# US 8,570,303 B2 · Display module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,303 B2 - Document ID: US8570303B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/399,037 - Filed: 2009-03-06 - Published: 2010-03-04 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-04 - Assignees: Au Optronics Corporation - Applicants: Chih-Yen Chen - Inventors: Chih-Yen Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570303B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/1601: {Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64)} - G06V 40/1318: {using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract A display module includes a display panel and a fingerprint sensor. The display panel includes a display region, a peripheral region next to the display region, an active device array substrate, and an opposite substrate. The fingerprint sensor is disposed in the peripheral region of the active device array substrate of the display panel. Besides, the fingerprint sensor includes a light guide element, a light source, and a photosensor array. The photosensor array is disposed on the active device array substrate. The light guide element is disposed over the photosensor array. The light source is disposed on a side surface of the light guide element or below the light guide element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display module, comprising: a display panel, having a display region and a peripheral region disposed next to the display region, the display panel comprising an active device array substrate and an opposite substrate, wherein the opposite substrate covers the active device array substrate in the display region and exposes a portion of the active device array substrate in the peripheral region; and a fingerprint sensor, disposed on the active device array substrate in the peripheral region not covered by the opposite substrate, the fingerprint sensor comprising: a photosensor array, disposed on the active device array substrate; a light guide element, disposed over the photosensor array, wherein the light guide element is a bar-shaped light guide element; and a light source, disposed next to the light guide element, wherein the light source is disposed at an end of the bar-shaped light guide element, and wherein the other end of the bar-shaped light guide element is covered by a reflection layer disposed opposite to the light source to reflect the light from the light source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on a side surface of the light guide element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed below the light guide element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bottom of the light guide element is in an arc shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of microstructures is disposed at a bottom of the light guide element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The display module as claimed in claim 5, wherein a density of the microstructures is increased from near the light source to far from the light source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gap exists between the light guide element and the photosensor array. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide element has an upper portion and a lower portion, and a width of the lower portion is greater than a width of the upper portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide element has an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, and a width of the middle portion is greater than a width of the upper portion and a width of the lower portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of the bar-shaped light guide element has a chamfered structure, and a reflection layer is disposed on the chamfered structure, and light supplied by the light source is reflected by the reflection layer and is incident to the light guide element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photosensor array comprises a thin film photosensor array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photosensor array is linearly arranged below the light guide element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one driving circuit is disposed in the peripheral region of the display panel, and the fingerprint sensor and the at least one driving circuit are disposed at different sides of the peripheral region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one driving circuit is disposed in the peripheral region of the display panel, and the fingerprint sensor and the at least one driving circuit are disposed at the same side of the peripheral region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a backlight module disposed below the display panel and the fingerprint sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The display module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposite substrate is a color array substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The display module as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal layer interposed between the active device array substrate and the color array substrate. ### Claim 19 A display module, comprising: a display panel, having a display region and a peripheral region disposed next to the display region, the display panel comprising an active device array substrate and an opposite substrate, wherein the active device array substrate comprises an active device array on a substrate in the display region, the opposite substrate covers the active device array and exposes a portion of the substrate in the peripheral region; and a fingerprint sensor, disposed on the substrate in the peripheral region not covered by the opposite substrate, the fingerprint sensor comprising: a photosensor array, disposed on the substrate, wherein the photosensor array and the active device array are in contact with the same surface of the substrate; a light guide element, disposed over the photosensor array, wherein the light guide element is a bar-shaped light guide element; and a light source, disposed next to the light guide element, wherein the light source is disposed at an end of the bar-shaped light guide element, and wherein the other end of the bar-shaped light guide element is covered by a reflection layer disposed opposite to the light source to reflect the light from the light source. ### Claim 20 A display module, comprising: a display panel, having a display region and a peripheral region disposed next to the display region, the display panel comprising: an active device array substrate; an opposite substrate; and a sealant, connected between and contact with the active device array substrate and the opposite substrate to form an interior area, wherein the sealant surrounds the interior area; and a fingerprint sensor exposed by the opposite substrate, the fingerprint sensor disposed in the peripheral region of the active device array substrate of the display panel and located outside the interior area, the fingerprint sensor comprising: a photosensor array, disposed on the active device array substrate; a light guide element, disposed over the photosensor array; and a light source, disposed next to the light guide element, wherein a plurality of microstructures is disposed at a bottom of the light guide element, and a density of the microstructures is increased from near the light source to far from the light source. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light source is disposed on a side surface of the light guide element. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light source is disposed below the light guide element. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein a bottom of the light guide element is in an arc shape. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein a gap exists between the light guide element and the photosensor array. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light guide element has an upper portion and a lower portion, and a width of the lower portion is greater than a width of the upper portion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light guide element has an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion interposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, and a width of the middle portion is greater than a width of the upper portion and a width of the lower portion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light guide element is a bar-shaped light guide element, the light source is disposed at an end of the bar-shaped light guide element, and the other end of the bar-shaped light guide element is covered by a reflection layer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light guide element is a bar-shaped light guide element, an end of the bar- shaped light guide element has a chamfered structure, and a reflection layer is disposed on the chamfered structure, and light supplied by the light source is reflected by the reflection layer and is incident to the light guide element. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode, and the photosensor array comprises a thin film photosensor array. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the photosensor array is linearly arranged below the light guide element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one driving circuit is disposed in the peripheral region of the display panel, and the fingerprint sensor and the at least one driving circuit are disposed at different sides of the peripheral region. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one driving circuit is disposed in the peripheral region of the display panel, and the fingerprint sensor and the at least one driving circuit are disposed at the same side of the peripheral region. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a backlight module disposed below the display panel and the fingerprint sensor. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) The display module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the opposite substrate is a color array substrate, and the display panel comprises a liquid crystal layer interposed between the active device array substrate and the color array substrate. ### Claim 35 A display module, comprising: a display panel, having a display region and a peripheral region disposed next to the display region, the display panel comprising an active device array substrate, a sealant and an opposite substrate, wherein the sealant is located between the active array substrate and the opposite substrate to form an interior area; and a fingerprint sensor, disposed in the peripheral region of the active device array substrate of the display panel and located outside the interior area, the fingerprint sensor comprising: a photosensor array, disposed on the active device array substrate; a light guide element, disposed over the photosensor array, wherein the light guide element is a bar-shaped light guide element; and a light source, disposed next to the light guide element, wherein the light source is disposed at an end of the bar-shaped light guide element, and wherein the other end of the bar-shaped light guide element is covered by a reflection layer disposed opposite to the light source to reflect the light from the light source.