Handheld Device Fingerprint and Touch Sensor Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hand-held electronic devices with touch panels lack enhanced touch control functionality, particularly in integrating fingerprint recognition and object position/motion detection for improved user authentication and input methods.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held electronic device design featuring spatially separated touch sensor modules on multiple surfaces, including a fingerprint sensor and a touch sensor, which provide enhanced touch control functionality by integrating fingerprint scan and identification, and object position and motion detection, with a controller to analyze touch events and trigger corresponding functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate sensors are embedded for fingerprint recognition and touch detection, then authentication and input functionality are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch control functionalityVSAvoidsensor integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines fingerprint sensor and touch sensor into a single integrated sensing module. The sensor array serves dual purposes: detecting fingerprint patterns for authentication and detecting touch events for input control, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining enhanced functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated sensor module performs multiple functions simultaneously - it can detect fingerprints for authentication, detect touch positions for input, and potentially detect pressure or other touch characteristics, making a single component serve multiple purposes and reducing the need for separate dedicated sensors

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If spatially separated touch sensor modules are used on multiple surfaces, then touch control functionality is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-surface touch controlVSAvoidsensor module assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sensing functionality into separate modular sensor units that can be independently manufactured and then assembled onto different device surfaces. This segmentation allows each module to be produced using standardized processes while the overall system achieves complex multi-surface coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If fingerprint sensor and touch sensor are integrated, then authentication and input methods are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual functionalityVSAvoidsensor operation power
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated sensor module can operate in different modes periodically or on-demand - switching between fingerprint scanning mode and continuous touch detection mode, or putting the fingerprint sensor into low-power standby while maintaining basic touch sensitivity, thereby managing power consumption while preserving dual functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 device offers improved user authentication and input methods through fingerprint recognition and touch event analysis, enabling efficient and intuitive operation with reduced power consumption and enhanced user experience.

Implementation Method 1

Based on different sensing types, touch panels can be categorized into resistive touch panels, capacitive touch panels... In comparison to other touch panels, the capacitive touch panels are characterized by short response speed, favorable reliability, high definition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2851829B1Methods for controlling a hand-held electronic device and hand-held electronic device utilizing the same
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 HTC CORP
  • EP2851829B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2851829B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2851829B1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

A hand-held electronic device. A sensing surface is adapted to detect fingerprints and a contact of an object on the sensing surface. Storage stores a fingerprint signature. A controller is configured to determine whether a composition of detected fingerprints matches with the fingerprint signature and determine at least one character of the contact. The at least one character comprises a location on which the object contacts the sensing surface.