Hybrid optical and capacitive sensor

1. A hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, comprising:

capacitive sensor electrodes;

an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels;

light conditioning elements, configured to condition light from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor for detection by the optical image sensor; and

a processing system having one or more controllers, configured to operate the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and to operate the optical image sensor to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine coverage of the sensing region by a fingerprint, and adjusting a resolution at which the optical image sensor is operated based on the coverage of the sensing region by the fingerprint.

2. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are disposed in a capacitive sensor layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, the optical image sensor is disposed in an optical sensor layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and the light conditioning elements are disposed in a conditioning layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the conditioning layer is disposed below the capacitive sensor layer and the optical sensor layer is disposed below the conditioning layer.

3. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes and the light conditioning elements are disposed in a combined conditioning and capacitive sensor layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and the optical image sensor is disposed in an optical sensor layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the optical sensor layer is disposed below the combined conditioning and capacitive sensor layer.

4. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes and the optical image sensor are disposed in a combined optical and capacitive sensor layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and the light conditioning elements are disposed in a conditioning layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the combined optical and capacitive sensor layer is disposed below the conditioning layer.

5. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes in a wake-on-finger mode, wherein the wake-on-finger mode includes using the capacitive sensor electrodes to detect whether a fingerprint is present in or proximate to the sensing region and, in response to detecting the presence of the fingerprint, activating a fingerprint sensing mode in which the optical image sensor is used to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.

6. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes in a navigation mode, wherein the navigation mode includes using the capacitive sensor electrodes to detect presence, position, and/or movement of the fingerprint.

7. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes detecting a response from the plurality of image sensor pixels, and adjusting settings for the optical image sensor based on a portion of the response corresponding to the coverage of the sensing region by the fingerprint.

8. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 7 , wherein adjusting the settings for the optical image sensor includes adjusting exposure or gain settings for the optical image sensor.

9. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine capacitive properties of an input on the sensing region, and based on the capacitive properties of the input, determining whether the input is a real biometric input.

10. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are interleaved among the plurality of image sensor pixels but are disposed outside of respective optical paths corresponding to the plurality of image sensor pixels.

11. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes comprise a first set of electrodes corresponding to a wake-on-finger mode of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor and a second set of electrodes, separate from the first set of electrodes, corresponding to a navigation mode of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.

12. A hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, comprising:

capacitive sensor electrodes;

an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels; and

light conditioning elements, configured to condition light from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor for detection by the optical image sensor;

wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes and the optical image sensor are disposed in a combined optical and capacitive sensor layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and the light conditioning elements are disposed in a conditioning layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.

13. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 12 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are interleaved among the plurality of image sensor pixels but are disposed outside of respective optical paths corresponding to the plurality of image sensor pixels.

14. A processing system for a hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor having capacitive sensor electrodes, light conditioning elements, and an optical image sensor, the processing system comprising one or more controllers configured to execute processor-executable instructions to control the capacitive sensor electrodes and the optical image sensor, wherein execution of the processor-executable instructions facilitates:

operating the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor; and

operating the optical image sensor to acquire an image from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes: operating the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine coverage of the sensing region by a fingerprint, and adjusting a resolution at which the optical image sensor is operated base on the coverage of the sensing region by the fingerprint.

15. The processing system according to claim 14 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes:

operating the capacitive sensor electrodes in a wake-on-finger mode, wherein the wake-on-finger mode includes using the capacitive sensor electrodes to detect whether a fingerprint is present in or proximate to the sensing region and, in response to detecting the presence of the fingerprint, activating a fingerprint sensing mode in which the optical image sensor is used to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.

16. The processing system according to claim 14 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes:

operating the capacitive sensor electrodes in a navigation mode, wherein the navigation mode includes using the capacitive sensor electrodes to detect presence, position, and/or movement of a fingerprint on the sensing region.

17. The processing system according to claim 14 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes:

detecting a response from a plurality of image sensor pixels of the optical image sensor, and adjusting settings for the optical image sensor based on a portion of the response corresponding to the coverage of the sensing region by the fingerprint.

