Apple's fingerprint sensor encapsulation tech could be headed for future iPhone
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published an Apple filing for a unique encapsulation structure which holds both a fingerprint sensor and its conductive bezel, allowing for a smaller, more protective final component suitable for a mobile device.
Fingerprint sensor surface array (16), die (14) and bezels (18). | Source: USPTO
Apple's patent application, filed in February and titled "Integrally molded die and bezel structure for fingerprint sensors and the like," describes a unitary encapsulation structure that protects a delicate biometric array, while still allowing for a portion of the sensor and bezel to be exposed or thinly coated with a protective seal. While the filing is for a "strip" type sensor, the technology can feasibly be applied to other fingerprinting methods.
As noted in the filing, current electrical-based sensors are formed in a package containing the die, which holds a semiconductor and said sensors along with related circuitry. Because of the small die size, secondary structures like a lead frame and wires are needed to make an electrical connection between the die and the printed circuit board on which it is situated. These structures are then encased in an encapsulation material to protect the intricate wirebonding and other internal components from damage.
Because such sensors can only operate within a certain threshold distance between a user's fingerprint and the die, many encapsulation methods leave the package uncovered.
Current circuit designs may also use a small electrical current to charge a user's finger for reading. In order to send the correct current through the finger, small contact structures are formed and disposed near the sensing die. These "bezels" are largely positioned in the same plane as the upper sensing surface of the die, thus ensuring both a charged finger and ideal positioning for the sensor.
Cutaway of assembly with finger.
Apple's patent filing looks to combine the encapsulated die with the bezel contact structures to form a single unitary package:
In addition to the above embodiments, the filing notes that the bezels can be provided with visual indicators and possibly a light source.
The invention would prove to be of substantial value if Apple were to deploy a fingerprint reader in a future iteration of the iPhone, as the tech would allow for a small, reasonably durable component that can withstand everyday wear and tear.
View of bezel frame according to one embodiment.
Apple is widely rumored to be incorporating fingerprint scanning technology into its next-generation iOS devices, with the forthcoming "iPhone 5" being a prime candidate. Rumors and speculation were sparked by the company's 2012 acquisition of biometrics firm Authentec.
Interestingly, Apple's filing cites multiple patents and patent applications on fingerprint biometrics owned by STMicroelectronics, one of the world's largest semiconductor companies. Besides sensors and embedded processing solutions, the firm also supplied Apple with the three-axis gyroscope found in the iPhone 5.
At least one of the inventors credited with the application, Giovanni Gozzini, is also named on the cited STMicroelectronics patents. Accompanying Gozzini in the Apple-assigned filing are Robert Henry Bond and Alan Kramer.
Fingerprint sensor surface array (16), die (14) and bezels (18). | Source: USPTO
Apple's patent application, filed in February and titled "Integrally molded die and bezel structure for fingerprint sensors and the like," describes a unitary encapsulation structure that protects a delicate biometric array, while still allowing for a portion of the sensor and bezel to be exposed or thinly coated with a protective seal. While the filing is for a "strip" type sensor, the technology can feasibly be applied to other fingerprinting methods.
As noted in the filing, current electrical-based sensors are formed in a package containing the die, which holds a semiconductor and said sensors along with related circuitry. Because of the small die size, secondary structures like a lead frame and wires are needed to make an electrical connection between the die and the printed circuit board on which it is situated. These structures are then encased in an encapsulation material to protect the intricate wirebonding and other internal components from damage.
Because such sensors can only operate within a certain threshold distance between a user's fingerprint and the die, many encapsulation methods leave the package uncovered.
Current circuit designs may also use a small electrical current to charge a user's finger for reading. In order to send the correct current through the finger, small contact structures are formed and disposed near the sensing die. These "bezels" are largely positioned in the same plane as the upper sensing surface of the die, thus ensuring both a charged finger and ideal positioning for the sensor.
Cutaway of assembly with finger.
Apple's patent filing looks to combine the encapsulated die with the bezel contact structures to form a single unitary package:
In one embodiment, the sensor assembly includes a substrate like a PCB or ceramic structure with a region specifically designed to receive a die assembly, as well as regions for holding bezels. The encapsulation structure is molded from a resin or plastic and is injected in such a way as to leave the top portion of the die and bezel parallel or nearly coplanar. These structures can be either partially exposed, or covered with a thin layer of material to protect it from the elements.By encasing both the bezel and the sensor die in the encapsulation structure, those elements may be brought closer together than heretofore possible. In addition, the encapsulation structure physically protects the bezel and sensor die, and in particular maintains the spacing therebetween, in a fashion not possible by currently known device designs.
