Fingerprint Sensing Circuit Threshold Voltage Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch devices face challenges in achieving uniform sensitivity due to manufacturing factors, leading to non-uniform current flow across transistors, which affects the reliability of touch event detection.

Innovation Solution

A circuit incorporating a transistor and a capacitor, where the capacitor establishes a compensation voltage to ensure current flow independent of the transistor's threshold voltage, enhancing sensitivity by using control signals to manage voltage differences and current output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional touch sensing circuits are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but sensitivity uniformity deteriorates due to manufacturing variations in transistor threshold voltages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitivity uniformityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capacitor pre-charges to establish a compensation voltage equal to the transistor threshold voltage before the sensing operation. This preliminary voltage establishment compensates for manufacturing variations in threshold voltage, ensuring uniform sensitivity across different transistors without requiring complex real-time adjustment circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit changes the voltage parameter at the gate by introducing a compensation voltage through the capacitor. This voltage adjustment compensates for threshold voltage variations in transistors caused by manufacturing processes, thereby improving sensitivity uniformity while maintaining a relatively simple circuit structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If transistor threshold voltage variations are not compensated, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to non-uniform current flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch detection precisionVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capacitor is pre-charged to establish a compensation voltage equal to the transistor threshold voltage before sensing. This preliminary voltage setup ensures that current flow becomes independent of threshold voltage variations, improving touch detection precision without requiring complex compensation circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitor acts as an intermediary element that stores and provides compensation voltage to the transistor gate. This intermediary voltage source compensates for threshold voltage variations, enabling precise touch detection while keeping the overall circuit structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If compensation voltage is established using additional circuits, then sensitivity uniformity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensitivity uniformityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capacitor serves multiple functions: it acts as the sensing element for detecting touch events and simultaneously provides threshold voltage compensation by maintaining a pre-charged voltage. This multi-functionality improves sensitivity uniformity without requiring separate compensation circuits, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitor uses its own pre-stored charge to provide compensation voltage, making the compensation mechanism self-contained within the existing sensing circuit. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional active compensation components, maintaining circuit simplicity while achieving uniform sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution improves the precision and sensitivity of touch event detection by compensating for manufacturing variations, resulting in consistent and reliable sensing results across the electronic device's pixel area.

Implementation Method 1

a transistor and a capacitor. The transistor includes a gate configured to, in response to a touch event of an object, sense a capacitance associated with the object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The capacitor is configured to establish a voltage across the first node and the second node in response to a first control signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10423286B1Circuit for fingerprint sensing and electronic device comprising the circuit
Publication Date: 2019.09.24 INT TECH CO LTD
  • US10423286B1 patent drawing
  • US10423286B1 patent drawing
  • US10423286B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A circuit for fingerprint detection is disclosed. The circuit includes a transistor and a capacitor. The transistor includes a gate configured to, in response to a touch event of an object, sense a capacitance associated with the object. The capacitor, coupled between a first node and a second node, is configured to establish a voltage across the first node and the second node in response to a first control signal, and establish a compensation voltage at the first node in response to a second control signal. The transistor is configured to flow a current therethrough in response to a third control signal. The current has a magnitude independent of the threshold voltage of the transistor due to the compensation voltage.