Key module with vibration feedback and fingerprint sensing, fingerprint sensing module applied to key module and control method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a key module with vibration feedback and fingerprint sensing, a fingerprint sensing module applied to the key module and a control method thereof. The fingerprint sensing module has a fingerprint sensing unit and a vibration unit arranged in an upper-lower superposition mode. When the fingerprint sensing unit senses a fingerprint, a control unit or a host of an electronic device determines whether the fingerprint passes authentication. If the fingerprint does not pass authentication, the vibration unit is actuated, so that a user can instantly know that the authentication fails through vibration, and the user can quickly replace a finger or move a finger position to speed up the authentication process and avoid waiting for a long time, thereby improving user experience.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an electronic device, in particular, a key module with vibration feedback and fingerprint sensing, a fingerprint sensing module applied to the key module and a control method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] Due to the popularity of portable electronic devices, users are more likely to bring portable electronic devices to various occasions for use, and the proportion of users storing confidential or important information in portable electronic devices is also increasing. Therefore, the user authentication mechanism of portable electronic devices is becoming more and more important. Traditional portable electronic devices use passwords as the user authentication mechanism, but passwords are more likely to be cracked or viewed, so the protection is low. Therefore, biometric recognition is gradually used as the user authentication mechanism, which is difficult to crack and cannot be stolen by viewing, so it gradually becomes an important accessory in portable electronic devices. Among various biometric recognition methods, fingerprint recognition is currently the mainstream, so portable electronic devices begin to set up fingerprint sensing modules to identify the fingerprints of users, and the sensing results are used as the user authentication mechanism.

[0003] Based on the characteristics of portable electronic devices requiring lightness, thinness and smallness, the fingerprint sensing module of the prior art is integrated into one key (such as a power key) to save space. However, when the user places a finger on the key with the fingerprint sensing module, in addition to the fact that the user can know from the screen of the portable electronic device that the fingerprint authentication is passed, in other states, the user cannot know whether the fingerprint sensing module is currently identifying the fingerprint or has completed the identification but failed to pass the authentication. Therefore, the user will waste a lot of time waiting until a certain period of time has passed, and then the user can intuitively understand that the authentication has failed based on experience, which wastes the user's time. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, the present application is created to improve the user experience in order to solve the problem that the user cannot quickly know the progress of fingerprint authentication in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned application purpose, the technical means adopted by the present application is to provide a fingerprint sensing module applied to a key module, which comprises:

[0006] a control unit;

[0007] a fingerprint sensing unit electrically connected with the control unit; and

[0008] a vibration unit electrically connected with the control unit and arranged below the fingerprint sensing unit.

[0009] A key module with vibration feedback and fingerprint sensing, which comprises:

[0010] The fingerprint sensing module as mentioned above;

[0011] A key switch disposed below the vibration unit; and

[0012] A key cap disposed above the fingerprint sensing unit.

[0013] The present application also provides a control method using the fingerprint sensing module as mentioned above, comprising the following steps:

[0014] When a finger is detected, the fingerprint sensing unit performs fingerprint sensing and generates a fingerprint sensing result;

[0015] The control unit or a host determines whether to pass the authentication according to the fingerprint sensing result;

[0016] If it is determined that the authentication is not passed, the control unit controls the vibration unit to perform a first feedback.

[0017] The present application has the advantages that the vibration unit is disposed below the fingerprint sensing unit in the axial direction by the bending assembly, thereby reducing the width and the overall volume in the horizontal direction, so that the fingerprint sensing module or the key module can be easily accommodated in the key; in addition, the feedback performed by the vibration unit in real time allows the user to feel the feedback of the vibration unit through the finger at the first time, so that the user can immediately know whether to pass the authentication, and the user does not need to wait, thereby effectively improving the user experience.

