Qualcomm is making in-display fingerprint scanners a reality, to ship by 2018

Qualcomm, yesterday, at the MWC, 2017, in Shanghai announced it is building in-display fingerprint scanners which will be coming by the summer of 2018.



According to Qualcomm, The new technology, which will utilize ultrasonic fingerprint detection - as opposed to capacitance - will make it easier to 'see' through  smartphone's display panels to take a fingerprint read, as long has it is not too thick, which means the design will work when implemented
on an OLED panel under 1200 μm thick. *LCDs might be left behind here*

In addition, Qualcomm's sensor is capable of detecting heart rate and blood flow, something the capacitive fingerprint scanner is not really capable of. It also works with the screen on or off, and can be used underwater as well., another thing you can't do with the capacitive fingerprint sensors.

Waterproofing and dustproofing also becomes even easier with the in-display fingerprint scanner, because there will be no need to carve holes into the device to add the sensor anymore. This will in-turn give room for better infinity display technologies and bezelless designs will be incorporated more on smartphones. Qualcomm says, in theory, this technology can work in every part of the display. *Cool stuff*



The company also announced two other basic scanner designs that utilize its ultrasonic technology, which can be placed directly under metal or glass *but not under a display*. Based on the photo above, the scanners will come sooner than the under-display version. Qualcomm also mentioned that all its scanners will work with non-Qualcomm chipsets.

What do you think about this new fingerprint technology on smartphones? Please comment below.

Via