Qualcomm Technologies releases ultrasonic-based 3D fingerprint authentication solution

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced it has launched Qualcomm Snapdragon Sense ID 3D fingerprint technology, which it calls the mobile industry’s first ultrasonic-based 3D fingerprint authentication technology.

QTI’s new solution is designed to provide improved authentication capabilities, usability and integration over legacy capacitive touch-based fingerprint technologies by using technology developed for government-grade biometric solutions.

Using Qualcomm SecureMSM technology and the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance Universal Authentication Framework (UAF) specification to provide password-less authentication, QTI’s new authentication platform further enhances interoperability among online devices and eliminates the need to create and remember usernames and passwords.

The new authentication method is designed to allow any website or cloud application that offers FIDO authentication to communicate with a wide range of existing and future FIDO devices.

When compared to capacitive touch-based fingerprint technologies, QTI’s ultrasonic fingerprint technology offers many benefits relating to design (its ability to scan through a smartphone cover that is made of glass, aluminum, stainless steel, sapphire and plastics), user experience (its ability to scan through various contaminants that might be present on the finger for a more consistent and accurate method of authentication), and security (the use of sound waves helps achieve a highly detailed surface map of the fingerprint, making it difficult to imitate or spoof).

“Snapdragon Sense ID 3D Fingerprint Technology‘s unique use of ultrasonic technology revolutionizes biometrics from 2D to 3D, allowing for greater accuracy, privacy and stronger authentication,” said Raj Talluri, senior vice president of product management at QTI. “We are very proud to bring the mobile industry’s first ultrasonic-based biometric authentication technology to mobile device manufacturers and their customers, who will benefit from the improved and differentiated user experience.”

QTI’s Snapdragon Sense ID 3D fingerprint technology is comprised of a Qualcomm biometric integrated circuit, custom sensor technology, and algorithms managed by SecureMSM technology.

The technology will be available in commercial devices later this year and is currently in various sampling stages with most major OEMs.

Article Topics

3D  |  authentication  |  biometrics  |  FIDO Ready  |  fingerprint technology  |  Qualcomm