Side-Looking Biometric Sensor for Mobile Device Display Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for mobile devices with biometric sensors that can increase display size while maintaining compactness and ease of handling, while also simplifying the sensing of biometric functions without requiring users to place their hands in specific positions on the device.
Innovation Solution
The integration of side-looking sensors in mobile devices that emit light towards the user's hand and receive reflected light with a photodetector, allowing for biometric data capture without occupying the front surface, thus enabling larger displays and more aesthetically pleasing designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the sensor is placed on the front surface of the mobile device, then biometric sensing can be performed, but the display size is reduced due to space occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is relocated from the front surface (2D plane) to the side surface of the mobile device, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This allows the sensor to function without occupying front surface area, thereby enabling larger display sizes while maintaining biometric sensing capability.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor occupies space on the front surface, then biometric sensing is enabled, but the device becomes less compact and harder to handle
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the sensor to the side surface of the device, the patent utilizes the third dimension (depth/thickness) rather than consuming front surface area. This dimensional shift allows the device to maintain a compact form factor with larger displays while keeping the sensor functional.
3Ease of operation
If the sensor requires specific hand placement on the front surface, then accurate biometric sensing is achieved, but user convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The side-looking sensor automatically detects biometric data when the user naturally holds the device in their hand. The sensor leverages the user's own hand as the measurement medium, eliminating the need for explicit placement actions. The system serves itself by capturing biometric data passively during normal device handling.
4Ease of manufacture
If the sensor is placed on the front surface, then biometric sensing is functional, but the aesthetic design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the front surface and relocated to the side surface of the mobile device. This extraction removes the visually distracting element from the main display area, allowing for cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing front surface design while maintaining sensor functionality on the less visible side surface.
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 solution allows for increased display size by reducing bezel size, simplifies biometric sensing by automatically detecting user data when held, and provides a more pleasant design by being less visible to the user.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured for emitting light towards a hand of the user and a photodetector configured for receiving light emitted from the light source and reflected back from the hand
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device with a side-looking biometric sensor, a sensor and a method for sensing a biometric function of a user holding a mobile device a disclosed. In an embodiment, a mobile device has a generally flat rectangular shape with a relatively large front and rear surfaces and relatively small upper side, lower side, left side and right side surfaces, wherein the mobile device includes a sensor configured for capturing biometric data of a user holding the mobile device. The sensor includes a light source configured for emitting light towards a hand of the user and a photodetector configured for receiving light emitted from the light source and reflected back from the hand, wherein the sensor is a side-looking sensor.