Samsung patents pressure-sensitive under-display fingerprint scanner

Samsung has registered for a patent for a pressure sensitive under-the-display fingerprint scanner, which the company could introduce in one of its 2018 flagship smartphones, according to a report by GalaxyClub.

The patent application in South Korea was initially filed back in March, and published on October 27th.

Titled ‘Electronic Device for Supporting the Fingerprint Verification and Operating Method Thereof’, the patent describes a method for incorporating the sensor under the screen.

In the patent, Samsung describes in the problem statement how the placement of such a sensor is suboptimal for any use other than below the screen.

The patent shows that the sensor could be placed somewhere at the bottom of the display, close to the Galaxy S8’s virtual home button.

By combining the fingerprint sensor with a pressure sensitive sensor, Samsung allows a distinction to be made between “normal” screen attacks and the specific fingerprint scan action.

Earlier this year, rumors began to surface that Samsung’s Galaxy S8 could be introducing a display embedded fingerprint scanner.

However, many suspect that Samsung was not satisfied with the technology even by the time it launched the Galaxy Note 8, which resulted in the awkwardly-positioned fingerprint sensor in both phones.

The report notes that Samsung might not integrate the new technology on the Galaxy S9 and focus on including it in the upcoming Note 9.

Both of Samsung’s current flagship phones feature iris scanners and facial recognition systems.

Last month, Princeton Identity revealed that its iris recognition technology is one of the core features of the Samsung Galaxy Note8.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  fingerprint biometrics  |  patents  |  Samsung  |  South Korea