New Apple Patent Describes Fingerprint Sensor That Could Work Through Display

[squirrelist]

I'll be glad to see this. I can't tell you how many people I've helped set up Touch ID, and no matter how much I say "touch the ring on the home button down there **pointing**", 75% of people touch the fingerprint image on the screen instead.

 

[rGiskard]

The 7 Home button is the equivalent of power-steering for a car—we all still see a steering wheel. Explain how a no home button design plays out on the display. I'm using Notes, how do I get to the Home screen? Explain it in a detailed manner. "A virtual Home button" is not a detailed explanation btw. How is it used?

Android figured this out years ago. After using Android a physical home button feels downright archaic. It's great on an iPhone for fingerprint security but on an iPad it gets tiresome to have to reach down and click a physical button. And a physical button can of course wear out.
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No bezel? you must be crazy. Apple doesn't design a phone to add no benefit and weaken the structure of the phone. Bezel less is purely for the look and has no usability. Since when Apple did that?

LOL.

I'm reminded of this every time I plug in a USB drive on an iMac. I'm forced to stand up and fumble in the dark behind the display because Apple must have the sides of it thinner.

 

[G4R2]

What is even more interesting about this patent application and the accompanying diagram is the revelation that Apple is now using severed fingers for its testing.

 

[Col4bin]

Gooooodbye Home Button! Time to go and join your old buddy, iPod Scroll Wheel.

(And hopefully goodbye to the current iPhone bezel sandwich as we know it today.)

 

[TMRJIJ]

LOL.

I'm reminded of this every time I plug in a USB drive on an iMac. I'm forced to stand up and fumble in the dark behind the display because Apple must have the sides of it thinner.

Weak argument.

 

[enriquesh96]

my body is ready

 

[Col4bin]

I just don't know how they're going to make an all-display phone look good.

Seriously? Ye of little faith—trust in Master Jony-wan Ivy.
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My gut instinct is leaning this way also. As for bezel buttons they've existed for decades.

Agreed. Bezels and bezel buttons are fine. Internal engineering specs aside, perhaps the current bezels could stand to be downsized by half if not more, if the physical home button is going away.

 

[AngerDanger]

I also fail to see how you replace the Home button virtually? A force gesture from the bottom of the display?

A software bezel! 😀

Better yet: the home button on the iP7 is pressure sensitive, so a "button" integrated into the display would be too. Devs can still make software buttons that require taps at the bottom of the screen, but firm presses would be treated as home button taps.

For users who are new, if iOS detects a few seconds of inactivity (in non-fullscreen-video apps), it will provide a visual cue:

 

[Col4bin]

Why does this give me the feeling iPhone 8 won't be coming out until 2018?

Thinking the same thing. This patent seems like a potential long-term solution (if it ever happens). My gut tells me that something like this would have been in the works for over a year now, but finger's crossed for iPhone 8 implementation.

 

[DVDxR]

Looks pretty gorgeous to me! And that's just a mockup. 😀

Yea who needs those pesky speaker, front camera, proximity sensor.....

 

[Col4bin]

Why would Apple do a total redesign of the Home-button (iPhone 7), just to remove it for the next generation? I find that strange. Of course, it could be to perfect the haptic feedback for a virtual home button I guess... *Shrug*

Agree that it's not Apple-like to rollout jarring hardware design changes. As an earlier poster suggested, this patent might apply to a 2018 or later implementation. That would allow another season or two of the current home button functionality before another shift to removing the home button completely.

 

[NT1440]

Thinking the same thing. This patent seems like a potential long-term solution (if it ever happens). My gut tells me that something like this would have been in the works for over a year now, but finger's crossed for iPhone 8 implementation.

This patent, and many others related to the same concept has been in the works at Apple for over 5 years now. Don't ever confuse the timing of a patent finally clearing through the Patent Office with the timeline of the R&D being performed.

 

[Soccertess]

You can start lining up at the Apple Store 2 weeks from now. ;-)

iPhone 8 will be "the" new benchmark of smartphone, just like the first iPhone! I can't wait.

I really hope you are right! The 7 is quite far behind.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Better yet: the home button on the iP7 is pressure sensitive, so a "button" integrated into the display would be too. Devs can still make software buttons that require taps at the bottom of the screen, but firm presses would be treated as home button taps.

For users who are new, if iOS detects a few seconds of inactivity (in non-fullscreen-video apps), it will provide a visual cue:

AD, your mockups are always amazing. I hope MR uses this as just one example of what 'could be'. @arn what do you think?

