IP Library Granted Patent US 12,555,404
Granted Patent B2
US 12,555,404 · App. 17/025,007 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Display device having biometric function and operation method thereof

Inventors: Soojung Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Suk Kim (Hwaseong-si, KR); Yuna Kim (Seoul, KR); Keumdong Jung (Seoul, KR); Goeun Cha (Cheonan-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
G06V40/1306A61B5/442
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,555,404
App. No.
17/025,007
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device includes a display panel configured to display an image. A biometric sensor module is disposed on the display panel. The biometric sensor module is configured to output a first transmission signal having a first frequency to sense fingerprint information in a fingerprint sensing mode. The biometric sensor is also configured to output a second transmission signal having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency to sense skin condition information in a skin measuring mode.

Claims (42)

1 . A display device comprising:

a display panel comprises an image area in which an image is displayed; and

a biometric sensor module disposed on the display panel, the biometric sensor module is an ultrasonic sensor module,

wherein the biometric sensor module is configured to:

output a first transmission signal having a first frequency to a sensing area corresponding to at least a partial portion of the image area in a fingerprint sensing mode;

sense fingerprint information corresponding to the first transmission signal;

output a second transmission signal having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency to the sensing area in a skin measuring mode; and

sense skin condition information corresponding to the second transmission signal,

wherein the biometric sensor module comprises:

first detection sensors configured to transmit the first transmission signal having the first frequency in the fingerprint sensing mode; and

second detection sensors configured to transmit the second transmission signal having the second frequency in the skin measuring mode,

wherein each of the second detection sensors has a larger size than a size of each of the first detection sensors.

2 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the biometric sensor module further comprises:

a selection circuit configured to control operations of the first detection sensors and the second detection sensors; and

an output circuit configured to output a receiving signal corresponding to the fingerprint information and the skin condition information sensed by the first detection sensors and the second detection sensors.

3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein the output circuit is configured to:

output a first receiving signal corresponding to the fingerprint information in the fingerprint sensing mode; and

output a second receiving signal corresponding to the skin condition information in the skin measuring mode.

4 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the first detection sensors and the second detection sensors are alternately arranged.

5 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein a total number of the first detection sensors is greater than a total number of the second detection sensors.

6 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency of the first transmission signal is lower than the second frequency of the second transmission signal.

7 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency of the first transmission signal has a range of about 10 MHz to 20 MHz, and the second frequency of the second transmission signal has a range of about 10 kHz to 50 KHz.

8 . The display device of claim 1 , wherein:

the second transmission signal is reflected by skin cells of a user; and

the skin condition information is sensed in the skin measuring mode based on a degree of density of the skin cells of the user.

9 . A method for operating a display device, having a display panel configured to display an image and a biometric sensor module, the method comprising:

determining an operation mode comprising a fingerprint sensing mode or a skin measuring mode;

controlling first detection sensors of the biometric sensor module to output a first transmission signal having a first frequency to a sensing area corresponding to an image area of the display panel in which an image is displayed when the operation mode is determined to be the fingerprint sensing mode;

controlling second detection sensors of the biometric sensor module to sense fingerprint information corresponding to the first transmission signal;

controlling the biometric sensor module to output a second transmission signal having a second frequency that is different from the first frequency to the sensing area when the operation mode is determined to be the skin measuring mode; and

controlling the biometric sensor module to sense skin condition information corresponding to the second transmission signal,

wherein the biometric sensor module is an ultrasonic sensor module,

wherein the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal are each an ultrasonic signal, and

wherein each of the second detection sensors has a larger size than a size of each of the first detection sensors.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a reflected first transmission signal to detect the fingerprint information when the operation mode is the fingerprint sensing mode; and

receiving a reflected second transmission signal to detect the skin condition information when the operation mode is the skin measuring mode.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the first frequency of the first transmission signal is lower than the second frequency of the second transmission signal.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the second transmission signal is reflected by skin cells of a user; and

the skin condition information is sensed in the skin measuring mode based on a degree of density of the skin cells of the user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2020
From: LEE, SOOJUNG; KIM, SUK; KIM, YUNA; JUNG, KEUMDONG; CHA, GOEUN
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053813/0922 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2019-0130772 · Oct 21, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210117637A1 · Apr 22, 2021
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