IP Library Granted Patent US 12,579,837
Granted Patent B2
US 12,579,837 · App. 18/774,932 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Fingerprint sensor and display device including the same

Inventors: Won Jun Lee (Yongin-si, KR); Chol Ho Kim (Yongin-si, KR); Sang Yun Lim (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
G06V40/1318H10K59/131H10K59/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,579,837
App. No.
18/774,932
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fingerprint sensor comprises a read-out line disposed on a substrate and extending in a first direction, a first sensor transistor controlling a sensing current based on a voltage of a sensor node, a second sensor transistor supplying a reset voltage to the sensor node based on a reset signal, a third sensor transistor electrically connected a first electrode of the first sensor transistor and the read-out line based on a gate signal, and a fourth sensor transistor comprising a gate electrode connected to a bias voltage line, a first electrode connected to the bias voltage line, and a second electrode connected to the sensor node.

Claims (92)

1 . A fingerprint sensor comprising:

a read-out line disposed on a substrate and extending in a first direction;

a first sensor transistor controlling a sensing current based on a voltage of a sensor node;

a second sensor transistor supplying a reset voltage to the sensor node based on a reset signal;

a third sensor transistor electrically connected a first electrode of the first sensor transistor and the read-out line based on a gate signal;

a fourth sensor transistor comprising a gate electrode connected to a bias voltage line, a first electrode connected to the bias voltage line, and a second electrode connected to the sensor node, and wherein a leakage current which flows through the fourth sensor transistor in proportion to the amount of light is applied to the sensor node to increase the voltage of the sensor node;

a first active layer disposed on the substrate and comprising a semiconductor region of each of the first sensor transistor, the third sensor transistor, and the fourth sensor transistor;

a first gate layer disposed on the first active layer;

a second gate layer disposed on the first gate layer;

a second active layer disposed on the second gate layer and comprising a semiconductor region of the second sensor transistor;

a third gate layer disposed on the second active layer;

a first source metal layer disposed on the third gate layer; and

a second source metal layer disposed on the first source metal layer.

2 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 1 ,

wherein the second sensor transistor supplies the reset voltage to the sensor node during a first period,

wherein the fourth sensor transistor supplies the leakage current to the sensor node during a second period after the first period, and

wherein the third sensor transistor is turned on during a third period after the second period.

3 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 1 ,

further comprising a shielding electrode disposed on the second source metal layer to overlap the second sensor transistor without overlapping the fourth sensor transistor.

4 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 3 , further comprising:

a hole transporting layer disposed on the shielding electrode to overlap the first to fourth sensor transistors;

an electron transporting layer disposed on the hole transporting layer to overlap the first to fourth sensor transistors; and

a common electrode disposed on the electron transporting layer to overlap the first to fourth sensor transistors.

5 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 1 ,

wherein a gate electrode of the fourth sensor transistor comprises a hole exposing a portion of a semiconductor region from a reflected light.

6 . A fingerprint sensor comprising:

a read-out line disposed on a substrate and extending in a first direction;

a first sensor transistor controlling a sensing current based on a voltage of a sensor node;

a second sensor transistor supplying a reset voltage to the sensor node based on a reset signal;

a third sensor transistor electrically connecting a first electrode of the first sensor transistor and the read-out line based on a gate signal;

a fourth sensor transistor comprising a gate electrode connected to a leakage voltage line to receive a leakage voltage, a first electrode connected to a bias voltage line to receive a bias voltage smaller than the leakage voltage, and a second electrode connected to the sensor node, and

wherein a leakage current which flows through the fourth sensor transistor in proportion to the amount of light is applied to the sensor node to increase the voltage of the sensor node;

a first active layer disposed on the substrate and comprising a semiconductor region of each of the first sensor transistor, the third sensor transistor, and the fourth sensor transistor;

a first gate layer disposed on the first active layer;

a second gate layer disposed on the first gate layer;

a second active layer disposed on the second gate layer and comprising a semiconductor region of the second sensor transistor;

a third gate layer disposed on the second active layer;

a first source metal layer disposed on the third gate layer; and

a second source metal layer disposed on the first source metal layer.