 

[TMRJIJ]

Better yet: the home button on the iP7 is pressure sensitive, so a "button" integrated into the display would be too. Devs can still make software buttons that require taps at the bottom of the screen, but firm presses would be treated as home button taps.

For users who are new, if iOS detects a few seconds of inactivity (in non-fullscreen-video apps), it will provide a visual cue:

What about 3D Touch at the bottom of the screen?

 

[SpyPhone]

The 7 Home button is the equivalent of power-steering for a car—we all still see a steering wheel. Explain how a no home button design plays out on the display. I'm using Notes, how do I get to the Home screen? Explain it in a detailed manner. "A virtual Home button" is not a detailed explanation btw. How is it used?

Maybe there will be a software button on the screen. Additionally, having the screen detect your every touch will allow the phone to know exactly who's touching the screen at all times. Potentially someone could have apps that are locked so they will only work for the authorized user. If someone grabbed your phone out of your hand while it was unlocked it wouldn't matter. Every single touch could be logged and used to authenticate or track users.

 

[Col4bin]

The 7 Home button is the equivalent of power-steering for a car—we all still see a steering wheel. Explain how a no home button design plays out on the display. I'm using Notes, how do I get to the Home screen? Explain it in a detailed manner. "A virtual Home button" is not a detailed explanation btw. How is it used?

Don't be such a luddite. By your rationale, Apple would have never ditched the iPod scroll wheel back in 2007. Apple's creating the next big shift in this evolution and will design it in a way that feels equally important, central and natural to the iPhone user experience.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I find it interesting that nobody is bringing up the possibility that Apple could debut this in their new trackpads on the Mac later this month.

It'll be a lower volume item with a smaller touch surface and higher price. It gives them more buffer to experiment with mass producing the technology before putting it into their flagship products.

 

[Col4bin]

This patent, and many others related to the same concept has been in the works at Apple for over 5 years now. Don't ever confuse the timing of a patent finally clearing through the Patent Office with the timeline of the R&D being performed.

Well them I am officially excited for the iPhone 8 (and readying my wallet.)

 

[Shirasaki]

On top of all that, just make sure there is always a way to physically reset the device.

Don't go all virtual too far because there is no perfection in the world.

 

[AngerDanger]

AD, your mockups are always amazing. I hope MR uses this as just one example of what 'could be'. @arn what do you think?

Why, thanks! 🙂 I edited my original post and made my finger less… pallid, also taking the opportunity to correctly size it and the visual cue proportionally to the screen.

What about 3D Touch at the bottom of the screen?

Yeah, that's a tough one. I'm guessing developers would find using 3D touch near the bottom to be difficult. As for dock icons with 3D touch… uh, well, people probably don't use the home button on the home screen that often. Uh. 😕

 

[Thunderhawks]

I guess I'm thinking if the sensor stayed in the same place, it wouldn't be too hard to virtualise the home button as an icon on the screen.

That cut in the thumb the illustration probably needs stitches.

The "virtual" home button will launch/pop onto the screen when a touch is sensed as part of iOS 11.

Now Apple has to figure out how one can listen through the glass, so they don't have to put a hole into the entire front panel.

Right now they are probably experimenting if that loudspeaker for listening can be put somehow on any of the sides or plan B:

Couragiously remove the ear section to an in ear BT receiver.

 

[NT1440]

That cut in the thumb the illustration probably needs stitches.

The "virtual" home button will launch/pop onto the screen when a touch is sensed as part of iOS 11.

Now Apple has to figure out how one can listen through the glass, so they don't have to put a hole into the entire front panel.

Right now they are probably experimenting if that loudspeaker for listening can be put somehow on any of the sides or plan B:

Couragessly remove the ear section to an in ear BT receiver.

You were saying?

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...-for-display-based-speakers-for-idevices.html

 

[meaning-matters]

Will there be a home button dongle in the box?

 

[melendezest]

Don't be such a luddite. By your rationale, Apple would have never ditched the iPod scroll wheel back in 2007. Apple's creating the next big shift in this evolution and will design it in a way that feels equally important, central and natural to the iPhone user experience.

Don't see why he's a luddite by asking questions...🙄

Anyhow, this is scary because removing/replacing the home button altogether is a big deal functionality-wise, and Steve ain't here to tell Juanito: NO.

BTW, the click-wheel stayed until the iPhone revolution and beyond, until the device itself was discontinued.