Fingerprint sensor package having enhanced electrostatic discharge protection and associated methods

A fingerprint sensor package comprising:

• a housing;
• a fingerprint sensing integrated circuit within said housing and comprising a plurality of electric field sensing electrodes and processing circuitry connected thereto, said processing circuitry comprising at least one data signal line for external connection;
• at least one external electrode carried by said housing for contact by a finger of a user;
• an electrostatic discharge circuit within said housing and connected to said at least one external electrode for protecting said fingerprint sensing integrated circuit;
• and
• a data signal isolation circuit within said housing and connected to the at least one data signal line for external connection, said data signal isolation circuit comprising at least one series connected resistor.

A fingerprint sensor package comprising:

• a housing;
• a fingerprint sensing integrated circuit within said housing and comprising a plurality of electric field sensing electrodes and processing circuitry connected thereto;
• a circuit substrate mounting said fingerprint sensing integrated circuit and comprising at least one power supply rail extending only laterally adjacent said fingerprint sensing integrated circuits;
• at least one external electrode carried by said housing for contact by a finger of a user;
• and
• an electrostatic discharge circuit within said housing and connected to said at least one external electrode for protecting said fingerprint sensing integrated circuit.

A method for making a fingerprint sensor package comprising:

• forming a fingerprint sensing integrated circuit including a plurality of electric field sensing electrodes and processing circuitry connected thereto, the processing circuitry comprising at least one data signal line for external connection;
• positioning the fingerprint sensing integrated circuit within a housing;
• forming at least one external electrode on the housing for contact by a finger of a user;
• providing an electrostatic discharge circuit within said housing and connected to said at least one external electrode for protecting the fingerprint sensing integrated circuit;
• and
• isolating the at least one data signal line for external connection by connecting a data signal isolation circuit to the at least one data signal line for further protecting said fingerprint sensing integrated circuit, the data isolation circuit comprising at least one series connected resistor.