Apple is awarded another patent for an under-display Touch ID sensor

Apple is awarded yet another patent for an under-display Touch ID sensor. 

The U.S Patent and Trademark Office published the newly granted patent which describes an under-display optical sensor that can recognise a fingerprint over much of the screen. This feature will not only help unlock a phone faster, but also make in-app purchase authentication a smoother experience as users do not need to reposition their finger to a specific area on the screen. 

Apple has been rumoured to be working on an under-display fingerprint sensor for years. DigiTimes reported in 2015 that Apple was working on touch and display driver integration (TDDI) single-chip solutions for the iPhone. These TDDI single-chip solutions are said to integrate fingerprint sensors with the virtual home button, resulting in "ultra-thin and ultra-narrow displays" for future iPhones.

Sources in China also reported that Apple was testing five different iPhone 7 prototypes with different features which included embedding fingerprint recognition technology in the display. In 2016, Apple was awarded its third patent for an embedded Touch ID sensor in the display. In 2017, Apple was granted its patents for an edge-to-edge display and Touch ID under the display.

Credit Suisse claimed last year that screen suppliers are "actively developing full screens" without notches at the top for Apple, which led to speculation that Face ID would be replaced by under-display Touch ID in 2021. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote in his August 2019 investor note that he expects an iPhone with Face ID and in-screen Touch ID sensor to be released in 2021. 

Bloomberg followed up with a similar report claiming that Apple is developing in-screen fingerprint technology that can read a fingerprint on a large area of the display. There are also rumours of a new iPad model using the under-display Touch ID sensor.

Source: Patently Apple via 9to5Mac