7 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 6 ,

wherein the second sensor transistor supplies the reset voltage to the sensor node during a first period,

wherein the fourth sensor transistor supplies the leakage current to the sensor node during a second period after the first period, and

wherein the third sensor transistor is turned on during a third period after the second period.

8 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 6 ,

further comprising a shielding electrode disposed on the second source metal layer to overlap the second sensor transistor without overlapping the fourth sensor transistor.

9 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 8 , further comprising:

a hole transporting layer disposed on the shielding electrode to overlap the first to fourth sensor transistors;

an electron transporting layer disposed on the hole transporting layer to overlap the first to fourth sensor transistors; and

a common electrode disposed on the electron transporting layer to overlap the first to fourth sensor transistors.

10 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 6 ,

wherein a gate electrode of the fourth sensor transistor comprises a hole exposing a portion of a semiconductor region to a reflected light.

11 . A display device comprising:

a pixel disposed in an emission area and comprising a light emitting element; and

a fingerprint sensor disposed in a sensor area,

wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises:

a read-out line disposed on a substrate and extending in a first direction;

a first sensor transistor controlling a sensing current based on a voltage of a sensor node;

a second sensor transistor supplying a reset voltage to the sensor node based on a reset signal;

a third sensor transistor electrically connecting a first electrode of the first sensor transistor and the read-out line based on a first gate signal;

a fourth sensor transistor comprising a gate electrode connected to a leakage voltage line to receive a leakage voltage, a first electrode connected to a bias voltage line to receive a bias voltage smaller than the leakage voltage, and a second electrode connected to the sensor node, and

wherein a leakage current which flows through the fourth sensor transistor in proportion to the amount of light is applied to the sensor node to increase the voltage of the sensor node;

a first active layer disposed on the substrate and comprising a semiconductor region of each of the first sensor transistor, the third sensor transistor, and the fourth sensor transistor;

a first gate layer disposed on the first active layer;

a second gate layer disposed on the first gate layer;

a second active layer disposed on the second gate layer and comprising a semiconductor region of the second sensor transistor;

a third gate layer disposed on the second active layer;

a first source metal layer disposed on the third gate layer; and

a second source metal layer disposed on the first source metal layer.

12 . The display device of claim 11 ,

wherein the pixel comprises:

a first transistor controlling a driving current flowing through the light emitting element;

a second transistor supplying a data voltage to a first electrode of the first transistor based on the first gate signal;

a third transistor electrically connecting a second electrode and a gate electrode of the first transistor based on a second gate signal; and

a fourth transistor discharging the gate electrode of the first transistor to a first initialization voltage based on a third gate signal.

13 . The display device of claim 12 ,

wherein the semiconductor region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor contains a silicon-based material, and the semiconductor region of each of the third transistor and the fourth transistor contains an oxide-based material.

14 . The display device of claim 12 ,

wherein the pixel further comprises:

a fifth transistor supplying a driving voltage to the first electrode of the first transistor based on an emission signal;

a sixth transistor electrically connecting the second electrode of the first transistor and the light emitting element based on the emission signal; and

a seventh transistor discharging a first electrode of the light emitting element to a second initialization voltage based on a fourth gate signal.

15 . The display device of claim 11 ,

wherein the light emitting element comprises:

a pixel electrode disposed on the second source metal layer;

a hole transporting layer disposed on the pixel electrode and implemented as a common layer of the emission area and the sensor area;

a light emitting layer disposed on the hole transporting layer;

an electron transporting layer disposed on the light emitting layer and implemented as a common layer of the emission area and the sensor area; and

a common electrode disposed on the electron transporting layer.

16 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 15 ,

wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a shielding electrode disposed on the same layer as the pixel electrode to overlap the second sensor transistor without overlapping the fourth sensor transistor.

17 . The fingerprint sensor of claim 11 ,

wherein a gate electrode of the fourth transistor comprises a hole exposing a portion of a semiconductor region to a reflected light.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2024
From: LEE, WON JUN; KIM, CHOL HO; LIM, SANG YUN
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 068004/0716 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2023-0155574 · Nov 10, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250157247A1 · May 15, 2025
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