Fingerprint touch device

Abstract

This invention provides a fingerprint touch device, comprising a substrate, a sensing electrode and circuit layer, multiple electrode switching circuits, multiple capacitor signal switching circuits respectively connected to multiple data lines and a capacitor signal line, and a fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit. The sensing electrode and circuit layer has multiple columns and rows of sensing electrodes. The fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit can control each of the electrode switching circuits and each of the capacitor signal switching circuits to select single sensing electrode detection or simultaneous detection of multiple sensing electrodes, thereby flexibly achieving fingerprint sensing or touch sensing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a fingerprint touch device, and more particularly to a device that can flexibly realize fingerprint sensing or touch sensing by planning and driving sensing electrodes. Background Technology

[0002] Touch functionality is now a basic feature of most smart electronic products, and due to the booming development of e-commerce, the introduction of biometric technology has become a necessary requirement. Fingerprint recognition is the preferred biometric technology; especially with the prevalence of borderless full-screen touch devices today, integrating fingerprint recognition into the display screen has become a major challenge. Currently, under-display fingerprint technology is mainly based on ultrasonic and optical methods. However, its main drawbacks include high cost, difficulties in alignment and optical path issues, intractable manufacturing problems, limited sensing area, and the need for a separate touch device. Furthermore, laptops also face pressure to integrate touchpads and fingerprint recognition into a single unit.

[0003] This invention provides a device that integrates large-area fingerprint recognition and touch control. The fingerprint touch control device of this invention can be applied to in-screen fingerprint recognition and touch control across the entire screen or replace the touchpad of 3C products. This invention can also provide a device that allows for handwriting touch input using a regular pen. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this invention is to provide a fingerprint touch device that flexibly realizes fingerprint sensing or touch sensing.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a fingerprint touch device comprising: a substrate; and a sensing electrode and circuit layer disposed on one side of the substrate, comprising...

[0006] Multiple sensing electrodes are arranged on the substrate in multiple columns and multiple rows; multiple electrode switching circuits are provided, each electrode switching circuit corresponding to a sensing electrode, and each electrode switching circuit includes at least one transistor switch; multiple data lines extend along a first direction, and each data line is connected to the multiple electrode switching circuits; multiple gate lines extend along a second direction, and each gate line is connected to the multiple electrode switching circuits; multiple capacitor signal lines are provided on the side of the substrate; and multiple data shielding lines are provided around each data line, and each data line corresponds to at least one data shielding line.

[0007] Multiple capacitor signal shielding lines are respectively disposed around each capacitor signal line, and each capacitor signal line corresponds to at least one capacitor signal shielding line; multiple capacitor signal switching circuits are disposed on the side of the substrate, and each capacitor signal switching circuit is connected to at least one data line and one capacitor signal line; a fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit controls the multiple capacitor signal switching circuits and the multiple electrode switching circuits to sequentially or randomly select one or more sensing electrodes to perform fingerprint sensing or touch sensing operations; and a flexible circuit board, one end of which is pressed onto one side of the substrate.

[0008] Optionally, it also includes a flat panel display having a display screen surface, and the substrate is disposed on the side of the display screen facing the operator for fingerprint detection or touch operation, the touch and fingerprint sensing layer covering a display area of ​​the flat panel display, and the plurality of sensing electrodes are transparent conductive electrodes.

[0009] Optionally, the plurality of sensing electrodes in adjacent columns or rows are arranged in an alternating pattern.

[0010] Optionally, the plurality of transistor switches are transparent thin-film transistors.

[0011] Optionally, the plurality of data lines and the plurality of gate lines are transparent conductive lines or metallic conductive lines with a line width of no more than 10µm.

[0012] Optionally, the plurality of data lines or the plurality of gate lines may have at least one bend to improve the display effect.

[0013] Optionally, the number of the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuits is multiple (two or more).

[0014] Optionally, the substrate is the protective glass of the display screen.

[0015] Optionally, it also includes a protective layer.

[0016] Optionally, the side of the substrate where the sensing electrode and circuit layer are disposed is the side of the display screen facing the operator, that is, the side of the substrate without the sensing electrode and circuit layer faces the operator.

[0017] Optionally, the substrate has one or more bends.

[0018] Optionally, the flexible circuit board may also include multiple passive components disposed on it.

[0019] Optionally, the area of ​​each sensing electrode is no more than 40,000 square micrometers.

[0020] Optionally, the area of ​​the plurality of sensing electrodes can cover at least two user fingers.

[0021] Optionally, the substrate is glass or a transparent polymer material.

[0022] Optionally, the sensing area of ​​the plurality of selected sensing electrodes is at least less than 1 square millimeter.

[0023] Optionally, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit includes multiple sets of self-capacitance detection circuits to improve the sensing rate through parallel detection.

[0024] Optionally, one of the multiple sets of capacitance detection circuits transmits a capacitance excitation signal via a capacitance signal line to at least one selected data line via a capacitance signal switching circuit, and transmits it to at least one selected sensing electrode via at least one electrode switching circuit. At the same time, a capacitance sensing signal is fed from the at least one selected sensing electrode via the corresponding electrode switching circuit, the at least one selected data line, the capacitance signal switching circuit, and the capacitance signal line to perform fingerprint detection or touch detection operations.

