Abstract: An apparatus may include an ultrasonic sensor array and a control system. The control system may be configured to acquire first image data generated by the ultrasonic sensor array corresponding to at least one first reflected ultrasonic wave received by at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensor array from a target object during a first acquisition time window. The control system may be configured to acquire second image data generated by the ultrasonic sensor array corresponding to at least one second reflected ultrasonic wave received by at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensor array from the target object during a second acquisition time window that is longer than the first acquisition time window. The control system may further be configured to initiate an authentication process based on the first image data and the second image data.

Abstract: Some disclosed methods involve controlling an ultrasonic sensor system to transmit ultrasonic waves and receiving signals from the ultrasonic sensor system corresponding to ultrasonic waves reflected from a finger positioned on a platen. The methods may involve obtaining fingerprint image data corresponding to the signals and determining a change in a force of at least a portion of the finger on the platen corresponding to the signals.

Abstract: An apparatus may include an ultrasonic sensor system, a platen, a set of bioimpedance electrodes proximate the platen and a control system configured for communication with the ultrasonic sensor system and the set of bioimpedance electrodes. The control system may be further configured for controlling the ultrasonic sensor system to transmit ultrasonic waves, receiving ultrasonic sensor signals from the ultrasonic sensor system corresponding to ultrasonic waves reflected from a portion of a body in contact with the platen, receiving bioimpedance measurements from the set of bioimpedance electrodes and estimating a status of one or more biometric indicators of the portion of the body based on the ultrasonic sensor signals and the bioimpedance measurements.

Abstract: A mobile device may include a first fingerprint sensor, including a platen, residing on a first side of the mobile device, and a display residing on a second side of the mobile device. The second side may be opposite from the first side. The mobile device may include a control system configured for communication with the first fingerprint sensor and the display. The control system may be further configured for receiving first fingerprint sensor signals from the first fingerprint sensor corresponding to a fingerprint contact area of a first finger positioned on the platen, for detecting one or more finger distortions corresponding to changes of the first fingerprint sensor signals and for controlling the mobile device based, at least in part, on the one or more finger distortions.

Abstract: Methods, systems and storage media are described, each of which may be used to generate an image of an object using ultrasonic plane waves. For example, the generated image may be of a target object positioned on a platen surface. The image may be derived from corrected output signals obtained from a plurality of selected sensor pixels. The corrected output signals may adjust for diffraction of reflected ultrasonic plane waves from a target object positioned on the platen surface. The target object may be a finger or a tip of a stylus.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus related to an ultrasonic sensor for detecting ultrasonic energy. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor includes a piezoelectric receiver layer bonded with an adhesive to an array of pixel circuits disposed on a substrate, each pixel circuit in the array including at least one thin film transistor (TFT) element and having a pixel input electrode electrically coupled to the pixel circuit. Methods of forming ultrasonic sensors include bonding piezoelectric receiver layers to TFT arrays.

Abstract: A mobile device may perform authentication with an authenticating entity. The mobile device may comprise a plurality of sensors and a processor. The processor may be configured to: receive an authentication request from the authenticating entity requesting authentication information; and determine if the authentication request satisfies predefined user privacy preferences. If so, the processor may be configured to: retrieve the authentication information from at least one sensor to form a trust vector in response to the authentication request and to command transmission of the trust vector to the authenticating entity for authentication.

Abstract: A display array is disclosed. The multifunctional pixel may include a plurality of multifunctional pixels. Each multifunctional pixel can include a red display area, a green display area, and a blue display area, as well as at least one sensor selected from the following sensor types: an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and a capacitive sensor. The blue display area can be smaller than the red display area, or smaller than the green display area, in each of the plurality of multifunctional pixels.

Abstract: A piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) includes a diaphragm disposed over a cavity, the diaphragm including a piezoelectric layer stack including a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode electrically coupled with transceiver circuitry, and a second electrode electrically coupled with the transceiver circuitry. The first electrode may be disposed in a first portion of the diaphragm, and the second electrode may be disposed in a second, separate, portion of the diaphragm. Each of the first and the second electrode is disposed on or proximate to a first surface of the piezoelectric layer, the first surface being opposite from the cavity. The PMUT is configured to transmit first ultrasonic signals by way of the first electrode during a first time period and to receive second ultrasonic signals by way of the second electrode during a second time period, the first time period and the second time period being at least partially overlapping.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for microspeaker devices. In one aspect, a microspeaker element may include a deformable dielectric membrane that spans a speaker cavity. The deformable dielectric membrane can include a piezoactuator and a dielectric layer. Upon application of a driving signal to the piezoactuator, the dielectric layer can deflect, producing sound. In some implementations, an array of microspeaker elements can be encapsulated between a glass substrate and a cover glass. Sound generated by the microspeaker elements can be emitted through a speaker grill formed in the cover glass.

