We’ve heard of Samsung’s plans to bring an in-display fingerprint sensor to its upcoming smartphones. However, it appears the Korean manufacturer wants to bring the feature to its smartwatches as well. According to a recently discovered patent filing, Samsung is exploring the possibility of integrating the fingerprint sensor within the display of its future smartwatches. Now, this would essentially allow users to unlock the smartwatch by placing their finger on the screen.
Going by the patent filing, Samsung wants to use a technology dubbed as Force Touch, which suggests that users would have to press the screen to unlock the smartwatch. Besides, the patent also suggests that only a certain area of the screen would require Force Touch, and not the entire screen. And in case this reaches mass production, the South Korean manufacturer also indicated that technology will support, capactive, resistive, infrared, as well as ultrasonic sensors.
Not to mention, Samsung will likely use an ultrasonic sensor on the upcoming Galaxy S10 series. However, there’s still consfusion whether all models of the upcoming flagship would get this technology, or will it be reserved for top-end variants of the handset.
Samsung is expceted to unveil the Galaxy S10 series in February 2019. Numerous leaks in the second half of 2018 have tipped that Samsung is betting big on perfecting optical in-display fingerprint technology. This suggests that upcoming Samsung phones would likely come equipped with this feature. As for the upcoming Samsung smartwatch to feature this technology, it could be the next-generation Galaxy Watch. However, it’s still early come to any conclsuions, as Samsung will need to perfect this technology before its enters mass production.
