LG Innotek, a unit of international electronics company LG, has developed technology that will allow the smartphone maker to eschew the button that currently comes with fingerprint scanners.
Instead of requiring users to place their thumb or finger on a button to have their fingerprint read, the new technology will have users placing their thumb or finger on the smartphone's screen.
The under-glass fingerprint sensor module will reduce the number of components of a smartphone by eliminating the need for a dedicated button for the feature, leading to better dust protection and waterproofing for devices.
"The new module is expected to drastically reduce any smartphone malfunctions, as it does not require a specific button for fingerprint recognition," said a spokeswoman for LG, adding that the company is in talks for the technology to be acquired and implemented by smartphone manufacturers within the year.
Previously, the fingerprint scanner module needed to be embedded underneath a button, whether it be a dedicated button at the back of the smartphone or under the home button at the front of the device. The module developed by Innotek, on the other hand, will be embedded in a shallow space that has a thickness of only 0.3 millimeter at the lower back of the smartphone screen.
By using this technology, smartphone manufacturers will no longer have to worry about the placement of the fingerprint scanner, breaking any limitations on design that was enforced by the need to have a button for the fingerprint sensor. Without the need to place a button for the feature, there would be less risk of getting dust or water into the smartphone. In addition, by having the module embedded on the smartphone's screen, it would enjoy the same high-level protection that usually comes with smartphone displays.
The new module is the latest achievement of LG in its efforts to keep up with the demand for fingerprint scanner modules. The business is expected to reach shipments of 1.6 billion units by the end of 2020, which is an increase of three times compared to the 499 million units sold last year.
