14 DAY TRIAL // A patent application by Apple was recently published and it reveals a new method for replacing Touch ID on upcoming iPhones. The application is entitled “Acoustic imaging system architecture” and reveals a system of acoustic transducers placed beneath the phone’s display, according to Apple Insider.
The patent application describes a new way in which Apple could replace its Touch ID capacitive fingerprint sensor. The transducers would be placed beneath the display and generate acoustic waves or pulses strong enough to propagate through various substrates, including the coverglass. The transducers would be managed by a controller.
The second mode involves the transducer monitoring reflections and attenuations to the acoustic waves when they come in contact with foreign objects. The data would be transferred in the form of electrical signals which are later read by an image resolver that creates a 2D map.
The acoustic imaging system could authenticate fingerprints
The acoustic system could be configured to read a user’s fingerprint, thus successfully replacing the Touch ID. The removal of the Touch ID from iPhones would allow Apple to design smartphones with bigger displays and smaller bezels.
The digital maps created by the imaging system would be compared to known assets and thus used to authenticate a user. The system could be placed right beneath the display or in a certain parameter on the screen, around the bezel or buttons. The system could also be used for scanning a user’s ear or skin pattern.
It remains to be seen whether Apple will incorporate this new technology in the upcoming iPhone 8, especially since the company is rumored to have ditched the physical home button, and thus the Touch ID. Some say that iPhone 8 might come with a 3D laser scanner for facial recognition or a fingerprint sensor embedded into the display. The smartphone is said to come with an edge-to-edge display and larger screen.