TWI646471B - Fingerprint sensing module and fingerprint identification method - Google Patents

Abstract

A fingerprint sensing module includes a plurality of image capturing elements, a plurality of auxiliary elements, a plurality of processing circuits, and a control module. These taken pixels are arranged in an M x N array. Each taken pixel includes a top electrode. The auxiliary elements are located on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels and have P auxiliary element rows and Q auxiliary element columns. Each auxiliary element includes an auxiliary electrode. Each processing circuit corresponds to at least one taken pixel. The control module selects one of the pixels as the selected element in a sequential scanning manner, and the control module electrically connects the electrodes of the P+1 row and the Q+1 column corresponding to the selected element. The sensing signal is received, and the control module directs the received sensing signal to a processing circuit corresponding to the selected element.

Description

Fingerprint sensing device and fingerprint identification method

A fingerprint sensing device and a fingerprint identification method, in particular to an active capacitive fingerprint sensing device and a fingerprint identification method.

With the development of technology, electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal notebook computers or tablets have become a must-have tool in life, and the information stored in these electronic systems, such as contacts and photos, has become quite personal. specialty. In order to avoid the loss or misappropriation of important information, fingerprint sensing devices are now widely used in electronic devices.

At present, the common fingerprint sensing device is an active capacitive fingerprint sensing device, which usually transmits a driving metal ring on the periphery of the package module to transmit the driving signal of the fingerprint sensing chip to the finger to achieve the function of fingerprint recognition. . However, in the preparation process of manufacturing the driving metal ring, it is necessary to form a plurality of fingerprint sensing package modules in the singulation step, and then additionally install the driving metal ring on the periphery of the fingerprint sensing package module or each Do not spray the metal layer, making the process more complicated.

In addition, the fingerprint sensing device has a protective layer covering the sensing electrode and used to provide a user's finger touch. The sensing electrode receives the sensing signal from the finger and is processed by the processing circuit to obtain the sensing capacitor. Since the magnitude of the sensing capacitance is proportional to the area of the sensing electrode and inversely proportional to the thickness of the protective layer, if the electrode is small, the sensing signal is less likely to penetrate the protective layer and be received by the sensing electrode.

An embodiment of the invention provides a fingerprint sensing module, which includes a plurality of image capturing elements, a plurality of auxiliary elements, a plurality of processing circuits, and a control module. The taken pixels are arranged in an M×N array and have M fetch rows and N fetch columns. Each taken pixel includes a top electrode. The auxiliary elements are located on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels and have P auxiliary element rows and Q auxiliary element columns. Each auxiliary element includes an auxiliary electrode. Each processing circuit corresponds to at least one taken pixel. The control module selects one of the pixels as the selected element in a sequential scanning manner, and the control module electrically connects the electrodes of the P+1 row and the Q+1 column corresponding to the selected element. The sensing signal is received, and the control module directs the received sensing signal to a processing circuit corresponding to the selected element.

The invention provides a fingerprint identification method, which comprises sequentially scanning a plurality of pixels to select one of the pixels as a selected element; and electrically connecting each electrode of a region corresponding to the selected element to receive a sensing Signal.

In summary, the embodiment of the present invention provides a fingerprint sensing module and a fingerprint identification method thereof. The control module selects a selected element from the selected pixels in a sequential scanning manner, and then selects a selected element. The electrodes in an area are electrically connected, and the entire area can serve as a sensing electrode. Then, the control module can control at least one top electrode or the auxiliary electrode to send a driving signal to the finger as a driving electrode, and all the electrodes of the control area are used to receive the sensing signal from the finger. Compared with the prior art, the fingerprint sensing module of the embodiment of the present invention uses a plurality of electrodes in the transmission region as a sensing electrode, thereby increasing the sensing area and increasing the sensing sensitivity.

Furthermore, the number of electrodes in the area is related to the number of auxiliary element rows and auxiliary element columns. The region includes a selected element and a total of [(P+1)×(Q+1)-1] fetching pixels 110 or auxiliary elements 120, so the region N1 can be, but is not limited to, rendered (P+1)× A rectangular array of (Q+1). The fingerprint sensing module of the embodiment of the present invention can maintain the number of electrodes in the region N1 each time the electrodes around the selected element are electrically connected by providing auxiliary elements on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels. It should be noted that the number of electrodes in the area is related to the number of auxiliary element rows and auxiliary element columns. If the region includes a selected element and the total number is [(P+1)×(Q+1)-1] pixels or auxiliary elements to present an array of (P+1)×(Q+1), then P auxiliary line and Q auxiliary elements are arranged on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a fingerprint sensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a top plan view showing a configuration of a top electrode and an auxiliary electrode corresponding to FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1 , the fingerprint sensing apparatus 100 includes a plurality of image capturing elements 110 , a plurality of auxiliary elements 120 , a plurality of processing circuits 130 , and a control module 140 . The taken pixels 110 are arranged in an array, and the auxiliary elements 120 are located on adjacent sides of the array formed by the taken pixels 110. Each processing circuit 130 corresponds to at least one taken pixel 110. The control module 140 selects one of the pixels as the selected element, and electrically connects the electrodes in a region corresponding to the selected element to receive the sensing signal. Moreover, the control module 140 transmits the sensing signal to the processing circuit 130 corresponding to the selected element.

