Last week, Apple had filed a patent application that was titled “Apple Patent Reveals Apple Watch’s Digital Crown being eliminated and replaced with an Optical based System.” In other words, an upcoming next gen Apple Watch with Touch ID support.
Earlier today (7th February 2020), the US Patent & Trademark Office published this patent application from Apple. The patent reveals that the Cupertino based giant is working on a new Apple Watch that will make the digital crown of the wearable more useful to the user through the addition of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner support.
Editor’s Pick: Huawei Singapore announces new colorways for FreeBuds 3 and Nova 5T; buyers get free gifts with each purchase
According to the Apple patent, the side surface of the smartwatch will feature a transparent cover alongside image sensors that will be extended via the Watch’s crown. This mechanism will enable biometric security on the wearable product, or in other words, Touch ID security. The mechanism is housed below the primary display of the Apple Watch and also seems to have a light transmitting and an image sensing surface.
The images reveal that to input the fingerprint from users’ fingers, one must place it on the circular surface of the digital crown and rotate it. Meaning, it is not a simple touch input but a sliding action across the round dial. This is an interesting functionality that the company could add in its future iterations of its Apple Watch which will also make the popular wearables more secure as well.
UP NEXT: OPPO Find X2 screenshots show 60Hz, 120Hz refresh rates with QHD+ and FHD+ support
(Via)
