FINGERPRINT SENSOR PACKAGINGS AND METHODS

• US 20130259329A1
• Filed: 03/26/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Validity Sensors Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: WICKBOLDT, Paul, ERHART, Richard Alexander, NELSON, Richard Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,152,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/63 by static guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor

Abstract

A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within a housing adaptable for use in an electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device user interface comprising:

a housing having side walls defining an open upper end having an overall dimension sized to fit into an electronic device;

a biometric sensor capable of sensing a target biometric parameter having a sensor interface with a sensing side wherein the sensor interface is capable of positioning within the open upper end of the housing;

one or more of a button, a switch, a key, and a mechanism for triggering an event or controlling an operational aspect of the electronic device; and

an integrated circuit in communication with the biometric sensor.

2. The electronic device user interface of claim 1 further comprising a protective coating wherein the protective coating extends over one or more side walls of the housing.

3. The electronic device user interface of claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor further comprises a flexible circuit substrate and at least one conductive trace connecting the biometric sensor to the integrated circuit.

4. The electronic device user interface of claim 3 wherein the conductive traces of the flexible circuit substrate are positionable on at least one of a side of the flexible circuit substrate facing towards an exterior of the housing and a side of the flexible circuit substrate facing towards an interior of the housing.

5. The electronic device user interface of claim 1 further comprising:

a potting material positionable between the lower surface of the housing and the protective coating.

6. The electronic device user interface of claim 1 further comprising:

a bezel extending from the side walls of the housing above the bottom of the protective covering.

7. The electronic device user interface of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a removable bottom plate that attaches to the housing to support the biometric sensor.

8. The electronic device user interface of claim 7 wherein the flexible circuit wraps around the removable bottom plate.

9. The electronic device user interface of claim 8 further comprising an adhesive potting between the bottom plate and the protective coating.

10. The electronic device user interface of claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor is capable of capturing a fingerprint from a finger of a user.

11. A method of fabricating an electronic device user interface comprising:

providing a biometric sensor having a sensor interface with a sensing side and one or more conductive traces thereon in communication with a flexible circuit;

providing one or more of a button, a switch, a key, and a mechanism for triggering an event or controlling an operational aspect of the electronic device;

inserting the biometric sensor and the one or more of the button, the switch, the key, and the mechanism for triggering the event or controlling the operational aspect of the electronic device into a housing; and

providing an integrated circuit external to the housing in communication with the biometric sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing a protective coating on the sensing side of the biometric sensor and forming the protective coating over one or more side walls of the housing.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the biometric sensor is comprised of a flexible circuit having a flexible substrate, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

forming at least one conductive trace connecting the biometric sensor to the integrated circuit.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

forming the one or more conductive traces of the flexible circuit at least one of a side of the flexible substrate adjacent a finger of a user and a side of the flexible substrate facing away from the finger.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing an adhesive between the bottom portion of the housing and the protective coating.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

forming a bezel over at least the edges of the protective covering.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing a bottom plate that attaches to the housing to enclose the biometric sensor.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

forming the flexible circuit around the bottom plate.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing an adhesive between the bottom plate and the protective coating.

20. A method of using an electronic device user interface comprising:

providing a housing having side walls defining an open upper end having an overall dimension sized to fit into an electronic device, a biometric sensor capable of sensing a target biometric parameter having a sensor interface with a sensing side wherein the sensor interface is capable of positioning within the open upper end of the housing, one or more of a button, a switch, a key, and a mechanism for triggering an event or controlling an operational aspect of the electronic device, and an integrated circuit in communication with the biometric sensor; and

capturing a fingerprint from a finger of a user when the finger is applied to the biometric sensor.

21. The method of using an electronic device user interface 20 wherein the integrated circuit is external to the housing.

22. The method of using an electronic device user interface 20 wherein a protective coating is provided on the sensing side of the sensor interface.