The image taking unit 110 is an image taking electrode element of the fingerprint sensing device, and each of the sensing signals sensed by the pixel 110 is processed as a fingerprint image. Each of the taken pixels 110 includes a top electrode 111, wherein the top electrode 111 can form a sensing capacitance with a sensing object (eg, a finger). In practice, the material of the top electrode 111 may be, but not limited to, a conductive material such as a metal, an alloy, or a semiconductor, such as, but not limited to, copper, silver, indium tin oxide, or the like.

The taken pixels 110 are arranged in an M×N array according to the two-dimensional rectangular coordinates, and have M image pixel rows A1 and N pixel row A2. The taken pixel row A1 is arranged by the M taken pixels 110 along the column direction, and the taken pixel columns A2 are arranged by the N taken pixels 110 along the row direction. arrangement. That is to say, the pixel row A1 and the pixel row A2 are parallel to the row direction and the column direction, respectively.

In the array formed by the pixels 110, M may be equal to N, that is, the number of the pixel rows A1 is equal to the number of the pixel columns A2, so that the pixels 110 are presented as a square matrix. Alternatively, M may not be equal to N, that is, the number of taken pixel rows A1 is not equal to the number of taken pixel columns A2, such that the taken pixels 110 exhibit a rectangular matrix. The present invention does not limit the number of taken pixels 110 and the form in which the arrays are arranged. For example, in the embodiment, the captured pixels 110 are arranged in a 5×5 array, and have five pixel rows A1 and five pixel columns A2, and present a matrix of squares. In another embodiment, FIG. 3 is a top view of a configuration structure of a pixel and an auxiliary element according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the image capturing elements 110 are arranged in a 4×5 array. That is, there are four pixel rows A1 and five pixel columns A2, and a rectangular matrix is presented.

Each of the auxiliary elements 120 includes an auxiliary electrode 121, wherein the auxiliary electrode BE can also form a sensing capacitance with a sensing object (eg, a finger). It should be noted that the auxiliary element 120 is the analog electrode element of the fingerprint sensing device 100, and the auxiliary electrode BE of the auxiliary element 120 is used to increase the sensing area instead of taking the image. In practice, the material of the auxiliary electrode 121 may be, but not limited to, a conductive material such as a metal, an alloy, or a semiconductor, such as, but not limited to, copper, silver, indium tin oxide, or the like.

The auxiliary elements 120 are located on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels and have P auxiliary element rows B1 and Q auxiliary element columns B2. Each auxiliary element row B1 may include N auxiliary elements 120, and each auxiliary element column B2 may include M+P auxiliary elements 120. Alternatively, each auxiliary element row B1 may include N+Q auxiliary elements 120, and each auxiliary element column B2 may include M auxiliary elements 120. Accordingly, the P auxiliary element rows B1 and the Q auxiliary element columns B2 can form an (M+P)×(N+Q) electrode element array together with the M×N array forming pixels 110. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the captured pixels 110 exhibit a 5×5 array, and the auxiliary elements 120 form one auxiliary element row and one auxiliary element column, and the auxiliary elements 120. The adjacent sides of the 5 x 5 array formed by the taken pixels 110 are arranged such that the taken elements 110 and the auxiliary elements 120 together form a 6 x 6 array. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the captured pixels 110 exhibit a 4×5 array. The auxiliary elements 120 form two auxiliary element rows and one auxiliary element column and are arranged on adjacent sides of the 4×5 array formed by the pixels 110, so that the pixels 110 and the auxiliary elements 120 together form one 6 x 6 electrode element array. It should be noted that the number of the P auxiliary element rows B1 and the Q auxiliary element columns B2 is related to the area corresponding to the selected element (described in detail later).

In some embodiments, the structure of the auxiliary elements 120 can be the same or similar to the pixels 110. In other words, the auxiliary element 120 may also include elements or circuits that are the same as or similar to the picture element 110, such as switches, electrodes, arithmetic units, and the like. Accordingly, the (M+P)×(N+Q) electrode element array formed by the image capturing element 110 and the auxiliary element 120 can be formed on the semiconductor substrate by the same integrated circuit process, and the pixel is taken. 110 and auxiliary element 120 will have the same or similar structure or circuit architecture.

In practice, if the pixel 110 and the auxiliary element 120 have the same structure and circuit structure, one (M+P)×(N) having the same architecture may be adopted according to the scanning order or the scanning direction of the pixel array. +Q) The electrode element array divides an array of M x N electrode elements as an array of taken pixels, and the remaining electrode elements serve as auxiliary elements 120. For example, but not limited to, as shown in FIG. 1, the taken element 110a on the upper left side is the selected element at the first time point and is divided into the upper left side in the (M+P)×(N+Q) electrode element array. The array of M×N electrode elements is used as an array of taken pixels; or, as shown in FIG. 4, the taken element 110a on the upper right side is the selected element at the first time point and is at (M+P)×(N+ Q) An array of M×N electrode elements on the upper right side is divided into an array of pixel elements in the array of electrode elements.

