Integrated Touch and Fingerprint Sensor Module

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current touch sensor technologies in display devices, such as smartphones and tablets, face challenges in simultaneously detecting touch inputs and fingerprint patterns with high accuracy and efficiency, often requiring separate sensing layers and complex manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A sensor module with a base layer featuring first and second touch electrode members and fingerprint electrode members, where the fingerprint electrodes are disposed within the openings of the touch electrodes, and connection patterns and lines on different layers to enhance mutual capacitance sensing, allowing for integrated touch and fingerprint detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate sensing layers are used for touch detection and fingerprint sensing, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines touch sensing and fingerprint sensing functions into a single integrated sensor structure. The touch electrode members and fingerprint electrode members share the same base layer and are electrically connected through connection patterns, eliminating the need for separate sensing layers while maintaining detection accuracy for both functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor module is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - both touch input detection and fingerprint pattern recognition. The electrode members are configured to respond to both capacitive changes from touch gestures and capacitive changes from fingerprint patterns, making the system universal for different sensing purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate sensing layers are used for touch and fingerprint detection, then sensing performance is improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges touch sensing and fingerprint sensing into a single manufacturing process. Both types of electrode members are formed on the same base layer using the same fabrication techniques, and both functions are activated through the same encapsulation and wiring processes, significantly simplifying manufacturing compared to separate layer approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If multiple separate electrode layers are used, then detection precision is improved, but the form factor thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidform factor thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves both high detection precision and thin form factor by combining all sensing functions into a single layer structure. The touch electrode members and fingerprint electrode members are disposed on the same base layer, eliminating the thickness accumulation that would result from multiple separate layers while maintaining the precision needed for both sensing modalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables accurate detection of touch inputs and fingerprint patterns on the same layer, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs by eliminating the need for separate fingerprint sensing layers, while maintaining the thin form factor of the display device.

Implementation Method 1

allowing for integrated touch and fingerprint detection through mutual capacitance sensing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMutual capacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11507232B2Sensor module and display device including the same

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A sensor module includes a base layer including a fingerprint sensing area, first touch electrode members arranged on the base layer along a first direction, and including a plurality of first touch electrodes connected to one another along the first direction, where each first touch electrode includes a first opening, second touch electrode members arranged on the base layer along a second direction crossing the first direction, and including a plurality of second touch electrodes connected to one another along the second direction, a first fingerprint electrode member disposed on the fingerprint sensing area, and including a plurality of first fingerprint electrodes connected to one another, and a second fingerprint electrode member disposed on the fingerprint sensing area, and including a plurality of second fingerprint electrodes connected to one another. The plurality of first fingerprint electrodes and the plurality of second fingerprint electrodes are disposed in the first opening.