Optical Waveguide Fingerprint Layout for Multi-Area Touch Unlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices typically have only one small fingerprint recognition area on the display, requiring users to touch a specific location for fingerprint recognition, which is inconvenient, especially when one hand is occupied.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an optical waveguide structure between the display and the fingerprint recognition module, allowing multiple fingerprint recognition areas by guiding fingerprint detection light through optical incident and exit ports, enabling recognition even when the finger is not directly aligned with the module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If only one fingerprint recognition area is provided on the display, then the fingerprint recognition module size can be kept small, but the user operation convenience deteriorates because users must touch a specific location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical waveguide structure as an intermediary component between the fingerprint recognition module and the display. This waveguide redirects optical paths to enable multiple fingerprint recognition areas across the display surface, improving user convenience without requiring multiple fingerprint recognition modules. The waveguide acts as a mediator that transforms the limited single-area recognition capability into multi-area recognition capability.
2Ease of operation
If multiple fingerprint recognition areas are provided, then user operation convenience is improved, but the cost increases due to requiring multiple fingerprint sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single fingerprint recognition module serve multiple functions by using the optical waveguide to redirect light from different display areas to the same sensor. This allows one fingerprint sensor to perform the function of multiple sensors, enabling users to place fingers at various locations on the display while still achieving fingerprint recognition, thereby improving convenience without increasing sensor quantity or cost.
3Ease of operation
If the fingerprint recognition area is made larger, then user operation convenience is improved, but the display area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by transitioning from a two-dimensional direct alignment problem to a three-dimensional optical path problem. The optical waveguide operates in the vertical dimension (between display and sensor), allowing multiple horizontal display areas to map to a single sensor location. This dimensional transformation enables large effective recognition area without sacrificing display real estate.
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 single-finger or multi-finger fingerprint recognition without increasing the size or quantity of fingerprint sensors, enhancing user operation and security while avoiding excessive costs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical waveguide structure... guiding fingerprint detection light through optical incident and exit ports
Implementation Method 2
Fingerprint detection light formed by a finger in the fingerprint recognition area can be incident into the optical waveguide structure through the optical incident port and be transmitted to the fingerprint recognition module through the optical exit port
Implementation Method 3
an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display... light emitted by the OLED display is reflected on a surface of the to-be-detected finger on the display, to form the fingerprint detection light
Implementation Method 4
the refractive index of the first optical waveguide layer is different from the refractive index of the second optical waveguide layer
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide an electronic device. The electronic device includes a middle frame, a display, and a fingerprint recognition module. An optical waveguide structure is disposed between the display and the fingerprint recognition module. An optical exit port and at least two optical incident port are formed on the optical waveguide structure. The optical exit port is directly aligned with the fingerprint recognition module. Each optical incident port is directly aligned with a fingerprint recognition area. When a finger touches the fingerprint recognition area to reflect out fingerprint detection light, the fingerprint detection light can be incident into the optical waveguide structure through the optical incident port, and be exported to the fingerprint recognition module through the optical exit port, to implement fingerprint recognition. In this way, there are at least two fingerprint recognition areas of the electronic device. When the electronic device only verifies a fingerprint of one finger to complete the fingerprint recognition, a user can choose to press one area that is easily touched in a plurality of fingerprint recognition areas. This is convenient to operate, and a problem of inconvenient operation caused by that the user can only touch an only fingerprint recognition area is resolved.