The processing circuits 130 can receive at least one of the pixels 110 according to different electrical designs, receive the sensing signals of the corresponding pixels 110, and process the sensing signals. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the processing circuit 130 can be disposed outside each of the pixel rows A1 and electrically connected to the pixel row A1 of each row according to the circuit design, that is, Each of the taken pixels 110 in each of the taken pixel rows A1 shares the same processing circuit 130. FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a fingerprint sensing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , each processing circuit 130 is disposed in each of the image capturing elements 110 and electrically connected to the top electrode 111 of each of the image capturing elements 110 .

In practice, the processing circuit 130 can be an operational amplifier circuit, and the sensing signal can be transmitted to the first input end of the processing circuit 130 according to different electrical designs, and the second input end (not shown) of the processing circuit 130 can be coupled. The reference voltage source is connected, and the processing circuit 130 can output a processing signal to the back-end processing circuit (not shown) through the output terminal (not shown), so that the sensing capacitance value can be known. It should be noted that the first input end may be an inverting input end, and the second input end may be a non-inverting input end, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the back-end processing circuit may include, but is not limited to, a RAM buffer, an integrator, a differential circuit, an analog to digital converter (ADC), and the like.

The control module 140 selects one of the pixels 110 as a selected element in a sequential scanning manner; and the control module 140 is a region N1 corresponding to the P+1 row and the Q+1 column around the selected element. The inner electrodes are electrically connected; and all the electrodes of the control region N1 (the top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121) are used to receive the sensing signals from the fingers. Specifically, the region N1 corresponding to the selected element as a whole can be regarded as a sensing electrode. It should be noted that the area N1 includes selected elements and [(P+1)×(Q+1)-1] picture pixels 110 or auxiliary elements 120, and the area N1 may be, but is not limited to, presentation (P+ 1) A rectangular array of × (Q + 1).

In practice, the control module 140 can select a selected element through a custom or preset scan sequence. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 , for example, the control module 140 may first select one pixel from the pixels 110 a to 110 e of the first image capture column A 2 as the selected element and The different selected elements are electrically connected one by one to the electrodes in the area N1 around the selected element, and then the taken pixels 110f to 110j of the second image taking column A2 are sequentially selected one by one as the selected element and The different selected elements are electrically connected one by one to the electrodes in the region N1 around the selected element. And so on, until the taken pixels 110u to 110y of the last taken image column A2 are selected one by one. It should be noted that, between two adjacent scanning time points, the selected element of the current time point is the side of the selected element at the previous time point (for example, but not limited to, left and right sides, upper and lower sides, or Select at least one electrode by tilting up and down the sides.

Then, after the control module 140 sequentially scans each of the taken pixel row A1 or the taken pixel column A2 to select the selected element, the control module 140 compares the P+1 row and the Q+ around the selected element. The electrodes in a region N1 of one column are electrically connected to each other. The area N1 constituting the current time point is the same as the number of electrodes constituting the area N1 at the previous time point, and the area N1 of the previous time point is moved toward the side by one electrode corresponding to the movement of the selected element. Each of the electrodes (the top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121) in the region N1 can generate a sensing capacitance with the finger, and accordingly, the region N1 formed by scanning each selected element can be regarded as a sensing electrode as a whole. The control module 140 receives the sensing signal of the finger through the region N1 corresponding to the selected element for each scan to perform sensing, thereby obtaining a fingerprint image of the finger.

It should be noted that the number of electrodes in the region N1 is related to the number of auxiliary element rows B1 and auxiliary element columns B2. In particular, since the region N1 exhibits an array of (P+1)×(Q+1), a total number of [(P+1)×(Q+1) is required in addition to the top electrode 110 of one selected element. -1] electrodes to maintain the number of electrodes in the region N1. In detail, when the control module 140 sequentially selects the taken pixel 110 (such as but not limited to the last taken pixel 110) located at the end point of a certain image capturing line A1 or the image capturing column A2 as the selected element. The number of top electrodes 111 of the taken pixels 110 around the selected element will not be sufficient to constitute the area N1 for sensing. Therefore, the auxiliary elements 120 are disposed on adjacent sides of the taken pixel array, and the auxiliary elements 120 can be used to compensate for the number of the pixels 120 of the image taking array edge so that the number of electrodes in the area N1 of each scanning can be consistent. To maintain the area of the sensing electrode for each scan. Therefore, the auxiliary element 120 is not taken as an image capturing point of the fingerprint image, but is only used to complement the number of electrodes in the area N1 to maintain the area of the area N1 constituting the sensing electrode. When the finger touches (or touches) the (M+P)×(N+Q) electrode element array formed by the pixel 110 and the auxiliary element 120, the sensed signal sensed in each area N1 is only The sensing signal transmitted by the pixel 110 is transmitted to the corresponding sensing signal, which is processed as a fingerprint image, and the auxiliary electrode BE of the auxiliary element 120 is used to maintain the region N1. Sensing area. It should be particularly noted that the present invention does not limit the total number of electrodes in the region N1 and the size and shape of the array presented.