[0018] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but is not limited thereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 A perspective view of an electronic device;

[0020] Figure 2 An enlarged perspective view of a partial area of an electronic device;

[0021] Figure 3 A side view and schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a key module of the present application;

[0022] Figure 4 A block diagram of partial elements of a key module of the present application;

[0023] Figure 5 A flowchart of a first embodiment of a control method of a key module of the present application;

[0024] Figure 6 A flowchart of a second embodiment of a control method of a key module of the present application;

[0025] Figure 7FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a fingerprint sensing module of the present application before assembly;

[0026] Figure 8 FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the fingerprint sensing module of the present application before assembly;

[0027] Figure 9A FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the fingerprint sensing module of the present application in a first assembly mode;

[0028] Figure 9B FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment of the fingerprint sensing module of the present application in a second assembly mode;

[0029] Figure 10 FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of a fingerprint sensing module of the present application before assembly;

[0030] Figure 11 FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment of the fingerprint sensing module of the present application in a first assembly mode;

[0031] Figure 12 FIG. 7 is a plan view of part of a key module of the present application before assembly;

[0032] Figure 13 FIG. 8 is a side view of part of the key module of the present application before assembly;

[0033] Figure 14A FIG. 9 is a side view of part of the key module of the present application in a first assembly mode;

[0034] Figure 14B FIG. 10 is a side view of part of the key module of the present application in a second assembly mode;

[0035] Figure 15 FIG. 11 is a side view of a third embodiment of a fingerprint sensing module of the present application.

[0036] In the drawings:

[0037] 1: key module 100: electronic device

[0038] 10: control unit 20: fingerprint sensing unit

[0039] 30: vibration unit 40: key switch

[0040] 50: key cap 60: substrate

[0041] 601: first region 602: second region

[0042] 603: third region 604: first bending portion

[0043] 605: second bending portion 61: first wiring layer

[0044] 62: second wiring layer 60A: substrate

[0045] 601A: first region 602A: second region

[0046] 603A: third region 604A: fourth region

[0047] 605A: first bending portion 606A: second bending portion

[0048] 607A: third bending portion 60B: substrate

[0049] 61B: first wiring layer 62B: second wiring layer

[0050] W1-W5, W 1A -W 7A : width S11-S14, S21-S26: step DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The technical means adopted by the present application to achieve the predetermined object of the present application will be further explained in the following with the accompanying drawings and the embodiments of the present application, wherein the drawings are only simplified for the purpose of illustration and the structure or method invention of the present application is explained through the relationship between the elements and components of the present application, therefore, the elements shown in the drawings are not presented in the actual number, actual shape, actual size and actual proportion, the size or size proportion has been enlarged or simplified, thereby providing better illustration, the actual number, actual shape or actual size proportion has been selectively designed and configured, and the detailed element layout can be more complicated.

[0052] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4As shown, a keypad module 1 with vibration feedback and fingerprint sensing according to the present invention is disposed in an electronic device 100 as one of the keys of the electronic device 100, for example, the power key. The keypad module 1 includes a control unit 10, a fingerprint sensing unit 20, a vibration unit 30, a key switch 40, and a keycap 50. The control unit 10, the fingerprint sensing unit 20, and the vibration unit 30 together constitute a fingerprint sensing module. The fingerprint sensing unit 20 and the vibration unit 30 are each electrically connected to the control unit 10. The vibration unit 30 is disposed below the fingerprint sensing unit 20, and the key switch 40 is disposed below the vibration unit 30. The keycap 50 is disposed over the fingerprint sensing unit 20. An adhesive layer (e.g., hydrogel) may be disposed between the keycap 50 and the fingerprint sensing unit 20. The keycap 50 may be integrally formed, or it may be assembled with a pre-set annular wall and then covered with a cover. The fingerprint sensing unit 20 is used to sense fingerprints. In one embodiment, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 has a sensing array, which detects the capacitance change of the corresponding fingerprint by means of the sensing array to obtain a fingerprint image. In one embodiment, the vibration unit 30 is a piezoelectric element or an element with a vibration motor. When a piezoelectric element is used as the vibration unit 30, a smaller volume can be obtained and manufacturing costs can be saved. In one embodiment, the vibration mode of the vibration unit 30 is to vibrate up and down along the axis where the vibration unit 30 and the fingerprint sensing unit 20 are overlapped. When the user presses down the button module 1, the button switch 40 transmits the triggered information to the control unit 10 to execute the corresponding instruction to be executed when the button switch 40 is triggered. Figure 2 Taking the power button as an example, when the button switch 40 is triggered, it will execute corresponding preset instructions such as power on, sleep, or wake up.

