U.S. patent application number 12/916000 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-05 for systems and methods for sensing fingerprints through a display.
This patent application is currently assigned to Validity Sensors, Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard Alex Erhart.
Application Number | 20110102569 12/916000 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43922577 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110102569 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Erhart; Richard Alex |
May 5, 2011 |
Systems and Methods for Sensing Fingerprints Through a Display
Abstract
A fingerprint swipe sensor includes multiple fingerprint sensor
lines disposed on a surface of an LCD covered on an opposite
surface with motion sensing lines. The fingerprint swipe sensor
also includes a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines
to capture a fingerprint image when a user's finger is swiped about
the fingerprint sensor lines.
Inventors: |
Erhart; Richard Alex;
(Tempe, AZ) |
Assignee: |
Validity Sensors, Inc.
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
43922577 |
Appl. No.: |
12/916000 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12914812 |
Oct 28, 2010 |
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12916000 |
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61256908 |
Oct 30, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/77 ;
348/E7.085; 445/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/00053 20130101;
G06K 9/00026 20130101; G02F 1/13312 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/77 ; 445/24;
348/E07.085 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/18 20060101
H04N007/18; H01J 9/00 20060101 H01J009/00 |
Claims
1. A fingerprint swipe sensor, comprising: a plurality of
fingerprint sensor lines disposed on a first surface of an LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display) covered on an opposite surface with motion
sensing lines; and a controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor
lines to capture a fingerprint image when a user's finger is swiped
about the fingerprint sensor lines.
2. A fingerprint swipe sensor according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is further coupled to the motion sensing lines to
capture finger motion on the LCD.
3. A fingerprint swipe sensor according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of fingerprint sensor lines are disposed under a mask
layer on the opposite surface of the LCD.
4. A fingerprint swipe sensor according to claim 1, further
comprising a mask layer disposed on the opposite surface of the
LCD, wherein the mask layer includes an indication of a fingerprint
swiping area.
5. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen having a fingerprint swipe
sensor, the LCD screen comprising: an LCD module configured to
produce a visible display; a motion sensor circuit located on a
first surface of the LCD module; a protective layer located above
the motion sensor circuit and configured to durably receive a
user's finger surface; fingerprint sensor lines disposed on a
second surface of the LCD module, wherein the second surface of the
LCD module is opposite the first surface of the LCD module; and a
controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a
fingerprint image when a user's fingerprint is swiped about the
sensor lines.
6. An LCD screen according to claim 5, further comprising an LCD
controller coupled to the LCD module and configured to control the
visible display of the LCD module.
7. An LCD screen according to claim 6, wherein the LCD controller
is further coupled to the fingerprint sensor lines and further
configured to control the fingerprint sensor lines.
8. An LCD screen according to claim 5, wherein the fingerprint
sensor lines are disposed under a mask layer on the second surface
of the LCD module.
9. An LCD screen according to claim 8, wherein the mask layer
includes an identification of a fingerprint swiping area.
10. A method of assembling an LCD display device having motion
circuitry and fingerprint sensor circuitry, the method comprising:
providing a printed circuit board; mounting an LCD controller on
the printed circuit board; mounting an LCD module above the printed
circuit board; applying motion sensor circuitry onto a first side
of the LCD module; applying a mask layer onto the first side of the
LCD module; and applying fingerprint sensor circuitry on a second
side of the LCD module, wherein the second side of the LCD module
is opposite the first side of the LCD module.
11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising mounting a
user protective surface above the mask layer.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the LCD controller is
configured to control the motion sensor circuitry and the
fingerprint sensor circuitry.
13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising connecting
the LCD controller to the motion sensor circuitry and the
fingerprint sensor circuitry.
14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising mounting a
fingerprint sensor controller on the printed circuit board.
15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising connecting
the LCD controller to the motion sensor circuitry and connecting
the fingerprint sensor controller to the fingerprint sensor
circuitry.