Depending on the area of the region N1 and the position of the selected element, the electrode corresponding to the region N1 around the selected element may include only the top electrode 111 or may include the top electrode 111 and the auxiliary electrode 121. For example, in an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, if the area N1 is a 2×2 array, one auxiliary element row A1 and one auxiliary element column A2 are required to be in the pixel array. Adjacent sides. Accordingly, if the control module 140 sequentially selects the taken pixel 110y as the selected element, the region N1y includes the taken pixel 110y and the auxiliary elements 120e, 120j, and 120k. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, if the area N1 is a 3×2 array, two auxiliary element rows A1 and one auxiliary element column A2 are disposed in the adjacent two rows of the pixel array. side. Accordingly, if the control module 140 is sequentially selected to the taken pixel 110c as the selected element, the region N1c includes the taken pixels 110c, 110d, 110g, 110h and the auxiliary elements 120a, 120b. If the control module 140 is sequentially selected to the taken pixel 110t as the selected element, the region N1t includes the taken pixel 110t and the auxiliary elements 120i, 120j, 120n, 120o, 120p.

The control module 140 can electrically connect the electrodes in the region N1 through different electrical designs according to the manner in which the processing circuit 130 is disposed. In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 1, the control module 140 includes a timing controller 141, M+P first timing control lines T1, and at least N+Q second timing control lines T2, and a plurality of switch circuits SW1. ~SW4 is electrically connected to the taken pixels 110 and the auxiliary elements 120. The processing circuit 130 can be disposed outside each of the pixel rows A1, and the first timing control lines T1 are electrically connected to the processing circuits 130 corresponding to the respective pixel rows A1. Specifically, the timing controller 141 can control the P+1 first timing control lines T1 around the corresponding selected elements through the partial switching circuit SW1, and the first timing control lines T1 can control the plurality of switching circuits. The conduction of the SW4 is electrically connected to all the top electrodes 111 of the P+1 pixel row A1 or the auxiliary element row B1 or the auxiliary electrodes 121 of all the auxiliary elements 120; meanwhile, the timing controller 141 can transmit the partial switches. The circuit SW2 controls the Q+1 second timing control lines T2 corresponding to the selected elements, and the second timing control lines T2 can control the conduction of the plurality of switching circuits SW3 with the Q+1 pixel column A2 or The top electrodes 111 of all the pixels 110 in the auxiliary element column B2 or the auxiliary electrodes 121 of all the auxiliary elements 120 are electrically connected. Accordingly, the electrodes in the region N1 corresponding to the P+1 row and the Q+1 column around the selected element can be electrically connected to each other.

In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 5, the control module 140 includes a plurality of switch circuits SW5, SW6. The switching circuits SW5 and SW6 are disposed between the respective pixels 110 and the auxiliary elements 120, and the processing circuits 130 are disposed in the respective pixels 110 and electrically connected to the top electrodes 111 of the respective pixels 110. connection. Accordingly, the control module 140 can be turned on to control the top electrodes 111 of the pixels 120 in the region N1 of the P+1 row and the Q+1 column corresponding to the selected element by controlling the switch circuits SW5, SW6 around the corresponding selected element. Or the auxiliary electrodes 121 of the auxiliary elements 120 can be electrically connected to each other, so that the electrodes in the region N1 of the P+1 row and the Q+1 column around the selected element can be electrically connected to each other. It should be noted that, in FIG. 5, the control module may further include a timing controller (not shown) to control the turn-on sequence or time of the switch circuits SW5 and SW6. The present invention does not set the switch circuits SW5 and SW6. The position and the order of conduction are limited.

The control module 140 can guide the sensing signals received by the area N1 to the corresponding processing circuit 130 according to different electrical designs. Figure 6 is a timing diagram of the operation corresponding to an embodiment of Figure 2. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 , in an embodiment, the control module 140 includes a timing controller 141 , a plurality of first timing control lines T1 , and a plurality of second timing control lines T2 and multiple The switch circuits SW1 SW SW4 are electrically connected to the pixels 110 and the auxiliary elements 120. The processing circuit 130 can be disposed outside each of the pixel rows A1 and electrically connected to the corresponding pixel row A1 through the corresponding first timing control line T1. At a time point, when the control module 140 selects the image element 110a as the selected element, the control module 140 turns on the second timing control lines T21 and T22 through the switch circuits SW21 and SW22, so that the second timing control lines T21 and T22 The switching circuit SW3 of the conducting portion is electrically connected to the top electrode of the pixel unit 110a-110j in the corresponding pixel row A2 and the auxiliary electrode 121 of the auxiliary element 120a, 120b; and the control module 140 transmits the switching circuit SW11. The SW12 turns on the first timing control lines T11 and T12, so that the first timing control lines T11 and T12 pass through the switching circuit SW4 of the conduction portion and the corresponding pixels 110a, 110b, 110f in the corresponding pixel row A1. The top electrode 111 of 110g, 110k, 110l, 110p, 110q, 110u, 110v and the auxiliary electrode 121 of the auxiliary elements 120f, 120g are electrically connected. Accordingly, the pixels 110a, 110b, 110f, and 110g can form the region N1a, and the top electrodes 111 in the region N1a are electrically connected to each other to form a combined sensing electrode. That is, the electrodes in the 2×2 region N1a corresponding to the selected element 110a can be electrically connected to each other to receive the sensing signal of the finger.