In addition to the above embodiments, the filing notes that the bezels can be provided with visual indicators and possibly a light source.
The invention would prove to be of substantial value if Apple were to deploy a fingerprint reader in a future iteration of the iPhone, as the tech would allow for a small, reasonably durable component that can withstand everyday wear and tear.
View of bezel frame according to one embodiment.
Apple is widely rumored to be incorporating fingerprint scanning technology into its next-generation iOS devices, with the forthcoming "iPhone 5" being a prime candidate. Rumors and speculation were sparked by the company's 2012 acquisition of biometrics firm Authentec.
Interestingly, Apple's filing cites multiple patents and patent applications on fingerprint biometrics owned by STMicroelectronics, one of the world's largest semiconductor companies. Besides sensors and embedded processing solutions, the firm also supplied Apple with the three-axis gyroscope found in the iPhone 5.
At least one of the inventors credited with the application, Giovanni Gozzini, is also named on the cited STMicroelectronics patents. Accompanying Gozzini in the Apple-assigned filing are Robert Henry Bond and Alan Kramer.
Comments
how much effective is that sensor is??
The 4S got Siri.
Apple didn't release anything with a finger print sensor, yet. Don't jump the gun. And there are laptops and phones o the market with fingerprint sensors already.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
Apple didn't release anything with a finger print sensor, yet. Don't jump the gun.
Wise words. I sense something is cooking at Apple about this finger print sensor, Bluetooth 4 etc. I hope I won't be disappointed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrix07
Wise words. I sense something is cooking at Apple about this finger print sensor, Bluetooth 4 etc. I hope I won't be disappointed.
I wonder if they can use the fingerprint scanner as part of a payment authentication?
They bought a whole company just for this technology....so we know they are going to use fingerprint scanning somehow....
Interesting thought but the two technologies are completely unrelated, in fact, the two technologies are so far removed that we may as well suggest that eye tracking will lead to matter-energy converters in Samsung products.
Quote:
Originally Posted by droslovinia
While this sounds exciting, and I'm planning to buy the next iPhone, I can't help but wonder whether the new "follow your eyes" features in the new Samsung phone aren't a precursor to retina-scanning technology that may trump this fingerprinting idea.
How's the Facial Recognition in Android works out for you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by geekdad
I wonder if they can use the fingerprint scanner as part of a payment authentication?
They bought a whole company just for this technology....so we know they are going to use fingerprint scanning somehow....
I think they have something in mind before they bought the company. Kind of like you know what you wanna do then shop around for a company that fits. So it must be something bigger than just to unlock the screen etc.
The timeline seems to coincide with the support for Bluetooth 4 on iPhone. And the U-turn of Bob Mansfield who also heads the wireless dept. Very interesting.
Either Apple wallet or some other feature that makes fingerprint sensors really compelling needs to be finished.
Who knows which device will be the one where both of those things are completed.
Also, the next iPhone may be a 6, or they might give up the numbering completely and go to an iPhone "pro" and regular, and just give them year numbers since they do one each year "the 2013 iPhone" and the "2013 iPhone Pro".
I can see this being built into the back house of an iPhone instad of how many phones have it now. That way, you can just hold the phone as normal and when the fingerprint API is requested, you're fingers will already be there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shiva Nagi
how much effective is that sensor is??
Ask the Mythbusters to test this out
Quote:
Originally Posted by AAPLforLife
Retina-scanning is done with a laser. I don't see Samsung adding a laser to their phones anytime soon.
You've seen too much movies. Retina-scanning uses pictures of the retina colours and blood vessel patterns from an optic camera.
Mittens attatched with duct tape. That's should work until one or the other comes to their senses and files for divorce.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Mecca
Question: If married and you don't want your spouse to look at your iPhone, what happens when one spouse is sleeping and the other is awake and the spouse takes the finger of the sleeping person and places is it on the iPhone? Will it unlock? Hope there is a secondary backup when authorized.
Use your penis as the authentication digit instead.