16. A method according to claim 10, wherein applying fingerprint
sensor circuitry on a second side of the LCD module includes
bonding a fingerprint sensor to the second side of the LCD module
using an optically clear adhesive.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/914,812 filed on Oct. 28, 2010, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. That
application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 61/256,908, filed Oct. 30, 2009, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Since its inception, fingerprint sensing technology has
revolutionized identification and authentication processes. In most
cases, a single fingerprint can be used to uniquely identify an
individual in a manner that cannot be easily replicated or
imitated. The ability to capture and store fingerprint image data
in a digital file of minimal size has yielded immense benefits in
fields such as law enforcement, forensics, and information
security.
[0003] However, the widespread adoption of fingerprint sensing
technology in a broad range of applications has faced a number of
obstacles. Among these obstacles is the need for a separate and
distinct apparatus for capturing a fingerprint image, which most
consumer-grade computer systems do not contain. Incorporating a
distinct component whose only function is to capture fingerprint
image data into an otherwise multi-functional computer system is
often not economical for consumers or computer manufacturers.
Although low-cost fingerprint sensing devices do exist, consumers
are often reluctant to purchase a separate accessory with such a
limited application. Consequently, computer manufacturers typically
do not incorporate such accessories as built-in components.
[0004] Additionally, such components are often impractical for use
in systems that are designed to be of minimal size or weight. As
handheld devices begin to take on a greater range of functionality
and more widespread use, engineers and designers of such devices
are constantly seeking ways to maximize sophistication and ease of
use while minimizing size and cost. Typically, such devices only
incorporate input/output components that are deemed to be essential
to core functionality, e.g., a display screen, a keyboard, and a
limited set of buttons.
[0005] For these reasons, fingerprint-based authentication
techniques have not replaced username and password authentication
in the most common information security applications such as email,
online banking, and social networking. Paradoxically, the growing
amount of sensitive information Internet users are entrusting to
remote computer systems has intensified the need for authentication
procedures that are more reliable than password-based
techniques.
[0006] The advent and widespread adoption of LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display) technology provides an opportunity to address this need.
LCD technology provides a low-cost and versatile means of
incorporating both input and output functionality into a single
discrete component. Touch-screen technology, which typically
comprises a special layer within the LCD panel apparatus, enables
system output to be displayed and user input to be taken on the
same surface. LCD technology has replaced cathode ray tube (CRT)
displays in virtually all computer systems due to its lower power
consumption and physical space requirements. Additionally, the
declining cost and increasing sophistication of LCD touch-screen
displays have contributed to the growing popularity of handheld
computing devices incorporating such displays.
[0007] An LCD display with built-in fingerprint sensing capability
would thus lead to more widespread adoption of fingerprint-based
authentication. However, one problem with simply integrating
existing fingerprint sensing technology into LCD touch screens is
hardware incompatibility. Most fingerprint sensors require a
silicon circuit on which to mount the fingerprint sensing
components, whether they are resistive, capacitive, thermal, or
optical. Incorporating such a circuit into an LCD display would
require significant and costly modifications to the design and
production processes of such displays. However, a fingerprint
sensing system comprising a mechanism and components that can
easily be incorporated into existing LCD display structures
addresses this problem.
[0008] As will be seen, the present invention provides such a
system in an elegant manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an example LCD display device having
touch screen circuitry and a bezel portion with a fingerprint
sensor.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an example portion of an LCD display
device having touch screen circuitry and a fingerprint sensor.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of an example LCD
display device.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an example LCD display
device.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a side cut-away view of an example device
including a touch screen and a fingerprint sensor.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a side cut-away view of another example
device including a touch screen and a fingerprint sensor.
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates an example method of assembling an LCD
display device.
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates another example method of assembling an
LCD display device.
[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates an example sensing device configured for
use with the fingerprint sensing circuits discussed herein.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
procedure for assembling an LCD display device.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of
a procedure for assembling an LCD display device.
[0020] Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be
used to identify similar elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The present invention is directed to a novel fingerprint
sensor that can be integrated with an LCD display structure, such
as being positioned on or adjacent the LCD glass. Additionally, one
or more fingerprint sensing elements can optionally replace a
touch-screen controller chip to provide a single chip solution that
provides both touch-screen functions and fingerprint sensor
functions.