[0025] Optionally, each of the multiple sets of self-capacitance detection circuits sends a shielding signal that is in phase and frequency with the capacitance sensing signal to the corresponding data shielding line to eliminate stray capacitance effect and reduce interference, thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio and enhancing sensing accuracy.

[0026] Optionally, the substrate may also include a plurality of capacitor shielding signal switch circuits disposed on the side of the substrate, each of the capacitor shielding signal switch circuits being connected to the plurality of data shielding lines and at least one capacitor signal shielding line.

[0027] Optionally, the similarity between the shielding signal and the capacitive sensing signal is not less than 90%.

[0028] Optionally, the substrate is ultrathin glass or transparent polyimide.

[0029] In the fingerprint touch device of the present invention, by providing multiple capacitor signal switching circuits and multiple electrode switching circuits, it is possible to flexibly plan the detection of capacitance changes for a single sensing electrode or for multiple sensing electrodes (e.g., an electrode array), thereby achieving flexible operation functions of fingerprint detection or touch detection under the architecture of unchanged physical electrode configuration. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the following drawings and description. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter of this specification will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims, wherein: Figure 1A This is a side view of a fingerprint touch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 1BThis is a side view of a fingerprint touch device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 1C This is a side view of a fingerprint touch device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 1D This is a side view of a fingerprint touch device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2A For the corresponding Figure 1A A top view of some components in the embodiment.

[0035] Figure 2B For the corresponding Figure 1B A top view of some components in the embodiment.

[0036] Figure 3A A more detailed schematic diagram of the sensing electrodes, circuit layer, and related components of a fingerprint touch device.

[0037] Figure 3B for Figure 3A A magnified view of part A.

[0038] Figure 3C for Figure 3A A magnified view of part B.

[0039] Figure 4A A circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the fingerprint touch device of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 4B Another circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the fingerprint touch device of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 4C Another circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the fingerprint touch device of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 5A This is a schematic diagram illustrating the positions of the data lines and the data masking lines.

[0043] Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of the data masking line masking signal.

[0044] In the picture:

[0045] Substrate 10, parts 10a, 10b, A, B

[0046] Protective layer 12

[0047] Induction electrode and circuit layer 20 dummy electrode Sd

[0048] Height d

[0049] Inductive electrodes SE, SE11, SE12, SEk1, SEm1, SE12, SE22, SEm2, SE1n, SEmn

[0050] Electrode switching circuit 22 Transistor switch Q

[0051] Data lines DL, DL1, DL2; Gate line GL

[0052] First direction D1 Second direction D2

[0053] Capacitor signal lines CL, CL1, CL2, CL3, CL4

[0054] Capacitor signal masking lines CLS, CLS1, CLS2, CLS3, CLS4, CLS1a, CLS1b

[0055] Data masking lines DLS, DLS1a, DLS1b, DLS2a, DLS2b

[0056] Data selection control lines DSC1, DSC2, DSC3, DSC4

[0057] Fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40

[0058] Capacitor signal switching circuit 41 Multiplexer 41'

[0059] Self-capacitance detection circuit 42 Capacitor blocking signal switch circuit 43

[0060] Drive circuit 44, A1 shift register 45

[0061] Flexible circuit board 50 Passive component 52

[0062] Connector 54

[0063] Optical adhesive layer 34, protective glass layer 32

[0064] Monitor 30, Frame 60

[0065] Capacitor signal switching circuit 41 Self-capacitance detection circuit 42

[0066] Multiplexer 41' Capacitor-shielded signal switching circuit 43

[0067] Drive circuit 44

[0068] Capacitor excitation signal Se Capacitor induction signal Sc

[0069] Masking signal Sb

[0070] Capacitors C1 and C2. Detailed Implementation

[0071] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention, but the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0072] See Figure 1A See also: a side view of a fingerprint touch device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2A See also: Top view of some components of the fingerprint touch device 100 corresponding to this embodiment; Figure 3A This is a more detailed schematic diagram of the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 and related components of the fingerprint touch device 100 corresponding to this embodiment.

[0073] As shown in the figures, a fingerprint touch device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a substrate 10; a sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 is disposed on one side of the substrate 10, the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 includes a plurality of sensing electrodes SE, the plurality of sensing electrodes SE being arranged in a plurality of columns and rows on the substrate 10, a plurality of electrode switching circuits 22, each electrode switching circuit 22 corresponding to a sensing electrode SE, each electrode switching circuit 22 including at least one transistor switch Q (e.g., a thin-film transistor switch), and a plurality of data lines. DL extends along the first direction D1, and each data line DL is connected to the plurality of electrode switching circuits 22; GL extends along the second direction D2, and each gate line GL is connected to the plurality of electrode switching circuits 22; CL is disposed on the side of the substrate 10; LS is disposed around each data line DL, and each data line DL corresponds to at least one LS; CLS is disposed around each capacitor signal line CL, and each capacitor signal line CL corresponds to at least one LS. The fingerprint touch device 100 further includes a plurality of many-to-one capacitive signal switching circuits 41 disposed on the side of the substrate 10, each capacitive signal switching circuit 41 being connected to at least one data line DL and one capacitive signal line CL; a fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 controlling the plurality of capacitive signal switching circuits 41 and the plurality of electrode switching circuits 22 to sequentially or randomly select one or more sensing electrodes SE to perform fingerprint sensing or touch sensing operations; and a flexible circuit board 50, one end of which is pressed against one side of the substrate 10.

