Apple has just got the patent for something that has been in rumours to be a part of the upcoming iPhone 8 (expected). We are talking about the iPhone 8 home button. Recently, there were rumours that Apple will remove the fingerprint scanner (which is integrated with the home button) from the iPhone 8 and instead merge it with the screen. Now, it seems like that just might actually happen. On Tuesday, Apple was granted patents which contain the secret of how Apple plans on merging the screen with the fingerprint reader.
How does that solve the iPhone home button mystery?
The patents were for a brand new fingerprint sensor. It has been named “Capacitive fingerprint sensor including an electrostatic lens” in the patent. The difference between this and the already existing sensors in the market is that it will be able to accurately read the fingerprint even through a surface like display in between the print and the sensor.
The patent has been published by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This patent is self-explanatory as to how Apple will make the iPhone 8 with edge-to-edge OLED display without any physical buttons. Earlier, Jony Ive, the Chief Design officer of Apple, had also said that he wanted the iPhone to be like ‘a piece of glass’.
When we connect the dots between Ive’s statement and the patent, it is a no brainer that there is a high probability that the iPhone 8 will actually get rid of the physical button by incorporating the fingerprint sensor in the display. This also further strengthens the rumours saying the same.
How will it do that?
This advanced sensor will allow Apple to make bezel-less iPhone 8 while still retaining a fingerprint reader. The electrostatic lenses will play a vital role in reading the prints from the OLED display if Apple goes ahead with this total overhaul of the devices.
The patent has come out just days after Ming-Chi Kuo, Analyst at KGI Securities, made his predictions regarding the 2017 variant of the iPhone. He said that Apple might be considering a glass panel on the front as well as the back with a stainless steel frame around the edges.
Also, an Apple employee working in Herzliya office said that Apple is working on “new products” in the facility with specific mention of “iPhone 8.” He said that the device will be different from the previous devices and will have an improved camera.
Anyways, the only thing we can do till the iPhone 8 launch is keeping on thinking whether the iPhone home button will be there in the iPhone 8 or not.