Abstract: A system may include a fingerprint sensor system and a control system. The system may be configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave including a first frequency. The control system may be configured to obtain dermis layer image data from a target object based on reflected portions of the ultrasonic waves received by the fingerprint sensor system. The dermis layer image data may correspond to ultrasonic waves received from the target object within a time interval corresponding with the dermis layer. The reflected portions of the ultrasonic wave corresponding to the dermis layer image data may include ultrasonic waves at a second frequency that is an integer multiple of the first frequency. The control system may be configured to determine whether a magnitude of the ultrasonic waves at the second frequency exceeds a harmonic threshold and, if the magnitude exceeds the harmonic threshold, the control system may perform an authentication process.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a biometric object is part of a live individual is described. In one such method, image information is acquired from the biometric object by using a sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor. The image information may be analyzed in at least two analysis stages. One of the analysis stages may be a temporal analysis stage that analyzes changes in the image information obtained during a time period throughout which the biometric object was continuously available to the sensor. For example, a dead/alive stage may analyze differences between image information taken at two different times in order to identify changes from one time to the next. Other stages may focus on aspects of a particular image information set, rather than seeking to assess changes over time. These other stages seek to determine whether an image information set exhibits characteristics similar to those of a live biometric object.

Abstract: Embodiments of an ultrasonic button and methods for using the ultrasonic button are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic button may include an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave, a piezoelectric receiver layer configured to receive a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave, a platen layer configured to protect the ultrasonic transmitter and the piezoelectric receiver layer, a first matching layer configured to match an acoustic impedance of the platen layer with an acoustic impedance of ridges of a finger, and an ultrasonic sensor array configured to detect the finger using the reflected wave.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for configuring a fingerprint sensor to operate in a capacitive sensing mode and an ultrasonic sensing mode are disclosed. A fingerprint sensor may be configured to operate in a capacitive sensing mode by driving a sensing electrode using a controller. In some implementations, an object positioned on or near the sensing electrode may be detected using the fingerprint sensor in the capacitive sensing mode, and the controller can drive electrodes of the fingerprint sensor differently to configure the fingerprint sensor to operate in an ultrasonic sensing mode. In some implementations, an applications processor may be instructed to authenticate a fingerprint of the object from image data obtained when the fingerprint sensor is operating in the ultrasonic sensing mode. In some implementations, a display of a mobile device containing the fingerprint sensor may be unlocked, or the mobile device may be woken up when the fingerprint is authenticated.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing apparatus may include a fingerprint sensor system and a control system capable of receiving fingerprint sensor data from the fingerprint sensor system. The control system may be capable of determining fingerprint sensor data blocks for at least a portion of the fingerprint sensor data and of calculating statistical variance values for fingerprint sensor data corresponding to each of the fingerprint sensor data blocks. The control system may be capable of determining, based at least in part the statistical variance values, whether an object is positioned proximate a portion of the fingerprint sensor system.

Abstract: An apparatus or a system may include an ultrasonic sensor array, a radio frequency (RF) source system and a control system. Some implementations may include a light source system and/or an ultrasonic transmitter system. The control system may be capable of controlling the RF source system to emit RF radiation and of receiving signals from the ultrasonic sensor array corresponding to acoustic waves emitted from portions of a target object in response to being illuminated with the RF radiation. The control system may be capable of acquiring ultrasonic image data from the acoustic wave emissions received from the target object.

Abstract: Techniques describe structures and methods for generating larger output signals and improving image quality of ultrasonic sensors by inclusion of an acoustic cavity in the sensor stack. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic sensor unit may be tuned during manufacturing or during a provisioning phase to work with different thicknesses and materials. In some embodiments, a standing wave signal may be generated using an acoustic cavity in the ultrasonic sensor unit for capturing an ultrasonic image of an object placed on a sensor surface. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor may include an ultrasonic transmitter, a piezoelectric receiver, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer and a TFT substrate positioned between the transmitter and the receiver, one or more adhesive layers, and optional cover materials and coatings. The thickness, density and speed of sound of the sensor materials and associated adhesive attachment layers may be used to attain the desired acoustic cavity and improved performance.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor device includes a sensor substrate, a plurality of sensor circuits over a first surface of the sensor substrate, and a transceiver layer located over the plurality of sensor circuits and the first surface of the sensor substrate. The transceiver layer includes a piezoelectric layer and a transceiver electrode positioned over the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer and the transceiver electrode are configured to generate one or more ultrasonic waves or to receive one or more ultrasonic waves. The fingerprint sensor device may include a cap coupled to the sensor substrate and a cavity formed between the cap and the sensor substrate. The cavity and the sensor substrate may form an acoustic barrier.

Abstract: A device may include a surface at least partially defining an enclosed region, a plurality of fluids within the enclosed region, the plurality of fluids comprising at least a first fluid having a first acoustic impedance and a second fluid having a second acoustic impedance different from the first acoustic impedance, a first piezoelectric transducer disposed on the surface, the first piezoelectric transducer being configured to generate a first wave reception signal based, at least in part, on an ultrasonic return wave received through at least one of the plurality of fluids, and a processor coupled to the first piezoelectric transducer and configured to determine a measurement of a tilt of the device based, at least in part, on the first wave reception signal.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a one- or two-dimensional array of micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) elements positioned below, beside, with, on, or above a backplane of a visual display. The backplane may be a thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane. The array of PMUT elements may be a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) array or a capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array. The PMUT array may be configurable to operate in modes corresponding to multiple frequency ranges. When operating in the low-frequency mode, the apparatus may be capable of gesture detection. A high-frequency mode may include a fingerprint sensor mode or a stylus detection mode.