[0053] See also Figure 5 Flowchart coordination Figures 1 to 4 As shown in the structural diagram of , the control method of the key module 1 of the present invention mainly includes the following steps: first, when a finger is detected (S11), the fingerprint sensing unit 20 starts to perform fingerprint sensing (S12), and the fingerprint sensing unit 20 transmits the obtained fingerprint image to the control unit 10 or the host of the electronic device 100 (not shown in the figure), then the control unit 10 or the host of the electronic device 100 generates a fingerprint sensing result based on the fingerprint image, and the control unit 10 or the host of the electronic device 100 determines whether the fingerprint sensing result has passed authentication based on the fingerprint sensing result, that is, whether the authentication has passed based on whether it matches the pre-stored user fingerprint data. When it is determined that the authentication has not passed (S13), the control unit 20 controls the vibration unit 30 to perform a first feedback (S14), such as feedback such as a short vibration once or several times, a long vibration once or several times, or a vibration combination with a special vibration frequency.

[0054] Therefore, the user can quickly know that his fingerprint is not authenticated through the first feedback of the vibration unit 30, and then quickly move the finger position or replace the finger to perform the fingerprint authentication again, so the user will not waste the waiting time.

[0055] In another embodiment, referring to the flow chart shown in Figure 6 and the structural diagram shown in Figures 1 to 4 The control method of the key module 1 of the present application comprises the following steps: first, detecting an object (S21), determining whether a finger is detected (S22); if no finger is detected, returning to step S21 to continue detecting the object, if a finger is detected, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 starts to perform fingerprint sensing (S23), at this time, the control unit 10 can control the vibration unit 30 to perform a third feedback to let the user know that the fingerprint sensing has started; the fingerprint sensing unit 20 transmits the obtained fingerprint image to the control unit 10 or the host of the electronic device 100 (not shown in the figure), then the control unit 10 or the host of the electronic device 100 generates a fingerprint sensing result according to the fingerprint image, and the control unit 10 or the host of the electronic device 100 determines whether the fingerprint sensing result is authenticated (S24) according to the fingerprint sensing result; when it is determined that the authentication is not passed, the control unit 20 controls the vibration unit 30 to perform a first feedback (S25), when it is determined that the authentication is passed, the control unit 20 controls the vibration unit 30 to perform a second feedback (S26). The first feedback, the second feedback, and the third feedback are all different feedbacks, which can be short vibration once or several times, long vibration once or several times, etc. Therefore, the user can distinguish the progress and result of the current fingerprint sensing through the different feedbacks of the vibration unit 30.

[0056] The specific structure of the fingerprint sensing module of the present application can have many different embodiments, some of which are listed below, but not to limit the present application.

[0057] Please refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, in an embodiment, the control unit 10, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 and the vibration unit 30 are disposed on a substrate 60, which can be a flexible printed circuit board (FPC). The substrate 60 has opposite first and second sides, and includes a first region 601, a second region 602 between the first region 601 and a third region 603, a first bend 604 between the first region 601 and the second region 602, and a second bend 605 between the second region 602 and the third region 603. The first bend 604 has a width W4 that is less than a width W1 of the first region 601, less than a width W2 of the second region 602, and less than a width W3 of the third region 603. The second bend 605 has a width W5 that is less than the width W1 of the first region 601, less than the width W2 of the second region 602, and less than the width W3 of the third region 603. When the substrate 60 is bent, the first bend 604 and the second bend 605 can be used as bending locations and for routing lines. The control unit 10 is disposed on the first side of the third region 603, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 is disposed on the first side of the second region 602, and the vibration unit 30 is disposed on the first side of the first region 601. In an embodiment, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 is electrically connected to the control unit 10 via a first circuit layer 61 disposed on the first side, and the vibration unit 30 is electrically connected to the control unit 10 via a second circuit layer 62 disposed on the second side. In another embodiment, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 can be electrically connected to the control unit 10 via the second circuit layer 62 disposed on the second side, and the vibration unit 30 can be electrically connected to the control unit 10 via the first circuit layer 61 disposed on the first side.