[0022] In particular, the invention is directed to a device, system
and method for incorporating a fingerprint sensor with a display
screen, such as an LCD screen. The figures illustrate diagrammatic
views of various examples of components configured according to the
invention. These components, which include fingerprint sensor
components and various subcomponents and structures for integration
with an LCD screen or the like, are intended for incorporation into
devices or systems. The invention would benefit these devices or
systems by enabling them to provide fingerprint sensing
capability.
[0023] Reference will be made herein to a fingerprint sensor and
related circuitry that may be implemented on Kapton.TM. tape, a
well known substrate for placing or printing electrical components
thereon. Reference is made here of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/184,464, filed Jul. 19, 2005, entitled "Electronic Fingerprint
Sensor with Differential Noise Cancellation," and U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/005,643, filed Dec. 5, 2001, entitled
"Swiped Aperture Capacitive Fingerprint Sensing Systems and
Methods." This application also incorporates the following by
reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/689,107, filed Oct.
20, 2003, entitled "Swiped Aperture Capacitive Fingerprint Sensing
Systems and Methods," and U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/107,682, filed Apr. 15, 2005, entitled "Fingerprint Position
Sensing Methods and Apparatus." This application also incorporates
the following by reference: U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/080,322, filed May 15, 1998, entitled "Combined Fingerprint
Acquisition and Control Device", and U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/489,908, filed Jan. 24, 2000, entitled "Combined Fingerprint
Acquisition and Control Device." These references are commonly
assigned with this application, where such a sensor configuration
and design are detailed. All details of these applications and
issued patents are herein incorporated by reference.
[0024] The embodiments discussed herein generally relate to an
apparatus, system and methods for configuring fingerprint sensors
and, in particular, for integrating fingerprint sensors into LCD
circuits and displays. Referring to the figures, exemplary
embodiments will be described. The exemplary embodiments of the
invention are provided to illustrate the embodiments and should not
be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments.
[0025] In the following disclosure, numerous specific details are
set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.
However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other
instances, well-known elements have been illustrated in schematic
or block diagram form in order not to obscure the invention in
unnecessary detail. Additionally, for the most part, details
concerning network communications, data structures, and the like
have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered
necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the invention, and
are considered to be within the understanding of persons of
ordinary skill in the relevant art.
[0026] It is further noted that all functions described herein may
be performed in either hardware or software, or a combination
thereof, unless indicated otherwise. Certain terms are used
throughout the following description and claims to refer to
particular system components. As one skilled in the art will
appreciate, components may be referred to by different names. This
document does not intend to distinguish between components that
differ in name, but not function. In the following discussion and
in the claims, the terms "including", "comprising", and
"incorporating" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should
be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to . . . ".
Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean either an
indirect or direct electrical or communicative connection. Thus, if
a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be
through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via
other devices and connections.
[0027] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and
shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on
the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the
specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since
various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled
in the art. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be
regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0028] Reference in the specification to "an embodiment," "one
embodiment," "some embodiments," or "other embodiments" means that
a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in
connection with the embodiments is included in at least some
embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various
appearances of "an embodiment," "one embodiment," or "some
embodiments" are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature,
structure, or characteristic "may", "might", or "could" be
included, that particular component, feature, structure, or
characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification
or claim refers to "a" or "an" element, that does not mean there is
only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to
"an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more
than one of the additional element.
[0029] The apparatus and method include a method and apparatus for
enabling the invention. Although this embodiment is described and
illustrated in the context of devices, systems and related methods
of capturing fingerprints, the scope of the invention extends to
other applications where such functions are useful. Furthermore,
while the foregoing description has been with reference to
particular embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated
that these are only illustrative of the invention and that changes
may be made to those embodiments without departing from the
principles, the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of
which is defined by the appended claims, their equivalents, and
also later submitted claims and their equivalents.
