Fingerprint sensing device

• US 9,576,177 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fingerprint Cards IP AB
• Original Assignee: Fingerprint Cards AB
• Inventors: Lundahl, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Mistry, Oneal R
• Application Number:
  US14/926,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20160171271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48471 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area being a ball bond, i.e. wedge-to-ball, reverse stitch
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14678 Contact-type imagers

Abstract

A fingerprint sensing device (and associated method of manufacturing) comprises a sensing chip arranged on a substrate with readout circuitry. The sensing chip comprising a plurality of sensing elements having a surface defining a sensing plane, each sensing element being configured to provide a signal indicative of an electromagnetic coupling between a sensing element and a finger placed on the sensing device; bond wires arranged between bond pads located on the sensing chip on the substrate, respectively, to electrically connect the sensing chip to the readout circuitry. A portion of the bond wire protrudes above the chip and an adhesive is arranged on the sensing chip to covering to cover the chip so that the portion of the bond wire protruding above the chip is embedded in the adhesive. A protective plate is attached to the sensing chip by the adhesive and forms an exterior surface of the device.

Claims

1. A fingerprint sensing device comprising:

a substrate comprising readout circuitry;

a sensing chip arranged on said substrate, said sensing chip comprising a plurality of sensing structures each having a sensing element, wherein a surface of said sensing elements defines a sensing plane, each sensing element being configured to provide a signal indicative of an electromagnetic coupling between said sensing element and a finger placed on an exterior surface of the fingerprint sensing device;

a bond wire arranged between a first bond pad located on said sensing chip and a second bond pad located on said substrate to electrically connect said sensing chip to said readout circuitry, wherein said first bond pad is located in said sensing plane and wherein a portion of said bond wire protrudes above said sensing plane;

an adhesive arranged on said sensing chip to cover said sensing chip such that a portion of said bond wire protruding above said sensing plane is embedded in said adhesive; and

a protective plate attached to said sensing chip by means of said adhesive, said protective plate forming an exterior surface of the fingerprint sensing device.

2. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive has a thickness at least equal to said height of said portion of said bond wire protruding above said sensing plane.

3. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive is an adhesive film comprising:

a first adhesive layer arranged in contact with said sensing elements;

an intermediate carrier layer; and

a second adhesive layer arranged in contact with said protective plate.

4. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 3, wherein said first adhesive layer has a thickness at least equal to a height of said portion of said bond wire protruding above said sensing plane.

5. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 3, wherein said intermediate carrier layer comprises a dielectric material.

6. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 5, wherein said intermediate carrier layer comprises a material having an electric field breakdown strength of at least 100 V/μ

m, and preferably of at least 200 V/μ

m.

7. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 3, wherein said intermediate carrier layer comprises a polyimide film.

8. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a frame arranged on said substrate and surrounding said sensing chip, said frame having a height from the substrate larger than a height of the sensing chip and a height lower than or equal to a combined height of said sensing chip and said adhesive;

wherein said second bond pad located on said substrate is located between said sensing chip and said frame.

9. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 8, further comprising a sealing material arranged between said frame and said protective plate configured to seal a gap between said frame and said protective plate.

10. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 8, further comprising a filling material arranged between said sensing chip and said frame, filling a space between said sensing chip and said frame.

11. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 10, wherein said adhesive is arranged and configured to cover said filling material.

12. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 8, wherein said adhesive is arranged and configured to cover said frame.

13. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 8, wherein said frame is bezel-shaped having an inner recessed ledge configured to receive said protective plate.

14. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 8, wherein said protective plate is mechanically attached to said frame.

15. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 8, wherein said frame is electrically conductive.

16. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 15, further comprising a conductive adhesive connecting said frame to said substrate.

17. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of bond wires arranged on said substrate, said bond wires protruding from said substrate and being in contact with said frame such that an electrical connection is formed between said substrate and said frame by means of said bond wires.

18. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a frame being an integral part of said protective plate, said frame extending from said protective plate towards said substrate to encircle said sensing chip such that said bond pad of said substrate is located between said sensing chip and said frame.

19. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said protective plate has a geometry different from a geometry of said sensing chip.

20. The fingerprint sensing device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing chip further comprises:

a plurality of charge amplifiers, one charge amplifier connected to each of said sensing structures, for providing a sensing signal indicative of a change of a charge carried by the sensing structure resulting from a change in a potential difference between the finger and the sensing structure.

21. A method of manufacturing a fingerprint sensing device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a sensing chip comprising a plurality of sensing elements having a surface defining a sensing plane, each sensing element being configured to provide a signal indicative of an electromagnetic coupling between said sensing element and a finger placed on an exterior surface of the fingerprint sensing device;

arranging said sensing chip on a substrate comprising readout circuitry;

performing wire bonding to connect a bond pad of said sensing chip to a corresponding bond pad of said substrate by means of a bond wire, wherein said bond pad of said sensing chip is located in said sensing plane, such that a portion of said bond wire protrudes above said sensing plane;

arranging an adhesive on said sensing chip to cover said sensing chip, such that said portion of said bond wire protruding above said sensing plane is embedded in said adhesive; and

arranging a protective plate on said adhesive film, such that said protective plate is attached to said sensing chip, said protective plate forming an exterior surface of said fingerprint sensing device.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of arranging an adhesive on said sensing chip comprises arranging an adhesive film comprising a first adhesive layer in contact with said sensing element, an intermediate carrier layer, and a second adhesive layer configured to be in contact with said protective plate.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said intermediate carrier layer comprises a dielectric material.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of arranging an adhesive comprises arranging an adhesive covering the entire surface area of the sensing chip.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of arranging an adhesive is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the glass-liquid transition temperature, T_g, of said adhesive.

26. A method of manufacturing a fingerprint sensing device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a sensing chip comprising a plurality of sensing elements having a surface defining a sensing plane, each sensing element being configured to provide a signal indicative of an electromagnetic coupling between said sensing element and a finger placed on an exterior surface of the fingerprint sensing device;

arranging said sensing chip on a substrate comprising readout circuitry;

performing wire bonding to connect a bond pad of said sensing chip to a corresponding bond pad of said substrate by means of a bond wire, wherein said bond pad of said sensing chip is located in said sensing plane, such that a portion of said bond wire protrudes above said sensing plane;

arranging an adhesive on said sensing chip in contact with said sensing elements such that said portion of said bond wire protruding above said sensing plane is embedded in said adhesive;

forming a cover comprising a protective plate portion and a frame portion protruding from said protective plate;

said frame portion being configured to surround said sensing chip when said cover is arranged on said sensing chip and said substrate; and

arranging said cover on said sensing chip and said substrate such that said protective plate portion is attached to said sensing chip by means of said adhesive.