USPTO publishes Samsung patent application for embedded fingerprint sensor

Last week, an image was recovered deep from within Samsung Galaxy S3 firmware files which hinted at an embedded fingerprint sensor in upcoming devices and now, the USPTO has published a patent application from Samsung which seems to confirm the biometric integration.

The patent, published last week, was filed 16 months ago to the USPTO, and suggests the fingerprint sensor integration described could be either a contact or swipe sensor. The patent was also filed in November 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Though the patent outlines the fingerprint in the home button, it also notes that it would be located on the side of the device.

Reported last week, according to a tip sent in to SamMobile, a recovered image from GS3 firmware files showed vague plans for a fingerprint-based security system.

We’ve written extensively about smartphone biometrics, and as the Biometrics Research Group argues, it’s likely the next round of smartphones will incorporate biometrics to some degree, and it’s expected that this integration will be driven by major manufacturers.

As we’ve also reported, Apple is widely believed to also be working on biometric integration  – particularly in the form of a fingerprint sensor, though there have also been reports which suggest the company is having trouble with integration, and the fingerprint sensor could be causing a delay in production.

*CORRECTION NOTICE:
A previous iteration of this article erroneously reported Samsung’s embedded fingerprint sensor patent had been granted, though in actuality, the patent application has just been published by the USPTO. Clarification of this has been added to the piece.

Article Topics

fingerprint  |  Samsung  |  smartphone