JP5150376B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic device is known in which a cushioning material is provided between a fingerprint sensor mounted using a solder ball and a sensor mounting substrate to prevent a solder ball joint from being defective (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This electronic device includes a fingerprint sensor on which a semiconductor chip having a fingerprint reading surface is mounted, a sensor mounting substrate on which the fingerprint sensor is mounted in a matrix, and a solder ball on the sensor mounting substrate in a matrix. The adhesive functions as a cushioning material when the sensor mounting board is deformed by the stress applied by the finger etc. during fingerprint authentication operation. In order to prevent the interval between the fingerprint sensor and the sensor mounting substrate from being less than the height of the adhesive, a large stress is not applied to the solder ball, and a defect in the solder ball joint can be prevented.
JP 2007-59811 A

  However, according to the conventional electronic device, the adhesive functions as a cushioning material against the stress applied by a finger or the like and can prevent the solder ball joint from being defective. However, the fingerprint sensor and the sensor mounting substrate are stressed. Therefore, the defect of the fingerprint sensor or the sensor mounting substrate cannot be prevented, and the reliability of the electronic device is not necessarily improved.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of preventing defects of a fingerprint sensor, a sensor mounting board, and a solder ball.

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a housing having an opening, a fingerprint authentication unit housed in the housing, and a support member provided in the housing and supporting the fingerprint authentication unit. The fingerprint authentication unit includes a fingerprint authentication sensor unit having a sensor surface exposed from the opening, and an electrode surface having a plurality of electrodes on the opposite side of the sensor surface, and a solder ball. And a substrate having a sensor mounting surface electrically connected to the electrode, and the support member covers the substrate and elastically supports the fingerprint authentication unit. To do.

  According to the configuration described above, since the support member is elastically deformed, the fingerprint authentication unit sinks in the direction of the force applied to the sensor surface from the user's finger and disperses the force applied to the sensor surface. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent an excessive stress from being applied and to prevent a defect from occurring in the solder ball joint portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the defect of a fingerprint sensor, a sensor mounting substrate, and a solder ball can be prevented.

  Embodiments of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
(Configuration of electronic equipment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an external appearance of an electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The electronic device 100 includes an upper housing 10 and a lower housing 20, and the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 are connected to each other by a hinge portion so as to be freely opened and closed. The lower housing 20 is a system board on which electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory are mounted and an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or the like is connected via a connector, and the main body function unit 2 that processes information is provided. The upper surface 20a includes a character input unit 3 such as a keyboard for inputting characters and commands, a track pad 4A and a determination switch 4B as a pointing device, and a fingerprint reading unit 5 used for user authentication and the like. Have.

  Further, connector terminals such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port and a LAN (Local Area Network) port (not shown) are provided on the left side 20e, the right side 20f, the front side 20g, and the back side 20h as the formation surface of the lower housing 20. The lower housing 20 includes a cover 20A (first housing member) mainly including the upper surface 20a and a base 20B (second housing member) mainly including the bottom surface 20b. The cover 20A and the base 20B is connected to the left side surface 20e, the right side surface 20f, the front surface 20g, and the back surface 20h so as to form an internal space of the lower housing 20. The upper housing 10 has an image display unit 1 including a liquid crystal display panel for displaying characters, images, and the like on the front surface 20i.

  For example, when the electronic device 100 is activated, the main body function unit 2 requests an authentication operation for confirming whether or not the user is permitted to use the electronic device 100. The fingerprint reading unit 5 is used by this authentication operation, and the electronic device 100 is activated only when it is determined that the main body function unit 2 has read the fingerprint of a person permitted to use.

(Configuration of fingerprint reader)
2A and 2B are schematic views showing the configuration of the fingerprint authentication unit of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view, and FIG. It is sectional drawing in the AA part of FIG.

  This fingerprint authentication unit 5A electrically connects a fingerprint sensor 50 formed using a semiconductor, a sensor mounting substrate 51 formed using a plate material such as a glass epoxy plate, and the fingerprint sensor 50 and the sensor mounting substrate 51. It has a solder ball 52 to be connected, and is accommodated in the lower housing 20 and disposed in the fingerprint reading unit 5.

