It has been speculated that Apple Touch-ID and Face- ID combined and integrated into the display of an upcoming iPhone. The rumor mill is currently boiling again, because the US patent authority (USPTO) has approved two patent applications from Apple in the past few days that deal with this issue. In addition, the usually well-informed Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is currently working on bringing Face ID to Macs, iPads and cheaper iPhones in the coming years.
True Depth camera too thick for Macbook displays
So far, the true depth camera required for Face ID, especially with Macbooks, was considered too thick for use in the narrow displays of the devices. When it comes to fingerprint scanners, some smartphone manufacturers have already installed them behind the screen of their devices. However, the results were not entirely convincing. Apple, which already has several patents for the fingerprint sensor, apparently wants to go one step further.
In the patent application “Through-display optical transmission, reception, or sensing through micro-optic elements” published a few days ago, Apple describes how visible Light and other electromagnetic waves could get through the display to sensors behind it. According to mactechnews.de, this should be achieved through numerous translucent openings in the panel. The human eye should not be able to perceive these tiny openings, so the image quality should not be impaired. As a result, the entire display could be used for Face-ID and Touch-ID.
Apple: Sensor for image recognition in the display
Another one The USPTO published Apple’s patent (“Electronic device display for through-display imaging”) last week. This is about a sensor that is integrated directly into the screen. Thanks to built-in image capture, the screen should be able to read fingerprints. In order to be able to use the sensor for face recognition, Apple would have to install additional components such as an infrared projector, as heise.de notes. Such a sensor would then also enable Face-ID in Macbook displays.
