Apple may be tinkering with Touch ID again, this time planning to bring the cutting-edge security feature to its touchscreen displays.
According to details contained in a U.S. patent application by Apple, the iDevice maker may have aspirations of making Touch ID available without the need for today's currently deployed hardware in the home button of the iPhone.
"A fingerprint sensor is incorporated in a display stack in an electronic device," the patent application reads. "A single fingerprint can be captured at one time at a single pre-defined fixed location on a display. Alternatively, a single fingerprint can be acquired at one time at any location on a display."
Based on the design specs outlined and pictured, a finger print can be scanned from any location on the display screen.
"Alternatively, multiple touches on the display can be acquired substantially simultaneously where only one fingerprint is captured at a time or where all of the fingerprints are acquired at the same time," the application abstract continues. "The fingerprint sensor can be implemented as an integrated circuit connected to a bottom surface of a cover sheet, near the bottom surface of the cover sheet, or connected to a top surface of a display. Alternatively, the fingerprint sensor can be implemented as a full panel fingerprint sensor."
Whether or not this technology will soon be implemented in a refreshed iPhone or iPad remains to be seen. But Apple is evidently hard at work on taking Touch ID to the next level.
Source: FreePatentsOnline
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