Chipmaker and identity solutions firm Qualcomm has revealed an under-glass fingerprint sensor it has developed with Chinese smartphone maker Vivo.In a statement, the firm said a new suite of features for its fingerprint range consists of sensors for Display, Glass and Metal, detection of directional gestures, and underwater fingerprint match and device wake-up.This is also the first commercially announced integrated ultrasonic-based mobile solution to detect heart beat and blood flow for improved mobile authentication experiences.”We are excited to announce Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensors because they can be designed to support sleeker, cutting-edge form factors, unique mobile authentication experiences, and enhanced security authentication,” said Seshu Madhavapeddy, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “This provides OEMs and operators with the ability to offer truly distinct, differentiated devices with added value on truly groundbreaking new devices.”The firm said that Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensor for Display is the mobile industry's first commercially announced multi-functional ultrasonic solution capable of scanning through OLED display stacks of up to 1200um, along with enrolling and matching, and Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensors for Glass and Metal are the first commercially announced to scan through up to 800 µm of cover glass and up to 650 µm of aluminum, an improvement over the previous generation's 400 µm capability for glass or metal.The technology built into a prototype shown at MWC in Shanghai allows the bottom-third of the smartphone's display to act as the fingerprint reader and unlock the device.As demonstrated in a hands-on demo by Engadget, you simply press your thumb to the display and the device unlocks within a second or so of reading your fingerprint.According to Vivo, the technology could be built out so the entire display could act as a fingerprint sensor. However, that will up the production costs dramatically. Engadget's report says that Vivo could eventually spread the technology through the bottom half of the display rather than just a small portion close to the bottom edge.Qualcomm lays out the parameters for its “Fingerprint Sensor for Display” technology in a press release: it's built to detect fingerprints through OLED displays up to 1200µm, while its “Fingerprint Sensors for Glass and Metal” technology can detect input through cover glass up to 800µm and through aluminum up to 650µm.The technology is built to better identify fingerprints even when obstructed with dirt or sweat, and it can be used underwater as well. Engadget tested what appears to be an under-metal fingerprint sensor on a submerged smartphone.
Qualcomm, Vivo display under-glass sensor
