This is how in-display fingerprint sensors work in smartphones
The Nokia 3310's keypad buttons marked the beginning of our phone unlocking journey, which continued with physical capacitive scanners and now reaches a new level with in-display fingerprint sensors. Despite not being particularly new, the technology has developed over time to provide a quicker and more dependable method of unlocking smartphones. Let us tell you how in-display fingerprint sensors work.
Why does it matter?
An in-display fingerprint sensor secures your phone and the data within it by using your biometric data to unlock the device. With the advancement in technology, we now have different types of fingerprint sensors with their own set of pros and cons. Tech giants are also experimenting with full-screen fingerprint sensors, a concept that can change how we unlock our smartphones right now.
How does the in-display fingerprint sensor work?
As the name suggests, in-display fingerprint sensor technology works by placing a finger on a specific area of the phone's screen under which the sensor is housed. When the finger is placed over the scanner, a camera or image sensor takes a picture of the finger's pattern, matches it with the stored biometric data, and then unlocks the device. The process happens extremely fast.
Optical fingerprint sensors use a light source
An optical sensor is the most common type of in-display fingerprint sensor used in smartphones. Optical scanners use a light source, like an LED, to capture a 2D image of the illuminated fingerprint and match it with the registered pattern to unlock the device. However, optical sensors are less secure than passwords or physical scanners and may not work with wet or dirty fingers.
Ultrasonic scanners are more secure than optical sensors
Ultrasonic scanners are considered to be more reliable since they use ultrasonic sound waves to map your fingerprint pattern and create a 3D image. These sensors work more efficiently than optical ones in case your fingers are wet or oily. However, because the technology is costly, you will mostly find ultrasonic fingerprint scanners in high-end premium smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 series.
Qualcomm's new ultrasonic sensor is more faster and secure
In January this year, Qualcomm announced the 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2, which is touted to be 50% faster than its predecessor and offers a 77% larger fingerprint reading area. It can even detect the blood flow within someone's finger.
Ever heard of full-screen fingerprint sensors?
In 2019, OPPO had demoed its wide-zone optical fingerprint sensor, which is said to provide a 15x larger scanning area than the existing sensors. It can even read two fingerprints simultaneously. Moreover, Vivo had showcased an all-screen fingerprint sensing technology on its 2019 Apex concept phone. In 2020, TCL had also announced a "Full-Screen Single-Point In-Display Fingerprint Technology" for LCDs.