  The fingerprint sensor 50 detects the unevenness of the fingerprint on the sensor surface 50a based on the difference in capacitance, and moves the finger in the vertical direction of the drawing in FIG. The sensor 50 has a pad 50d provided on the electrode surface 50e which is the back surface of the sensor surface 50a, and the portions other than the line sensor 50b and the pad 50d are sealed with resin. The pad 50 d is connected to the pad 51 a provided on the sensor mounting surface 51 b of the sensor mounting substrate 51 by the solder ball 52. In addition, the sensor surface 50a for sliding a finger when detecting a fingerprint includes a line sensor 50b and a resin surface 50c located at both ends of the line sensor 50b and on the same surface.

  The sensor mounting board 51 is electrically connected to the main body function unit 2 by a connector cable or the like (not shown), and information related to the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint sensor 50 is processed by the main body function unit 2. Further, the fingerprint authentication unit 5A is arranged by supporting the supported surface 51c of the sensor mounting substrate 51.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the fingerprint reading unit of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The fingerprint authentication unit 5A is supported so that the sensor surface 50a is exposed from the opening 21e of the recess 21 provided on the upper surface 20a of the cover 20A of the lower housing 20. The recess 21 is inclined so that the inclined surface 21a and the inclined surface 21b continuously guide the finger from the upper surface 20a to the sensor surface 50a, and the side surface 21c and the side surface that guide the finger sliding direction perpendicular to the line sensor 50b. 21d and an opening 21e having substantially the same shape as the exposed sensor surface 50a.

(Configuration of sensor support member)
4A and 4B are perspective views showing the configuration of the sensor support member of the electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a perspective view from the back side of the upper surface, and FIG. It is a partial cross section perspective view from the upper surface side.

  The fingerprint authentication unit 5A covers the supported surface 51c of the sensor mounting substrate 51 by the sensor support member 6 attached to the upper and back surfaces 20c, which is the back surface of the cover 20A, and also has a constant support force with respect to the recess back surface 21A. By pressing, the sensor surface 50a is supported so as to be exposed to the outside from the opening 21e. The sensor support member 6 is formed using, for example, a metal such as SUS, and a support portion 60 that is fixed to the back surface of the sensor mounting substrate 51 by a double-sided tape or the like, and a spring portion that elastically supports the support portion 60. 61, and a fixing portion 62 that is attached to the screw fixing portion 64 provided on the upper back surface 20c by a fixing screw 63 via a hole 62a. In the present embodiment, four spring portions 61 and four fixing portions 62 are provided. However, the number may be one or more.

(Operation)
The operation of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  When the user faces the front of the image display unit 1, the user touches the finger on the fingerprint reading unit 5 along the recess 21 of the lower housing 20 from the back to the near side, and slides like tracing. The line sensor 50b reads a two-dimensional fingerprint image. Actually, the line sensor 50b reads a change in capacitance caused by the unevenness of the fingerprint, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it. The output signal is processed by the main body function unit 2 to perform fingerprint authentication. Fingerprint authentication is executed by checking the fingerprint of an arbitrary finger of the user and comparing it with that stored in advance.

  When the finger is slid on the fingerprint reading unit 5, the finger is guided through the center of the sensor surface 50 a by the recess 21 provided in the lower housing 20. Further, in order to ensure the fingerprint reading operation, it is necessary to pass the finger while pressing the finger with a certain amount of force. For this reason, the force which pushes down the center part of the sensor surface 50a acts.

