Apple's new patent reveals fingerprint scanner technology in
16 Feb 2017
The next-generation of iPhone could have no home button and a screen that scanned the fingerprints, according to a newly granted patent, first discovered by Apple Insider.
The patent outlined a new technology being developed by Apple for embedding a fingerprint scanner beneath the screen of the iPhone.
Apple is using, technology developed by LuxVue, a company acquired Apple in 2014 in the patent. The smartphone would use infrared emitters and sensors placed alongside the RGB LEDs to scan and detect the position of the finger on the screen, which could be integrated inside the touch display, reducing the overall dimensions of the device.
Apple's iPhones featured large symmetrical bezels at the bottom and top of the screens along with a fingerprint scanner integrated into the home button.
The large bezels made the current generation of iPhones look relatively large as compared with the likes of the Galaxy S7 edge and LG G5.
Currently fingerprint technology requires users to touch the ring to proceed.
According to commentators, the timing of the patent might be significant as there had been reports claiming Apple would remove the home button from next iPhone.