[0030] As described in the background, the integration of most
fingerprint sensor designs with an LCD screen is problematic due to
the difficulty of incorporating a silicon-based sensor into an LCD
display structure. According to the invention, this problem is
obviated with a novel design that allows the fingerprint sensor to
be positioned on or adjacent the LCD screen, on a side opposite the
touch screen circuitry. The invention works with current
touch-screen and LCD manufacturing techniques, where fingerprint
sensor conductive components may be positioned on as surface
opposite the layers of the LCD components. The fingerprint sensor
is functionally integrated with other LCD control circuits or
components. This provides an LCD panel with the added functionality
of a fingerprint sensor without disrupting the operation of the
visual display components. In addition, current LCD manufacturing
techniques can easily be adapted to produce an LCD panel designed
and configured according to the invention.
[0031] Consistent with the foregoing, disclosed herein is a
fingerprint swipe sensor, comprising a substrate having fingerprint
sensor lines on one surface and configured to be integrated with
(or disposed adjacent to) an LCD screen, and a controller
communicating with the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a
fingerprint image when a user's finger is swiped about the
fingerprint sensor lines. In one embodiment, the substrate is
mounted on a surface of an LCD screen opposite the touch screen
circuitry. In another embodiment, the substrate is positioned
adjacent to a surface of the LCD screen opposite the touch screen
circuitry.
[0032] Also disclosed is an LCD screen having an integrated
fingerprint swipe sensor, comprising an LCD surface configured to
produce a visible display, a substrate having fingerprint sensor
lines on one surface and configured to be integrated with (or
disposed adjacent to) the LCD screen to allow the integrated
fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image, and a
controller communicating with the fingerprint sensor lines to
capture a fingerprint image when a user's fingerprint is swiped
about the fingerprint sensor lines. In one embodiment, the
controller may be further configured to control the visible
display. In another embodiment, the LCD screen may further comprise
an additional controller configured to control the visible
display.
[0033] As will be seen, the invention provides a mechanism to
integrate the fingerprint sensor in an LCD opposite the components
that are conventionally used in assembling touch-screen layers on
LCD displays, or directly onto the LCD display itself. The examples
and embodiments described herein include illustrations and
references to touch sensitive circuitry, both capacitive and
resistive, and also refer to fingerprint sensor circuitry that may
also be capacitive or resistive, but the invention is not limited
to any particular configuration or underlying technology in these
areas. The invention is only limited by the appended claims, claims
presented in the future, and any equivalents.
[0034] In current touch screen designs, there typically exists an
LCD printed circuit board (PCB) on which the touch screen circuitry
is mounted, and a protective shield or coating is applied on top of
the touch screen circuitry. The touch screen circuitry is connected
with the LCD display on the LCD PCB (Printed Circuit Board) by one
of two methods. In one method, the touch screen circuitry is first
mounted on the LCD PCB, then the protective shield or coating is
applied on top of the touch screen circuitry. In another method,
the touch screen circuitry is applied onto the protective coating
or shield, and then the resulting structure is mounted on the LCD
PCB, with the touch screen circuitry mounted between the protective
coating or shield and the LCD PCB. According to the invention, the
substrate of the fingerprint sensor can be positioned on an
opposite surface of the LCD with either of these methods.
[0035] In the following figures, several examples of devices or
systems configured according to the invention are illustrated.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a diagrammatic view of an example LCD
panel 100 having a printed circuit board (PCB) 102 for holding LCD
components to provide a display. LCD panel 100 also includes
optional touch screen circuitry 104 surrounded by a bezel portion
106. Bezel 106 is relatively narrow on three sides of touch screen
circuitry 104, and wider along a fourth side, which includes a
fingerprint sensor 108 with a swiping area 110 for capturing a
fingerprint from a user. In this example, fingerprint sensor 108 is
located outside the touch screen portion of LCD panel 100. As
discussed herein, fingerprint sensor 108 can be positioned on the
opposite surface of LCD panel 100 from touch screen circuitry
104.
[0037] LCD panel 100 can be manufactured in a number of ways and,
given this disclosure, one skilled in the art will find it feasible
to design and produce such a device without undue experimentation.