18. The processing system according to claim 17 , wherein adjusting the settings for the optical image sensor includes adjusting exposure or gain settings for the optical image sensor.

19. The processing system according to claim 14 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes:

operating the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine capacitive properties of an input on the sensing region, and based on the capacitive properties of the input, determining whether the input is a real biometric input.

20. A hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, comprising:

capacitive sensor electrodes;

an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels;

light conditioning elements, configured to condition light from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor for detection by the optical image sensor; and

a processing system having one or more controllers, configured to operate the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and to operate the optical image sensor to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes and the optical image sensor are disposed in a combined optical and capacitive sensor layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and the light conditioning elements are disposed in a conditioning layer of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the combined optical and capacitive sensor layer is disposed below the conditioning layer.

21. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 20 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes in a wake-on-finger mode, wherein the wake-on-finger mode includes using the capacitive sensor electrodes to detect whether a fingerprint is present in or proximate to the sensing region and, in response to detecting the presence of the fingerprint, activating a fingerprint sensing mode in which the optical image sensor is used to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.

22. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 20 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes in a navigation mode, wherein the navigation mode includes using the capacitive sensor electrodes to detect presence, position, and/or movement of a fingerprint.

23. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 20 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes detecting a response from the plurality of image sensor pixels, and adjusting settings for the optical image sensor based on a portion of the response corresponding to coverage of the sensing region by a fingerprint.

24. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 23 , wherein adjusting the settings for the optical image sensor includes adjusting exposure or gain settings for the optical image sensor.

25. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 20 , wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine capacitive properties of an input on the sensing region, and based on the capacitive properties of the input, determining whether the input is a real biometric input.

26. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 20 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes are interleaved among the plurality of image sensor pixels but are disposed outside of respective optical paths corresponding to the plurality of image sensor pixels.

27. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 20 , wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes comprise a first set of electrodes corresponding to a wake-on-finger mode of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor and a second set of electrodes, separate from the first set of electrodes, corresponding to a navigation mode of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.

28. A hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, comprising:

capacitive sensor electrodes;

an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels;

light conditioning elements, configured to condition light from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor for detection by the optical image sensor; and

a processing system having one or more controllers, configured to operate the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and to operate the optical image sensor to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes operation of the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine coverage of the sensing region by a fingerprint, detecting a response from the plurality of image sensor pixels, and adjusting settings for the optical image sensor based on a portion of the response corresponding to the coverage of the sensing region by the fingerprint.

29. The hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor according to claim 28 , wherein adjusting the settings for the optical image sensor includes adjusting exposure or gain settings for the optical image sensor.

30. A hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, comprising:

capacitive sensor electrodes;

an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels;

light conditioning elements, configured to condition light from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor for detection by the optical image sensor; and

a processing system having one or more controllers, configured to operate the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor, and to operate the optical image sensor to acquire an image from the sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the capacitive sensor electrodes comprise a first set of electrodes corresponding to a wake-on-finger mode of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor and a second set of electrodes, separate from the first set of electrodes, corresponding to a navigation mode of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor.

31. A processing system for a hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor having capacitive sensor electrodes, light conditioning elements, and an optical image sensor having a plurality of image sensor pixels, the processing system comprising one or more controllers configured to execute processor-executable instructions to control the capacitive sensor electrodes and the optical image sensor, wherein execution of the processor-executable instructions facilitates:

operating the capacitive sensor electrodes in a low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor; and

operating the optical image sensor to acquire an image from a sensing region of the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor;

wherein the low-power mode of operation for the hybrid capacitive and optical fingerprint sensor includes: operating the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine coverage of the sensing region by a fingerprint, detecting a response from the plurality of image sensor pixels, and adjusting settings for the optical image sensor based on a portion of the response corresponding to the coverage of the sensing region by the fingerprint.

32. The processing system according to claim 31 , wherein adjusting the settings for the optical image sensor includes adjusting exposure or gain settings for the optical image sensor.