A WEARABLE DEVICE HAVING A FINGERPRINT SENSOR

摘要

A device worn by a user has a device body providing a first surface that is located adjacent to skin of the user when the device is being worn. Fingerprint sensor circuitry on the device comprises a capacitive fingerprint sensor and associated control circuitry, a primary impedance path being established between electrodes of the capacitive fingerprint sensor when a user places a finger on the capacitive fingerprint sensor. The associated control circuitry passes an AC drive signal through the capacitive fingerprint sensor in order to measure a property whose value varies as a function of impedance. A body ground connection provided by the device body is arranged such that when the user touches the fingerprint sensor, a parasitic impedance path is established from the finger through the body of the user and via the first surface of the device body to the body ground connection. To avoid this parasitic impedance path having the potential to adversely affect the accuracy of the fingerprint sensing operation, the device further comprises filter circuitry between the body ground connection and the electrical ground connection which decouples the body ground connection from the electrical ground connection in a first frequency range including the frequency of the AC drive signal, whilst coupling the body ground connection to the electrical ground connection in at least one further frequency range.

主权项

1. A device configured to be worn by a user when in operation, comprising:
a device body having a first surface located adjacent to skin of a user when the device is worn by the user; and fingerprint sensor circuitry comprising a capacitive fingerprint sensor and associated control circuitry, the capacitive fingerprint sensor having electrodes between which a primary impedance path is established when a user places a finger on the capacitive fingerprint sensor, the associated control circuitry being connected to an electrical ground connection and configured to pass an AC drive signal through the capacitive fingerprint sensor when a user places said finger on the capacitive fingerprint sensor in order to measure a property whose value varies as a function of impedance; the device body providing a body ground connection; the body ground connection being arranged such that when the user places said finger on the capacitive fingerprint sensor, a parasitic impedance path is established from the finger through the body of the user and via said first surface of the device body to the body ground connection; the device further comprising filter circuitry between the body ground connection and the electrical ground connection and configured to decouple the body ground connection from the electrical ground connection in a first frequency range including the frequency of the AC drive signal, and configured to couple the body ground connection to the electrical ground connection in at least one further frequency range.