IP Library Granted Patent US 11,501,554
Granted Patent B2
US 11,501,554 · App. 17/467,633 · Granted Nov 15, 2022

Fingerprint sensor with different measurement circuitry configurations

Inventors: Frank Riedijk (Delft, NL); David Carling (Mölndal, SE); Hans Thörnblom (Hålta, SE); Wouter Brevet (Delft, NL)
Assignee: FINGERPRINT CARDS ANACATUM IP AB
G06V40/1306G06F3/0445
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,501,554
App. No.
17/467,633
Granted
Nov 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fingerprint sensor comprising a plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures arranged in a sensing plane for capacitively sensing a fingerprint of a finger; and measurement circuitry coupled to the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures for providing measurement signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure in the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures and the finger, wherein the measurement circuitry is arranged to: provide, using a first measurement circuitry configuration, a first set of measurement signals from a first set of sensing structures; and provide, using a second measurement circuitry configuration different from the first measurement circuitry configuration, a second set of measurement signals from a second set of sensing structures.

Claims (50)

1. A fingerprint sensor to be included in a fingerprint sensor arrangement comprising dielectric material having a non-uniform thickness profile defining a topography of a finger receiving surface of the fingerprint sensor arrangement, the fingerprint sensor comprising:

a plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures arranged in a sensing plane for capacitively sensing a fingerprint of a finger placed on the finger receiving surface of the fingerprint sensor arrangement; and

measurement circuitry coupled to the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures for providing measurement signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure in the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures and the finger,

wherein the measurement circuitry is arranged to:

receive analog input signals from the sensing structures;

provide, using a first measurement circuitry configuration operating on a first set of the analog input signals, a first set of digital measurement signals from a first set of sensing structures in the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures, arranged to be covered by a thickness of the dielectric material within a first thickness range; and

provide, using a second measurement circuitry configuration different from the first measurement circuitry configuration and operating on a second set of the analog input signals, a second set of digital measurement signals from a second set of sensing structures in the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures, arranged to be covered by a thickness of the dielectric material within a second thickness range, only including greater thicknesses than the first thickness range,

wherein the first set of digital measurement signals and the second set of digital measurement signals are comprised in a fingerprint representation.

2. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement circuitry is arranged to provide the first set of measurement signals and the second set of measurement signals during a fingerprint capture operation to allow formation of a fingerprint representation comprising the first set of measurement signals and the second set of measurement signals.

3. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 2 , wherein the measurement circuitry is arranged to simultaneously provide the first set of measurement signals and the second set of measurement signals.

4. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first measurement circuitry configuration includes a first setting for at least one of an offset and a gain of the measurement circuitry; and

the second measurement circuitry configuration includes a second setting, different from the first setting, for at least one of the offset and the gain of the measurement circuitry.

5. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:

the measurement circuitry comprises AD-converting circuitry coupled to the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures;

the first measurement circuitry configuration includes a first AD-converting circuitry configuration; and

the second measurement circuitry configuration includes a second AD-converting circuitry configuration, different from the first AD-converting circuitry configuration.

6. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 5 , wherein:

the first AD-converting circuitry configuration includes a first setting for at least one of an offset and a gain of the AD-converting circuitry; and

the second AD-converting circuitry configuration includes a second setting, different from the first setting, for at least one of the offset and the gain of the AD-converting circuitry.

7. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:

the measurement circuitry comprises amplifier circuitry coupled to the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures;

the first measurement circuitry configuration includes a first configuration for the amplifier circuitry; and

the second measurement circuitry configuration includes a second configuration, different from the first configuration, for the amplifier circuitry.

8. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 7 , wherein the amplifier circuitry comprises a plurality of charge amplifiers, each having a feedback capacitor.

9. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of charge amplifiers comprises:

at least a first charge amplifier coupled to the first set of sensing structures, the first charge amplifier having a feedback capacitor with a first feedback capacitance; and

at least a second charge amplifier coupled to the second set of sensing structures, the second charge amplifier having a feedback capacitor with a second feedback capacitance, different from the first feedback capacitance.

10. The fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:

each sensing structure in the first set of sensing structures covers an area in the sensing plane being within a first area range; and

each sensing structure in the second set of electrically conductive sensing structures covers an area in the sensing plane being within a second area range only including areas greater than first area range.

11. A fingerprint sensor arrangement, comprising:

the fingerprint sensor according to claim 1 ; and

dielectric material covering the sensing plane of the fingerprint sensor, the dielectric material having a non-uniform thickness profile defining the topography of the finger receiving surface of the fingerprint sensor arrangement.

12. A fingerprint sensing system comprising:

a fingerprint sensor arrangement according to claim 11 ; and

a fingerprint sensor controller coupled to the fingerprint sensor for controlling operation of the fingerprint sensor.

13. A fingerprint sensing system according to claim 12 , wherein the fingerprint sensor controller is configured to:

control the measurement circuitry of the fingerprint sensor to provide initial measurement signals using an initial set of measurement circuitry configurations;

determine, based on the initial measurement signals, the first measurement circuitry configuration and the second measurement circuitry configuration; and

control the measurement circuitry to provide the first set of measurement signals using the first measurement circuitry configuration and the second set of measurement signals using the second measurement circuitry configuration.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a device housing with a convex portion having an opening; and

the fingerprint sensor arrangement according to claim 11 arranged in the opening of the curved portion of the device housing.

15. A method of acquiring a fingerprint representation using a fingerprint sensor arrangement with a finger receiving surface to be touched by a finger, the fingerprint sensor arrangement comprising a plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures arranged in a sensing plane; measurement circuitry coupled to the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures for providing measurement signals indicative of a capacitive coupling between each sensing structure in the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures and the finger; and dielectric material covering the sensing plane, the dielectric material having a non-uniform thickness profile defining a topography of the finger receiving surface of the fingerprint sensor arrangement,

the method comprising the steps of:

receiving analog input signals from the sensing structures;

providing, using a first measurement circuitry configuration operating on a first set of the analog input signals, a first set of digital measurement signals from a first set of sensing structures in the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures, covered by a thickness of the dielectric material within a first thickness range; and

providing, using a second measurement configuration setting different from the first measurement circuitry and operating on a second set of the analog input signals, a second set of digital measurement signals from a second set of sensing structures in the plurality of electrically conductive sensing structures, covered by a thickness of the dielectric material within a second thickness range, only including greater thicknesses than the first thickness range,

wherein the first set of digital measurement signals and the second set of digital measurement signals are comprised in a fingerprint representation.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 10945920 WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENTERED AS 10845920 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 058218 FRAME 0181. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
To: FINGERPRINT CARDS ANACATUM IP AB
Reel/Frame 064053/0400 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
To: FINGERPRINT CARDS ANACATUM IP AB
Reel/Frame 058218/0181 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2021
From: RIEDIJK, FRANK; CARLING, DAVID; THÖRNBLOM, HANS; BREVET, WOUTER
To: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
Reel/Frame 057397/0821 →