Fingerprint Sensor with Mixed Resolution Photo Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of high-density photo sensor arrays in display devices for fingerprint sensing increases manufacturing costs without providing an optimal balance in resolution and density, leading to inefficient fingerprint recognition.

Innovation Solution

A fingerprint sensor design that combines high-resolution and low-resolution photo sensors on a base substrate with distinct sensing regions, where the high-resolution sensors have a higher arrangement density and are used in specific areas for enhanced accuracy, while the low-resolution sensors cover a larger area, reducing overall costs and improving recognition efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a high-density photo sensor array is disposed on the entire display device for fingerprint sensing, then fingerprint sensing coverage is improved, but manufacturing cost is unnecessarily increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensing coverage areaVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by dividing the sensing area into two distinct regions: a first sensing region with low-resolution photo sensors for general coverage and a second sensing region with high-resolution photo sensors for detailed fingerprint recognition. This allows different parts of the sensor to have different resolutions tailored to their specific functions, achieving optimal performance while reducing overall manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the fingerprint sensing function into two separate sensing regions with different photo sensor densities. The first sensing region uses sparsely arranged low-resolution photo sensors for broad coverage, while the second sensing region uses densely arranged high-resolution photo sensors for detailed fingerprint pattern recognition. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing comprehensive sensing coverage without requiring high-density sensors across the entire area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If a high-density photo sensor array is used throughout the display device, then fingerprint recognition resolution is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint recognition resolutionVSAvoidsensor array complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by assigning different resolution levels to different sensing regions based on their functional requirements. The second sensing region, which handles detailed fingerprint pattern recognition, uses high-resolution photo sensors with small pixel pitch for precise measurement. The first sensing region, providing general coverage, uses low-resolution photo sensors with larger pixel pitch. This approach achieves high measurement precision where needed without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the photo sensor array into two distinct types: low-resolution photo sensors for the first sensing region and high-resolution photo sensors for the second sensing region. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high fingerprint recognition resolution in the critical second region while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through the use of simpler low-resolution sensors in the first region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If low-resolution photo sensors are used to cover larger area, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but fingerprint recognition accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidfingerprint recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by strategically placing high-resolution photo sensors in the second sensing region where detailed fingerprint pattern recognition is critical for accurate authentication. The low-resolution photo sensors in the first sensing region provide sufficient coverage for initial fingerprint detection and positioning. This differentiated approach ensures high measurement precision in the region that matters most for recognition accuracy while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the use of lower-cost sensors in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the sensing functionality by assigning different photo sensor types to different regions: low-resolution sensors for broad-area coverage and high-resolution sensors for detailed fingerprint analysis. This segmentation ensures that fingerprint recognition accuracy is maintained in the second sensing region through high-resolution sensors, while the first sensing region with lower-cost low-resolution sensors provides adequate coverage for initial detection and positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This approach allows for cost-effective fingerprint recognition with improved accuracy by utilizing high-resolution sensors in critical areas and low-resolution sensors in larger regions, effectively balancing resolution and density, thus enhancing the overall fingerprint sensing capability.

Implementation Method 1

a photosensitive type fingerprint sensor may include a light source, a lens, and a photo sensor array

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12067803B2Fingerprint sensor and display device including the same
Publication Date: 2024.08.20 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US12067803B2 patent drawing
  • US12067803B2 patent drawing
  • US12067803B2 patent drawing

AI summary

There are provided a fingerprint sensor and a display device including the same. The fingerprint sensor includes a base substrate in which a first sensing region and a second sensing region are defined on a plane, first photo sensors disposed on the first sensing region of the base substrate, and second photo sensors disposed on the second sensing region of the base substrate. The first sensing region has an area larger than that of the second sensing region, and the first photo sensor has a width wider than that of the second photo sensor.