Patent Description:
A fingerprint recognition technology is generally applied to an electronic apparatus such as an intelligent terminal, especially a smartphone. Generally, to avoid affecting a normal display effect of a display area, a fingerprint recognition module is disposed in a non-display area of a display screen. However, disposing the fingerprint recognition module in the non-display area inevitably increases an area of the non-display area, and decreases a screen-to-body ratio of the display screen.

Disposing the fingerprint recognition module in a display area is a research area in the industry.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device and method of operating an electronic device. The electronic device a display in which a fingerprint recognition area is formed in at least one portion thereof; a fingerprint sensor disposed under the display on which a screen is displayed, wherein the fingerprint sensor is adapted to acquire image information related to authentication of a fingerprint corresponding to an object that approaches a fingerprint recognition area at least partially based on light radiated from at least one pixel of the display and reflected by the object; and a processor adapted to control at least one function of the fingerprint sensor in association with the operation of acquiring the image information.

<CIT> discloses an input component manufacturing method, an input component and a terminal. The input component comprises a decoration circle, a touch panel and a fingerprint chip packaging structure. The input component manufacturing method comprises the following steps that the decoration circle is installed in the hole of the touch panel along the direction from the lower surface of the touch panel to the upper surface of the touch panel; and the fingerprint chip packaging structure is installed in the decoration circle along the direction from the upper surface to the lower surface. According to the input component manufacturing method, the decoration circle and the fingerprint chip packaging structure are assembled in the touch panel along different directions so that the assembling efficiency of the fingerprint chip packaging structure is enabled to be high, and thus the production efficiency of the terminal can be enhanced and the cost of the terminal can be reduced.

<CIT> discloses that a touch panel includes a substrate, a touch sensing structure and a fingerprint identification module. The touch sensing structure is disposed on the substrate. The fingerprint identification module is directly adhered to the substrate. The touch sensing structure and the fingerprint identification module are located at the same side of the substrate.

Embodiments of this application provide a method for assembling a structural component, an electronic apparatus and a fingerprint module. The structural component provided in the present invention includes a screen and a fingerprint module that are used for display. The fingerprint module is disposed in a display area of a display screen, and is stacked with the screen in the display area, to increase a screen-to-body ratio.

According to a first aspect as defined in independent claim <NUM>, this application provides an electronic apparatus including a screen and a fingerprint module, where an outer surface of the screen is a touch surface, an inner surface of the screen is a light shielding layer. The light shielding layer includes a light transmission region located in a display area of the screen, wherein the light transmission region is formed by disposing a through hole in the light shielding layer, and the fingerprint module is fastened to screen by using a frame adhesive accommodated in the through hole. The fingerprint module includes a first surface facing the screen, a second surface away from the screen, and a side surface connected between the first surface and the second surface. The frame adhesive includes a first connection area and a second connection area that are connected, where the second connection area is located on a periphery of the first connection area, the first connection is bonded to the first surface, an area in which the frame adhesive is bonded to the screen is greater than twice an area in which the frame adhesive is bonded to the fingerprint module, the second connection area is fastened to the side surface by using a first sealing adhesive and a gap is disposed between an edge of the frame adhesive and an inner wall of the through hole.

In this embodiment of this application, the fingerprint module is disposed in the display area of the screen, and the fingerprint module is fastened by using the frame adhesive and the first sealing adhesive, so that the first surface of the fingerprint module is fastened to the screen by using the frame adhesive, and the side surface of the fingerprint module is fastened to the second connection area of the frame adhesive by using the first sealing adhesive. In this way, the fingerprint module is firmly fastened, and a path between the fingerprint module and the screen is well sealed to prevent moisture from entering a fingerprint recognition area of the fingerprint module.

In an implementation, the light transmission region is formed by disposing a through hole on the light shielding layer, the frame adhesive is accommodated in the through hole, and an installation space is formed between the frame adhesive and an inner wall of the through hole. In this implementation, the through hole is formed by removing a part of material of the light shielding layer, so that a thickness of the screen at the light transmission region is reduced, and the frame adhesive is accommodated in the through hole. This helps reduce the overall thickness of the structural component and the electronic apparatus. The formation of an installation space facilitates installation and removal of the frame adhesive and the fingerprint module. During the installation and removal, the installation space facilitates the use of a tool.

In a not claimed example to understand the present application, the light transmission region is an area having a plurality of small light transmission holes, and the plurality of small holes are disposed on the light shielding layer and distributed in an array.

