Mask Collimation for Integrated Fingerprint Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fingerprint sensors in electronic devices often require separate authentication steps, which can be inconvenient, especially when users want to perform other tasks simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a substrate and a dielectric cover layer, featuring a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and optical image sensors, including photodetectors, masks, and optical elements like microlenses, that allow for simultaneous fingerprint sensing and image capture, enabling quick authentication without switching tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a fingerprint sensor is integrated into an electronic device to enable quick authentication, then authentication speed is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical components (LEDs, photodetectors, masks, and optical elements) into an integrated fingerprint sensing system within the electronic device. This merging of components enables rapid authentication by capturing fingerprint images through the display assembly, resolving the contradiction by achieving fast authentication while managing complexity through integration rather than separate authentication hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The display assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for displaying content and as the optical pathway for fingerprint sensing. The LEDs illuminate both the display and the fingerprint sensor, while the photodetectors capture both display information and fingerprint reflections. This multi-functionality enables quick authentication without adding separate authentication hardware, addressing the contradiction between authentication speed and device complexity.
2Reliability
If separate authentication steps are used for fingerprint verification, then authentication reliability is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to task switching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fingerprint authentication function with the display interface, allowing users to authenticate by simply placing their finger on the display area during normal interaction. This integration maintains authentication reliability through proper optical sensing while dramatically improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for separate authentication steps or task switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service authentication where the fingerprint sensor automatically captures and processes biometric data during normal display interaction. The optical elements and photodetectors work autonomously to capture fingerprint reflections while the user engages with the display content, maintaining reliability through automated biometric verification while improving ease of operation by making authentication seamless and context-aware.
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 rapid and integrated fingerprint authentication within electronic devices, allowing users to perform other tasks while maintaining secure biometric data collection without the need for separate authentication steps.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element above the mask and cooperating therewith to collimate light reflected from the dielectric cover layer to the at least one photodetector
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by the substrate to direct light to the dielectric cover layer
Implementation Method 3
Each optical image sensor may include at least one photodetector
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a substrate and a dielectric cover layer above the substrate. The electronic device may also include light emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by the substrate to direct light to the dielectric cover layer and optical image sensors carried by the substrate below the dielectric cover layer and adjacent the plurality of LEDs. Each optical image sensor may include at least one photodetector, a mask having at least one opening therein above the at least one photodetector, and an optical element above the mask and cooperating therewith to collimate light reflected from the dielectric cover layer to the at least one photodetector.