OPPO gets SIPO nod for an in-display fingerprint sensor

OPPO has been granted a patent for an in-display fingerprint sensor by the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO). The in-display fingerprint sensors are turning out to be the trend of 2018. Although we are yet to see a smartphone that has made it to the masses, with one more added to the list, it's just a matter of few months.

The images of the patents show that the sensor would occupy a fairly large real-estate above the bottom bezel of the device. The images show a smartphone with a physical home button, but it's highly unlikely that the company would implement the feature when it is launched on a smartphone. Many companies have filed such patents since the technology is becoming a thing of the future. Vivo was the first bring an in-display fingerprint sensor on its Apex concept smartphone.

Since Vivo already has the feature, it comes as no surprise that the sister company OPPO has filed for it. But the boom in in-display sensors also means the demand for OLED panels will increase. The patent uses a different technology than the Synaptics sensor that was launched with the Vivo smartphone.

Recently, Meizu also seems to have joined the bandwagon of putting the fingerprint sensor underneath the smartphone display.

As per their description, the company will be cramming in the functionality into its on-display Super mBack button, that will make it more flexible. Apart from its normal navigation functionality, it will also transform into fingerprint icon to guide the users as to where to place their finger to unlock the device or verify payments. Unfortunately, the feature will not be included in the upcoming Meizu 15 series of phones.

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Not just that, Samsung is also reportedly introducing the in-display sensor with its upcoming Galaxy Note 9. A company spokesperson in an interview to The Korean Herald said, "Samsung Display has prepared three or four solutions for Samsung Electronics to embed the fingerprint sensor inside of the main display, and both are seriously considering one of the solutions," meaning that Samsung is very close to finalizing a solution. They went on to say, "The delay in deciding on the final concept for the Note 9 is due to the work in adopting the in-display fingerprint sensor. A final decision on adoption of the technology will be made by this month."