CrucialTec, the company currently supplying fingerprint scanners to Samsung, announced on Wednesday that it has developed a new algorithm for small area-type fingerprint scanning sensors, which it is naming “Fermion”.
First up, this means that CrucialTec looks set to move away from its swipe-based BTP algorithm, which is used in the Galaxy S5’s fingerprint scanner and resembles older laptop designs. Instead, the company is moving over to an area based design, more akin to the technology that Apple uses in the fingerprint scanner found in the iPhone 5S. The immediate benefit being that CrucialTec’s new algorithm should be able to detect the user’s fingerprint regardless of orientation and without the need to swipe.
CrucialTec is not just moving over to a new algorithm though, the company is also planning to produce new ultra-slim embedded biometric modules, which will enable the production of a much greater variety of sensors. Thinner, oval, circle, and rectangle designs will all be possible, and they could find their way into a much greater range of devices. To top off the improvements, CrucialTec’s next generation sensors will come with improved biometric recognition and rejection rates too.
If Samsung chooses to stay with CrucialTec for its future fingerprint scanning modules, we might well see Samsung make the switch over to area-based biometrics in its next flagship smartphone.
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From February 21, 2014
IDEX ASA, a world leader in fingerprint imaging and recognition technology, today announced that the previously undisclosed mobile communications partner is CrucialTec Corp., a global leader in mobile input solutions, part of the Crucial Family with headquarters and public listing in South Korea. The combined strengths of the two companies offers major smartphone and mobile device manufacturers IDEX’s best in class sensors, strong patent protection together with CrucialTec’s long established mass manufacturing, industrial knowhow and cost efficient supply to multiple end customers. CrucialTec is a world leader in the supply of Biometric Track Pads based on fingerprint sensing to the mobile market. The partnership addresses the growing demand for next-generation biometric solutions that advance security and provide ease-of-use for mobile end users. IDEX and CrucialTec have been working together intensively to develop and industrialize new fingerprint authentication solutions for rapid market introduction.
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From March 31, 2014
WALL, NJ and OSLO, NORWAY - BIO-key International, Inc. (OTCQB: BKYI) and IDEX ASA (OSE: IDEX) have entered into a license agreement and will collaborate to deliver a sensor-to-server infrastructure solution for trustworthy, yet simple and low-cost, in device and online authentication for consumer applications and in particular the smartphone, tablet, and PC markets. The software and hardware combination will be capable of delivering the most accurate, flexible and cost-efficient fingerprint biometric solutions available. BIO-key is a global leader in fingerprint biometric identification solutions, advanced mobile authentication and identity assurance technologies and IDEX is a leader in low cost, high quality fingerprint sensor technologies.
