According to a list recently published by the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO), Apple has been granted a patent for a technology involving Touch ID fingerprint recognition. In the patent, Apple is exploring off-screen Touch ID in addition to trying to introduce physical fingerprint recognition on the top and side of the iPhone.
After Apple’s iPhone transitioned from the Home button to a full screen, biometric authentication migrated from Touch ID fingerprint recognition to Face ID facial recognition, and the latest patent hints that Apple will bring back Touch ID in the future.
The latest patent suggests that Apple will bring back Touch ID in the future, and in addition to the off-screen Touch ID solution, the future iPhone may also choose to introduce a mechanical slider button with a fingerprint scanner on the right side and top of the device:
Apple states in the patent description that slider button #501 is shown as a mechanical slider button located on the side of the iPhone (#100) that can be pressed, moved up and/or moved down. Although not mentioned in the sketch, the patent description suggests that the button could be placed on top of the device.
