Screen Module Fingerprint Sensors Partial Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fingerprint sensors in mobile devices require long scanning times and high power consumption due to scanning the entire touch screen area, which is inefficient and power-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A screen module with fingerprint sensors integrated into the content display area, where a processing component actuates sensors in a specific scanning area upon user input, reducing the need for full-screen scanning and minimizing power usage by arranging sensors within the black matrix areas of an LCD display module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the scanning circuit scans fingerprint data through the whole area of the touch screen, then the fingerprint acquisition coverage is complete, but the scanning time is long and power consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint acquisition coverageVSAvoidscanning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the touch screen into multiple fingerprint sensing units, each capable of independent fingerprint acquisition. When a touch event occurs, only the specific sensing unit corresponding to the touch location is activated, rather than scanning the entire screen. This segmentation enables localized fingerprint scanning, significantly reducing scanning time while maintaining complete fingerprint acquisition coverage through the distributed arrangement of multiple sensing units across the screen area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the scanning circuit scans fingerprint data through the whole area of the touch screen, then the fingerprint acquisition coverage is complete, but the power consumption of the scanning circuit is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefingerprint acquisition coverageVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is divided into multiple independent fingerprint sensing units with separate scanning circuits. Only the sensing unit corresponding to the touch location is activated, reducing power consumption compared to activating the entire screen's scanning circuit. This segmentation allows the system to maintain complete fingerprint acquisition coverage while minimizing energy usage by activating only the necessary portion of the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of activating the entire touch screen scanning circuit, the system activates only the specific sensing unit required for fingerprint acquisition based on touch location. This partial action approach reduces power consumption by avoiding unnecessary activation of other sensing units, while still achieving complete fingerprint coverage through the distributed sensing unit arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If fingerprint sensors are integrated into the content display area, then the device structure is simplified and physical buttons are eliminated, but the sensors must be arranged within the black matrix areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidsensor arrangement constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places fingerprint sensors specifically within the black matrix areas of the display, which are non-display regions. This local quality approach allows sensor integration into the content display area without affecting the display quality or requiring changes to the active display regions. The black matrix areas provide suitable spaces for sensor placement, simplifying the overall device structure by eliminating physical buttons while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3168782B1Screen module and fingerprint acquisition method
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3168782B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3168782B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3168782B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention is related to a screen module, and a fingerprint acquisition method and apparatus. The screen module comprises: a fingerprint unit comprising a plurality of fingerprint sensors (11), which are located in a content display area (10) of the screen module and configured to perform fingerprint acquisition; a processing component (12) connected with the fingerprint unit, the processing component (12) being configured to, after a triggering operation of a user's finger on the content display area is detected, actuate fingerprint sensors (11) in a scanning area (14) corresponding to the triggering operation to acquire fingerprint data of the user in the scanning area (14); and data transmission lines (13) connected to the plurality of fingerprint sensors (11), and configured to transmit fingerprint data acquired by the fingerprint sensors (11) in the scanning area (14) to the processing component (12). With the technical solution of the present invention, partial scanning of the content display area can be realized, and fingerprint scanning through the whole content display area is avoided, so that scanning time for fingerprint sensors is shortened.