Samsung patents an in-display fingerprint technology for smartphones and smartwatches

Last updated: December tertiary, 2018 at xvi:04 UTC+01:00

Samsung may finally launch a phone with an in-display fingerprint sensor next yr. The Milky way S10 is expected to be the first Samsung flagship to go the feature. Samsung already has various patents on in-display fingerprint technology for smartphones. The company aims to expand this technology to smartwatches likewise. Samsung filed for this patent with the USPTO in Q2 2018.

Samsung patents in-display fingerprint scanner for smartwatches

The new Samsung patent illustrates a Galaxy device with a fingerprint sensor disposed on the rear surface of the display. The sensor is capable of detecting a touch having a specified pressure level which the visitor refers as "forcefulness affect". Samsung notes that the sensor will notice the forcefulness touch just through a specified area, in this case, the lower portion of the display. The fingerprint recognition area will be located within this force bear on area. The patent document hints that Samsung may utilize this engineering science in both smartphones and smartwatches.

Samsung has too specifically stated that the device using this technology may include a display panel, a touch sensor, and/or an electronic pen sensor. The electronic pen sensor will be capable of receiving a bear upon, a gesture, or a hovering input from an electronic pen. The display panel may include an LCD, an LED, an OLED, a MEMS, or an electronic paper brandish panel. The touch sensor, meanwhile, may include a capacitive, a pressure-sensitive, a resistive, an infrared, or an ultrasonic touch panel.

These patents are, of class, never a confirmation that the visitor is actually working on a device to apply it. However, it's interesting that Samsung is at least mulling with the idea of using it on a smartwatch. Imagine a Galaxy Scout with an ultrasonic in-brandish fingerprint scanner!