Since last year, we¡¯d been hearing rumours that Apple was attempting to put its Home button and integrated scanner under the iPhone¡¯s display.
Now, it seems Samsung may actually beat Apple to the punch, according to a new patent the company received.
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According to a new report by Galaxy Club, Samsung now has a patent to move its own fingerprint scanner from the rear panel back to the front of the device. But instead of having it below the display, he idea is to embed it underneath the screen as a pressure sensitive scanner.
The patent is reportedly called ¡®Electronic Device for Supporting the Fingerprint Verification and Operating Method¡¯. A fingerprint scanner combined with a pressure sensor would allow the smartphone to differentiate between normal screen touches and a specific action to trigger the scanner. This technology is expected to debut in Samsung¡¯s next batch of flagship devices, including the Galaxy Note 9.
KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi-Kuo has previously also stated the Galaxy Note 9 will be the first smartphone from Samsung to have a fingerprint sensor embedded within the display. Kuo is noted for his usually correct predictions in the smartphone industry. He also adds that the two manufacturers building the required parts have already shipped samples of the hardware to Samsung.
Samsung
For those of you that don¡¯t remember, Apple was last year reportedly attempting to put a fingerprint scanner under its display with its then upcoming flagship. However, those rumours eventually gave way to reports that the technology was too complex to implement in time for the device¡¯s scheduled announcement. Since then, we¡¯ve seen the launch of both the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, as well as the iPhone X, neither of which features the technology. Instead, the iPhone X uses Apple¡¯s new FaceID, which utilises facial recognition conducted by a redesigned front camera to unlock the device, just by a user looking at it.
It¡¯s important to remember that Qualcomm has already demonstrated the technology, calling it Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensors. It¡¯s available in two variations as well; one to go behind a smartphone? display and one to sit underneath glass and metal, and has even been demonstrated in a Vivo phone.