In an implementation, the second connection area includes an outer edge away from the first connection area, the outer edge is fastened to the screen by using a second sealing adhesive, and a gap is disposed between the second sealing adhesive and an inner wall of the through hole. The second sealing adhesive increases a bonding force between the frame adhesive and the screen.

In an implementation, the outer edge of the second connection area includes an attaching surface bonded to the screen, an outer surface away from the screen, and a side connection surface connected between the attaching surface and the outer surface, and the second sealing adhesive covers the side connection surface and a part of the exposed surface. In other words, the second sealing adhesive wraps two surfaces at a corner of the outer edge of the second connection area, to improve bonding.

In an implementation, the side surface of the fingerprint module includes a step surface and/or a rough surface, and the first sealing adhesive is bonded to the step surface and/or the rough surface, to improve bonding reliability. The step surface and the rough surface increase an area in which the first sealing adhesive is bonded to the side surface of the fingerprint module, to improve bonding strength.

In an implementation, a size of the second connection area is greater than a size of the first connection area. A size of the second connection area is greater than that of the first connection area, and an area in which the frame adhesive is bonded to the screen is greater than twice an area in which the frame adhesive is bonded to the fingerprint module, so that the bonding is more stable and the fingerprint module is not easy to fall off.

In an implementation, the frame adhesive is of an opaque structure. The first surface of the fingerprint module includes a recognition area and a frame area surrounding the recognition area, the frame adhesive is attached to the frame area, and an air layer is formed between the recognition area and the screen. In this implementation, the light shielding layer is replaced with the opaque frame adhesive for a light shielding effect, to satisfy the display effect of the screen.

In an implementation, the fingerprint module is partially embedded into the through hole, so that a size of the structural component and the electronic apparatus is thinner.

In an implementation, the frame adhesive is an integrated closed frame structure.

In an implementation, the frame adhesive includes a plurality of segments of sub-adhesive, and the plurality of segments of sub adhesive are arranged in a frame structure.

In an implementation, a flexible circuit board is disposed on the second surface, a screen connector is disposed on the screen, and the flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the screen connector.

In an implementation, a stiffener is disposed on a side that is of the flexible circuit board and that is away from the second surface.

According to a third aspect, this application further provides a fingerprint module assembly method as defined in independent claim <NUM>.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or in the background more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments of the present invention or the background.

The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

Structural components provided in the embodiments of this application include a screen and a fingerprint module. The structural components are applied to an electronic apparatus and a mobile terminal, for example, a smartphone, a tablet computer, and a multimedia player.

A screen is a display screen of an electronic apparatus. In an implementation, a display screen is an organic light-emitting diode (Organic Light-Emitting Diode, OLED) display screen. The display screen, which is a self-luminous display screen, includes a glass cover, an optical transparent adhesive layer, a touch display module, and a light shielding layer that are sequentially stacked. The light shielding layer is a bottom layer of a backlight layer of the touch display module.

The screen includes a display area and a non-display area, and the non-display area surrounds the display area. Referring to <FIG>, an outer surface of a screen <NUM> is a touch surface <NUM>, an inner surface of the screen <NUM> is a light shielding layer <NUM>, and the light shielding layer <NUM> includes a light transmission region <NUM> disposed in the display area of the screen. In an embodiment of <FIG>, the light transmission region <NUM> is a large-area through hole disposed on the light shielding layer <NUM>, and a fingerprint module <NUM> is installed in the through hole.

The fingerprint module <NUM> is attached to the light transmission region <NUM> of the screen <NUM> by using a frame adhesive <NUM>.

In the accompanying drawings, the light transmission regions <NUM> are all drawn as a large-area through hole.

In another implementation, which is not covered by the claims, the light transmission region is an area having a
plurality of small light transmission holes, and the plurality of small holes are disposed on the light shielding layer and distributed in an array.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, the fingerprint module <NUM> includes a first surface <NUM> facing the screen <NUM>, a second surface <NUM> away from the screen <NUM>, and a side surface <NUM> connected between the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>. The first surface <NUM> is a functional surface of the fingerprint module <NUM> and a recognition area of the fingerprint module <NUM> is disposed on the first surface <NUM>.