LCD panel 100 may be utilized in a variety of devices, such as a
computing device, cellular phone, portable entertainment device,
tablet device, and so forth.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, a side diagrammatic view of a device
200 is illustrated with a top coating 202 (also referred to as a
"protective layer") having touch sensor circuitry 204 located on an
inside portion of top coating/layer 202. A fingerprint sensor 206,
layer described in greater detail below, is shown with a layer
peeled back to illustrate the fingerprint sensor integrated with
the LCD's PCB 208. As discussed herein, fingerprint sensor 206 may
be positioned on a surface of PCB 208 that is opposite the surface
on which touch sensor circuitry 204 is located.
[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of an example assembly
300, including an LCD PCB 302 and a fingerprint sensor 310. In this
example, a mask 304 is applied to a surface of LCD PCB 302. Mask
304 is any material covering a portion of LCD PCB 302 that does not
display images or other data. For example, mask 304 may include a
black layer that is opaque or semi-transparent. Alternatively, mask
304 may include an ink or other colored pigment coating applied to
LCD PCB 302, or applied to another layer, such as a protective
layer or polyimide.
[0040] A protective layer 306, which includes touch screen
circuitry 308 on one side of the protective layer is applied to
mask 304. Touch screen circuitry 308 may be applied to the entire
protective layer 306, or applied to the portion of the protective
layer that aligns with the viewable opening in mask 304. In
conventional assemblies, touch screen circuitry 308 may be adhered
to or otherwise placed on the bottom side of protective layer 306
prior to assembly, and then placed or otherwise mounted on top of
LCD PCB 302 during final assembly. In other assembly methods, touch
screen circuitry 308 may be assembled onto mask 304, then the next
layer (protective layer 306) is placed on top of the LCD PCB having
touch screen circuitry 308 and mask 304 already mounted
thereon.
[0041] Fingerprint sensor 310 has a swiping area 312. In one
embodiment, swiping area 312 is indicated on mask 304 by a swipe
area marking 316. Since the bezel portion of mask 304 may visually
obscure fingerprint sensor 310, swipe area marking 316 is provided
on mask 304 to indicate the desired fingerprint swiping area to the
user of assembly 300. In a particular implementation, swipe area
marking 316 uses a color or other characteristic that distinguishes
the swipe area marking from the bezel color (or mask color). For
example, if the bezel color is black, swipe area marking 316 is a
lighter color, such as white or silver. In the example of FIG. 3,
fingerprint sensor 310 is located on the opposite side of LCD PCB
302 from mask 304 and protective layer 306. Protective layer 306
can be a polyimide such as PET or PEN, or hard coat chemicals that
can be applied to the surface of LCD PCB 302. In a particular
embodiment, fingerprint sensor 310 is bonded to LCD PCB 302 using
an optically clear adhesive (OCA) or other bonding mechanism. In an
alternate embodiment, fingerprint sensor 310 is positioned on the
same side of LCD PCB 302 as mask 304 and protective layer 306.
[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an example LCD display
device 400. The example of FIG. 4 shows an LCD PCB 402 with a mask
layer 404 applied to one side of the LCD PCB. Touch screen
circuitry 406 is then applied on mask layer 404 and a protective
layer 408 is applied on the touch screen circuitry. Additionally, a
fingerprint sensor 410 is applied to a side of LCD PCB 402 that is
opposite mask layer 404. In this configuration, fingerprint sensor
410 senses a user's fingerprint as they swipe their finger about
the fingerprint sensor.
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a side cut-away view of an example device
500 including a touch screen and a fingerprint sensor. Device 500
includes a housing 502, a printed circuit board 504 and an LCD
module 506. The device also includes a glass layer 508 onto which
indium tin oxide (ITO) or similar materials are applied to form the
touch screen circuitry. The ITO is shown on opposite sides of glass
layer 508 by reference numerals 512 and 514. Device 500 further
includes a layer of protective glass 510 positioned above the ITO
layer 512. A touch circuit controller 516 is coupled to ITO layers
512 and 514 via a flexible circuit 518. A fingerprint sensor 520 is
coupled to printed circuit board 504 and positioned below the glass
layer 508. Fingerprint sensor 520 senses fingerprint
characteristics of a finger swiped along the surface of protective
glass 510 proximate the fingerprint sensor. In a particular
embodiment, layers 508 and 510 are non-conductive layers (e.g.,
glass). Fingerprint sensor 520 is capable of sensing ridges and
valleys of a user's finger through layers 508 and 510. In a
particular implementation, the distance from fingerprint sensor 520
to the surface of protective glass 510 (where the user swipes their
finger) is 150 microns or less.
