Roger Fingas
Security technology firm Sonavation on Tuesday announced a technology allowing ultrasonic fingerprint sensors to be embedded under Corning Gorilla Glass, potentially paving the way for anticipated iPhone designs without home buttons.
Such sensors are bonded directly to the display. Sonavation claimed that its 3D scanning technology can remain accurate in all situations, even if a finger is moist, oily, or dirty.
In June, AppleInsider learned that Apple is working on eliminating the home button from future iPhones, although the first models with that technology are unlikely to ship until 2017 at the very earliest. The key obstacle will be replacing the Touch ID sensor embedded in the button with equivalent fingerprint detection embedded in the screen.
Indeed Apple has filed for multiple patents related to the concept, including one covering the detection of multiple fingerprints simultaneously. The company is also working on chips that merge separate touch and display driver functions, but it could want to turn to a company like Sonavation to create a complete package.
There are other potential barriers as well however, such as whether the technology will work with sapphire if Apple chooses to switch away from Gorilla Glass. There's also the question of how to replace iOS commands that currently rely on a home button, though Force Touch and multi-finger gestures could provide a relatively simple solution.
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Doing away with the home button would likely require that the "M" series chip Apple uses to detect and store sensor data when the phone is in standby be used for this. I imagine the sensor data obtained would need to be reviewed as a fingerprint right after Force Touch is used, and before the phone is unlocked, and everything is turned on. Then, the normal channel for fingerprints would be used, which comes on after the phone is turned on. I say this because it's really difficult to get the home button pressed while in a pocket, but a Force Press on the entire screen would occur with frequency when in that pocket. Some method would need to be in place to avoid turning the phone on constantly while waiting for a fingerprint. As the "M" chip is on all the time for the purpose of detecting sensor data, there would be little extra battery power needed for this function.
...or paving the way for Touch ID without sapphire.
They aren't going to get rid of the home button. Having a button with a distinct purpose is important to preventing accidental activation. Also, the most obvious problems: Not everyone has all of their fingers. There are amputees in this world. Also, thanks to our existing privacy and security laws, I will never buy a phone that relies completely on a fingerprint to unlock it. To use Apple Pay after the phone has already been unlocked with a password, fine.
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/187291/new-tech-bonds-fingerprint-sensors-under-gorilla-glass-could-allow-button-free-iphones#post_2750434"] Indeed Apple has filed for multiple patents related to the concept, including one covering the detection of multiple fingerprints simultaneously. The company is also working on chips that merge separate touch and display driver functions, but it could want to turn to a company like Sonavation to create a complete package.[/quote] Apple won't use anyone else's tech unless it's the best tech, and Apple totally OWNS the tech. It's all about Apple delivering the best solution AND delivering it exclusively.
I think Apple would like to remove the home button if it can still maintain the needed level of elegance. The top lock button or even the volume buttons can be used in conjunction to wake it up for the needed inputs. Just removing the physical home button saves huge amounts of manufacturing costs. The parts and assembly steps surely add up.
Perhaps a few generations away.