Patent Description:
In recent years, with the rapid development of semiconductors, MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems), touch screens, and other technologies, consumer electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet computers have become indispensable items in consumers' daily lives. In order to provide consumers with better display effects, the display screens of consumer electronic devices are gradually improved as full screens.

The full-screen design of consumer electronic devices indicates a high screen-to-body ratio and a narrow bezel design of four sides. This requires that the fingerprint identification module used for unlocking or payment functions can only be disposed on the rear face or the side of the electronic device. However, since it is difficult to dispose the fingerprint identification module located on the side or the rear face in an area suitable for the hand to touch when holding the electronic device, the utilization rate of such fingerprint identification module is not high, and it is not favored by consumers.

In addition, for the new OLED touch screen, due to self-luminous characteristics thereof, optical fingerprint identification may be realized in the display module or under the display module, and the ultrasonic module may also be disposed under the flexible OLED panel to realize fingerprint sensing. However, due to the characteristics of structure thereof and performance, it is difficult for the LCD touch screen that is in line with the mainstream market to realize the identification function of the fingerprint identification module in the display module or under the display module.

D1 (<CIT>) discloses a terminal device. The terminal device includes a display module, an optical fingerprint sensor, at least two backlight assemblies, and a light emitter. The display module includes a display screen and a light-transmissive cover that covers the display screen. The light emitter and the display screen are both fastened onto an inner surface of the light-transmissive cover, the optical fingerprint sensor is provided on a side of the display screen facing away from the light-transmissive cover, and the at least two backlight assemblies are provided sequentially between the display screen and the optical fingerprint sensor. Along a direction from the display screen to the optical fingerprint sensor, areas of light-transmissive regions of the at least two backlight assemblies are gradually reduced. Light emitted by the light emitter experiences a finger, and then successively passes through the display module and the light-transmissive regions and is projected onto the optical fingerprint sensor.

D2 (<CIT>) discloses an under-screen fingerprint identification apparatus. The under-screen fingerprint identification apparatus includes: a micro-lens array, configured to be disposed under the backlight module of the liquid crystal display screen; at least one light shielding layer, disposed under the micro-lens array, where the light shielding layer is provided with a plurality of light transmission holes; a photo detecting array, disposed under the light shielding layer; where the micro-lens array is configured to converge an optical signal with a specific direction passing through the backlight module to a plurality of light transmission holes, and transmit an optical signal with a non-specific direction passing through the backlight module to a light shielding region of the light shielding layer, where the optical signal with the specific direction is transmitted to the photo detecting array through the plurality of light transmission holes.

D3 (<CIT>) discloses an under-screen optical fingerprint identification device and system, a diffusion film and a liquid crystal display screen. The diffusion film passing through a backlight module includes a light transmissive substrate layer and an infrared transmissive film layer arranged on at least one side of the substrate layer. The infrared transmissive film layer is used for scattering visible light and transmitting infrared light, in this way, visible light emitted by the backlight module is scattered outward through the diffusion film. Infrared fingerprint detection light formed by fingers above the liquid crystal display screen is transmitted to the under-screen optical fingerprint identification device below the liquid crystal display screen through the diffusion film.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved electronic device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device, which is defined in claim <NUM>.

Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary only, and are not restrictive of the present invention.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the relative arrangement of components and steps, numeric expressions, and numeric values described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified.

The following description of at least one example of the embodiments is merely illustrative in fact, and by no means serves as any limitation to the present invention and application or use thereof.

The technology, method, and device known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant fields may not be discussed in detail, but if appropriate, the technology, method, and device should be regarded as part of the specification.

In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be construed as illustrative only and not as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of the embodiments may have different values.

It should be noted that similar numerals and letters refer to similar items in the following accompanying drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in a figure, further discussion is not required for the item in subsequent figures.

The present invention provides an electronic device, as shown in <FIG>, the electronic device includes a device body <NUM>, a display module <NUM>, a backlight module, and a fingerprint identification assembly. The fingerprint identification assembly is disposed below the display module <NUM> for realizing fingerprint identification by placing a finger on the display module, which is convenient for detection. The present invention does not limit the specific form of the electronic device, which may be a smart electronic device using the display module and the touch screen, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a computer.

As shown in <FIG>, the display module <NUM> is disposed on the device body <NUM>, and is located on the surface of the device body <NUM>. The display module <NUM> may be made of a plurality of layers of light-transmitting materials for display effects, which is not limited in the present invention.

The backlight module includes a bearing frame <NUM> and a light guide assembly, and the backlight module is used to project light to the display module <NUM>, so that a predetermined picture is displayed on the display module <NUM>. The backlight module may adopt the liquid crystal display technology, and the display module <NUM> adopts the touch screen technology, so that the backlight module and the display module <NUM> may be combined to form a liquid crystal touch screen.