[0074] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the area of ​​the sensing electrode SE is smaller than that of a conventional touch sensing electrode; for example, the area of ​​each sensing electrode SE is no greater than 40,000 square micrometers (µm). Therefore, if the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 selects a single sensing electrode SE or a small number of sensing electrodes SE (e.g., four) for sensing, its resolution is sufficient for fingerprint sensing and accurate detection of the corresponding fingerprint's ridge peaks and valleys. Furthermore, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can select multiple rows and single columns, one row and multiple columns, or multiple rows and multiple columns of sensing electrodes SE (i.e., sensing electrode arrays) for detection at once by controlling the data line DL and the gate line GL (described later). In other words, multiple rows and single columns, one row and multiple columns, or multiple rows and multiple columns of sensing electrodes SE can constitute a logically single touch sensing electrode, thereby reducing the number of electrodes detected. The fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can reduce electrode detection time, which is beneficial for touch detection. In the prior art, it is difficult to design sensing electrodes that can simultaneously perform fingerprint detection and touch detection. Fingerprint detection is designed for small areas (e.g., a single finger) and longer detection times, typically at a frame rate of 3-4 frames per second (fps). Touch detection, on the other hand, is designed for larger areas (e.g., swipe to unlock or app operation) and shorter operations, typically at a frame rate of 60-120 fps. Therefore, if the sensing electrode area is small, the sensing speed is slow, making touch detection difficult; conversely, if the sensing electrode area is large, the sensing resolution is poor, making fingerprint detection difficult. According to this invention, sensing electrodes large enough to detect fingerprints can be provided on the entire screen or a portion of the screen. Combined with the logical touch sensing electrode planning and signal-driven detection method described above, fingerprint detection on the entire screen or a portion of the screen can be achieved, while also supporting full-screen touch detection.

[0075] See also Figure 1A According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fingerprint touch device 100 includes, for example, a protective layer 12, a substrate 10, a sensing electrode and circuit layer 20, and a display 30, extending from top to bottom (near the user's operating direction). Furthermore, the fingerprint touch device 100 includes a fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 disposed on one surface of the substrate 10, a flexible circuit board 50 connected to one end of the substrate 10, and a passive element 52 disposed on the flexible circuit board 50. Figure 1A The fingerprint touch device 100 shown is, for example, mounted on the display 30 of a portable electronic device (such as a smartphone), and the substrate 10 is made of a transparent material, such as a transparent polymer material or ultra-thin glass (UTG). According to one embodiment of the invention, this transparent polymer material may, for example, be transparent polyimide (PI). According to one embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the ultra-thin glass is less than 30 micrometers. Furthermore, as... Figure 1A As shown, the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 further includes a plurality of sensing electrodes SE, which are arranged on the substrate 10 in a plurality of columns and rows. The sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 also includes a plurality of electrode switching circuits 22, each electrode switching circuit 22 corresponding to a sensing electrode SE. Furthermore, each electrode switching circuit 22 includes at least one transistor switch (see, for example, [reference needed]). Figure 4A Component Q). Figure 1A The components shown are merely schematic diagrams illustrating the stacking relationship of the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention and do not represent specific dimensional relationships. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 can be grown on the substrate 10 toward the display 30. The side of the substrate 10 on which the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 is disposed is located on the side of the display screen of the display 30 facing the operator; that is, the side of the substrate 10 without the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 faces the operator. Therefore, when the protective layer 12 (e.g., a screen protector) needs to be replaced when using a smartphone equipped with the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention, the substrate 10 can still provide sufficient protection for the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20. Furthermore, although not explicitly shown on... Figure 1A However, the sensing electrode SE and the electrode switching circuit 22 can be located at different depths of the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 (viewed from the substrate 10 towards the display 30). Figure 1A In the illustrated schematic diagram, the sensing electrode SE is closer to the substrate 10 than the electrode switching circuit 22; that is, the sensing electrode SE is grown on the substrate 10 first, and then the electrode switching circuit 22 is grown. However, according to the present invention, the electrode switching circuit 22 may also be closer to the substrate 10 than the sensing electrode SE; that is, the electrode switching circuit 22 is grown on the substrate 10 first, and then the sensing electrode SE is grown. According to the present invention, the sensing electrode SE and the electrode switching circuit 22 may also be grown at the same depth, but in an alternating manner. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sensing electrode SE is a transparent conductive material, such as ITO (indium tin oxide), and the transistor switch Q in the electrode switching circuit 22 may also be made of a transparent material, such as a transparent thin-film transistor, thereby avoiding obstruction of the display 30. Furthermore, because the sensing electrode SE of the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 is disposed between the operating finger (or stylus) and the display 30, the capacitance change can be greater, and it is more beneficial to avoid noise in the display 30.

