Geometric structures for acoustic impedance matching and improved touch sensing and fingerprint imaging
Improving the accuracy of ultrasonic touch sensing and fingerprint imaging using acoustic impedance matching is disclosed. Acoustic impedance mismatches between an ultrasonic transducer array and a sensing plate can be reduced to maximize energy transfer and minimize parasitic reflections. A reduction in acoustic impedance mismatches can be accomplished using (i) a composite epoxy having a higher acoustic impedance than epoxy alone, (ii) one or more matching layers having an acoustic impedance that is approximately the geometric mean of the acoustic impedance of the sensing plate and the acoustic impedance of the transducer array, (iii) pores or perforations in the sensing plate, or (iv) geometric structures formed in the sensing plate. In addition, parasitic reflections can be suppressed using an absorbent layer.
1. A touch sensing device, comprising:
a sensing plate having a first surface, a second surface and a first acoustic impedance, the first surface configured for receiving one or more touches;
one or more ultrasonic transducers configured for propagating ultrasonic waves through the sensing plate to the first surface; and
a nonuniform distribution of a plurality of closed pores within the sensing plate, the plurality of closed pores configured for creating an acoustic impedance gradient within the sensing plate and reducing an acoustic impedance mismatch between the one or more ultrasonic transducers and the sensing plate wherein:
the second surface of the sensing plate is closest to the one or more ultrasonic transducers, the sensing plate including a greater distribution of closed pores near the first surface and near the second surface as compared to a distribution of pores near a center of the sensing plate to create an acoustic impedance gradient across the sensing plate.
2. The touch sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of closed pores comprises a plurality of enclosed voids having a second acoustic impedance lower than the first acoustic impedance.
3. The touch sensing device of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the plurality of closed pores is less than a wavelength of the ultrasonic waves expected to propagate through the sensing plate when generated by the one or more ultrasonic transducers.
4. The touch sensing device of claim 3 , wherein the diameter of the plurality of closed pores is between about 3-10 microns.
5. The touch sensing device of claim 2 , wherein the second surface of the sensing plate is closest to the one or more ultrasonic transducers, and the sensing plate includes a greater distribution of closed pores near the second surface as compared to a distribution of closed pores near the first surface to create an acoustic impedance gradient across the sensing plate.
6. A touch sensing device comprising:
a sensing plate having a first surface, a second surface and a first acoustic impedance, the first surface configured for receiving one or more touches;
one or more ultrasonic transducers configured for propagating ultrasonic waves through the sensing plate to the first surface; and
a nonuniform distribution of a plurality of pores within the sensing plate, the plurality of pores configured for creating an acoustic impedance gradient within the sensing plate and reducing an acoustic impedance mismatch between the one or more ultrasonic transducers and the sensing plate, wherein:
the plurality of pores comprises a plurality of open-ended perforations extending partially into the sensing plate, the plurality of open-ended perforations resulting a second acoustic impedance at the sensing plate at a location of the plurality of open-ended perforations that is lower than the first acoustic impedance.
7. The touch sensing device of claim 6 , wherein the second surface of the sensing plate is closest to the one or more ultrasonic transducers, the second surface including the plurality of open-ended perforations.
8. The touch sensing device of claim 7 , the plurality of open-ended perforations on the second surface having a width and depth configured such that the second acoustic impedance of the sensing plate near the second surface more closely matches a third acoustic impedance of a layer underlying the sensing plate.
9. The touch sensing device of claim 7 , the first surface also including the plurality of open-ended perforations.
10. The touch sensing device of claim 9 , the plurality of open-ended perforations on the first surface having a width and depth configured such that the first acoustic impedance of the sensing plate near the first surface more closely matches an acoustic impedance of an object in contact with the first surface.
11. The touch sensing device of claim 1 , the sensing plate configured with a nonuniform material density gradient such that the highest material density is near the center of the sensing plate.
12. A touch sensing device, comprising:
a sensing plate having a first surface, a second surface and a first acoustic impedance, the first surface configured for receiving one or more touches, wherein:
the second surface of the sensing plate is closest to one or more ultrasonic transducers; and
the sensing plate includes a greater distribution of pores near the second surface as compared to a distribution of pores near the first surface to create an acoustic impedance gradient across the sensing plate;
one or more ultrasonic transducers configured for propagating ultrasonic waves through the sensing plate to the first surface; and
a nonuniform distribution of a plurality of pores within the sensing plate, the plurality of pores configured for creating an acoustic impedance gradient within the sensing plate and reducing an acoustic impedance mismatch between the one or more ultrasonic transducers and the sensing plate.
13. The touch sensing device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pores comprises a plurality of enclosed voids having a second acoustic impedance lower than the first acoustic impedance.
14. The touch sensing device of claim 12 , wherein a diameter of the plurality of pores is less than a wavelength of the ultrasonic waves expected to propagate through the sensing plate when generated by the one or more ultrasonic transducers.
15. The touch sensing device of claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the plurality of pores is between about 3-10 microns.
16. The touch sensing device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pores comprises a plurality of open-ended perforations extending partially into the sensing plate, the plurality of open-ended perforations resulting a second acoustic impedance at the sensing plate at a location of the plurality of open-ended perforations that is lower than the first acoustic impedance.
17. The touch sensing device of claim 16 , wherein the second surface of the sensing plate is closest to the one or more ultrasonic transducers, the second surface including the plurality of open-ended perforations.
18. The touch sensing device of claim 17 , the plurality of open-ended perforations on the second surface having a width and depth configured such that the second acoustic impedance of the sensing plate near the second surface more closely matches a third acoustic impedance of a layer underlying the sensing plate.
19. The touch sensing device of claim 17 , the first surface also including the plurality of open-ended perforations.