[0058] Referring to Figure 9A As shown, the first bend 604 can be bent so that the vibration unit 30 is disposed axially below the fingerprint sensing unit 20. After bending, a support element (not shown) can be provided between the second circuit layer 62 relative to the first region 601 and the first circuit layer 61 relative to the second region 602. Further, referring to Figure 9B As shown, the second bend 605 can also be bent so that the control unit 10 is disposed below the vibration unit 30 and the fingerprint sensing unit 20. The foregoing Figure 9A and Figure 9B Embodiments bend the vibration unit 30 axially below the fingerprint sensing unit 20, thereby reducing the width and overall volume in the horizontal direction, and thereby facilitating the fingerprint sensing module or the key module to be accommodated inside the key.

[0059] See also Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, in one embodiment, a first support plate 63 and a second support plate 64 are further included. The first support plate 63 is disposed on the second side of the second region 602 to correspond to the fingerprint sensing unit 20, and the second support plate 64 is disposed on the second side of the first region 601 to correspond to the vibration unit 30. When the first bending portion 604 is bent, the first support plate 63 and the second support plate 64 abut against each other to improve structural stability. In one embodiment, only the first support plate 63 or the second support plate 64 can be included to provide a supporting effect.

[0060] See also Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, in one embodiment, the control unit 10 , the fingerprint sensing unit 20 , the vibration unit 30 and the key switch 40 are disposed on a substrate 60A, which may be a flexible printed circuit board. The substrate 60A has a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to each other. The substrate 60A includes a first region 601A, a second region 602A, a third region 603A, and a fourth region 604A. The second region 602A is located between the first region 601A and the third region 603A. The third region 603A is located between the second region 602A and the fourth region 604A. The first region 601A and the second region 602A are connected by a first bending portion 605A. The second region 602A and the third region 603A are connected by a second bending portion 606A. The third region 603A and the fourth region 604A are connected by a third bending portion 607A. The width W of the first bending portion 605A is 5A Smaller than the width W of the first region 601A 1A , smaller than the width W of the second region 602A 2A , smaller than the width W of the third region 603A 3A , smaller than the width W of the fourth region 604A 4A The width W of the second bending portion 606A is 6A Smaller than the width W of the first region 601A 1A , smaller than the width W of the second region 602A 2A , smaller than the width W of the third region 603A 3A , smaller than the width W of the fourth region 604A 4A The width W of the third bending portion 607A is 7A Smaller than the width W of the first region 601A 1A , smaller than the width W of the second region 602A 2A , smaller than the width W of the third region 603A3A less than the width W of the fourth region 604A 4A so that the substrate 60A is bent at the first bending portion 605A, the second bending portion 606A, and the third bending portion 607A. The control unit 10 is disposed on the first side of the fourth region 604A, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 is disposed on the first side of the second region 602A, the vibration unit 30 is disposed on the first side of the first region 601A, and the key switch 40 is disposed on the first side of the third region 603A. As shown in FIG. 6A, the first bending portion 605A is bent so that the vibration unit 30 is disposed axially below the fingerprint sensing unit 20, and the second bending portion 606A is bent so that the key switch 40 is disposed axially below the vibration unit 30. As shown in FIG. 6B, the third bending portion 607A is also bent so that the control unit 10 is disposed below the vibration unit 30, the fingerprint sensing unit 20, and the key switch 40. Figure 14A Figure 14B As shown in FIG. 6B, the third bending portion 607A is also bent so that the control unit 10 is disposed below the vibration unit 30, the fingerprint sensing unit 20, and the key switch 40.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 6B, the third bending portion 607A is also bent so that the control unit 10 is disposed below the vibration unit 30, the fingerprint sensing unit 20, and the key switch 40. Figure 15 In combination Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 6C, in an embodiment, the fingerprint sensing unit 20 and the vibration unit 30 are disposed on different sides of a substrate 60B, and the control unit 10 is not disposed on the same substrate 60B as the fingerprint sensing unit 20 and the vibration unit 30, but is separately disposed on another circuit board or on a substrate of an electronic device (not shown in the figures). The substrate 60B is provided with a first circuit layer 61B and a second circuit layer 62B, the first circuit layer 61B is used to electrically connect the fingerprint sensing unit 20 and the control unit 10, and the second circuit layer 62B is used to electrically connect the fingerprint sensing unit 20 and the control unit 10.

