Biometric sensor and device including the same

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel, a cover glass disposed on the display panel, and a biometric sensor device disposed below the display panel. The biometric sensor device includes a printed circuit board, a biometric sensor disposed on the printed circuit board, and a housing disposed on the printed circuit board and in which an opening is formed. The biometric sensor is disposed in the opening of the housing and is attached to a surface of the display panel through the housing.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A mobile electronic device comprising:
 a display panel including a first surface and a second surface on opposite sides of the display panel, the first surface comprising a display screen and configured to face a viewer, and the display panel comprising a plurality of layers, wherein a portion of the display panel corresponding to an area of the second surface has at least one layer less than another portion of the display panel corresponding to another area of the second surface;   a biometric sensor having an upper surface spaced apart from the second surface of the display panel by at least an unoccupied space and disposed below the display panel to collect a signal related to biometric information through each of an area of the first surface of the display panel, the area of the second surface of the display panel, and the unoccupied space; and   a housing configured such that the upper surface of the biometric sensor is spaced apart from the second surface of the display panel by at least the unoccupied space and the signal related to biometric information is to be incident on the upper surface of the biometric sensor.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the portion of the display panel forms a recess in a side of the display panel configured to face away from a viewer, and which is at least partially defined by the area of the second surface of the display panel. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the plurality of layers of the display panel comprise a first layer comprising a front panel, and a second layer below the first layer,   wherein surfaces of the first layer comprise the area of the first surface and the area of the second surface of the display panel,   wherein the second layer has an opening defined therein that corresponds to the areas of the first and second surfaces of the display panel such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the surfaces of the first layer reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor via the unoccupied space and the opening.   
     
     
         21 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the housing has an opening and is attached to the second surface of the display panel by an adhesive at a periphery of the opening, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to the opening of the housing such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the first and second surfaces of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor.   
     
     
         22 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the housing is disposed below the display panel and has an opening that corresponds to the areas of the first and second surfaces of the display panel, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to the opening of the housing such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the first and second surfaces of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor.   
     
     
         23 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the housing has an opening proximate the recess in the display panel, and is attached to the second surface of the display panel by an adhesive proximate a periphery of the opening, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to the opening of the housing such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the first and second surfaces of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor via the unoccupied space and the recess.   
     
     
         24 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the housing has an opening that corresponds to the areas of the first and second surfaces of the display panel, and the housing is disposed below the display panel and the recess, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to the opening of the housing such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the first and second surfaces of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor.   
     
     
         25 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the housing has an opening, is disposed under the portion of the display panel, and is attached to the second surface of the display panel by an adhesive proximate a periphery of the opening, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to at least part of the opening of the housing such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the portion of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor.   
     
     
         26 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the housing is disposed under the portion of the display panel and has an opening that corresponds to the areas of the first and second surfaces of the display panel, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to the opening of the housing such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the portion of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor.   
     
     
         27 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the housing has an opening and is attached to the second surface of the display panel by an adhesive proximate a periphery of the opening of the housing, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to at least part of the opening of the housing and is at least partially accommodated by the opening of the second layer such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the first and second surfaces of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor via the unoccupied space.   
     
     
         28 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the housing has an opening that corresponds to the areas of the first and second surfaces of the display panel and is disposed below the display panel and the opening of the second layer, and   wherein the biometric sensor is disposed to correspond to the opening of the housing and the opening of the second layer such that the signal related to biometric information that passes through the first and second surfaces of the display panel reaches the upper surface of the biometric sensor.   
     
     
         29 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the housing is supported by a circuit board. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 29 , wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible printed circuit board. 
     
     
         31 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 , further comprising a flexible circuit board disposed below the biometric sensor and electrically coupled to the biometric sensor, and a metal sheet provided on the flexible circuit board so as to overlap the biometric sensor, the flexible circuit board provided between at least the metal sheet and the biometric sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 18 , further comprising a flexible circuit board electrically coupled to the display panel and having an opening defined therein that overlaps an area where the biometric sensor is provided. 
     
     
         33 . A mobile electronic device comprising:
 a display panel including a first surface and a second surface on opposite sides of the display panel, the first surface comprising a display screen and configured to face a viewer, and the display panel comprising a plurality of layers, wherein a portion of the display panel corresponding to an area of the second surface has at least one layer less than another portion of the display panel corresponding to another area of the second surface;   a biometric sensor having an upper surface spaced apart from the second surface of the display panel by at least an unoccupied space and disposed below the display panel to collect a signal related to biometric information through each of an area of the first surface of the display panel, the area of the second surface of the display panel, and the unoccupied space; and   a spacer configured so that the upper surface of the biometric sensor is spaced apart from the second surface of the display panel by at least the unoccupied space and the signal related to biometric information is to be incident on the upper surface of the biometric sensor via the unoccupied space.   
     
     
         34 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , wherein the spacer is supported by a circuit board. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the circuit board comprises a flexible printed circuit board. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , further comprising a flexible circuit board disposed below the biometric sensor and electrically coupled to the biometric sensor, and a metal sheet provided on the flexible circuit board so as to overlap the biometric sensor, the flexible circuit board provided between at least the metal sheet and the biometric sensor. 
     
     
         37 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , further comprising a flexible circuit board electrically coupled to the display panel and having an opening defined therein that overlaps an area where the biometric sensor is provided.