# US 10,121,044 B2 · Fingerprint sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,044 B2 - Document ID: US10121044B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/040,029 - Filed: 2016-02-10 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-16 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Byunggil Jeong; Cheheung Kim; Jungwoo Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121044B2 ## CPC - G06V 40/1306: {non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing} - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract A fingerprint sensor for reinforcing an electric field and preventing electric interference between adjacent electrodes. The fingerprint sensor includes a plurality of sensor electrodes provided on a substrate, an insulating layer, and a discontinuous grid formed in the insulating layer. The discontinuous grid includes a plurality of walls that are arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) manner. The plurality of walls are electrically insulated from each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fingerprint sensor comprising: a plurality of sensor electrodes provided on a substrate; a passivation layer provided on the plurality of sensor electrodes; an insulating layer arranged between the plurality of sensor electrodes and the passivation layer; and a discontinuous grid comprising a plurality of floating conductor walls that are electrically insulated from each other, the discontinuous grid arranged to surround each of regions of the insulating layer on the plurality of sensor electrodes, and electrically insulated from the plurality of sensor electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes are arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) manner, and wherein the discontinuous grid is arranged to one-to-one correspond to the 2D arrangement of the plurality of sensor electrodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous grid is insulated at intersection points of the discontinuous grid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a height and a width of the discontinuous grid is below 10:1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous grid is arranged not to overlap with the plurality of sensor electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fingerprint sensor of claim 5, wherein the discontinuous grid is arranged to penetrate into the insulating layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous grid is arranged to partially overlap with the plurality of sensor electrodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fingerprint sensor of claim 7, wherein an upper end of the discontinuous grid is exposed to an upper surface of the insulating layer, and a lower end of the discontinuous grid is located inside the insulating layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the insulating layer comprises one of Si3N4, and EMC (epoxy molding compound). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous grid comprises at least one of Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, In, Sn, Cd, Al, ITO (indium tin oxide), IZO (indium zinc oxide), AZO (aluminum zinc oxide), and GZO (gallium zinc oxide). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the passivation layer comprises a plurality of dielectric layers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fingerprint sensor of claim 11, wherein the discontinuous grid penetrates into all or a part of the plurality of dielectric layers. ### Claim 13 A fingerprint sensor comprising: a plurality of sensor electrodes provided on a substrate; a plurality of insulators respectively located on the plurality of sensor electrodes; and a plurality of floating conductor walls respectively surrounding the plurality of insulators and electrically insulated from each other, wherein the plurality of floating conductor walls are physically separately arranged to form a discontinuous grid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fingerprint sensor of claim 13, wherein the plurality of floating conductor walls are spaced apart from each other at intersection points of the discontinuous grid. ### Claim 15 A method of manufacturing a fingerprint sensor, the method comprising: providing a substrate; providing a plurality of sensor electrodes on the substrate; providing an insulating layer on the plurality of sensor electrodes; forming a discontinuous grid in the insulating layer such that the discontinuous grid surrounds each of regions of the insulating layer on the plurality of sensor electrodes and does not directly contact the plurality of sensor electrodes by arranging a plurality of floating conductor walls that are electrically and physically isolated from each other; and providing a passivation layer on the insulating layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the forming of the discontinuous grid comprises: etching the insulating layer and forming a grid pattern; and depositing a conductive material on the grid pattern. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous grid is arranged to penetrate into the passivation layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The fingerprint sensor of claim 1, wherein the discontinuous grid is misaligned with the plurality of sensor electrodes.