Recently, reports surrounding the iPhone 5S release date and the new fingerprint sensor have been rather dismal, citing poor yields and production issues. Today, however, newly published patent photos of Apple’s fingerprint sensing technology looks to inject a little optimism into the hearts of tech junkies everywhere as the technology, frankly, is f—ing awesome.

The technology, taken from AuthenTec after being acquired by Apple, is for a pixel-sensitive fingerprint sensor implemented within the display. The employment of the sensor will likely be for security and authentication purposes, for example the user will have to use their fingerprint to unlock their respective device or possibly even access secure information.

AuthenTec was bought out by Apple because their sensor tech is so expansive and fortified. According to Patently Apple, an online publication that reports on Apple patents, AuthenTec’s AES850 smart sensor expands the functionality of touchscreens while reducing the negative impact the sensor has on the device’s performance and durability.

To get the full gist of what Apple is looking to perfect, here’s the abstract from the patent application:

“A finger sensor may include pixels, pixel sensing traces each associated with a respective pixel, and electrodes overlying the pixel sensing traces. The finger sensor may also include pixel sensing circuitry coupled to the pixel sensing traces and the electrodes. The pixel sensing circuitry may be capable of operating in a measurement mode by operating the pixels so that at least some of the pixels are active, and at least some other of the pixels are inactive and coupling pixel sensing traces associated with the inactive pixels to a voltage reference. The pixel sensing circuitry may also be capable of operating in the measurement mode by coupling electrodes associated with the active pixels to the voltage reference and coupling electrodes associated with the inactive pixels to a drive signal.”

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