# US 2019/0171306 A1 · Touch-fingerprint complex sensor, operating method thereof, and electronic apparatus including the touch-fingerprint complex sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0171306 A1 - Document ID: US20190171306A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/169,430 - Filed: 2018-10-24 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jinmyoung KIM; Dongkyun KIM; Seokwhan CHUNG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190171306A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/04164: {Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/041661: {using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 3/047: using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires - G06V 40/1306: {non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract Provided are touch-fingerprint complex sensors, operating methods thereof, and electronic apparatuses including the touch-fingerprint complex sensors. A touch-fingerprint complex sensor may include a plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction in a touch pad, and a plurality of second electrodes extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The plurality of first electrodes may include a plurality of first touch electrodes disposed at regular intervals and a plurality of first sub-electrodes between adjacent ones of the plurality of first touch electrodes. The plurality of second electrodes may include a plurality of second touch electrodes disposed at regular intervals and a plurality of second sub-electrodes between adjacent ones of the plurality of second touch electrodes. The plurality of first touch electrodes may include a first unit group including electrodes, and at least one of the plurality of first sub-electrodes may be disposed between adjacent ones of the electrodes of the first unit group. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A touch-fingerprint complex sensor comprising: a touch pad comprising a fingerprint recognizing region; a plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction in the touch pad; and a plurality of second electrodes extending in a second direction in the touch pad, wherein the second direction intersects the first direction, wherein the plurality of first electrodes comprises: a first unit group comprising a plurality of first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other, and a plurality of first sub-electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of first sub-electrodes is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of first touch electrodes, and wherein the plurality of second electrodes comprises: a second unit group comprising a plurality of second touch electrodes electrically substantially disposed at regular intervals and a plurality of second sub-electrodes disposed between the plurality of second touch electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein the first sub-electrodes comprises a first group of first sub-electrodes disposed at one side of a first one of the plurality of first touch electrodes, and a second group of first sub-electrodes disposed at another side of the first one of the plurality of first touch electrodes, and wherein the first group of first sub-electrodes is electrically connected to the second group of first sub-electrodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 2, wherein the first sub-electrodes further comprises a third group of first sub-electrodes disposed at one side of a second one of the plurality of first touch electrodes, and a fourth group of first sub-electrodes disposed at another side of the second one of the plurality of first touch electrodes, and wherein the third group of first sub-electrodes is electrically connected to the fourth group of first sub-electrodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 2, further comprising: a first connecting wire connecting end portions of each of plurality of first touch electrodes of the first unit group; and a second connecting wire connecting an end portion of each of the first sub-electrodes of the first group of first sub-electrodes to an end portion of each of the first sub-electrodes of the second group of first sub-electrodes, wherein the first connecting wire and the second connecting wire intersect each other as viewed from above. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 4, wherein one of the first connecting wire and the second connecting wire comprises a via structure and a conductive plug disposed in the via structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 2, wherein the second sub-electrodes comprise a first group of second sub-electrodes disposed at one side a first one of the plurality of second touch electrodes, and a second group of second sub-electrodes disposed at another side of the first one of the plurality of second touch electrodes, and wherein the first group of second sub-electrodes is electrically connected to the second group of second sub-electrodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 6, wherein the second sub-electrodes further comprises a third group of second sub-electrodes disposed at one side of a second one of the plurality of second touch electrodes, and a fourth group of second sub-electrodes disposed at another side of the second one of the plurality of second touch electrodes, and wherein the third group of second sub-electrodes is electrically connected to the fourth group of second sub-electrodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 6, further comprising: a first connecting wire connecting end portions of each of the plurality of second touch electrodes of the second unit group; and a second connecting wire connecting an end portion of each of the second sub-electrodes of the first group of the second sub-electrodes and to an end portion of each of the second sub-electrodes of the second group of second sub-electrodes, wherein the third connecting wire and the fourth connecting wire intersect each other as viewed from above. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 8, wherein one of the first connecting wire and the second connecting wire comprises a via structure and a conductive plug disposed in the via structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first unit groups are provided on at least one side of the fingerprint recognizing region in the second direction, and a plurality of the second unit groups are provided on at least one side of the fingerprint recognizing region in the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein the first unit group comprises at least three first touch electrodes, and the second unit group comprises at least three second touch electrodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch pad comprises an active region comprising the fingerprint recognizing region, and a peripheral region around the active region, wherein the peripheral region comprises a plurality of wires connecting the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes to a circuit unit, and wherein at least two of the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected in the peripheral region and at least two of the plurality of second electrodes are electrically connected in the peripheral region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein a shape of the touch pad is one of circular and oval. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 13, wherein the touch pad comprises an active region and a bezel region around the active region, and wherein at least two of the plurality of first electrodes are electrically connected in the bezel region and at least two of the plurality of second electrodes are electrically connected in the bezel region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein a shape of the touch pad is rectangular. