect a display module below the cover glass, the display module being configured to produce a visible display;

a fingerprint sensor formed of direct build-up patterned conductors disposed on the cover glass, wherein the direct build-up patterned conductors are passive traces forming an image sensing array of capacitively coupled drive elements and pick up elements; and

a chip, connected to the fingerprint sensor, the chip being configured to control the fingerprint sensor, wherein the chip comprises an excitation circuit for energizing the drive elements and a detection circuit for detecting corresponding signals received from the pickup elements.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the cover glass is formed from a chemically hardened glass.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a protective layer positioned over the cover glass and the fingerprint sensor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the protective layer is a protective glass layer.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the protective layer is a flexible film.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor is positioned on an upper surface of the cover glass.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the fingerprint sensor is formed of transparent patterned conductors.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a flexible connector connected to the patterned conductors; and

wherein the chip is mounted on the flexible connector.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the flexible connector and the chip form a chip-on-flex (COF) structure.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the chip is positioned below the cover glass.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the flexible connector is attached at an upper surface of the cover glass, and the flexible connector is wrapped around the cover glass to position the chip below the cover glass.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the flexible connector is attached at a lower surface of the cover glass, and the chip is positioned below the cover glass.

29. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a touch sensor below the cover glass.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the fingerprint sensor is positioned such that it overlays a portion of the touch sensor.

31. A system, comprising:

a cover glass;

a fingerprint sensor, comprising direct build-up patterned conductors disposed on the cover glass, wherein the direct build-up patterned conductors are passive traces forming an image sensing array of capacitively coupled drive elements and pick up elements;

a chip, connected to the fingerprint sensor, the chip being configured to control the fingerprint sensor, wherein the chip comprises an excitation circuit for energizing the drive elements and a detection circuit for detecting corresponding signals received from the pickup elements;

a touch sensor below the cover glass; and

a display module below the cover glass, the display module being configured to produce a visible display.