Apple Files Patent For Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor, Mentions An In-Display Sensor

Apple Files Patent For Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor, Mentions An In-Display Sensor

According to the United States Patent & Trademark Office, Apple has filed a patent for its Touch ID fingerprint sensor that is currently only found on the iPhone 5s. The patent is specifically for the covering of the sensor itself, as well as the sapphire glass cover on the home button, which is also a critical component of the Touch ID system.

The patent is named “Capacitive Sensor Packaging,” and includes all of the packaging, and even the metal ring that now surrounds the home button.

Apple Files Patent For Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor, Mentions An In-Display Sensor

It is no surprise that Apple has filed a patent for this technology, as it is the flagship new feature for the iPhone 5s, and the one feature that separates it from every other Apple device that has been created.

While the patent covers the current technology for Touch ID, it also includes possible future technologies for fingerprint recognition such as infrared and optical sensors to allow for growth and changes in the Touch ID system to be made over the years and still be covered by the patent.

In addition, one of the most interesting parts of the patent include a mention of a sensor behind the display. This leaves open the possibility of the entire screen being able to detect a user’s fingerprint and unlock the screen by simply placing your finger on the screen.

While we’re unlikely to see this feature for quite a while, it is still cool that Apple has left open the possibility of putting Touch ID behind the screen at some point in the future.

What do you think about the idea of putting the Touch ID sensor behind the screen and having users put their finger on the screen to unlock it? Do you like the option of an in-display Touch ID system? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below

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