[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a side cut-away view of another example
device 600 including a touch screen and a fingerprint sensor.
Device 600 includes a housing 602, a printed circuit board 604 and
an LCD module 606. Device 600 also includes a glass layer 608 onto
which ITO or similar materials are applied to form the touch screen
circuitry. An ITO layer 612 is shown as applied to one side of
glass layer 608. Device 600 further includes a protective layer 610
positioned above glass layer 608. A touch circuit controller 614 is
coupled to ITO layer 612 via a flexible circuit 616. A fingerprint
sensor 618 is coupled to printed circuit board 604 and positioned
below glass layer 608. Fingerprint sensor 618 senses fingerprint
characteristics of a finger swiped along the surface of protective
layer 610 proximate the fingerprint sensor.
[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates an example method of assembling an LCD
display device 700. The components shown in FIG. 7 are similar to
those discussed above with respect to FIG. 3, where touch screen
circuitry 714 is shown separately from a protective layer 716 prior
to assembly. During the assembly process, a mask layer 704 is
applied to a surface of LCD PCB 702. A fingerprint sensor 718
having a swiping area 720 is applied to the opposite surface of LCD
PCB 702. In an alternate embodiment, fingerprint sensor 718 is
positioned proximate the opposite surface of LCD PCB 702 on its own
PCB or other structure.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, mask layer 704 includes an opening 708
that substantially aligns with a touch-sensitive portion of LCD
display device 700. A bezel portion 706 of mask layer 704 includes
a swipe area marking 710 that indicates the desired fingerprint
swiping area to the user of the device. In the example of FIG. 7, a
touch screen layer 712 includes touch screen circuitry 714 disposed
thereon. Protective layer 716 is then applied to touch screen layer
712 to protect touch screen circuitry 714 and other components of
LCD display device 700.
[0047] FIG. 8 illustrates another example method of assembling an
LCD display device 800. During the assembly process, a touch screen
layer 804 having touch screen circuitry 806 thereon, is positioned
above an LCD module 802. Next, a protective layer 808 is placed
over touch screen layer 804 to protect touch screen circuitry 806.
A fingerprint sensor 810 is positioned proximate a surface of LCD
module 802 opposite touch screen layer 804.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 9, a diagrammatic view of a sensing device
900 configured according to the invention is illustrated. The
device includes a linear array 912 such as described in the
embodiments above, and also includes a sensor element 902. The
device further includes sensor control logic 952 configured to
control the basic operations of the sensor element. The exact
operations of the sensor element governed by the sensor logic
control greatly depends on a particular sensor configuration
employed, which may include power control, reset control of the
pixels or data contact points, output signal control, cooling
control in the case of some optical sensors, and other basic
controls of a sensor element. Sensor controls are well known by
those skilled in the art, and, again, depend on the particular
operation.
[0049] Sensing device 900 further includes a readout circuit 954
for reading analog output signals from sensor element 902 when it
is subject to a fingerprint juxtaposed on a sensor surface 907.
Readout circuit 954 includes an amplifier 956 configured to amplify
the analog signal so that it can more accurately be read in
subsequent operations. A low pass filter 958 is configured to
filter out any noise from the analog signal so that the analog
signal can be more efficiently processed. Readout circuit 954
further includes an analog to digital converter 960 that is
configured to convert the output signal from sensor element 902 to
a digital signal that indicates a series of logic 0's and 1's that
define the sensing of the fingerprint features by the pixels or
data contact points of sensor surface 907. Such signals may be
separately received by the motion sensors and the fingerprint
sensing surfaces, and may be read out and processed separately.