[0076] See Figure 2AThe portion 10a of the substrate 10 corresponding to the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 has a wider width, and the substrate 10 has a narrower substrate extension 10b extending from the wider portion 10a. The fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 is disposed in this narrower substrate extension 10b, and the flexible circuit board 50 is connected to the substrate extension 10b at one end of the substrate 10. See also: [Reference to be inserted here] Figure 1A The substrate 10 is, for example, a flexible substrate with one or more bends. The bends in the substrate 10 allow the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 to be positioned below the display 30, simplifying the fabrication and packaging of the portable electronic device. Furthermore, a flexible circuit board 50 is connected to one end of the substrate 10 and has passive components 52 or connectors on it, providing further control over the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 (e.g., control via a controller of the portable electronic device) and signal processing and filtering functions.

[0077] See Figure 3A This is a more detailed schematic diagram of the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 and related components of the fingerprint touch device 100 corresponding to this embodiment. The sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 includes sensing electrodes SE arranged on the substrate 10 in a plurality of columns and rows, such as SE11...SEk1...SEm1 (arranged along the first column direction), SE12, SE22...SEm2 (arranged along the second column direction)...SE1n...SEmn (arranged along the nth column direction) as shown in the figure. The plurality of sensing electrodes SE are arranged in an alternating pattern between adjacent columns or adjacent rows. For example, as shown in the figure... Figure 3A As shown, the multiple sensing electrodes SE in adjacent columns are staggered; that is, the first sensing electrode SE11 in the first column and the first sensing electrode SE12 in the second column are staggered. The aforementioned "staggering" means, for example, but not limited to, that the bottoms of the first sensing electrode SE11 in the first column and the first sensing electrode SE12 in the second column are not aligned, i.e., they differ by a height d. Furthermore, although as... Figure 3A As shown, the multiple sensing electrodes SE between adjacent columns are staggered; however, according to the spirit of the present invention, the multiple sensing electrodes SE between adjacent rows can also be designed to be staggered. Since the multiple sensing electrodes of the present invention are arranged in an interlaced pattern between adjacent columns or rows, such as a bricklayer arrangement, the detection results of four adjacent sensing electrodes can be combined and processed during sensing, increasing the accuracy of sensing. Furthermore, to avoid the visual impact that may result from the staggered electrode design, a dummy electrode Sd can be provided in the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20.

[0078] like Figure 3AAs shown, the gate line GL extends along the second direction D2 of the column and can be, for example, a straight line. The data line DL extends along the first direction D1 of the row and may have a bend to accommodate the multiple sensing electrodes SE between adjacent columns being interleaved. In other words, through the interleaved arrangement of the multiple sensing electrodes SE between adjacent columns of the present invention, a single, bendable data line DL can connect multiple sensing electrodes SE in the same row but different columns. Since the data line DL is arranged in a bendable manner, if the data line DL is not made of a transparent conductive material (e.g., a metal conductive line with a line width of no more than 10µm), the display mura problem can be reduced, display uniformity can be increased, and the resistance value of the data line DL can be reduced. Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the resistance value requirement is not high, the gate line GL can be made of a transparent conductive material without affecting the operation of the fingerprint touch device 100. In other words, according to the present invention, the data line DL and the gate line GL can be made of different materials to increase process flexibility. However, depending on the manufacturing requirements, the data line DL and the gate line GL can also be made of the same material. Furthermore, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the gate line GL may also have a tortuous portion and may be made of a non-transparent conductive material (e.g., a metal conductive line with a line width of no more than 10µm).

[0079] See also Figure 3A On the side of the substrate 10 (i.e., outside the sensing electrode distribution area), there are multiple many-to-one capacitance signal switch circuits 41 (hereinafter referred to as capacitance signal switch circuits 41). Each capacitance signal switch circuit 41 is connected to multiple data lines DL and a capacitance signal line CL. Each capacitance signal line CL is disposed on the side of the substrate 10 to provide electrical connection between the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 and the capacitance signal switch circuit 41. By setting up this capacitance signal switch circuit 41 and providing a capacitance signal line CL and corresponding multiple data lines DL, capacitance changes on multiple sensing electrodes SE or capacitance changes on a single sensing electrode SE can be detected simultaneously through a single capacitance signal line CL, achieving more flexible fingerprint / touch detection (see the following section for details). Figure 4A illustrate).

[0080] See also Figure 3B , for the corresponding Figure 3A A partial enlarged view of part A shows that this fingerprint touch device 100 also includes multiple data masking lines (such as data masking lines DLS1a and DLS1b shown in the figure), disposed around each data line (such as data line DL1 shown in the figure) to provide masking for this data line DL1 and reduce the influence of noise. Although in Figure 3BThe diagram shows two data masking lines for each data line. However, according to the present invention, one data masking line can also be provided for each data line to provide masking for that data line. In addition, a suitable bias voltage can be applied to this data masking line to further reduce crosstalk and increase the accuracy of fingerprint detection (see below for details).

