US Patent No: 7,638,350
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Fingerprint sensors using membrane switch arrays
Stats
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Dec 29, 2009
Issued date -
May 2, 2005
filing date -
11/120,525
serial no -
In Force
status
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Abstract
A method of making an integrated texture sensor for sensing a texture is described. In one embodiment, the method is directed to a sensor that that is protected from external contaminating particulates and will self-equalize using air from outside the sensor. Further combinations of such protection among various membrane switches, in combination with various types of membranes, is described. In another embodiment, a method of making a skin-texture sensor for sensing a skin texture having a plurality of ridges and a plurality of valleys is described, such that when completed, applying a ridge of the texture to a membrane switch will cause flexure of the membrane resulting in a contact between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, the contact establishing an electrical communication between said one of the row lines and said one of the column lines, whereas disposing a valley of the texture over said each membrane switch will not result in the contact between the lower electrode and the upper electrode.
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First Claim
Related Publications
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International Classification(s)
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Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
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| 5,374,792 Micromechanical moving structures including multiple contact switching system | 65 | 1993 | |
| 5,531,018 Method of micromachining electromagnetically actuated current switches with polyimide reinforcement seals, and switches produced thereby | 60 | 1993 | |
| 5,475,353 Micromachined electromagnetic switch with fixed on and off positions using three magnets | 56 | 1994 | |
| 5,652,559 Method of micromachining electromagnetically actuated current switches with polyimide reinforcement seals, and switches produced thereby | 17 | 1996 | |
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| 5,503,029 Surface pressure input panel | 33 | 1994 | |
| 5,515,738 Piezoelectric surface pressure input panel | 36 | 1994 | |
| 5,526,701 Magnetic surface pressure input panel | 27 | 1994 | |
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| 5,121,089 Micro-machined switch and method of fabrication | 75 | 1990 | |
| 6,037,719 Matrix-addressed display having micromachined electromechanical switches | 56 | 1998 | |
| 5,994,796 Single-pole single-throw microelectro mechanical switch with active off-state control | 11 | 1998 | |
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| 5,429,006 Semiconductor matrix type sensor for very small surface pressure distribution | 61 | 1993 | |
| 5,400,662 Matrix type surface pressure distribution detecting element | 50 | 1993 | |
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| 5,367,136 Non-contact two position microeletronic cantilever switch | 62 | 1993 | |
| 5,864,296 Fingerprint detector using ridge resistance sensor | 59 | 1997 | |
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| 4,904,832 Microswitch | 10 | 1988 | |
| 5,017,747 Microswitch | 16 | 1990 | |
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| 5,467,068 Micromachined bi-material signal switch | 37 | 1994 | |
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| 6,067,368 Fingerprint sensor having filtering and power conserving features and related methods | 43 | 1997 | |
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| 5,821,596 Batch fabricated semiconductor micro-switch | 94 | 1997 | |
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| 5,828,268 Microwave switches and redundant switching systems | 9 | 1997 | |
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| 4,684,770 Microswitch | 6 | 1985 | |
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| 5,113,046 Housing for a micro-switch unit | 7 | 1990 | |
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| 5,778,513 Bulk fabricated electromagnetic micro-relays/micro-switches and method of making same | 32 | 1996 | |
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| 4,570,139 Thin-film magnetically operated micromechanical electric switching device | 48 | 1984 | |
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| 5,558,210 Microswitch | 9 | 1995 | |
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| 5,946,176 Electrostatic discharge protection utilizing microelectromechanical switch | 22 | 1998 | |
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| 5,905,241 Threshold microswitch and a manufacturing method thereof | 20 | 1997 | |
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| 5,637,904 Micromechanical component with a switch element as a movable structure, microsystem, and production process | 13 | 1995 | |
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| 5,262,000 Method for making micromechanical switch | 114 | 1992 | |
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| 5,309,006 FET crossbar switch device particularly useful for microwave applications | 10 | 1991 | |
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| 5,940,525 Fingerprint detection apparatus | 14 | 1997 | |
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| 5,844,287 Monolithic sensor of fingerprints | 57 | 1996 | |
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| 6,034,339 Electrostatically controlled microswitch | 7 | 1998 | |
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| 5,638,946 Micromechanical switch with insulated switch contact | 358 | 1996 | |
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| 5,810,604 Electronic book and method | 53 | 1995 | |
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| 6,578,436 Method and apparatus for pressure sensing | 16 | 2000 | |
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| 5,453,590 Bistable microswitch | 10 | 1994 | |
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| 5,446,251 Conducting assembly for a micro switch | 8 | 1993 | |
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| 4,547,898 Apparatus for determining the two-dimensional connectivity of a prescribed binary variable associated with a surface | 27 | 1983 | |
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| 5,159,159 Touch sensor and controller | 143 | 1990 | |
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| 5,354,695 Membrane dielectric isolation IC fabrication | 192 | 1992 | |
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| 4,965,415 Microengineered diaphragm pressure switch | 47 | 1989 | |
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| 5,554,964 Microswitch with a magnetic field sensor | 10 | 1995 | |
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| 5,212,473 Membrane keyboard and method of using same | 265 | 1991 | |
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| 4,681,403 Display device with micromechanical leaf spring switches | 213 | 1986 | |
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| 5,623,552 Self-authenticating identification card with fingerprint identification | 380 | 1995 | |
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| 5,489,556 Method for the fabrication of electrostatic microswitches | 13 | 1994 | |
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| 4,758,698 Microswitch | 5 | 1986 | |
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| 6,020,564 Low-voltage long life electrostatic microelectromechanical system switches for radio-frequency applications | 31 | 1998 | |
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| 4,582,985 Data carrier | 330 | 1982 | |
| 4,559,422 Microswitch | 6 | 1984 | |
| 4,577,345 Fingerprint sensor | 78 | 1984 | |
Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Year Payment | $1600.00 | $800.00 | $400.00 | Jun 29, 2013 |
| 7.5 Year Payment | $3600.00 | $1800.00 | $900.00 | Jun 29, 2017 |
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Jun 29, 2021 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 3.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 7.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |