According to the list recently published by the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO), Apple has obtained a technology patent involving Touch ID fingerprint recognition. In the patent, in addition to exploring Touch ID under the screen, Apple also tried to introduce physical fingerprint recognition on the top and sides of the iPhone.
After the Apple iPhone transitioned from the Home button to a full screen, biometric authentication also migrated from Touch ID fingerprint recognition to Face ID facial recognition, and the latest patent suggests that Apple will return Touch ID in the future.
In addition to the under-screen Touch ID solution, future iPhones may also choose to introduce mechanical slider buttons with fingerprint scanners on the right and top of the device. IT Home hereby attaches the patented design sketches as follows:
Apple states in the patent description that the slider button #501 appears to be a mechanical slider button located on the side of the iPhone (#100) that can be pressed and moved up and/or down. Although not mentioned in the sketches, the patent description states that the button could be placed on the top of the device.