[0081] Reference Figure 3C , for the corresponding Figure 3A This is a partial enlarged view of part B, which shows the wiring location between the capacitor signal switch circuit 41 and the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40. As shown in the figure, for the capacitor signal switch circuit 41, for example, capacitor signal line CL1, capacitor signal shielding line CLS1, data selection control line DSC1; capacitor signal line CL2, capacitor signal shielding line CLS2, data selection control line DSC2; capacitor signal line CL3, capacitor signal shielding line CLS3, data selection control line DSC3; capacitor signal line CL4, capacitor signal shielding line CLS4, data selection control line DSC4, etc. The capacitor signal shielding line CLS is placed next to the corresponding capacitor signal line CL to provide shielding for the corresponding capacitor signal line CL and reduce the influence of noise. Although in Figure 3C In the original text, each capacitor signal line CL is configured with one capacitor signal shielding line CLS. However, according to the present invention, each capacitor signal line CL can also be configured with two capacitor signal shielding lines CLS; that is, the capacitor signal shielding lines CLS can also be similar to... Figure 3B The shielding voltage is configured on both sides of the corresponding capacitor signal line CL. Furthermore, a suitable bias voltage can be applied to this capacitor signal shielding line to further reduce crosstalk and increase fingerprint detection accuracy (see below for details).

[0082] See Figure 4A This is a circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 includes, for example, a self-capacitance detection circuit 42. During fingerprint or touch detection, this self-capacitance detection circuit 42 sends a capacitance excitation signal Se to a capacitance signal switching circuit 41 via a capacitance signal line CL (e.g., capacitance signal line CL1 shown in the figure). This capacitance excitation signal Se is sent from the capacitance signal switching circuit 41 and via a corresponding data line DL (or multiple data lines DL) to an electrode switching circuit 22 (or multiple electrode switching circuits 22), and then transmitted via the electrode switching circuit 22 to a selected sensing electrode SE or multiple selected sensing electrodes SE. Simultaneously, this self-capacitance detection circuit 42 feeds a capacitance sensing signal Sc through the selected sensing electrode SE, the corresponding electrode switching circuit 22, the data line DL, the capacitance signal switching circuit 41, and the capacitance signal line CL to perform fingerprint detection or touch detection operations. (See also: [reference needed]) Figure 3AThe capacitive signal switching circuit 41 can be, for example, a multiplexer, and can be connected between a capacitive signal line CL and multiple data lines DL (e.g., 8, 10, or more data lines DL) to save wiring at the edge of the substrate 10. In addition, the fingerprint touch device 100 can select the number of data lines DL corresponding to the electrode array to be detected by planning the capacitive signal switching circuit 41 (e.g., by sending a control signal to the data selection control line DSC to control the capacitive signal switching circuit 41 to select several rows of sensing electrodes at the same time, or select only one row of sensing electrodes), and control a multiplexer 41' to select the number of gate lines GL corresponding to the electrode array to be detected (e.g., several rows of sensing electrodes or one row of sensing electrodes). Multiple sensing electrodes SE can be wired into a logical touch sensing electrode to achieve the function of fingerprint recognition and touch recognition on the whole screen.

[0083] More specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the area of ​​each sensing electrode SE is sufficient to provide the resolution for fingerprint recognition. If a single sensing electrode SE or a small number of sensing electrodes SE (e.g., four for the aforementioned brick-layout integrated processing) are selected for sensing, the resolution is sufficient for fingerprint sensing to provide fingerprint detection functionality. According to the present invention, this fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can use a capacitive signal switching circuit 41 to select a specific single row (or a few rows) of sensing electrodes SE, and control the gate line (e.g., through a multiplexer 41') to select a specific single column (or a few columns) of sensing electrodes SE, thereby accurately detecting the peak and valley information of the corresponding fingerprint.

[0084] Furthermore, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can also select a specific number of rows of sensing electrodes by controlling the capacitor signal switching circuit 41 and select a specific number of columns of sensing electrodes by controlling the gate line (e.g., through the multiplexer 41') to control multiple electrode switching circuits 22, thus planning a generally array-shaped array of sensing electrodes (according to the present invention, the electrodes are arranged in an alternating pattern between adjacent columns or rows, so the sensing electrodes selected by multiple columns and multiple rows are generally array-shaped). See also Figure 3A and 3C The fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can control the capacitor signal switching circuit 41 to simultaneously select multiple rows of sensing electrodes, such as eight rows of sensing electrodes, by transmitting control signals to the data selection control line DSC. In conjunction with controlling the control gate line (e.g., through a multiplexer 41') to control the corresponding electrode switching circuit 22, and simultaneously select multiple columns of sensing electrodes, such as eight columns of sensing electrodes, it can detect an 8x8 sensing electrode array. The above description is merely an example illustrating the invention. Figure 3A and 4AThis architecture allows for rapid detection of overall capacitance changes in a single sensing electrode array (i.e., a logical touch detection electrode), thus achieving touch detection. The scope of this invention is not limited to the above examples; for instance, using the aforementioned capacitor signal switching circuit, sensing electrode arrays of different sizes or positions can be selected throughout the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20.