At this point, the control module 140 can control the top electrode 111 of the pixels 110a, 110b, 110f, 110g within the region N1a to receive the sensing signal from the finger. Next, the control module 140 controls the switches I1, J1, K1, and I2 of the processing circuit 131 to be turned on to transmit the sensing signals received by the region N1a to the corresponding image via the image capturing element 110a and the first timing control line T11. The processing circuit 131 of the element 110a, so that the processing circuit 131 will convert the corresponding fingerprint image.

At the next time, when the control module 140 selects the pixel 110b as the selected element, the control module 140 still maintains the switch circuit SW21, SW22 to continue to turn on the second timing control lines T21, T22, and the control module 140 transmits The switch circuits SW12 and SW13 turn on the first timing control lines T12 and T13, so that the first timing control lines T12 and T13 pass through the switching circuit SW4 of the conduction portion to correspond to the pixels 110b and 110c in the corresponding pixel row A1. The top electrode 111 of 110g, 110h, 110l, 110m, 110q, 110r, 110v, 110w and the auxiliary electrode 121 of the auxiliary elements 120g, 120h are electrically connected. Accordingly, the pixels 110b, 110c, 110g, and 110h are the regions N1a, and the top electrodes 111 in the region N1a are electrically connected to each other to form a combined sensing electrode. That is, the electrodes in the 2×2 region N1b corresponding to the selected element 110a can be electrically connected to each other to receive the sensing signal of the finger.

At this point, the control module 140 can control the top electrode 111 of the taken pixels 110b, 110c, 110g, 110h within the area N1b to receive the sensing signal from the finger. Next, the control module 140 controls the switches I2, J2, K2, and I3 of the processing circuit 131 to be turned on to transmit the sensing signals received by the region N1a to the corresponding image via the image capturing element 110b and the first timing control line T12. Processing circuit 132 of element 110a, such that processing circuit 131 will convert the corresponding fingerprint image.

Accordingly, the control module 140 maintains the second timing control lines T21 and T22, and sequentially turns on the switch circuits SW11~SW16 to open different first timing control lines T1, so that the control module 140 can follow the scanning method. The selected selected elements are sequentially transmitted from the pixels 110a to the pixels 110e and correspondingly the sensing signals received by the regions N1a to N1e are sequentially transmitted to the processing circuits 131-136 via different first timing control lines T1. .

In this order, the line break is continued. When the control module 140 sequentially selects the image element 110f to the image element 110j as the selected element according to the scanning method, the control module 140 can maintain the second timing control lines T22 and T21, and The sequence-on switch circuits SW11-SW16 are correspondingly turned on to open different first timing control lines T1. Accordingly, the control module 140 can correspondingly transmit the sensing signals received by the regions N1f to N1j to the processing circuits 131-136 via different first timing control lines T1.

By analogy, at the last time point, the control module 140 can select the pixel 110y as the selected element, and the top electrode 111 of the pixel 110y and the auxiliary electrode 121 of the auxiliary elements 120e, 120j, 120k in the region N1y. They are electrically connected to each other to form a combined sensing electrode to receive the sensing signal of the finger. At this point, the control module 140 can control the image capturing unit 110 and the auxiliary unit 120 within the area N1y to receive the sensing signal from the finger. Next, the control module 140 controls the switches I5, J5, K5, and I6 of the processing circuit 131 to be turned on to transmit the sensing signals received by the region N1y to the corresponding image via the image capturing unit 110y and the first timing control line T15. Processing circuit 136 of element 110y.

In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 5 and referring to FIG. 2, the control module 140 includes a plurality of switch circuits SW5 and SW6 disposed between the respective image capturing elements 110 and the auxiliary elements 120, and each processing circuit 130 The image is disposed in each of the pixels 110 and electrically connected to the top electrode 111 of each of the pixels 110. At a point in time, when the control module 140 selects the image element 110a as the selected element, the control module (not shown) transmits the switch elements SW5a, SW5b, SW6a, and SW6b to turn on the pixels 110a, 110b, and 110f. 110g of the top electrodes 111 are electrically connected to each other, and accordingly, the pixels 110a, 110b, 110f, and 110g are the regions N1a. Similarly, at this point, the control module 140 can control the top electrode 111 of the taken pixels 110a, 110b, 110f, 110g within the area N1a to receive the sensing signal from the finger. Next, the control module 140 transmits the sensing signal received by the region N1a to the processing circuit 131 corresponding to the image capturing unit 110a via the top electrode 111 of the image capturing unit 110a, so that the processing circuit 131 converts the corresponding fingerprint image.