[0050] Readout circuit 954 may store the output signal in a storage
962, where fingerprint data 964 is stored and preserved, either
temporarily until a processor 966 can process the signal, or for
later use by the processor. Processor 966 includes an arithmetic
unit 968 configured to process algorithms used for navigation of a
cursor, and for reconstruction of fingerprints. Processing logic
970 is configured to process information and includes analog to
digital converters, amplifiers, signal filters, logic gates (all
not shown) and other logic utilized by a processor. A persistent
memory 974 is used to store algorithms 976 and software
applications 978 that are used by processor 966 for the various
functions described above, and in more detail below. A system bus
980 is a data bus configured to enable communication among the
various components contained in sensing device 900.
[0051] In assembly, there are various ways such a device can be
configured. In one embodiment, a fingerprint sensor is provided
that includes a flexible substrate having fingerprint sensor lines
on one surface and configured to be integrated with an LCD screen.
This allows for a device such as a laptop, cellular phone,
touch-screen interface, or other personal device to have an
integrated fingerprint sensor, saving space and simplifying the
integrated design.
[0052] In another embodiment, the fingerprint sensor may be mounted
on the LCD PCB separate from the touch screen circuitry. The touch
screen circuitry may be mounted on the protective shield or
coating. The resulting structure can then be mounted on the LCD
PCB. This also provides an LCD screen with both touch screen
circuitry and fingerprint sensor circuitry integrated therein.
[0053] In yet another embodiment, the substrate is obviated by the
protective coating. The protective coating is configured to hold
touch screen circuitry together with the fingerprint sensor lines
mounted on the protective coating or shield. Here, the protective
coating can be mounted on an LCD screen together with the touch
screen circuitry and the fingerprint sensor lines. In yet another
combination, the touch screen circuitry can be mounted directly on
the LCD PCB, the fingerprint sensor lines mounted on the protective
coating or shield, and the two resulting structures can be mounted
together to produce an LCD display having both touch screen and
fingerprint sensor functionality.
[0054] The resulting system is an LCD screen having an integrated
fingerprint swipe sensor and, possibly, a touch screen. The LCD
screen may have one or the other or both, depending on the
application. The system includes an LCD surface configured to
produce a visible display. On top of the LCD surface can be mounted
touch screen circuitry that may include fingerprint sensor lines.
Alternatively, a separate substrate holding the fingerprint sensor
lines may be mounted on or below the touch screen circuitry. In
either configuration, the resulting structure may be configured to
be integrated with the LCD screen to allow the integrated
fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image without
interfering with the visibility of the display or with the function
of the touch screen operation.
[0055] The system further includes a controller communicating with
the fingerprint sensor lines to capture a fingerprint image when a
user's fingerprint is swiped about the fingerprint sensor lines. In
one system, there may be separate controllers for both the LCD
display and the fingerprint sensor, where the system includes an
LCD controller configured to control the visible display separate
from the fingerprint sensor operations. Alternatively, the same
controller may also control both the visible display and the
fingerprint sensor operations. The fingerprint sensor could also be
patterned onto the top glass of the LCD display itself, and not
onto the touch-screen layer.
[0056] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
procedure 1000 for assembling an LCD display device. Initially, an
LCD controller is mounted on a printed circuit board (block 1002)
and a fingerprint sensor controller is mounted on the same printed
circuit board (block 1004). An LCD module is mounted above the
printed circuit board (block 1006). Fingerprint sensor circuitry is
applied on one side of the LCD module (block 1008) and a mask layer
is applied on an opposite side of the LCD module (block 1010). A
motion sensor circuitry is then applied above the mask layer (block
1012) and a protective layer is applied above the motion sensor
circuitry (block 1014). Finally, the LCD controller is connected to
the motion sensor circuitry (block 1016) and the fingerprint sensor
controller is connected to the fingerprint sensor circuitry (block
1018).
[0057] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of
a procedure 1100 for assembling an LCD display device. Initially,
an LCD controller is mounted on a printed circuit board (block
1102) and a fingerprint sensor controller is mounted on the same
printed circuit board (block 1104). Fingerprint sensor circuitry is
then applied to the printed circuit board (block 1106). An LCD
module is mounted above the printed circuit board (block 1108) and
a mask layer is applied on a side of the LCD module opposite the
printed circuit board (block 1110). Motion sensor circuitry is
applied to a clear protective layer (block 1112) and the clear
protective layer is mounted to the LCD module to position the
motion sensor circuitry between the mask layer and the clear
protective layer (block 1114). The LCD controller is then connected
to the motion sensor circuitry (block 1116) and the fingerprint
sensor controller is connected to the fingerprint sensor circuitry
(block 1118).
