Display-Integrated Fingerprint Sensing for Full-Area Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with integrated fingerprint sensors face increased production costs and complexity due to the need for external modules and limited fingerprint recognition areas.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with integrated self-luminous pixels and sensing units, where a first driving unit controls both display and sensing functions, allowing for internal integration of fingerprint recognition without external modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an external fingerprint module is bonded to the edge of the electronic device, then fingerprint recognition function is achieved, but production costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint recognition functionVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fingerprint sensing function with the display panel by integrating a sensing electrode layer within the display structure itself. The sensing unit is formed by patterned transparent conductive layers (such as ITO) that are incorporated during the display panel manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate external fingerprint modules and reducing production complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The display panel is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both the visual display interface and the fingerprint sensing interface. The same transparent conductive layers that form part of the display structure also function as sensing electrodes for fingerprint recognition, allowing one component to perform multiple roles and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If an external fingerprint module is bonded to the edge of the electronic device, then fingerprint recognition function is achieved, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint recognition functionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fingerprint sensing function with the display panel by integrating a sensing electrode layer within the display structure itself. The sensing unit is formed by patterned transparent conductive layers (such as ITO) that are incorporated during the display panel manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate external fingerprint modules and reducing production complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The display panel is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both the visual display interface and the fingerprint sensing interface. The same transparent conductive layers that form part of the display structure also function as sensing electrodes for fingerprint recognition, allowing one component to perform multiple roles and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If an external fingerprint module is used, then fingerprint recognition is achieved, but only partial areas for fingerprint recognition are available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint recognition functionVSAvoidfingerprint recognition area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing area is divided into multiple independent sensing units, each capable of detecting fingerprint patterns. These sensing units are distributed across the display surface, allowing fingerprint recognition to occur at multiple locations rather than being confined to a single edge-mounted module, thereby expanding the effective recognition area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a one-dimensional edge-mounted sensing approach to a two-dimensional area-wide sensing capability by incorporating sensing electrodes across the display surface. This allows fingerprint recognition to occur across multiple locations on the display area, effectively expanding the functional sensing area from a limited edge region to a broader surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4664428A1Electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 INNOLUX CORP
  • EP4664428A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4664428A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4664428A1 patent drawingFigure 3B~4

AI summary

An electronic device includes a substrate, pixels, a second sensing unit, a first driving unit and a second driving unit. Each pixel includes a display unit including a self-luminous element and a first sensing unit. The second sensing unit overlaps at least one of the pixels. In a first mode, the first driving unit outputs a first signal to the display unit. In a second mode, the first driving unit outputs a second signal to the second sensing unit, receives a third signal from the second sensing unit, and outputs a fourth signal to the second driving unit according to the third signal. In a third mode, the second driving unit outputs a fifth signal to the first sensing unit according to the fourth signal, and the first sensing unit transmits a sixth signal to the first driving unit.