Qualcomm fingerprint sensor enables virtual home button
- Author:Ella Cai
- Release on:2017-06-29
Qualcomm has developed an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor which can operate under the glass of a mobile device avoiding the need for a mechanical home button. It also detects heartbeat and blood flow.
The sensors are designed as both an integrated solution with Snapdragon processors and as standalone sensors that can be used with other processors.
The sensor is a step forward towards the bezel-less smartphone, which is seen as an aspiration for the mobile phone industry.
It is widely expected that the iPhone 8 will have a virtual home button using an Apple in-house developed sensor.
The Qualcomm sensors are expected to be available in Q4, and to arrive in commercial devices in the first half of 2018.
The sensor can scan through OLED display stacks of up to 1200 µm, along with enrolling and matching, and can scan through up to 800 µm of cover glass and up to 650 µm of aluminum.
The sensors are designed as both an integrated solution with Snapdragon processors and as standalone sensors that can be used with other processors.
The sensor is a step forward towards the bezel-less smartphone, which is seen as an aspiration for the mobile phone industry.
It is widely expected that the iPhone 8 will have a virtual home button using an Apple in-house developed sensor.
The Qualcomm sensors are expected to be available in Q4, and to arrive in commercial devices in the first half of 2018.