[0085] See also Figure 4A As shown in the figure, when the self-capacitance detection circuit 42 receives the capacitance sensing signal Sc, it can process the capacitance sensing signal Sc into a masking signal Sb through a driving circuit (e.g., a co-inverting amplifier) ​​44. This masking signal Sb is substantially in phase and frequency with the capacitance sensing signal Sc, and can be applied to the data masking line DLS and the capacitance signal masking line CLS to eliminate stray capacitance effects, reduce interference, improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and enhance sensing accuracy. See also... Figure 5A and 5B and Figure 3B Data masking lines can be respectively set up near the data line, for example, data masking lines DLS1a and DLS1b can be set above and below the data line DL1 respectively. The aforementioned "above" and "below" can be, for example, the directions commonly used by the operator when using this fingerprint touch device 100; however, it should be understood that according to the present invention, the positions of the data masking lines DLS1a and DLS1b only need to be able to sandwich the data line DL1. For example, the data masking lines DLS1a and DLS1b can also be located on the left and right sides of the data line DL1. Furthermore, if the noise of the data line DL1 mainly comes from one side (e.g., the lower side), the present invention may also have only a single data masking line. Figure 5A As shown, by setting up data masking lines DLS1a and DLS1b, noise around data line DL1 can be masked.

[0086] See Figure 4A and 5BIf the capacitance sensing signal Sc of data line DL1 (from the capacitance detection result of the selected sensing electrode SE) is amplified into a masking signal Sb by a driving circuit A1 with a gain greater than or equal to zero and then applied to the corresponding data masking lines DLS1a and DLS1b, then the first capacitance C1 generated between data masking line DLS1a and data line DL1 is zero or close to zero, and the second capacitance C2 generated between data masking line DLS1b and data line DL1 is also zero or close to zero. Therefore, by setting up data masking lines DLS1a and DLS1b and applying an appropriate bias voltage, crosstalk in the output fingerprint sensing signal can be reduced, and detection accuracy can be improved. The fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention can more accurately detect the sensing capacitance, that is, the detection result generated when a finger presses on the selected sensing electrode and output through data line DL. In the above description, the gain of the driving circuit A1 is greater than or equal to zero; and when performing fingerprint detection or touch detection, the gain of the driving circuit A1 is greater than zero (for example, 1) to amplify the capacitive sensing signal Sc in phase.

[0087] See also Figure 4A The fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention further includes a plurality of capacitive masking signal switching circuits 43, and the masking signal Sb output from the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can be transmitted to the capacitive masking signal switching circuit 43 via the capacitive signal masking line CLS to selectively supply to the corresponding data masking line DLS. For example, the masking signal Sb transmitted by the capacitive signal masking line CLS1 can be selected by the corresponding capacitive masking signal switching circuit 43 to supply to the data masking lines DLS1a, DLS1b or the data masking lines DLS2a, DLS2b.

[0088] See Figure 4B This is another circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention. Figure 4B The circuit shown is similar to Figure 4A The one shown, however Figure 4A The multiplexer 41' is replaced by a shift register 45. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can transmit the gate control signal to the electrode switching circuit 22 via a shift register 45 to save wiring. For example, one or more columns of sensing electrodes can be sequentially selected via the shift register 45 for fingerprint detection or touch detection. In the above manner, the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention can select a single sensing electrode for detection or flexibly plan a sensing electrode array for detection under the control of the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40, thereby realizing a fingerprint touch device that integrates large-area fingerprint recognition and touch control.

[0089] See Figure 4CThis is another circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention. Figure 4C The circuit shown is similar to Figure 4A The one shown, however Figure 4C The circuit does not have a capacitor-masking signal switching circuit 43. That is, the masking signal Sb transmitted by the capacitor signal masking line CLS1 can be supplied to the data masking lines DLS1a, DLS1b and the data masking lines DLS2a, DLS2b. Furthermore, for Figure 4A In embodiments 4B and 4C, the multiplexer 41' and shift register 45 can be omitted while still achieving the functionality of the present invention. In other words, if the number of gate lines GL is less than the number of data lines DL based on the aspect ratio of the sensing electrodes and the circuit planning, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can also directly control the gate lines GL to select a single column or multiple columns of sensing electrodes.

[0090] like Figure 1B The image shown is a side view of a fingerprint touch device 100 according to another specific embodiment of the present invention; see also... Figure 2B , for the corresponding Figure 1B A top view of some components of the fingerprint touch device 100 in the embodiment. Figure 1B The illustrated embodiment further illustrates the stacking relationship of the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention with other components during manufacturing. This fingerprint touch device 100 includes, from top (near the user's operating direction) to bottom, a protective layer 12, a substrate 10, a sensing electrode and circuit layer 20, an optical adhesive layer (OCA) 34, a protective glass layer 32, a display 30, and an outer frame 60. Furthermore, this fingerprint touch device 100 includes a fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 disposed on one surface of the substrate 10, a flexible circuit board 50 connected to one end of the substrate 10, and passive components 52 and connectors 54 disposed on the flexible circuit board 50. Although not explicitly shown in this figure, the sensing electrode and circuit layer 20 also has the following characteristics... Figure 1A The inductive electrode SE and electrode switching circuit 22 shown have a similar growth pattern.

