Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor pixel includes a substrate, a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) and a sensor pixel circuit. The PMUT includes a piezoelectric layer stack including a piezoelectric layer disposed over a cavity, the cavity being disposed between the piezoelectric layer stack and the substrate, a reference electrode disposed between the piezoelectric layer and the cavity, and one or both of a receive electrode and a transmit electrode disposed on or proximate to a first surface of the piezoelectric layer, the first surface being opposite from the cavity. The sensor pixel circuit is electrically coupled with one or more of the reference electrode, the receive electrode and the transmit electrode and the PMUT and the sensor pixel circuit are integrated with the sensor pixel circuit on the substrate.

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 fingerprint sensing apparatus includes a fingerprint sensor system and a control system capable of receiving fingerprint sensor data from the fingerprint sensor system. The control system may determine, according to the fingerprint sensor data, whether an object is positioned proximate a portion of the fingerprint sensor system. If the control system determines that an object is positioned proximate the portion of the fingerprint sensor system, the control system may determine whether the object is a finger or a non-finger object. The control system may determine whether the fingerprint sensor data includes fingerprint image information of at least an image quality threshold.

Abstract: A display device has a visual display capable of providing an image and an ultrasonic sensor array attached to a backside component of the visual display. The ultrasonic sensor array may be an ultrasonic area array sensor. For example, the backside component may be a backlight, an optical waveguide, or a display TFT.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, including detecting a signal representative of an object with a piezoelectric device. A display is powered up from a sleep mode based upon the detected signal. The display can be powered up based upon a comparison of the signal to a threshold value. The threshold value can be a predetermined value or based upon a previous signal detected by the piezoelectric device or a previous signal detected by the piezoelectric device.

Abstract: A multifunctional pixel is disclosed. The multifunctional pixel may include a display pixel, a photoelectric sensor, and a second sensor. The second sensor may include one of the following: an ultrasonic sensor and an infrared sensor. The display pixel, the photoelectric sensor, and the second sensor may be located in the multifunctional pixel.

Abstract: A mobile device may include a plurality of sensors and a processor. The processor may be configured to determine trust data for an asset based upon inputs from the plurality of sensors, determine whether an asset is accessible or not accessible based upon evaluating the trust data with a trust determination algorithm, and continuously update the trust data to continue to allow access to the asset or revoke access to the asset based upon the inputs from the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: Techniques described here use variations in the sensor to generate an identifier for the sensor. Each sensor may be comprised of sub-sensing units, called pixels that may demonstrate variation in their sensing capability from one pixel to another. Embodiments of the invention, describe a method for using the relative variance of each pixel (relative to the whole sensor or/and a portion of the sensor) in generating an identifier for the sensor. In one embodiment, the method may obtain information associated with a plurality of pixels from a sensor, detect variations in the information associated for each of the pixels from a subset of the plurality of pixels and generate an identifier for the sensor using the detected variations in the information associated with each of the pixels from the subset of plurality of 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: 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: A fingerprint sensing apparatus may include a fingerprint sensor system and a control system. The fingerprint sensor system may include an ultrasonic sensor array. The control system may be capable of receiving fingerprint sensor data from the fingerprint sensor system and of determining whether an object is positioned proximate a portion of the fingerprint sensor system. The control system may be capable of determining an acoustic impedance of at least a portion of an object that is positioned proximate the fingerprint sensor system. The control system may be capable of determining whether the acoustic impedance is within an acoustic impedance range corresponding to that of skin and of determining, based at least in part on the acoustic impedance, whether the object is a finger.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing apparatus includes a fingerprint sensor system and a control system capable of receiving fingerprint sensor data from the fingerprint sensor system. The control system may determine, according to the fingerprint sensor data, whether an object is positioned proximate a portion of the fingerprint sensor system. If the control system determines that an object is positioned proximate the portion of the fingerprint sensor system, the control system may determine whether the object is a finger or a non-finger object. The control system may determine whether the fingerprint sensor data includes fingerprint image information of at least an image quality threshold.

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: Techniques described here use variations in the sensor to generate an identifier for the sensor. Each sensor may be comprised of sub-sensing units, called pixels that may demonstrate variation in their sensing capability from one pixel to another. Embodiments of the invention, describe a method for using the relative variance of each pixel (relative to the whole sensor or/and a portion of the sensor) in generating an identifier for the sensor. In one embodiment, the method may obtain information associated with a plurality of pixels from a sensor, detect variations in the information associated for each of the pixels from a subset of the plurality of pixels and generate an identifier for the sensor using the detected variations in the information associated with each of the pixels from the subset of plurality of pixels.

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 optical stylus may be capable of providing active illumination for a touch/proximity sensing apparatus. The optical stylus also may be capable of determining a tilt angle of the optical stylus and/or an amount of pressure exerted upon the optical stylus. In some examples, an optical stylus may determine a tilt angle and/or pressure according to changes in optical flux distributions inside the optical stylus. In some examples, an optical stylus may include a deformable tip. The deformable tip and/or associated features may be capable of altering optical flux distributions inside the optical stylus in response to applied pressure and/or optical stylus tilt. In some implementations, the optical flux provided to the light guide by the optical stylus may vary according to pressure applied to the optical stylus.

Abstract: An optical stylus may be capable of providing active illumination for a touch/proximity sensing apparatus. The optical stylus also may be capable of determining a tilt angle of the optical stylus and/or an amount of pressure exerted upon the optical stylus. In some examples, an optical stylus may determine a tilt angle and/or pressure according to changes in optical flux distributions inside the optical stylus. In some examples, an optical stylus may include a deformable tip. The deformable tip and/or associated features may be capable of altering optical flux distributions inside the optical stylus in response to applied pressure and/or optical stylus tilt. In some implementations, the optical flux provided to the light guide by the optical stylus may vary according to pressure applied to the optical stylus.

Abstract: Illumination devices and methods of making same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display device includes a light modulating array and a light guide configured to receive light into at least one edge of the light guide. The light guide can be characterized by a first refractive index. The display device can also include a light turning layer disposed such that the light guide is at least partially between the turning layer and the array. The turning layer can comprise an inorganic material characterized by a second refractive index that is substantially the same as the first refractive index.

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: A mobile device may perform continuous authentication with an authenticating entity. The mobile device may include a set of biometric and non-biometric sensors and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive sensor data from the set of sensors, form authentication information from the received sensor data, and continuously update the authentication information.