Rollable Display Fingerprint Sensor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable communication devices with rigid form factors face challenges in providing a larger display surface area while incorporating fixed location features like biometric sensors, as the size of the display is limited by the device housing, and existing designs struggle to efficiently authenticate users in various orientations.
Innovation Solution
A rollable display device with a flexible display that retracts to a small form factor for carrying and extends to a larger size, featuring a blade assembly with optically transmissive fingerprint-on-display areas that align with underlying scanners, allowing authentication in both extended and retracted positions, including when the device is upside down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a rigid form factor device is used, then the device structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the display surface area is limited by the device housing
Solution Approach 1:
The display transitions from a static rigid state to a dynamic rollable state, allowing the display surface area to change based on user needs while maintaining a compact form factor when retracted
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible display is rolled up and stored within the device housing when not in use, similar to a nested doll structure, enabling a large display to be contained within a small form factor device
2Area of moving object
If the display size is increased, then the display surface area is improved, but the location of fixed features like biometric sensors becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The solution segments the fingerprint sensing function from the display structure by implementing multiple scanners at different locations, allowing each scanner to serve specific display configurations independently
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both a front fingerprint scanner and a back fingerprint scanner, enabling authentication to work consistently regardless of which side of the device the user is viewing or how the display is configured
3Ease of operation
If a single fingerprint scanner is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the authentication functionality is limited to specific orientations and positions
Solution Approach 1:
The device achieves universal authentication capability by placing fingerprint scanners on both the front and back of the device, allowing users to authenticate regardless of device orientation, handedness, or which side of the display is being viewed
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 convenient and efficient fingerprint authentication in various orientations, providing a consistent and easily accessible authentication method while increasing the display size without altering the device's form factor, thus enhancing user experience and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The blade assembly has first and second fingerprint-on-display (FOD) areas that are optically transmissive, enabling light to pass through the blade assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, method, and computer program product provide a predictable external finger area on a “rollable display device” for fingerprint authentication that is available at least in both a fully retracted position and fully extended position. The electronic device selectively operates a translation mechanism to slide a blade assembly relative to a device housing between the fully retracted position and the fully extended position. The blade assembly has a blade slidably coupled to a device housing and having a flexible display attached to the blade. The blade assembly has first and second fingerprint-on-display (FOD) areas that are optically transmissive, enabling light to pass through the blade assembly. While retracted, both fingerprint scanners are aligned FOD areas for use while looking at either the front or back portions of the flexible display. While extended, the front fingerprint scanner is aligned with the second FOD area while viewing the flexible display.