[0091] Likewise, Figure 1B and Figure 2B The fingerprint touch device 100 shown can be configured with sensing electrodes SE and related circuitry as follows: Figures 3A-3C , Figures 4A-4C , Figures 5A-5B As shown. Therefore Figure 1B and Figure 2BThe fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 in the fingerprint touch device 100 shown can select a specific single column of sensing electrodes SE using the capacitance signal switching circuit 41 and the gate line, thereby accurately detecting the ridge and valley information of the corresponding fingerprint. In addition, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can also select a specific number of rows of sensing electrodes by controlling the capacitance signal switching circuit 41 and select a specific number of columns of sensing electrodes by controlling the gate line to control multiple electrode switching circuits 22. This allows for the planning of a generally array-shaped array of sensing electrodes, and the rapid detection of overall capacitance changes for a single array of sensing electrodes (i.e., a logical touch sensing electrode), thus achieving touch detection.

[0092] The above Figures 1A-1B The embodiments shown in 2A-2B, 3A-3C, 4A-4C, and 5A-5B can, for example, be used on the display 30 of a portable electronic device (such as a smartphone). Therefore, the plurality of transistor switches Q can be transparent thin-film transistors, the plurality of data lines DL and the plurality of gate lines GL can be transparent conductive lines or metal conductive lines with a linewidth not exceeding 10µm, and the substrate can also be a protective glass for a display screen of the display 30.

[0093] like Figure 1C The image shown is a side view of a fingerprint touch device 100 according to another specific embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment can be applied, for example, to a computer touchpad, where the substrate 10 can be made of an opaque material. Figure 1C The fingerprint touch device 100 includes a protective layer 12 (e.g., a hard film), a sensing electrode and circuit layer 20, and a substrate 10, extending from top to bottom (near the user's operating direction). Furthermore, the fingerprint touch device 100 includes a flexible circuit board 50 connected to one end of the substrate 10 and a fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 disposed on the flexible circuit board 50. Figure 1D The image shown is a side view of a fingerprint touch device 100 according to another specific embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment can also be applied to a computer touchpad, i.e., the substrate 10 can be made of an opaque material. Figure 1D Similar to the embodiments Figure 1C In some embodiments, however, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can be directly disposed on the substrate 10.

[0094] Likewise, Figures 1C~1D The fingerprint touch device 100 shown can be configured with sensing electrodes SE and related circuitry as follows: Figures 3A-3C , Figures 4A-4C and Figures 5A-5B As shown. Therefore Figures 1C~1DThe fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 in the fingerprint touch device 100 shown can select a specific single row of sensing electrodes SE using a capacitance signal switching circuit 41, and select a specific single column of sensing electrodes SE using a gate line, thereby accurately detecting the ridge and valley information of the corresponding fingerprint. Furthermore, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit 40 can also select a specific number of rows of sensing electrodes by controlling the capacitance signal switching circuit 41, and select a specific number of columns of sensing electrodes by controlling multiple electrode switching circuits 22 using gate lines, thus planning a generally array-shaped array of sensing electrodes. This allows for rapid detection of capacitance changes in a single array of sensing electrodes, achieving touch detection. However, in Figures 1C~1D In the embodiment shown, since it can be used in an opaque touchpad, the substrate 10 can be made of glass, and the gate line GL and data line DL can be made of opaque materials (e.g., metal).

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit may include multiple sets of self-capacitance detection circuits to improve the sensing rate through parallel detection. The number of fingerprint and touch control integrated circuits 40 may also be multiple, and they may be disposed on opposite sides of the substrate 10. Although the above embodiments of the present invention are described using self-capacitance detection, the architecture of the present invention can also be applied to mutual capacitance detection. In the above embodiments, the similarity between the masking signal and the capacitance sensing signal is not less than 90%. For example, the similarity may be that the difference in amplitude or phase between the masking signal and the capacitance sensing signal is less than or equal to 10%. Furthermore, by controlling the data lines and gate lines to select specific rows and columns of sensing electrodes, a sensing electrode array can be formed. According to the present invention, the sensing area of ​​the sensing electrode array can be less than 1 square millimeter (1 mm²). 2 This allows the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention to provide pen-style input, such as handwriting input using a pencil, metal pen, ballpoint pen, or non-metallic pen. The overall area of ​​the plurality of sensing electrodes of the fingerprint touch device 100 of the present invention can cover at least two user fingers (e.g., a length of at least 1 cm in one dimension) to provide multi-fingerprint sensing functionality.

[0096] In summary, the fingerprint touch device of the present invention can achieve the following effects:

[0097] By providing multiple many-to-one capacitor signal switching circuits and multiple electrode switching circuits, it is possible to flexibly plan the detection of capacitance changes for a single sensing electrode or for multiple sensing electrodes (such as an electrode array), thereby achieving flexible operation of fingerprint detection or touch detection without changing the physical electrode configuration.

