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Samsung patent depicts smartphone with notch, full screen fingerprint scanner
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Samsung had applied for a patent related to an optical in-display fingerprint scanner, suggesting the feature could make its way into next year’s Galaxy S10. However, in a separate patent published the same day, it’s been confirmed that Samsung is already looking into the future of this tech.
While the previous patent depicted an implementation similar to current ones, wherein only a portion of the display could be used as a fingerprint scanner, the latest one envisions an advanced full-screen in-display fingerprint scanner that makes use of a separate, low-energy processor. This will be in charge of increasing the screen brightness as soon as a touch is detected and scanning the finger three times to ensure quality. Thus, the new sensor will be more accurate, easier to use, and quicker than the current tech. Moreover, its versatility means that it can also be incorporated into foldable devices.
Design-wise, the patent depicts two main formats. The first illustrates a much more traditional smartphone with thicker bezels that resembles Samsung’s devices from years ago. The second one, rather surprisingly, envisions a notched device that matches the Essential Phone and Huawei’s Mate 20 quite closely.
While implementing the notch in its smartphones is certainly a possibility, Samsung’s efforts to avoid it over the past year suggest it's very unlikely to happen. Instead, the company is seemingly focusing on other technologies that will eventually allow for the removal of bezels entirely.
