Apple has been awarded a patent for an in-display fingerprint sensor, which, incidentally, is one of the most prominent iPhone 8 rumours.
Speculation is rife Apple will remove the Home button on the iPhone 8 altogether and reveal a handset with an edge-to-edge display.
This makes a patent filing entitled “capacitive fingerprint sensor including an electrostatic lens” all the more interesting.
Within the patent filing (via AppleInsider) Apple says the patent addresses “an interest in avoiding assigning valuable surface space exclusively to an component that may only be used briefly during the process of identifying the user.”
According to the patent, such a solution would enable authentication anywhere on the display of the iOS device.
Related: iPhone 8 rumours
The lens would use one or more conductive layers, which could bend around the user’s fingerprint and provide an accurate reading.
This is by no means the first patent Apple has been granted in this area, suggesting work has been going on for quite some time.
While this development would be great for the iPhone 8, it could also be a boon for a future generation Apple Watch.
Would an edge-to-edge display with built-in fingerprint sensor get you back on the iPhone bandwagon? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.