With Apple’s iPhone 5S release date approaching, some of the latest rumors surrounding the next-generation flagship have to do with it’s supposed fingerprint scanner. As of today, tech junkies and pundits alike need not suppose anymore as new leaked specs confirm the latest technology to be included on the iPhone 5S.
An Apple developer and beta tester sent Apple Insider screenshots of a biometrics kit folder which contains strings of texts describing the logistics of the fingerprint sensor. As seen in the snapshot above, the fingerprint sensor will afford users the ability to take photos using their thumb, while also playing a part in the set-up process likely playing some kind of security or authentication role.
The idea of some kind of fingerprint sensor or scanner in the upcoming iPhone 5S has been stuck in the rumor mill for months. Apple was awarded a patent for fingerprint recognition technology back in June but that doesn’t necessarily mean they planned on implementing it. After all, Apple does have the reputation, however slight, of being somewhat of a patent troll.
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.”
As for other iPhone 5S specs and details, the common consensus is that it will be equipped with include a 4-inch IGZO display with resolution of 1136 x 640 and 326 ppi, 2GB of RAM, and a 12-megapixel rear camera. The A6 CPU chip could be the same as the one used on the current iPhone, although graphics could be upgraded.
