Download Methods, technology and applications of miniaturize

Methods, technology and applications of miniaturize fingerprint sensors
Dr. Ralph W. Bernstein, CEO
IDEX ASA, Norway
In today’s society there is an increasing request for use of personal identification within financial
services, banking, retail, corporate environments as well as public services. In parallel we experience a
significant growth in fraud and identity theft. As the level of security breaches and transaction fraud
grow, the need for user-friendly identification techniques increases accordingly.
Biometric identification such as fingerprint, iris, face and voice recognition offers solutions to many of
these issues as it adds independent security factors to the ID authorization procedure.
Fingerprint biometrics is an obvious choice for mass market applications, as it offers small sized, low
power biometric readers at low cost. IDEX ASA, a Norwegian company specializing in fingerprint imaging
and recognition technology develops and delivers fingerprint-based sensor technology and software for
secure, safe and simple use of personal identification in everyday life.
IDEX’s fingerprint sensor module is a complete microsystem encompassing a protectively coated passive
finger interface substrate assembled with a separate electronic chip (ASIC). The signals from the finger
sensing electrodes at the front side are connected to the rear side by insulated through-substrate-microvia interconnects. The rear side of the substrate comprises the flip-chip interface for assembly of the
ASIC. The micro-via technology allows the ASIC, passive components and all I/O contacts to be mounted
on rear side of substrate. This enables a totally flat and smooth fingerprint sensing surface, and
facilitates simplified packaging solutions. The concept of separating the sensing array and ASIC has
several technical advantages, and allows for independent performance and cost optimization of the
electronics and finger interface.
IDEX’s SmartFinger@ Film sensors is based on state-of-the-art polymer manufacturing techniques and
offers small, ultrathin and flexible swipe fingerprint sensors that can be intergraded into devices with a
variety of size and form factors.