[0058] The present invention may also involve a number of functions
to be performed by a computer processor, such as a microprocessor.
The microprocessor may be a specialized or dedicated microprocessor
that is configured to perform particular tasks according to the
invention, by executing machine-readable software code that defines
the particular tasks embodied by the invention. The microprocessor
may also be configured to operate and communicate with other
devices such as direct memory access modules, memory storage
devices, Internet related hardware, and other devices that relate
to the transmission of data in accordance with the invention. The
software code may be configured using software formats such as
Java, C++, XML (Extensible Mark-up Language) and other languages
that may be used to define functions that relate to operations of
devices required to carry out the functional operations related to
the invention. The code may be written in different forms and
styles, many of which are known to those skilled in the art.
Different code formats, code configurations, styles and forms of
software programs and other means of configuring code to define the
operations of a microprocessor in accordance with the invention
will not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0059] Within the different types of devices, such as laptop or
desktop computers, hand held devices with processors or processing
logic, and also possibly computer servers or other devices that
utilize the invention, there exist different types of memory
devices for storing and retrieving information while performing
functions according to the invention. Cache memory devices are
often included in such computers for use by the central processing
unit as a convenient storage location for information that is
frequently stored and retrieved. Similarly, a persistent memory is
also frequently used with such computers for maintaining
information that is frequently retrieved by the central processing
unit, but that is not often altered within the persistent memory,
unlike the cache memory. Main memory is also usually included for
storing and retrieving larger amounts of information such as data
and software applications configured to perform functions according
to the invention when executed by the central processing unit.
These memory devices may be configured as random access memory
(RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access
memory (DRAM), flash memory, and other memory storage devices that
may be accessed by a central processing unit to store and retrieve
information. During data storage and retrieval operations, these
memory devices are transformed to have different states, such as
different electrical charges, different magnetic polarity, and the
like. Thus, systems and methods configured according to the
invention as described herein enable the physical transformation of
these memory devices. Accordingly, the invention as described
herein is directed to novel and useful systems and methods that, in
one or more embodiments, are able to transform the memory device
into a different state. The invention is not limited to any
particular type of memory device, or any commonly used protocol for
storing and retrieving information to and from these memory
devices, respectively.
[0060] The term "machine-readable medium" should be taken to
include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or
distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that
store the one or more sets of instructions. The term
"machine-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any medium
that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of
instructions for execution by the machine and that causes the
machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the
invention. The machine-readable medium includes any mechanism that
provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form
readable by a machine (e.g., a computer, PDA, cellular telephone,
etc.). For example, a machine-readable medium includes memory (such
as described above); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage
media; flash memory devices; biological electrical, mechanical
systems; electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of
propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital
signals, etc.). The device or machine-readable medium may include a
micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), nanotechnology devices,
organic, holographic, solid-state memory device and/or a rotating
magnetic or optical disk. The device or machine-readable medium may
be distributed when partitions of instructions have been separated
into different machines, such as across an interconnection of
computers or as different virtual machines.
[0061] Embodiments of the systems and methods described herein
facilitate integrated fingerprint sensing and display of
information. Some embodiments are used in conjunction with one or
more conventional fingerprint sensing systems and methods. For
example, one embodiment is used as an improvement of existing
fingerprint detection and/or sensing systems. Other embodiments are
used in conjunction with one or more conventional display systems
and methods. For example, one embodiment is used as an improvement
of existing display devices.
[0062] Although the components and modules illustrated herein are
shown and described in a particular arrangement, the arrangement of
components and modules may be altered to sense fingerprint
information or to display information in a different manner. In
other embodiments, one or more additional components or modules may
be added to the described systems, and one or more components or
modules may be removed from the described systems. Alternate
embodiments may combine two or more of the described components or
modules into a single component or module.
[0063] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been
described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to
the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and
illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the
claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
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