The frame adhesive <NUM> includes a first connection area <NUM> and a second connection area <NUM> that are connected. The second connection area <NUM> is located on a periphery of the first connection area <NUM>. The first connection area <NUM> is bonded to the first surface <NUM>. The second connection area <NUM> extends from an edge of the first connection area <NUM> to an outer side of the fingerprint module <NUM>, and the second connection area <NUM> is fastened to the side surface <NUM> by using a first sealing adhesive <NUM>. In <FIG>, two dashed lines from the fingerprint module <NUM> to the frame adhesive <NUM> represent a boundary between the first connection area <NUM> and the second connection area <NUM>.

In this embodiment of this application, the fingerprint module <NUM> is disposed in the display area of the screen <NUM>, and the fingerprint module <NUM> is fastened by using the frame adhesive <NUM> and the first sealing adhesive <NUM>, so that the first surface <NUM> of the fingerprint module <NUM> is fastened to the screen <NUM> by using the frame adhesive <NUM>, and the side surface of the fingerprint module <NUM> is fastened to the second connection area <NUM> of the frame adhesive <NUM> by using the first sealing adhesive <NUM>. In this way, the fingerprint module <NUM> is firmly fastened, and a path between the fingerprint module <NUM> and the screen <NUM> is well sealed to prevent moisture from entering a fingerprint recognition area of the fingerprint module <NUM>. Further, the frame adhesive <NUM> is accommodated in the through hole. When the frame adhesive is accommodated in the through hole, a gap is maintained between the frame adhesive and an inner wall <NUM> of the through hole. In other words, a size of the through hole is greater than a size of the frame adhesive <NUM>. When the frame adhesive <NUM> is installed in the through hole, a gap still exists between an edge of the frame adhesive <NUM> and the inner wall <NUM> of the through hole. This gap facilitates installation and removal of the frame adhesive <NUM>. In this implementation, the through hole is formed by removing a part of material of the light shielding layer <NUM>, so that a thickness of the screen <NUM> at the light transmission region <NUM> becomes thinner, and the frame adhesive <NUM> is accommodated in the through hole. This helps reduce the overall thickness of the structural component and the electronic apparatus. The formation of an installation space facilitates installation and removal of the frame adhesive <NUM> and the fingerprint module <NUM>. During the installation and removal, the installation space facilitates the use of a tool.

Referring to <FIG>, the second connection area <NUM> includes an outer edge away from the first connection area <NUM>, the outer edge is fastened to the screen <NUM> by using a second sealing adhesive <NUM>, and a gap is disposed between the second sealing adhesive <NUM> and the inner wall <NUM> of the through hole. The second sealing adhesive <NUM> increases a bonding force between the frame adhesive <NUM> and the screen <NUM>. The gap facilitates the installation and removal of the fingerprint module.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in an implementation, the outer edge of the second connection area <NUM> includes an attaching surface <NUM> bonded to the screen <NUM>, an outer surface <NUM> away from the screen <NUM>, and a side connection surface <NUM> connected between the attaching surface <NUM> and the outer surface <NUM>. The second sealing adhesive <NUM> covers the side connection surface <NUM> and a part of the outer surface <NUM>. In other words, the second sealing adhesive <NUM> wraps two surfaces connected at a corner of the outer edge of the second connection area <NUM>, to improve bonding.

In an implementation, the side surface <NUM> of the fingerprint module <NUM> includes a step surface and/or a rough surface, and the first sealing adhesive <NUM> is bonded to the step surface and/or the rough surface and fastened to the frame adhesive <NUM>, to improve bonding reliability. The step surface and the rough surface increase an area in which the first sealing adhesive <NUM> is bonded to the side surface of the fingerprint module <NUM>, to improve bonding strength. A side surface of the fingerprint module <NUM> shown in <FIG> is a step surface, and the step surface extends a longer path, resulting in a larger area in which the first sealing adhesive <NUM> is bonded to the side surface. The side surface may be a rough surface that includes a concave-convex texture by using a surface processing direction. The concave-convex texture results in a larger area in which the first sealing adhesive <NUM> is bonded to the side surface, to increase the bonding force.

In this embodiment of this application, a size of the second connection area <NUM> of the frame adhesive <NUM> is greater than a size of the first connection area <NUM>, and an area in which the frame adhesive <NUM> is bonded to the screen <NUM> is greater than twice an area in which the frame adhesive <NUM> is bonded to the fingerprint module <NUM>, so that the bonding is more stable and the fingerprint module <NUM> is not easy to fall off.

