Integrated Fingerprint and Pressure Sensor Stack for Slim Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of sensor layouts in electronic devices leads to increased thickness, making them bulkier and less user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
Integrating sensors such as fingerprint and pressure sensors vertically or adjacent to each other, sharing common components and optimizing their placement to reduce overall device thickness, while using a transparent outer cover for improved fingerprint recognition and intuitive user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are integrated into the electronic device, then various input functions are provided, but the device thickness increases and layout becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (fingerprint sensor, pressure sensor, and other input sensors) into a single integrated sensor assembly. This merging approach allows various input functions to be provided while maintaining a compact structure that does not significantly increase device thickness. The sensors share common structural elements and are positioned in an overlapping arrangement, enabling space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions sensors in different spatial dimensions and orientations. Specifically, the fingerprint sensor and pressure sensor are arranged in an overlapping configuration where they share the same footprint area but operate at different depths and angles. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple sensors to coexist without requiring additional lateral space, thus preventing thickness increase while providing diverse input functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are integrated into the electronic device, then various input functions are provided, but the sensor layout becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensors into a unified integrated sensor assembly with a shared structure. This integration simplifies the overall layout by consolidating what would otherwise be separate, complex sensor arrangements into a single modular unit. The common structural elements and shared mounting mechanisms reduce layout complexity while maintaining all required input functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously - fingerprint recognition, pressure sensing, and other input capabilities - within a single structural framework. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated structures for each sensor type, thereby simplifying the overall sensor layout while providing diverse input functions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic device including a housing including a transparent cover including a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region, a touchscreen display interposed between the first region and a second surface of the housing and exposed through the first region, an opaque layer interposed between the second region of the transparent cover and the second surface and exposed through the second region, a fingerprint sensor interposed between the opaque layer and the second surface, and a pressure sensor interposed between the fingerprint sensor and the second surface and sensing a pressure of an external object against the opaque layer. The pressure sensor includes a first electrode substantially in parallel with the opaque layer, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode layer and extending substantially in parallel in the second direction, and a dielectric layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. Moreover, various embodiment found through the present disclosure are possible.