  5A and 5B are cross-sectional views illustrating the configuration of the fingerprint reading unit of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the invention, in which FIG. 5A is a normal state and FIG. 5B is a fingerprint authentication operation. Indicates the state of the hour. This cross-sectional view is a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the sensor surface 50a of the fingerprint sensor 50 is supported by being exposed from the opening 21e by a height a. When the user slides his / her finger along the recess 21 so as to press against the sensor surface 50a, the spring portion 61 is deformed in a direction away from the upper and rear surfaces 20c, and as shown in FIG. The surface 50a is elastically deformed until it coincides with the opening 21e. When the sensor surface 50a coincides with the opening 21e, a finger force is applied to the inclined surface 21a or 21b, and no force is applied from the user's finger to the sensor surface 50a beyond the support force of the sensor support member 6.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment described above, when the spring portion 61 is elastically deformed, the fingerprint authentication unit 5A sinks in the direction of the force applied from the user's finger to the sensor surface 50a, and the fingerprint sensor 50 and the sensor mounting substrate. 51, and the force applied to the solder ball 52 is dispersed, so that excessive stress is not applied to the fingerprint sensor 50, the sensor mounting substrate 51, the solder ball 52, and the respective contact portions, and the fingerprint sensor 50, It is possible to prevent defects from occurring in the sensor mounting substrate 51, the solder balls 52, and the respective contact portions.

  Further, since the fingerprint sensor 50 is pressed against the opening 21e with a certain supporting force by the elastic force of the spring portion 61, the sensor surface 50a can be surely exposed, and the sensor surface 50a is attached with respect to the exposed height. Accuracy can be easily achieved.

  Further, since the support portion 60 is fixed in close contact with the sensor mounting substrate 51, it can also serve as a reinforcing plate that improves durability against stress of the sensor mounting substrate 51.

  The fingerprint reading unit 5 is not limited to the top surface 20a, and may be provided on the bottom surface 20b, the left side surface 20e, the right side surface 20f, the front surface 20g, the back surface 20h, or the front surface 20i.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sensor support member of an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, parts having the same configuration and function as those of the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  The fingerprint authentication unit 5A presses the supported surface 51c of the sensor mounting substrate 51 against the recess back surface 21A with a constant supporting force by the sensor support member 6A attached to the upper and back surfaces 20c of the cover 20A, thereby detecting the sensor surface 50a. Is supported to be exposed to the outside through the opening 21e. The sensor support member 6A is formed using, for example, a metal such as SUS, and a support portion 60A that is fixed to the back surface of the sensor mounting substrate 51 by a double-sided tape or the like, and a spring portion that elastically supports the support portion 60A. 61A, and is attached to a screw fixing portion 64A provided on the upper and lower surfaces 20c by a fixing screw 63A through a hole 62A.

  7A and 7B are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the fingerprint reading unit of the electronic device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a normal state, and FIG. 7B is a fingerprint authentication operation. Indicates the state of the hour. This cross-sectional view is a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG.

  The fixing screw 63A has a spring receiving portion 630 provided in a flange shape, and is fixed to the screw fixing portion 64a of the screw fixing portion 64A provided on the upper and rear surfaces 20c. The fixing screw 63A supports the spring portion 61A by the spring receiving portion 630, so that the sensor surface 50a of the fingerprint sensor 50 is exposed by the height a from the opening 21e as shown in FIG. Supported.

(Operation)
When the user slides his / her finger along the recess 21 so as to press against the sensor surface 50a, the spring portion 61A contracts and deforms, and as shown in FIG. 7B, the sensor surface 50a opens at the maximum. It is elastically deformed until it coincides with the part 21e, and the deformation is stopped when the spring part 61A contracts between the sensor support member 6A and the spring receiving part 630. When the sensor surface 50a coincides with the opening 21e, no force is applied to the sensor surface 50a from the user's finger more than the support force of the sensor support member 6A.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment described above, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the sensor support member 6A can be configured to be smaller, so that this configuration can be applied to a smaller electronic device. it can.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sensor support member of an electronic apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The fingerprint authentication unit 5A presses the supported surface 51c of the sensor mounting substrate 51 against the recess back surface 21A with a constant supporting force by the sensor support member 6B attached to the upper and back surfaces 20c of the cover 20A, and the sensor surface 50a. Is supported to be exposed to the outside through the opening 21e. The sensor support member 6B is formed using, for example, a metal such as SUS, and a support portion 60B that is fixed to the back surface of the sensor mounting substrate 51 by a double-sided tape or the like, and a spring portion that elastically supports the support portion 60B. 61B, and is attached to a screw fixing portion 64B provided on the upper and lower surfaces 20c by a fixing screw 63B through a hole 62B.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a fingerprint reading unit of an electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9A is a normal state, and FIGS. Indicates the state during the fingerprint authentication operation. This cross-sectional view is a cross section taken along line DD in FIG.

