In-display fingerprint sensors have been on the market since 2018, with companies such as Samsung, OnePlus, Qualcomm and Vivo all utilising the technology. Since then, the feature has become somewhat of an industry standard for many flagships.

So far in-display fingerprint sensors have come either in optical or ultrasonic variants. Both variants vary in their technical advancement and security, but so far they have had a shared requirement – they need an OLED screen to work.

Now it seems that might be changing, as a company called Goodix claims it is bringing the same technology to LCD screens in 2020. Wccftech also reports that Lu Weibing – the general manager at Redmi – says that fingerprint sensors is soon coming to its LCD displays. This is confirmed in a video posted on weibo seen below.

Video source: weibo

Introducing in-display fingerprint sensors to LCD screens comes with a new set of challenges – including how to light up the fingerprint through the display in order to read it. Lu Weibing explains how a change in perspective was needed to solve the problems. Below is a translated excerpt, via wccftech, from Lu Weibing’s official Weibo account:

The innovative use of infrared high-transmittance film material greatly improves the transmittance of infrared light that could not pass through the screen. The infrared transmitter at the bottom of the screen emits infrared light. After the fingerprint is reflected, it penetrates the screen and shines on the fingerprint sensor to complete the fingerprint verification, which solves the LCD Fingerprint problem.

The improvement means that in-display fingerprint readers may be introduced to a wider range of phones in the not so distant future. It will be interesting to see if the new technology makes it possible for more affordable phones to be shipped with in-display fingerprint readers.

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KitGuru says: Does your phone have an in-display fingerprint reader? What's your impression after using the technology?

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