Apple has just recently been granted a patent for the next generation of Touch ID. The company had filed a patent application back in 2019, which was for an infrared light technology that is housed under the display.
The patent was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office, which involved a new image sensor that is housed under the device’s screen. Looking at the patent, the primary element is the new optical imaging system that will emit a shortwave infrared light through the display, while a photosensitive element will be configured to receive a reflection from the interface surface to map the image of the users’ fingers.
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In other words, it is what appears to be an in display fingerprint scanner from the Cupertino based giant. The Apple patent also places a heavy emphasis on this “Shortwave Infrared light,” which is a crucial component of what appears to be next generation Touch ID.
Unfortunately, this is just a patent, and have no way of actually knowing if the company is developing or actively working with the technology at the moment. Furthermore, Apple has also been mainly focusing on Face ID for its flagship iPhones. Although, we might see this technology implemented on iPads or even a few budget iPhones in the near future.
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