Qualcomm launches ultrasonic fingerprint identification technology Snapdragon Sense ID

In Monday, at Barcelona MWC, Qualcomm released its own fingerprint identification technology Snapdragon Sense ID. Unlike the capacitive touchpad that we use on high-end smartphones, this fingerprint-recognition technique uses ultrasound to scan fingerprints, a technology that is used by high government security applications. Qualcomm has been working with some equipment manufacturers to produce samples and is expected to be commercially available later this year.

According to Qualcomm, compared to the pressure capacitance sensor to make two-dimensional fingerprint image, ultrasonic scanning can be more in-depth analysis of fingerprints. The advantage is that even if the finger surface is stained with dirt and does not interfere with ultrasonic sampling, and even penetrate to the surface of the skin to identify the unique fingerprint characteristics of the 3D.

Because ultrasound can penetrate glass, aluminum, steel and plastic, such as mobile phone materials, this technology is expected to change the device's fingerprint scanner implementation, mobile phone surface can no longer configure a dedicated touch pad or button, so that more space can be saved.

From these features, Apple's two-dimensional identification technology Touch ID and Samsung S6 use of Synaptics technology seems to be inferior to it. However, although the sensor itself is a stand-alone component, it needs to work closely with Qualcomm's 骁丽 Dragon processor.