US 6,672,174 B2 · Fingerprint image capture device with a passive sensor array

Abstract

A fingerprint-sensing device with a sensor array that does not use active switching elements is fabricated on a base. Sensor support integrated circuits, which contain processing and addressing circuitry, are separately fabricated and subsequently mounted on the base, establishing electrical connections with an interconnect structure within the base, and are thus not integrated with the sensor array. The sensor support integrated circuits can be covered by a bezel structure and the sensor array by a covering material. In addition, a connection cable can be provided to connect the sensor array and the sensor support integrated circuits with a power source and to other external devices and to convey signals generated by the sensor array to the external devices.

Claims38

Dependent claims

An apparatus for capturing an image of a textured surface, comprising:

a base containing an electrical conductor interconnect structure therein;
a sensor array disposed upon the base and electrically connected to the interconnect structure, the sensor array having cells configured to detect the textured surface and represent different portions of the textured surface with signals corresponding thereto;
and
sensor support integrated circuit devices electrically connected to the interconnect structure within the base and physically connected to the base, wherein the sensor support integrated circuit devices include:
a first device configured to address each of a plurality of columns of cells in the sensor array, and
a second device configured to address each of a plurality of rows of cells in the sensor array, and process the signal obtained from each addressed cell.

3 more elements

A method of obtaining a plurality of signals representative of a textured surface applied to a fingerprint sensor, the fingerprint sensor including a base containing an electrical conductor interconnect structure therein, a sensor array disposed upon the base and electrically connected to the interconnect structure, the sensor array having cells configured to detect the textured surface and represent different portions of the textured surface with signals corresponding thereto, and one or more sensor support integrated circuit devices electrically connected to the interconnect structure within the base and physically connected to the base, the at least one sensor support integrated circuit device configured to address the cells of the sensor array and process the signals obtained from the sensor array, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the one or more sensor support integrated circuits a start signal indicating that the sensor array should be scanned to detect.
receiving at the one or more sensor support integrated circuits a clock signal that is used to successively address each cell in the sensing array, such that for each cell that is addressed, there follows the steps of:
providing a voltage to the corresponding addressed column from the one or more sensor support integrated circuits;
receiving at the one or more sensor support integrated circuits from the sensor array the signal corresponding to the detected texture for the cell on the addressed row that corresponds to the addressed column;
processing, within the one or more sensor support integrated circuits, the signal to obtain an amplified signal;
and
transmitting the amplified signal from the one or more sensor support integrated circuits.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fingerprint image capture device with a passive sensor array

Life of this patent

Fingerprint image capture device with a passive sensor array

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38