At the next time, when the control module 140 selects the pixel 110b as the selected element, the control module transmits the top electrodes of the pixels 110b, 110c, 110g, 110h through the conduction switch circuits SW5b, SW5c, SW6b, and SW6c. 111 is electrically connected to each other, and accordingly, the pixels 110b, 110c, 110g, and 110h are the regions N1b. Similarly, at this point, the control module 140 can control the top electrode 111 of the pixels 110b, 110c, 110g, 110h within the region N1b to receive the sensing signal from the finger. Next, the control module 140 transmits the sensing signal received by the region N1b to the processing circuit 132 corresponding to the pixel 110b via the top electrode 111 of the pixel 110b, so that the processing circuit 132 will convert the corresponding fingerprint image. And so on, and continue to wrap to sense to the last taken pixel (as shown in Figure 2 is taken pixel 110y). It should be noted that, in FIG. 5, the control module 140 can also maintain the conduction switch circuits SW5a~SW5j through the timing controller (not shown), and then turn on the SW6a~SW6f in sequence, and then continue to wrap in this order. . The embodiment of the invention does not limit the conduction sequence of the switching circuit.

In some embodiments, before the control module 140 controls the region N1 to receive the sensing signal from the finger, the control module 140 can further control the at least one top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121 to send a driving signal to the finger. In other words, the control module 140 can control the at least one top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121 to send a driving signal to the finger, and the electrode in the control region N1 receives the sensing signal from the finger, wherein the sensing signal is formed according to the driving signal. .

Specifically, in an embodiment, when the control module 140 selects a taken pixel as the selected element and electrically connects the electrode in the area N1 corresponding to the selected element, the control module 140 can control at least one of the areas other than the area N1. The electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121 is a driving electrode to emit a driving signal to the finger and the electrode within the control region N1 receives the sensing signal from the finger.

In another embodiment, when the control module 140 selects a taken pixel as the selected element and electrically connects the electrode in the region N1 corresponding to the selected element, the control module 140 can control at least one electrode or all of the area N1. The electrode serves as a driving electrode to emit a driving signal and the electrode within the control region N1 receives the sensing signal from the finger.

In still another embodiment, when the control module 140 selects a taken pixel as the selected element and electrically connects the electrode in the region N1 corresponding to the selected element, the control module 140 can control the top electrode 111 of all the taken pixels 110 and The auxiliary electrodes 121 of all the auxiliary elements 120 serve as driving electrodes to emit driving signals and the electrodes within the control area N1 receive sensing signals from the fingers.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a fingerprint identification method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, a fingerprint identification method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a fingerprint sensing apparatus 100, and includes sequentially scanning a plurality of image capturing elements to select one of the image capturing elements 110 as a selected element (step S1). And electrically connecting each electrode in the region N1 corresponding to the selected element to receive the sensing signal (step S2).

In step S1, the control module 140 can sequentially scan each of the taken pixel row A1 or the taken pixel column A2 through a custom or preset scanning sequence to select one of the image capturing elements 110 as a selected element. . For example, the control module 140 may further include a driving unit (not shown) and a plurality of scan lines (not shown), and the driving unit sequentially drives the scan lines to select one of the arrays of the pixels 110. One takes a picture element 110. It should be noted that, between two adjacent scanning time points, the selected element of the current time point is selected by moving at least one electrode to the side of the selected element at the previous time.

In step S2, the control module 140 electrically connects the electrodes in the region N1 of the P+1 row and the Q+1 column corresponding to the selected element to each other to receive the sensing signal. In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 6 and referring to FIG. 1, the control module 140 includes a timing controller 141, M+P first timing control lines T1, and at least N+Q second timing control lines T2. The plurality of switch circuits SW1 SW SW4 are electrically connected to the pixels 16 and the auxiliary elements 120 . The amplification processing circuit 130 can be disposed outside each of the image capturing lines A1, and the first timing control lines T1 are electrically connected to the respective amplification processing circuits 130 corresponding to the respective pixel rows A1. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of step S2, step 2 may be performed in some embodiments of step S2, because the control module 140 is configured to electrically connect the electrodes in the region N1 through different electrical configurations according to the manner in which the amplification processing circuit 130 is disposed. Step S21a and step S21b are included. In step S21a, the timing controller 141 can control the P+1 first timing control lines T1 around the corresponding selected elements through the partial switch circuit SW1 to make P+1 first timing controls around the selected elements. The line T1 is electrically connected to the top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121 of the auxiliary element 120. In step S21b, the timing controller 141 can control the Q+1 second timing control lines T2 around the corresponding selected elements through the partial switch circuit SW2, so that the Q+1 second timing controls around the corresponding selected elements The line T2 is electrically connected to the top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121. Accordingly, the electrodes in the region N1 corresponding to the P+1 row and the Q+1 column around the selected element can be electrically connected to each other to receive the sensing signal.

In addition, in some embodiments, the fingerprint identification method further includes guiding the sensing signal received by the area N1 to the corresponding processing circuit 130 (step S4). Since the control module 1400 transmits the sensing signals received by the area N1 to the corresponding processing circuit 130 through different electrical designs according to the setting manner of the processing circuit 130, in some embodiments of step S4, Step 4 may be step S41. Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 1 , the control module 140 controls the selected element to transmit the sensing signal received by the area N1 to the corresponding pixel line A1 corresponding to the selected element through the corresponding first timing control line T1. The processing circuit (step S41), so that the processing circuit 131 will convert the corresponding fingerprint image.

