Finger biometric sensor including laterally adjacent piezoelectric transducer layer and associated methods

A finger biometric sensor comprising:

• a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the upper major surface;
• a piezoelectric transducer layer adjacent the at least one sidewall surface of said finger biometric sensing layer;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to said piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes, at least one of said electrically conductive layers also cooperating with said finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic;
• a drive circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to drive said piezoelectric transducer layer to impart a force to the user's finger;
• and
• a sense circuit coupled to said transducer electrodes to sense from said piezoelectric transducer layer a force imparted by the user's finger.

A method of making a finger biometric sensor comprising:

• providing a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto and for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the upper major surface;
• positioning a piezoelectric transducer layer adjacent the sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer;
• and
• coupling a plurality of electrically conductive layers to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes, at least one of the electrically conductive layers also cooperating with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic.