Qualcomm’s Ultrasonic Finger Print Sensor

20 April, 2016

The groundbreaking sensor is under development in Qualcomm Israel. It is concealed under the screen glass, and can measure physiological parameters to determine “Liveliness”

The groundbreaking sensor is under development in Qualcomm Israel. It is concealed under the screen glass, and can measure physiological parameters to determine “Liveliness”

The new sensor is being tested by Qualcomm Israel
The new sensor is being tested by Qualcomm Israel

Qualcomm development center Israel is developing a new type of finger print sensor, based on the use of ultra-sonic waves. The groundbreaking sensor is the world’s first sound wave based finger print scanner.

During a visit at Qualcomm’s research and development labs in Haifa, Tectime watched a demonstration of  the new sensor ability to overcome fraud attempts. For example, the sensor can detect the use of fingerprint-like cover, because the ultrasound wave can penetrate materials to detect real, live body tissues.

The novel ultrasound sensor originated in Epos, an Israeli startup acquired by Qualcomm in 2012. Epos had developed ultrasound technologies for input solutions, including pen, stylus and gesture recognition. The new sensor is designed to be concealed under the device’s screen or cover, be it glass or metal. The sensors concealed design is attuned with long time smartphone design evolution, aspiring to produce sleek and smooth devices.

Qulcomm Israel CEO Arik Mimran

Unlike common fingerprint scanners today, the sensor is water, oil and dust proof, and does not require the user to clean his hands prior to its use. It has a unique capability, to detect what Qualcomm dub as “Liveliness”. The ultrasonic sensor collect various physiological parameters beyond the fingerprints structure. Analyzing this information allows to determine whether the fingerprints belong to an authentic living person or it is a fake rubber print. The software algorithm tor for vital signs recognition is already being developed in Israel.

Qualcomm Israel CEO, Arik Mimran, said that the “liveliness” recognition ability has another advantage: “today, fingerprints can be extracted from a stolen smartphone. These can be used to hack into secured services such as fingerprint ID based ATM machines. This cannot be done when using our novel sensor”.

Medical device in a smartphone

This ability imply for two important possibilities: first, it seems as if Qualcomm might make a move into new markets who does not necessarily linked to the smartphone industry. The second possibility has to do with the sensors ability to measure physiological parameters such as pulse or blood pressure. The sensors fascinating potential lies in the fact that if, after further development, it will be able to provide accurate, real-time physiological parameters – one could use personal testing laboratories applications from a smartphone.

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Posted in: Medical , Mobile , News , Security

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