As shown in <FIG>, the backlight module includes a bearing frame <NUM> and a light guide assembly. The bearing frame <NUM> is fixedly disposed in the device body <NUM> for bearing other components of the backlight module in the electronic device. The light guide assembly is disposed on the bearing assembly. The light guide assembly is used to guide the light generated by the light source in the backlight module to the display module <NUM>. A first gap <NUM> is formed between the light guide assembly and the display module <NUM>. The light guide assembly and the display module <NUM> may be distributed in a substantially parallel manner, and the first gap <NUM> is formed in a thickness direction of the electronic device. Intervened by the light guide assembly therein, the light generated by the backlight module passes through the first gap <NUM> and is irradiated on the display module <NUM> for imaging.

As shown in <FIG>, the fingerprint identification assembly includes a transmitter <NUM> and a receiver <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> is disposed at the first gap <NUM> between the display module <NUM> and the light guide assembly. The transmitter <NUM> is configured to be capable of irradiating infrared rays from an inner side of the display module <NUM> to the display module <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> is disposed on a side of the bearing frame <NUM> away from the light guide assembly. At least one first through hole <NUM> is formed on the bearing frame <NUM>. The position of the receiver <NUM> is corresponding to the position of the first through hole <NUM>, so that the light reflected from the display module <NUM> back to the light guide assembly may pass through the first through hole <NUM> to irradiate on the receiver <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an optical path of infrared rays in the practical application of the present invention. The display module <NUM> may be marked with a fingerprint identification area <NUM>, or the fingerprint identification area <NUM> is displayed on the display module <NUM> through the backlight module, which is not limited in the present invention. The transmitter <NUM> emits infrared rays to the display module <NUM>, and the infrared rays cover the fingerprint identification area <NUM> described above. The user of the electronic device places a finger on the fingerprint identification area, the infrared rays irradiated on the fingerprint identification area may be irradiated on the finger, and then the infrared rays are reflected downward into the display module <NUM>. Further, the infrared rays may pass through the display module <NUM> and the light guide assembly. The infrared rays reflected by the finger carry fingerprint information, and a part of the infrared rays can pass through the first through hole <NUM> after being reflected, and then be received by the receiver <NUM>.

The receiver may analyze the received infrared rays, or send signals generated by the infrared rays to a processing unit for analysis, so that the electronic device may obtain the fingerprint information carried by the infrared rays, thereby realizing fingerprint identification.

The technical solution provided in the present invention can realize fingerprint identification on the display screen of the electronic device, making it more convenient to apply fingerprint identification. In particular, the technical solution is applicable to an electronic device using a liquid crystal touch screen. The transmitter <NUM> is disposed in the first gap <NUM>, and the infrared rays emitted by the transmitter <NUM> may not be interfered and affected by the backlight module, and therefore, the reliability is higher. The receiver <NUM> for receiving and analyzing infrared rays occupies a large space and is difficult to be disposed in the first gap <NUM>. In the present invention, the receiver <NUM> is disposed on a side of the backlight module away from the display module <NUM>, namely, disposed inside the device body <NUM>. The bearing frame <NUM> may block the infrared rays. In the present invention, the bearing frame <NUM> is provided with the first through hole <NUM>, so that the infrared rays can be irradiated on the receiver <NUM> located under the bearing frame <NUM> for identifying and analyzing the infrared rays.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the light guide assembly may have a light guide plate <NUM>, and the light guide plate <NUM> may be made of a light guide material such as glasses. Due to the feature of allowing light to pass through, in the backlight module, the light guide plate <NUM> is used to guide the light generated by a display lamp to the display module <NUM>. In practical applications, after surface treatment such as dot treatment, embossing treatment, and the like, the light guide plate <NUM> can better guide the light, process the light generated by the display lamp, and then improve picture effect presented on the display module of the electronic device. Since the light guide plate <NUM> is a part of the light guide assembly, the infrared rays reflected from the surface of the display module through the finger may pass through the light guide plate <NUM>, and then be irradiated on the receiver <NUM> through the first through hole <NUM>. Patterns on the light guide plate <NUM> may interfere with the infrared rays. Optionally, the light guide plate <NUM> may have a flat surface at a position corresponding to the first through hole <NUM>. For example, surface of two sides of the light guide plate <NUM> corresponding to the first through hole <NUM> may be mirror-finished to form a flat mirror structure, which is convenient for infrared rays to pass through directly and reduces the optical phenomena of refraction, reflection, interference, and diffraction, thereby ensuring the authenticity of the information carried by the infrared rays, namely, reducing distortion. Optionally, the surface of the light guide plate corresponding to the first through hole may be processed without the dot treatment and the embossing treatment.