[0062] Of course, the present application can have other various embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present application without departing from the spirit and essence of the present application. These corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the claims attached to the present application.​

Claims

1. A key module with vibration feedback and fingerprint sensing, characterized in that: include: a control unit; a fingerprint sensing unit electrically connected to the control unit; a vibration unit electrically connected to the control unit and disposed below the fingerprint sensing unit, the fingerprint sensing unit and the vibration unit being disposed on the same substrate, which is a flexible circuit board. The fingerprint sensing unit and the vibration unit are disposed on a first side surface of the flexible circuit board, and the substrate is bent so that the vibration unit is disposed below the fingerprint sensing unit; a push button switch disposed below the vibration unit; and A key cap is disposed on the fingerprint sensing unit and is attached to the fingerprint sensing unit through an adhesive layer.

2. The key module according to claim 1, wherein: The substrate has a first area, a second area and a bending portion. The vibration unit is arranged in the first area, the fingerprint sensing unit is arranged in the second area, and the bending portion is arranged between the first area and the second area and is used for bending so that the vibration unit is arranged below the fingerprint sensing unit.

3. The key module according to claim 1, wherein: A second side surface of the flexible circuit board is located on a different side surface of the flexible circuit board relative to the first side surface. A first circuit layer and a second circuit layer are respectively disposed on the first side surface and the second side surface. The first circuit layer electrically connects the fingerprint sensing unit and the control unit, and the second circuit layer electrically connects the vibration unit and the control unit.

4. The key module according to claim 3, wherein: When the flexible circuit board is bent, a supporting plate is arranged between the fingerprint sensing unit and the vibration unit.

5. The key module according to claim 1, wherein: The key switch is formed on the first side surface of the flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board is bent so that the key switch is arranged below the vibration unit.

6. The key module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The control unit is arranged on the substrate.

7. The key module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The vibration unit is a piezoelectric element, and its vibration mode is axial vibration along the vertically overlapping arrangement of the vibration unit and the fingerprint sensing unit.

8. A fingerprint sensing module applied to a key module, characterized in that: include: a control unit; a fingerprint sensing unit electrically connected to the control unit; and A vibration unit is electrically connected to the control unit and is disposed below the fingerprint sensing unit. The fingerprint sensing unit and the vibration unit are disposed on the same substrate, which is a flexible circuit board. The fingerprint sensing unit and the vibration unit are disposed on a first side surface of the flexible circuit board. The substrate is bent so that the vibration unit is disposed below the fingerprint sensing unit.

9. The fingerprint sensing module according to claim 8, wherein: The substrate has a first area, a second area and a bending portion. The vibration unit is arranged in the first area, the fingerprint sensing unit is arranged in the second area, and the bending portion is arranged between the first area and the second area and is used for bending so that the vibration unit is arranged below the fingerprint sensing unit.

10. The fingerprint sensing module according to claim 8, wherein: A second side surface of the flexible circuit board is located on a different side surface of the flexible circuit board relative to the first side surface. A first circuit layer and a second circuit layer are respectively disposed on the first side surface and the second side surface. The first circuit layer electrically connects the fingerprint sensing unit and the control unit, and the second circuit layer electrically connects the vibration unit and the control unit.

11. The fingerprint sensing module according to claim 10, wherein: When the flexible circuit board is bent, a supporting plate is arranged between the fingerprint sensing unit and the vibration unit.

12. The fingerprint sensing module according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein: The control unit is arranged on the substrate.

13. The fingerprint sensing module according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein: The vibration unit is a piezoelectric element, and its vibration mode is axial vibration along the vertically overlapping arrangement of the vibration unit and the fingerprint sensing unit.

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