Under-Display Fingerprint Sensor Light Blocking for Stray Light Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing under-screen fingerprint identification technologies face challenges in effectively filtering stray light, which affects the performance of fingerprint imaging and requires larger space for lens supports, making it difficult to improve fingerprint identification accuracy while maintaining device size constraints.

Innovation Solution

An optical fingerprint apparatus with a light blocking layer above the edge region of the fingerprint sensor chip is used to block stray light, while maintaining a thin design by using a hollow structure with an opening to allow useful light signals to reach the sensing array, and a filter layer is applied to reduce interference light, enhancing fingerprint identification performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lens support is disposed above a fingerprint sensor to block stray light, then fingerprint identification performance is improved, but the device volume increases and space requirements are higher

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint identification performanceVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a thin film light blocking layer with light blocking patterns formed directly on the fingerprint sensor chip. This thin film structure effectively blocks stray light while maintaining a compact form factor, eliminating the need for bulky lens supports and reducing overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the light blocking function from a separate lens support structure and integrates it directly into the fingerprint sensor chip through light blocking patterns. This integration removes the need for additional supporting structures, reducing device volume while maintaining stray light blocking effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If a lens support is used to block stray light, then fingerprint imaging quality is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint imaging qualityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the light blocking function with the fingerprint sensor chip structure by forming light blocking patterns directly on the chip. This integration combines multiple functions into a single component, reducing structural complexity while maintaining imaging quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fingerprint sensor chip is designed to serve multiple functions: fingerprint sensing and stray light blocking. The light blocking patterns are integrated into the chip structure, making the chip a multi-functional component that eliminates the need for separate light blocking structures.

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

3Length of stationary object

If the optical fingerprint apparatus is designed to be thin, then device thickness is reduced, but the ability to filter stray light is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice thicknessVSAvoidstray light interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin film light blocking layer with optimized light blocking patterns that provide effective stray light filtering within a minimal thickness. The thin film structure maintains the compact design while the patterned configuration ensures adequate light blocking performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The light blocking patterns are strategically positioned in specific regions where stray light interference occurs most. By concentrating light blocking material only where needed rather than using a uniform thick layer, the patent achieves effective stray light filtering while maintaining thin overall device profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively filters stray light, improves fingerprint identification accuracy, and reduces the overall thickness of the optical fingerprint apparatus, addressing the space constraints and performance issues of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

a light blocking layer 321 formed on an upper surface of an edge region of the optical fingerprint chip 310, where the light blocking layer 321 partially blocks the edge region of the optical fingerprint chip 310

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a filter layer is applied to reduce interference light, enhancing fingerprint identification performance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentEP3842991B1Optical fingerprint apparatus and electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP3842991B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3842991B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3842991B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Provided are an optical fingerprint apparatus and an electronic device, applied to an electronic device having a display screen, where the optical fingerprint apparatus is configured to be disposed under the display screen, and the optical fingerprint apparatus includes: an optical fingerprint chip including a sensing array having a plurality of optical sensing units, where the sensing array is configured to receive a fingerprint light signal returned from a finger above the display screen, and the fingerprint light signal is used to obtain a fingerprint image of the finger; and a light blocking layer formed on an upper surface of an edge region of the optical fingerprint chip, where the light blocking layer partially blocks the edge region of the optical fingerprint chip and does not block a sensing region of the optical fingerprint chip, and the light blocking layer is configured to block interference light entering the sensing array from the edge region of the optical fingerprint chip, where the sensing region is a region where the sensing array is located.