Optionally, the light guide assembly may also have a reflective film <NUM>, and the reflective film <NUM> is used to reflect the light in the backlight module that cannot be transmitted to the display module, so that the light can be irradiated to the display module for imaging. As a component of the light guide assembly, the reflective film <NUM> may reflect the infrared rays based on the characteristics of structure distribution, so that the infrared rays cannot be irradiated on the receiver <NUM>. Optionally, in the implementation shown in <FIG>, the reflective film <NUM> is provided with a second through hole <NUM> at the position corresponding to the first through hole <NUM>, so that the infrared rays can be irradiated on the receiver <NUM> for fingerprint identification. In other implementations, due to different structures and materials of the light guide assemblies, the reflective film may not cover the receiver <NUM> and/or the first through hole <NUM>, and the reflective film may also not reflect the infrared rays. In an optional implementation, the reflective film is provided with the second through hole <NUM>, which can improve the reliability of the fingerprint identification function.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the backlight module may include a circuit board, and the circuit board is used to control and supply power to the side light sources <NUM> of the backlight module. The light guide assembly may also have an optical film layer <NUM>, and the optical film layer <NUM> is used to produce optical effects such as refraction and interference on light for better imaging effects. In the implementation in which the light guide assembly includes the optical film layer <NUM> and the foregoing light guide plate <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the optical film layer <NUM> may be disposed on a side of the light guide plate <NUM> close to the display module <NUM>. A second gap <NUM> is left between the circuit board and the optical film layer <NUM> to prevent the circuit board from interfering with the optical film layer <NUM> or causing structural extrusion and deformation. Optionally, the position of the second gap <NUM> may be corresponding to the position of the first through hole <NUM>, and the infrared rays reflected back into the device body <NUM> passes through the second gap <NUM>, and then passes through the first through hole <NUM>, to be irradiated to the receiver <NUM>. Since the optical film layer can play an optical processing role, and can refract, diffract, and interfere with the light, the optical film layer is likely to interfere with the infrared rays. In the foregoing implementation, it may be avoided that the infrared rays irradiated on the receiver <NUM> is interfered by the optical film layer, and the second gap that needs to be designed between the circuit board and the optical film layer is utilized. This implementation improves space utilization, reduces the distortion rate of the infrared rays, and improves the accuracy and reliability of fingerprint identification.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the circuit board of the backlight module may be directly disposed on the light guide assembly, for example, disposed on the foregoing light guide plate <NUM>. The light guide plate <NUM> may be designed to be of an area that is large enough to carry the circuit board and the optical film layer <NUM>. Then the transmitter <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit board. The circuit board may control the characteristics of the transmitter, such as on and off, irradiation intensity, light type, and the like. The circuit board is used to control the side light source. The transmitter is connected to the circuit board, which may not only save circuits, but also conform to the performance characteristics of the circuit board, and it is not necessary to configure a circuit board separately for the transmitter.

In an implementation of the present invention, the transmitter may be in the form of a specific irradiation angle, and radiate infrared rays toward a direction of the display module. The infrared rays that can be reflected back to the receiver through the surface of the display module and the finger of the user are the infrared rays that actually work. An upward radiating angle of the transmitter may be <NUM>°-<NUM>°. The position of the receiver is staggered from the position of the transmitter, and in this way, the foregoing fingerprint identification area is also staggered from the transmitter. The area of the foregoing fingerprint identification area may be increased by controlling a height of the first gap, so that the user can realize fingerprint identification within a larger area of the display module by touching. Optionally, a distance between the light guide assembly and the display module ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>. Adjusting the height of the first gap within the foregoing range can leave enough space to place the transmitter on the one hand, and leave enough space for general avoidance and assembly for the display module and the backlight module; and on the other hand, the overall thickness of the device body can be controlled as much as possible to avoid the electronic device being too thick, which does not meet the shape requirements.

For the structure of the backlight module, referring to <FIG>, optional structural features are described. The backlight module may further include a circuit board and a side light source <NUM>. The light guide assembly may further have a reflective film <NUM>, a light guide plate <NUM>, and an optical film layer <NUM>. The optical film layer <NUM> is disposed on a side of the light guide plate <NUM> close to the display module <NUM>, the reflective film <NUM> is disposed on a side of the light guide plate <NUM> away from the display module <NUM>, the entire light guide assembly is disposed on the bearing frame <NUM>, and the reflective film <NUM> is in contact with the bearing frame <NUM>. The foregoing optical film layer may include a light-shielding tape, an upper light-enhancing film, a lower light-enhancing film, and a diffusing film in a direction from being close to the display module to being away from the display module. These film layer structures of the optical film layer can be used to perform optical processing on the imaged light to improve the imaging effect. The light guide plate may be used as a main structure of the entire backlight structure, and has an enough distribution area for supporting components such as the circuit board and the optical film layer. Then the bearing frame is used to bear other components such as the light guide plate. The side light source may be disposed on the circuit board which is electrically connected to the side light source. Optionally, the side light source is located at the edge of the light guide plate, so that the light generated by the side light source can enter the light guide plate more efficiently and act as the backlight.