[0098] The multiple sensing electrodes in adjacent columns or rows can be arranged in an alternating pattern, which is beneficial for simultaneous detection of up to four sensing electrodes and improves detection accuracy.

[0099] Multiple data lines or multiple gate lines have at least one bend to improve the display effect and allow for greater flexibility in material selection.

[0100] Each sensing electrode has an area of ​​no more than 40,000 square micrometers and can be combined with multiple multiplexers and multiple electrode switching circuits to plan multiple sensing electrodes into an electrode array, which can more accurately sense fingerprints without affecting the efficiency of touch detection.

[0101] By setting data masking lines and capacitance signal masking lines, noise on the data lines and capacitance signal lines can be masked. Applying a masking signal with the same frequency and phase as the capacitance sensing signal to the data masking lines and capacitance signal masking lines can further eliminate stray capacitance effects and reduce interference, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio and enhancing sensing accuracy.

[0102] The above-described embodiments are merely preferred embodiments provided to fully illustrate the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the present invention are all within the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A fingerprint touch device, characterized in that, Include: One substrate; A sensing electrode and circuit layer are disposed on one side of the substrate, including Multiple sensing electrodes are arranged on the substrate in multiple columns and multiple rows; Multiple electrode switching circuits, each electrode switching circuit corresponding to a sensing electrode, and each electrode switching circuit containing at least one transistor switch. Multiple data lines extend along a first direction, and each data line is connected to the multiple electrode switching circuits. Multiple gate lines extend along a second direction, and each gate line is connected to the multiple electrode switching circuits; Multiple capacitor signal lines are disposed on the side of the substrate; Multiple data masking lines are respectively set around each data line, and each data line corresponds to at least one data masking line; Multiple capacitor signal shielding lines are respectively disposed around each capacitor signal line, and each capacitor signal line corresponds to at least one capacitor signal shielding line. Multiple capacitor signal switching circuits are disposed on the side of the substrate, and each capacitor signal switching circuit is connected to at least one data line and one capacitor signal line. A fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit controls a plurality of capacitive signal switching circuits and a plurality of electrode switching circuits to sequentially or randomly select one or more of the sensing electrodes to perform fingerprint sensing or touch sensing operations; and A flexible circuit board, one end of which is pressed against one side of the substrate.

2. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a flat panel display having a display screen surface, and the substrate is disposed on the side of the display screen facing the operator for fingerprint detection or touch operation. The sensing electrodes and circuit layer cover a display area of ​​the flat panel display, and the plurality of sensing electrodes are transparent conductive electrodes.

3. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The multiple sensing electrodes in adjacent columns or rows are arranged in an alternating pattern.

4. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, These multiple transistor switches are transparent thin-film transistors.

5. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The data lines and the gate lines are either transparent conductive lines or metallic conductive lines with a line width of no more than 10µm.

6. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The multiple data lines or the multiple gate lines have at least one bend to improve the display effect.

7. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The number of fingerprint and touch control integrated circuits is at least two.

8. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The substrate is the protective glass for the display screen.

9. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a protective layer.

10. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The substrate is disposed on one side of the sensing electrode and circuit layer, and the side of the substrate without the sensing electrode and circuit layer faces the operator.

11. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The substrate has one or more bends.

12. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes multiple passive components mounted on the flexible circuit board.

13. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The area of ​​each sensing electrode is no more than 40,000 square micrometers.

14. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The area of ​​the multiple sensing electrodes can cover at least two user fingers.

15. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The substrate is made of glass or a transparent polymer material.

16. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sensing area of ​​the selected multiple sensing electrodes is less than 1 square millimeter.

17. The fingerprint touch device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, This fingerprint and touch control integrated circuit includes multiple sets of self-capacitance detection circuits to improve the sensing rate through parallel detection.

18. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 17, characterized in that, One of the multiple sets of self-capacitance detection circuits transmits a capacitance excitation signal via a capacitance signal line to at least one selected data line via a capacitance signal switching circuit, and transmits it to at least one selected sensing electrode via at least one electrode switching circuit. At the same time, a capacitance sensing signal is fed from the at least one selected sensing electrode through the corresponding electrode switching circuit, the at least one selected data line, the capacitance signal switching circuit, and the capacitance signal line to perform fingerprint detection or touch detection operations.

19. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 18, characterized in that, Each of the multiple sets of self-capacitance detection circuits then sends a masking signal that is in phase and frequency with the capacitance sensing signal to the corresponding data masking line to eliminate stray capacitance effect and reduce interference, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio and enhancing sensing accuracy.

20. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes multiple capacitor shielding signal switch circuits disposed on the side of the substrate, each of the capacitor shielding signal switch circuits being connected to the multiple data shielding lines and at least one capacitor signal shielding line.

21. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 19, characterized in that, The similarity between the shielding signal and the capacitive sensing signal is no less than 90%.

22. The fingerprint touch device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The substrate is made of ultra-thin glass or transparent polyimide.

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