In an implementation, the frame adhesive <NUM> is of an opaque structure. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first surface <NUM> of the fingerprint module <NUM> includes a recognition area <NUM> and a frame area <NUM> surrounding the recognition area <NUM>, the frame adhesive <NUM> is attached to the frame area <NUM>, and an air layer is formed between the recognition area <NUM> and the screen <NUM>. In this implementation, the light shielding layer <NUM> is replaced with the opaque frame adhesive <NUM>, to ensure a light shielding effect of the display area the screen.

In an implementation, the fingerprint module <NUM> is partially embedded into the through hole, so that a size of the structural component and the electronic apparatus is thinner.

In an implementation, as shown in <FIG>, the frame adhesive <NUM> is an integrated closed frame structure. In another implementation, the frame adhesive <NUM> may also be a non-closed structure. The frame adhesive <NUM> includes a plurality of segments of sub-adhesive, and the plurality of segments of sub-adhesive are arranged in a frame structure. Specifically, a shape of each segment of sub-adhesive may be a straight line segment shape, an L shape, a U shape, or the like.

A flexible circuit board <NUM> is disposed on the second surface <NUM> of the fingerprint module <NUM>, a screen connector <NUM> is disposed on the screen <NUM>, and the flexible circuit board <NUM> is electrically connected to the screen connector <NUM>. A stiffener <NUM> is disposed on a side that is of the flexible circuit board <NUM> and that is away from the second surface <NUM>.

Specifically, the electronic apparatus further includes a middle frame <NUM>. The screen <NUM> is installed on one side of the middle frame <NUM>, and a battery <NUM> and a mainboard <NUM> are disposed on the other side of the middle frame <NUM>. In other words, the middle frame <NUM> is located between the screen <NUM> and the battery <NUM>. The screen <NUM> is installed on a top surface of the middle frame <NUM>, and the battery <NUM> and the mainboard <NUM> are disposed at the bottom of the middle frame <NUM>. The stiffener <NUM> that is of the flexible circuit board <NUM> and that is away from the second surface may be integrated with the middle frame <NUM>. Alternatively, the stiffener <NUM> is fastened to the flexible circuit board <NUM>, and a through hole is disposed at a corresponding position on the middle frame <NUM> and the stiffener <NUM>. This facilitates a light and thin design of the electronic device.

With reference to <FIG>, this application further provides a method for assembling a fingerprint module <NUM>, including:.

In the implementation covered by the claims, the light transmission region <NUM> is formed by disposing a through hole on the light shielding layer <NUM>, and an installation space is formed between the frame adhesive <NUM> and an inner wall <NUM> of the through hole.

In an implementation, the method further includes: disposing a second sealing adhesive <NUM> between an outer edge that is of the second connection area <NUM> and that is away from the first connection area <NUM> and the screen <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An electronic apparatus, comprising a screen (<NUM>) and a fingerprint module (<NUM>), wherein an outer surface of the screen (<NUM>) is a touch surface (<NUM>), an inner surface of the screen (<NUM>) is a light shielding layer (<NUM>), and the light shielding layer (<NUM>) comprises a light transmission region (<NUM>) located in a display area of the screen (<NUM>), wherein the light transmission region (<NUM>) is a through hole disposed in the light shielding layer (<NUM>);
the fingerprint module (<NUM>) is fastened to the screen (<NUM>) by using a frame adhesive (<NUM>) accommodated in the through hole;
the fingerprint module (<NUM>) comprises a first surface (<NUM>) facing the screen (<NUM>), a second surface (<NUM>) away from the screen (<NUM>), and a side surface (<NUM>) connected between the first surface (<NUM>) and the second surface (<NUM>); and
the frame adhesive (<NUM>) includes a first connection area (<NUM>) and a second connection area (<NUM>) that are connected, wherein the second connection area (<NUM>) is located on a periphery of the first connection area (<NUM>), the first connection area (<NUM>) is bonded to the first surface (<NUM>), an area in which the frame adhesive (<NUM>) is bonded to the screen (<NUM>) is greater than twice an area in which the frame adhesive (<NUM>) is bonded to the fingerprint module (<NUM>), the second connection area (<NUM>) is fastened to the side surface (<NUM>) by using a first sealing adhesive (<NUM>), and a gap is disposed between an edge of the frame adhesive (<NUM>) and an inner wall (<NUM>) of the through hole.