Optionally, the display module <NUM> may be divided into a display area <NUM> and a non-display area <NUM>. The display area <NUM> is used to actually image on the display module <NUM> for the user to view. The non-display area <NUM> carries components such as the backlight module and the transmitter, and the display module <NUM> thereon is not used for actual imaging. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the position of the transmitter <NUM> in the device body is corresponding to the position of the non-display area <NUM>.

Optionally, in the implementation shown in <FIG>, the position of the receiver <NUM> is corresponding to the position of the non-display area <NUM>. In this way, an area of the display area <NUM> swept by the infrared rays for fingerprint identification is relatively small. In the display area <NUM>, the light guide assembly needs to make relatively few adjustments to deal with the infrared rays to pass through, or does not need to adjust. In the implementation shown in <FIG>, the first through hole <NUM> and the second through hole <NUM> are not located at positions corresponding to the non-display area <NUM>, and the light guide assembly located at a position corresponding to the position of the display area <NUM> is not affected.

In the implementation shown in <FIG>, the receiver <NUM> is disposed at a position corresponding to the display area <NUM>. Therefore, a part of the infrared rays reflected to the display area <NUM> finally enters the receiver <NUM>, which is the infrared ray that actually produces the fingerprint identification effect. In this implementation, the bearing frame <NUM> needs to be provided with the first through hole <NUM> at the position corresponding to the display area <NUM>. Similarly, the light guide plate <NUM> may also be provided with a flat surface in the display area <NUM>, and the reflective film <NUM> may also be provided with the second through hole <NUM> at the position corresponding to the display area <NUM>. This design solution may affect the final imaging effect of the backlight module and the display module in this area. In a preferred implementation, the light guide plate <NUM>, the optical film layer, and the reflective film may also be made of optical materials that do not affect infrared rays. In this way, the light guide assembly does not need to adjust the optical performance in order to adapt to the infrared rays for penetrating, which may not affect the actual imaging effect. The advantage of the technical solution shown in <FIG> is that the position of the fingerprint identification area <NUM> is closer to the display area <NUM>, and the user has a higher degree of comfort in holding with the hand and touching the fingerprint identification area with the finger, thus, making it more convenient to use.

In the implementation of the present invention, the height of the first gap and the position of the receiver in the device body are adjusted, so that the position of the fingerprint identification area can be adjusted.

Optionally, in the implementation shown in <FIG>, the transmitter <NUM> is located at a position corresponding to the non-display area <NUM>, the position of the receiver <NUM> is corresponding to the position of the non-display area <NUM>, and the position of the first through hole <NUM> is corresponding to the position of the non-display area <NUM>. An edge of the optical film layer <NUM> close to the circuit board may extend to the position corresponding to the non-display area <NUM>. A width of the second gap <NUM> between the circuit board and the optical film layer <NUM> may be greater than a distance from an edge of the optical film layer to the display area <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, this implementation increases the width B of the second gap <NUM> and reduces the width A from the edge of the circuit board to the display area <NUM>, so that more infrared rays can pass through the second gap <NUM>, which improves the reliability of fingerprint identification. However, extending the edge of the circuit board to the position corresponding to the non-display area <NUM> can ensure the display effect at the boundary between the display area <NUM> and the non-display area <NUM>, and reduce the phenomenon of blurred display effect and inconsistent brightness.

Claim 1:
An electronic device, characterized by comprising:
a device body (<NUM>), a display module (<NUM>), a backlight module, and a fingerprint identification assembly, wherein
the display module (<NUM>) is disposed on a surface of the device body (<NUM>), the backlight module comprises a bearing frame (<NUM>) and a light guide assembly, the bearing frame (<NUM>) is fixedly disposed in the device body (<NUM>), and the bearing frame (<NUM>) is provided with a first through hole (<NUM>), the light guide assembly is disposed on the bearing frame (<NUM>), and a first gap (<NUM>) is formed between the light guide assembly and the display module (<NUM>); and
the fingerprint identification assembly comprises a transmitter (<NUM>) and a receiver (<NUM>), the transmitter (<NUM>) is disposed in the first gap (<NUM>), and the receiver (<NUM>) is disposed on a side of the bearing frame (<NUM>) away from the light guide assembly and a position of the receiver (<NUM>) is corresponding to a position of the first through hole (<NUM>), wherein
the transmitter (<NUM>) is used to emit infrared rays to the display module (<NUM>), and the receiver (<NUM>) is used to receive infrared rays reflected from a fingerprint identification area (<NUM>) of the display module (<NUM>).