Biometric Sensor Brightness Control for Display Deterioration

Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face difficulties in acquiring fingerprint images due to display deterioration, as the brightness of deteriorating display areas may not meet the required level for fingerprint recognition, even at the same driving voltage.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device includes a display with a first and second area, where the biometric sensor overlaps the second area, and a processor adjusts the light intensity in the first area to be lower than the specified brightness level if the state information satisfies a condition, using the second area to maintain a specific brightness level for biometric information acquisition, thereby generating a load effect to enhance brightness in the sensing area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the display emits light at a specific brightness level for fingerprint recognition, then the biometric information acquisition is enabled, but when display deterioration occurs, the brightness of deteriorating portions becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay brightnessVSAvoidbrightness uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by dividing the display into multiple regions (first region and second region) with different brightness characteristics. The second region, which overlaps with the biometric sensor, is controlled to emit light at a specific brightness level required for fingerprint recognition, while the first region emits light at a different brightness level. This allows the sensing area to maintain adequate illumination even when other portions of the display have deteriorated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the display into functionally distinct regions: a first region for general display purposes and a second region specifically for biometric sensing. By controlling these regions independently through separate pixel groups and brightness levels, the system ensures that the fingerprint sensing area receives sufficient light regardless of deterioration in other display areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If the display brightness is increased to compensate for deterioration, then the fingerprint recognition can proceed, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing area brightnessVSAvoiddisplay power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by dividing the display into multiple regions (first region and second region) with different brightness characteristics. The second region, which overlaps with the biometric sensor, is controlled to emit light at a specific brightness level required for fingerprint recognition, while the first region emits light at a different brightness level. This allows the sensing area to maintain adequate illumination even when other portions of the display have deteriorated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the display into functionally distinct regions: a first region for general display purposes and a second region specifically for biometric sensing. By controlling these regions independently through separate pixel groups and brightness levels, the system ensures that the fingerprint sensing area receives sufficient light regardless of deterioration in other display areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for effective biometric information acquisition even when display pixels have deteriorated, by adjusting light intensity between the sensing and non-sensing areas, ensuring the required brightness is maintained for fingerprint recognition.

Implementation Method 1

a display including one or more pixels, each pixel including one or more subpixels, and the display configured to include a first area and a second area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission from display pixels: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS10679568B2Electronic device for acquiring biometric information using display light and operating method thereof

Publication Date: 2020.06.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device for acquiring biometric information and an operating method thereof. An electronic device may include: a display including one or more pixels, each pixel including one or more subpixels, and the display configured to include a first area and a second area; a display driver IC configured to control driving of the display; a biometric sensor configured to at least partially overlap the second area, and configured to acquire biometric information; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: identify a request for acquisition of the biometric information; based at least in part on the request, identify state information related to the acquisition of the biometric information; and if the state information satisfies a specified condition, perform a first acquisition of the biometric information using light emitted through the second area, wherein the light emitted through the second area has a specified level of brightness, and wherein in performing the first acquisition of the biometric information, the processor may be further configured to adjust an intensity of light emitted through the first area to be lower than the specified level of brightness.