Integrated Touch Fingerprint Sensor Signal Distribution Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices face challenges in detecting fingerprints across the entire screen due to the discrete nature of fingerprint authentication sensors, which increases casing size, and the separation of image display and fingerprint sensor circuits leads to complex signal connections, making it difficult to use conventional anisotropic conductive films and reducing yield.
Innovation Solution
A display device with integrated touch and fingerprint sensors, featuring intersecting sensor electrodes and a switching circuit that distributes input signals to multiple output terminals, reducing the need for narrow pitch connections and using a composite integrated circuit to simplify signal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a discrete fingerprint sensor is mounted on the display panel, then fingerprint authentication is possible, but the casing size increases and the sensor cannot detect fingerprints throughout the screen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fingerprint sensor with the display panel by integrating sensor electrodes into the display structure itself. The sensor electrodes are formed in the same substrate as the display pixels, merging two previously separate components (fingerprint sensor and display panel) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for a separate discrete fingerprint sensor module, thereby preventing increase in device size while enabling full-screen fingerprint detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display panel structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the visual display and the fingerprint sensing surface. The sensor electrodes are integrated within the display panel layers, allowing the same physical structure to perform both display and biometric authentication functions. This multi-functionality approach enables the display to detect fingerprints across the entire screen area without requiring additional dedicated sensor components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the circuitry for image display and fingerprint sensor driving are completely separated, then each function can be optimized independently, but the number of connecting terminals increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drive circuits for the display and the fingerprint sensor into a single integrated circuit structure. The sensor drive circuits are formed in the same substrate as the display drive circuits, sharing the same manufacturing process and physical location. This integration dramatically reduces the number of connecting terminals required between separate components, as the integrated circuit can output signals for both display and sensor functions through existing terminal connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit is designed to perform multiple functions through a single unified structure. It contains both the display drive circuitry and the fingerprint sensor drive circuitry, allowing one circuit to control both the visual output and the biometric sensing operations. This multi-functional integration eliminates the need for separate independent circuit boards and reduces terminal complexity while maintaining functional optimization for both purposes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional terminals are added for fingerprint sensor signals, then all sensor signals can be output, but the terminal pitch must be narrowed which makes conventional ACF connection difficult and decreases yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signal output functions into existing terminal structures. By integrating the fingerprint sensor drive circuits with the display drive circuits, the system can utilize the same terminal connections that already exist for display signal output. This approach adds fingerprint sensor signal output capability without requiring additional separate terminals, thereby avoiding the need to narrow terminal pitch and maintaining ease of connection with conventional ACF materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device with a touch and fingerprint sensor includes a display part including a plurality of data signal lines, at least one first sensor electrode, a terminal part including a first terminal, and a second terminal, and a switching circuit disposed between the display part and the terminal part and including one input terminal and a plurality of output terminals, and dividing an input signal input to the one input terminal to the plurality of output terminals. The one input terminal is connected to the first terminal, the plurality of data signal lines is connected to the plurality of output terminals, and the at least one first sensor electrode is connected to the second terminal.