  The fixing screw 63B has a spring receiving portion 630 provided in a flange shape, and is fixed to the screw fixing portion 64b of the screw fixing portion 64B provided on the upper and rear surfaces 20c. The fixing screw 63B supports the spring portion 61B by the spring receiving portion 630, so that the sensor surface 50a of the fingerprint sensor 50 is exposed by the height a from the opening 21e as shown in FIG. 9A. Supported.

(Operation)
When the user slides his / her finger along the depression 21 and starts pressing the right side of the sensor surface 50a in the drawing, the spring portion 61B contracts and deforms as shown in FIG. When the finger starts to press the left side of the sensor surface 50a in the drawing, the sensor support member 6B is in a left-down state, and the sensor support member 6B comes into contact with the spring receiving portion 630 and the screw fixing portion 64B at the front and back surfaces thereof. Stop. As the place (force point) pressed by the finger is on the left side of the sensor surface 50a in the drawing, the distance from the spring portion 61B as a fulcrum increases, so the spring portion 61B is easily deformed.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
According to the third embodiment described above, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, the number of support points for the cover 20A of the sensor support member 6B can be reduced, so this configuration can be applied to a smaller electronic device. Can be applied. Further, since the position and posture of the sensor support member 6B gradually change according to the movement of the finger, no force is suddenly applied to the fingerprint authentication unit 5A.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sensor support member of an electronic apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The fingerprint authentication unit 5A uses the sensor support member 6C attached to the bottom back surface 20d that is the back surface of the base 20B to support the supported surface 51c of the sensor mounting substrate 51 with respect to the recess back surface 21A of the cover 20A with a constant support force. By pressing, the sensor surface 50a is supported so as to be exposed to the outside from the opening 21e. The sensor support member 6C is formed using, for example, a metal such as SUS, and a support portion 60C fixed to the back surface of the sensor mounting substrate 51 with a double-sided tape or the like, and a spring support portion 63C provided on the bottom back surface 20d. A spring part 61C that elastically supports the support part 60C and an operation restriction part 65 that is provided on the bottom back surface 20d and restricts movement in the direction approaching the bottom back surface of the sensor support member 6C. In the present embodiment, two spring portions 61C are provided. However, the number of spring portions 61C may be single or plural. Moreover, you may comprise the operation | movement restriction | limiting part 65 and the spring support part 63C as integral.

  11A and 11B are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the fingerprint reading unit of the electronic device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A is a normal state, and FIG. 11B is a fingerprint authentication operation. Indicates the state of the hour. This cross-sectional view is a cross-section at the viewpoint from the direction E of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the sensor surface 50a of the fingerprint sensor 50 is supported by being exposed from the opening 21e by a height a.

(Operation)
When the user slides his / her finger along the recess 21 so as to press against the sensor surface 50a, the spring portion 61 is deformed downward in the drawing, and as shown in FIG. Elastically deforms until it coincides with the opening 21e. When the sensor surface 50a coincides with the opening 21e, the support portion 60C and the operation restricting portion 65 are in contact with each other and do not move downward. Further, when the sensor surface 50a coincides with the opening 21e, no force is applied to the sensor surface 50a from the user's finger more than the support force of the sensor support member 6C.

(Effect of the fourth embodiment)
According to the fourth embodiment described above, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, the present invention can also be applied when the sensor support member 6C cannot be fixed to the cover 20A.

