An Apple patent that was published today shows some interesting concepts on the upcoming iPhone 5S. The first major thing you will notice is the long rumored fingerprint sensor will be added to the new device. But as you will notice from the picture below is the sensor looks to be more on the screen and not where the home button would be.
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The fingerprint sensor which would be used for verifying purchases as well as locking the device has been a much-rumored features since rumors of the phone have started.
Most conventional fingerprint sensors rely on a small hardware device. Like the one retrofitted here to a Samsung S3 by Validity. Check out the video below.
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The speculations for where the fingerprint sensor would be placed has always been alongside or embedded onto the home button, but the patent illustrates a more Apple-like approach: incorporating the technology without breaking up the design aesthetic.
9to5mac's website has an idea of how the fingerprint sensor will work if placed on the screen like the patent pictures:
"Apple's technology is slightly different than those embodiments. Rather than use an attached hardware sensor, like most PCs do, Apple's patent application allows users to place their fingers on a touch display. The company's technology then analyzes the finger on a pixel-by-pixel basis to determine if it's a match with the owner's."
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This is the latest in a number of Apple patent applications involving fingerprint-sensing technology. So far none of those technologies has made their way to an Apple iPhone or iPad. Fall is approaching fast and with it the iPhone 5S deadline as well. Only time will tell if this patent makes it way to Apple's future devices.
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