In addition, in other embodiments, before the electrodes in the control region 140 of the control module 140 are electrically connected to each other to receive the sensing signals from the fingers (step S2), the fingerprint identification method may further include the control module 140 controlling at least The top electrode 111 of the pixel 110 or the auxiliary electrode 121 of the auxiliary element 120 outputs a driving signal to the finger (step S3). It should be noted that the control module 140 can control different electrodes to send driving signals. For example, the control module 140 can control at least one top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121 other than the region N1 as a driving electrode (step S31), or at least one electrode or all electrodes within the control region N1 as a driving electrode. Alternatively, the top electrode 111 of all the pixels 110 and the auxiliary electrodes 121 of all the auxiliary elements 120 are controlled as driving electrodes.

In these embodiments, step 3 (may be but not limited to step 31, step 32 or step 33) may be performed before step S211 and step S212, that is, the control module 140 may first control at least the area other than the area N1. A top electrode 111 or an auxiliary electrode 121 sends a driving signal to the finger, and then all the electrodes of the control region N1 (the top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121) receive the sensing signal from the finger. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart of a fingerprint identification method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Step S1 is substantially the same as described above, and therefore, the description will be started from step S2. Please refer to Figure 8.

In step S2, the control module 140 electrically connects the electrodes in the region N1 corresponding to the P+1 row and the Q+1 column around the selected element to each other. In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 8 and referring to FIG. 4, the control module 140 includes a plurality of switch circuits SW5, SW6. The switching circuits SW5 and SW6 are disposed between the respective pixels 110 and the auxiliary elements 120, and the processing circuits 130 are disposed in the respective pixels 110 and electrically connected to the top electrodes 111 of the respective pixels 110. connection. It should be noted that, since the control module 140 electrically connects the electrodes in the area N1 through the electrical connection according to the arrangement of the processing circuit 130, the step S2 may include the step S22. In step S22, the control module 140 transmits the electrodes in the region N1 around the corresponding selected element through the switch circuits SW5 and SW6 of the conductive portion to receive a sensing signal.

In addition, in some embodiments, the fingerprint identification method further includes guiding the sensing signal received by the area N1 to the corresponding processing circuit 130 (step S4). Here, in some embodiments of step S4, step 4 may be step S42. Referring to FIG. 8 and referring to FIG. 5, the control module 140 controls the selected element to transmit the sensing signal received by the area N1 to the processing circuit 130 corresponding to the selected element via the top electrode 111 of the selected element (step S42), thereby processing Circuit 131 will convert the corresponding fingerprint image.

Similarly, in other embodiments, before the electrodes in the control region 140 of the control module 140 are electrically connected to each other to receive the sensing signals from the fingers (step S2), the fingerprint identification method may further include the control module 140. At least one of the top electrode 111 of the pixel 110 or the auxiliary electrode 121 of the auxiliary element 120 outputs a driving signal to the finger (step S3). In these embodiments, step 3 (may be but not limited to step 31, step 32 or step 33) may be performed before step S211 and step S212, that is, the control module 140 may first control at least the area other than the area N1. A top electrode 111 or an auxiliary electrode 121 sends a driving signal to the finger, and then all the electrodes of the control region N1 (the top electrode 111 or the auxiliary electrode 121) receive the sensing signal from the finger. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

In summary, the embodiment of the present invention provides a fingerprint sensing module and a fingerprint identification method thereof. The control module selects a selected element from the selected pixels in a sequential scanning manner, and then selects a selected element. The electrodes in an area are electrically connected, and the entire area can serve as a sensing electrode. Then, the control module can control at least one top electrode or the auxiliary electrode to send a driving signal to the finger as a driving electrode, and all the electrodes of the control area are used to receive the sensing signal from the finger. Compared with the prior art, the fingerprint sensing module of the embodiment of the present invention uses a plurality of electrodes in the transmission region as a sensing electrode, thereby increasing the sensing area and increasing the sensing sensitivity. Moreover, at least one electrode outside the transmission region is used as a driving electrode to emit a driving signal.

Furthermore, the number of electrodes in the area is related to the number of auxiliary element rows and auxiliary element columns. The region includes a selected element and a total of [(P+1)×(Q+1)-1] fetching pixels 110 or auxiliary elements 120, so the region N1 can be, but is not limited to, rendered (P+1)× A rectangular array of (Q+1).

The fingerprint sensing module of the embodiment of the present invention can maintain the number of electrodes in the region N1 each time the electrodes around the selected element are electrically connected by providing auxiliary elements on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels. It should be noted that the number of electrodes in the area is related to the number of auxiliary element rows and auxiliary element columns. If the region includes a selected element and the total number is [(P+1)×(Q+1)-1] pixels or auxiliary elements to present an array of (P+1)×(Q+1), then P auxiliary line and Q auxiliary elements are arranged on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels.