It is the schematic which shows the external appearance of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the fingerprint authentication unit of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing in the AA part of (a). is there. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the fingerprint reading part of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the sensor support member of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view from the back side of an upper surface, (b) is a partial cross section perspective view from an upper surface side. FIG. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the fingerprint reading unit of the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A shows a normal state and FIG. 1B shows a state during a fingerprint authentication operation. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the sensor support member of the electronic device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fingerprint reading part of the electronic device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state at the time of normal, (b) shows the state at the time of fingerprint authentication operation | movement. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the sensor support member of the electronic device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fingerprint reading part of the electronic device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a normal state, (b) and (c) are the states at the time of fingerprint authentication operation | movement. Show. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the sensor support member of the electronic device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fingerprint reading part of the electronic device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state at the time of normal, (b) shows the state at the time of fingerprint authentication operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image display part, 2 ... Main body function part, 3 ... Character input part, 4A ... Track pad, 4B ... Decision switch, 5 ... Fingerprint reading part, 5A ... Fingerprint authentication unit, 6 ... Sensor support member, 6A ... Sensor support Member, 6B ... sensor support member, 6C ... sensor support member, 10 ... upper housing, 20 ... lower housing, 20A ... cover, 20B ... base, 20a ... upper surface, 20b ... bottom surface, 20c ... upper back surface, 20d ... bottom Back surface, 20e ... left side surface, 20f ... right side surface, 20g ... front surface, 20h ... back surface, 20i ... front surface, 21 ... recessed portion, 21A ... recessed portion back surface, 21a ... slope, 21b ... slope, 21c ... side surface, 21d ... side surface , 21e ... opening, 50 ... fingerprint sensor, 50a ... sensor surface, 50b ... line sensor, 50c ... resin surface, 50d ... pad, 50e ... electrode surface, 51 ... sensor mounting substrate, 51a ... pad, 51b Sensor mounting surface, 51c ... supported surface, 52 ... solder ball, 60 ... support portion, 60A ... support portion, 60B ... support portion, 60C ... support portion, 61 ... spring portion, 61A ... spring portion, 61B ... spring portion, 61C ... Spring part, 62 ... Fixing part, 62a ... Hole, 62A ... Hole, 62B ... Hole, 63C ... Spring support part, 63 ... Fixing screw, 63A ... Fixing screw, 63B ... Fixing screw, 64 ... Screw fixing part, 64A ... Screw fixing part, 64B ... Screw fixing part, 64a ... Screw hole, 64b ... Screw hole, 65 ... Operation restricting part, 100 ... Electronic device, 630 ... Spring receiving part

Claims (8)

A housing having an opening;
A fingerprint authentication unit housed in the housing;
A support member provided in the housing and supporting the fingerprint authentication unit;
The fingerprint authentication unit includes:
A fingerprint authentication sensor portion having a sensor surface exposed from the opening, and an electrode surface having a plurality of electrodes on the opposite side of the sensor surface;
Having a sensor mounting surface electrically connected to the electrode via a solder ball,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member covers the substrate and elastically supports the fingerprint authentication unit. The housing includes a first housing member having the opening, and a second housing member connected to the first housing member,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the support member is attached to the first housing member and supports the fingerprint authentication unit.   The support member includes a fixed portion attached to the first casing member, a support portion on which the fingerprint authentication unit is mounted, and a leaf spring portion that connects the fixed portion and the support portion. The electronic device according to claim 2.   The support member includes a fixing portion attached to the first housing member, a support portion on which the fingerprint authentication unit is mounted, and a spring portion having one end fixed to the fixing portion and the other end supporting the support portion. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: The housing includes a first housing member having the opening, and a second housing member,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the support member is attached to the second casing member and supports the fingerprint authentication unit.   The support member includes a fixed portion attached to the second casing member, a support portion on which the fingerprint authentication unit is mounted, and a spring portion that elastically supports both the fixed portion and the support portion. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:   The said housing | casing has a hollow part formed in the housing | casing inside from the surface of the said 1st housing member, and the said opening part is formed in the said hollow part. The electronic device according to any one of 4, 4 and 6. The casing further includes a main board fixed in the casing,
The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the fingerprint authentication unit and the main board are electrically connected by a cable.

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