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch-fingerprint complex sensor is configured to, in a touch detecting mode, selectively activate the plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of second touch electrodes, and apply a fixed bias voltage to the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 16, wherein the plurality of first touch electrodes are transmit electrodes, the plurality of second touch electrodes are receive electrodes, and the touch-fingerprint complex sensor is further configured to, in the touch detecting mode, apply a ground voltage to the plurality of first sub-electrodes and apply a first bias voltage that is different from the ground voltage to the plurality of second sub-electrodes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 17, further comprising: a circuit unit connected to the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, wherein the circuit unit comprises an analog front-end (AFE) amplifier, wherein the first bias voltage is a same voltage as an input bias voltage of the AFE amplifier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein end portions of each of a plurality of first electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region, from among the plurality of first electrodes, are independently provided without being electrically connected to each other, and end portions of each of a plurality of second electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region, from among the plurality of second electrodes, are independently provided without being electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch-fingerprint complex sensor is configured to, in a fingerprint recognizing mode, selectively activate first electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region from among the plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region from among the plurality of second electrodes, and apply a fixed bias voltage to remaining ones of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An electronic apparatus comprising the touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 1. ### Claim 22 A touch-fingerprint complex sensor configured to detect a touch and a fingerprint of a user, the touch-fingerprint complex sensor comprising: a first unit group comprising a plurality of first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other; a plurality of first sub-electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of first sub-electrodes is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of first touch electrodes; a second unit group comprising a plurality of second touch electrodes electrically connected to each other and intersecting the plurality of first touch electrodes; and a plurality of second sub-electrodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of second sub-electrodes is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of second touch electrodes, and the touch-fingerprint complex sensor is configured to, in a touch detecting mode, selectively drive the plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of second touch electrodes and apply a fixed bias voltage to the plurality of first sub-electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 22, wherein the plurality of first touch electrodes are transmit electrodes, the plurality of second touch electrodes are receive electrodes, and the touch-fingerprint complex sensor is further configured to, in the touch detecting mode, apply a ground voltage to the plurality of first sub-electrodes and apply a first bias voltage that is different from the ground voltage to the plurality of second sub-electrodes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 23, further comprising a circuit unit, wherein the circuit unit comprises an analog front-end (AFE) amplifier, and wherein the first bias voltage is a same voltage as an input bias of the AFE amplifier. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 22, comprising: an active region comprising a fingerprint recognizing region; and a peripheral region provided around the active region, wherein the peripheral region comprises at least one of: a first connection structure in which at least two of the plurality of first touch electrodes are electrically connected; a second connection structure in which at least two of the plurality of first sub-electrodes are electrically connected; a third connection structure in which at least two of the plurality of second touch electrodes are electrically connected ; and a fourth connection structure in which at least two of the plurality of second sub-electrodes are electrically connected. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 25, wherein the peripheral region further comprises a via structure and a conductive plug disposed in the via structure. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 22, wherein a finger recognizing region is defined in the touch-fingerprint complex sensor, wherein end portions of each of a plurality of first touch electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region, from among the plurality of first touch electrodes, and each of a plurality of first sub-electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region, from among the plurality of first sub-electrodes, are independently provided without being electrically connected to each other, and end portions of each of a plurality of second touch electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region, from among the plurality of second touch electrodes, and each of a plurality of second sub-electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region, from among the plurality of second sub-electrodes, are independently provided without being electrically connected to each other. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 22, wherein a fingerprint recognizing region is defined in the touch-fingerprint complex sensor, and wherein the touch-fingerprint complex sensor is configured to, in a fingerprint recognizing mode, selectively activate electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region from among the plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of first sub-electrodes and electrodes corresponding to the fingerprint recognizing region from among the plurality of second touch electrodes and the plurality of second sub-electrodes, and apply a fixed bias voltage to remaining electrodes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 22, wherein a shape of the touch-fingerprint complex sensor is one of circular, oval, and rectangular. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) An electronic apparatus comprising the touch-fingerprint complex sensor of claim 22. ### Claim 31 A touch-fingerprint complex sensor comprising: a touch pad comprising: a plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction; and a plurality of second electrodes extending in a second direction, wherein the second direction intersects the first direction, wherein the plurality of first electrodes comprises: a first plurality of first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other; a second plurality of first touch electrodes electrically isolated from each other of the plurality of first electrodes; a first plurality of first sub-electrodes disposed on a first side of one of the first plurality of first touch electrodes; and a second plurality of first sub-electrodes disposed on a second side of the one of the first plurality of first touch electrodes, wherein each of the first plurality of first sub-electrodes and each of the second plurality of first sub-electrodes is electrically connected to each other, and wherein the plurality of second electrodes comprises: a first plurality of second touch electrodes electrically connected to each other; a second plurality of second touch electrodes electrically isolated from each other of the plurality of second electrodes; a first plurality of second sub-electrodes disposed on a first side of one of the first plurality of second touch electrodes; a second plurality of second sub-electrodes disposed on a second side of the one of the first plurality of second touch electrodes; wherein each of the first plurality of second sub-electrodes and each of the second plurality of second sub-electrodes is electrically connected to each other.