Although the technical content of the present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any modifications and refinements made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention are encompassed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is therefore defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Fingerprint sensing device

110, 110a~110y‧‧‧ take the picture element

111‧‧‧ top electrode

120, 120a~120p‧‧‧ auxiliary element

121‧‧‧Auxiliary electrode

130, 131~136‧‧‧ processing circuit

140‧‧‧Control Module

141‧‧‧Timing controller

A1‧‧‧ takes the image line

A2‧‧‧ takes the pixel column

B1‧‧‧Auxiliary Yuanxing

B2‧‧‧Auxiliary Column

N1, N1a~N1y‧‧‧ area

I1~I6, J1~J6, K1~K6‧‧‧ switch

SW1~SW6, SW11~SW16, SW21, SW22, SW3, SW4, SW5a~SW5j, SW6a~SW6f‧‧‧ switch circuit

Steps S1, S2, S211, S212, S21a, S21b, SW22, S3, S4, S41, S42‧‧

T1, T11~T15‧‧‧ first timing control line

T2, T21, T22‧‧‧ second timing control line

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a fingerprint sensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a top plan view showing a configuration structure corresponding to the image pickup unit and the auxiliary unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing a configuration structure of a picture element and an auxiliary element according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing a configuration structure of a picture element and an auxiliary element according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a fingerprint sensing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a timing diagram of the operation corresponding to an embodiment of Figure 2. FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a fingerprint identification method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart of a fingerprint identification method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (17)

A fingerprint sensing device, comprising: a plurality of pixels, arranged in an M×N array, and having M pixel rows and N pixel columns, each of the pixels comprising a top electrode; Auxiliary elements are located on adjacent sides of the array of taken pixels, and have P auxiliary element rows and Q auxiliary element columns, each of the auxiliary elements including an auxiliary electrode; a plurality of processing circuits, each of the processing The circuit system corresponds to at least one of the captured pixels; and a control module selects one of the captured pixels as a selected element in a sequential scanning manner, and the control module selects a P+1 corresponding to the selected element. The electrodes are electrically connected to the electrodes of a region of the Q+1 column to receive a sensing signal, and the control module directs the received sensing signal to the processing circuit corresponding to the selected element. The fingerprint sensing device of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises M+P first timing control lines and N+Q second timing control lines, and the first timing control lines are sequentially The second timing control lines are electrically connected to the captured pixel columns and the auxiliary element columns in order to correspond to the selected elements. The P+1 rows are electrically connected to the electrodes of a region of the Q+1 column. The fingerprint sensing device of claim 2, wherein the processing circuits are respectively electrically connected to the first of the image capturing pixels to the Mth pixel row through the first timing control lines, The selected element transmits the sensing signal to the processing circuit corresponding to the taken pixel row of the selected element through the corresponding first timing control line. The fingerprint sensing device of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises a plurality of switch circuits, wherein the switch circuits are electrically connected to each of the image capture elements and the auxiliary elements to respectively correspond to the P+ of the selected element. One row is electrically connected to the electrodes of a region of the Q+1 column. The fingerprint sensing device of claim 4, wherein the processing circuits are electrically connected to each of the pixels, and the selected element transmits the sensing signal to the corresponding element through the corresponding processing circuit. The processing circuit. The fingerprint sensing device of claim 1, wherein the control module controls at least one of the electrodes that are not electrically connected to emit a driving signal. The fingerprint sensing device of claim 1, wherein the control module controls at least one of the electrodes of the region corresponding to the P+1 row and the Q+1 column of the selected cell to emit a driving signal. The fingerprint sensing device of claim 1, wherein the control module controls all of the pixels and all of the auxiliary elements to emit a driving signal. A fingerprint identification method, applicable to a fingerprint sensing device, comprising: sequentially scanning a plurality of image capturing elements to select one of the image capturing elements as a selected element; and electrically connecting each of a region corresponding to the selected element The electrode receives a sensing signal. The fingerprint identification method of claim 9, wherein the step of electrically connecting the region corresponding to the selected element comprises: sequentially connecting the plurality of first timing control lines to the plurality of pixel rows and the plurality of first timing control lines And a plurality of second timing control lines are sequentially electrically connected to the array of taken pixels and the auxiliary element columns to electrically connect the electrodes corresponding to the region of the selected element. The fingerprint identification method of claim 10, the fingerprint identification method further comprising: transmitting, by the selected element, the sensing signal to the corresponding pixel row corresponding to the selected element through the corresponding first timing control line The processing circuit. The fingerprint identification method of claim 9, wherein the step of electrically connecting the region corresponding to the selected element comprises: sequentially connecting the captured pixels and the auxiliary elements through a plurality of switching circuits. The fingerprint identification method of claim 12, the fingerprint identification method further comprising: transmitting the sensing signal to the processing circuit corresponding to the selected element through the corresponding processing circuit. The fingerprint identification method of claim 9, wherein the fingerprint sensing device further comprises a plurality of processing circuits, and the processing circuits are electrically connected to the respective pixels. The fingerprint identification method further comprises: corresponding to the selection The arithmetic unit of the element receives and processes the sensing signal. The fingerprint identification method of claim 9, further comprising: controlling at least one of the electrodes that are not electrically connected to send a driving signal. The fingerprint identification method of claim 9, further comprising: controlling at least one of the electrodes corresponding to a region of the P+1 row and the Q+1 column of the selected element to emit a driving signal. The fingerprint identification method of claim 9, further comprising: controlling all the pixels and all the auxiliary elements to send a driving signal.