Touch Screen Device With Integrated Fingerprint Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen devices with integrated fingerprint sensors cannot perform touch operations simultaneously with fingerprint recognition, leading to inconvenience in user experience and increased size and thickness due to the need for separate fingerprint sensing areas.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen device with physically separated fingerprint recognition and touch recognition areas, driven by a touch IC that allocates time intervals for both sensing modes, allowing simultaneous operation of touch and fingerprint sensors using high-density and low-density electrode patterns, respectively, and minimizing signal interference with a ground pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate fingerprint sensor assembly with push button is used, then fingerprint recognition capability is achieved, but device thickness increases and non-display area size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fingerprint sensor function with the existing touch screen structure by integrating fingerprint sensing electrodes into the touch sensor assembly. This eliminates the need for a separate fingerprint sensor assembly and push button, thereby reducing device thickness while maintaining fingerprint recognition capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a touch sensor and a fingerprint sensor. By using the same physical space and structural components for both touch input and fingerprint recognition, the patent achieves multi-functionality without increasing device thickness.
2Reliability
If a dedicated fingerprint sensor area is created within the touch screen, then fingerprint recognition is enabled, but touch functionality is reduced or disabled in that area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements time-division multiplexing where the fingerprint sensor and touch sensor operate at different time intervals. During fingerprint sensing mode, the fingerprint sensor is activated while touch functionality is temporarily suspended in the fingerprint recognition area. This periodic switching allows both functions to coexist without spatial conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between fingerprint sensing mode and touch sensing mode based on operational requirements. The fingerprint recognition area can be configured to accept both fingerprint input and touch input depending on the current mode, providing flexible and adaptive functionality.
3Measurement precision
If high-resolution sensor array and IC are integrated on silicon wafer, then fingerprint sensing precision is improved, but assembly structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fingerprint sensor array with the existing touch sensor IC and circuitry. By integrating fingerprint sensing capabilities into the existing touch screen control structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate assembly processes and reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining high sensing precision.
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 touch operations in areas other than the fingerprint recognition area during fingerprint sensing mode, reducing the size and thickness of the device while maintaining effective fingerprint and touch recognition capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The capacitive fingerprint sensor uses the difference in electric charge between ridges and valleys touching the fingerprint sensor
Implementation Method 2
a touch screen having a fingerprint recognition area with capacitive fingerprint sensors and a touch recognition area with touch sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A touch screen device with an integrated fingerprint sensor comprises: a touch screen having a fingerprint recognition area with fingerprint sensors and a touch recognition area with touch sensors physically separated from the fingerprint sensors; and a touch IC that drives the touch sensors and the fingerprint sensors in fingerprint sensing mode to sense fingerprint recognition information from the fingerprint sensors and touch recognition information from the touch sensors.