Some or the earliest iPhone 8 rumors suggested the anticipated smartphone could feature a new edge-to-edge display that will completely oust the physical home button and fingerprint scanner. Reports from renowned KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claim the new phone will feature a virtual home button and fingerprint scanner underneath the iPhone 8's OLED display. But how exactly will Apple get this technology to work?
Another Apple patent application surfaced recently and it reveals some of the technologies Apple may apply for the concealed fingerprint sensor. The patent drawing details a screen with infrared light emitters and sensors that are integrated to RGB diodes. This hi-res touch sensing is reportedly capable of identifying fingerprints.
According to Apple Insider, the Cupertino tech giant gained this technology following its acquisition of LuxVue, "a small company specializing in highly efficient micro-LED displays and associated technology." What's more, LuxVue also pioneered research in thin, flexible screens, another technology that Apple may adopt for a future Apple Watch.
That said, past Apple patents have detailed various other fingerprint scanning technology as well. In October of last year, a filed Apple patent revealed another fingerprint scanning method, which involved "an electrostatic lens across the sensing elements picking up the pattern of the user's fingerprint."
As always, stay tuned as we expect to learn more about the upcoming iPhone 8 in the months ahead.
