The Touch ID fingerprint sensor already securely unlocks iPhones and iPads. Can it be any more secure though? Yes, based on a patent application submitted by Apple in June, 2013 and spotted Thursday by AppleInsider.
There’s no guarantee Apple will implement what it describes in the patent, but if it does, the Touch ID will add a second method of unlocking. Based on the description, the sensor could support a combination of your fingerprint in addition to a pattern swipe unlock process as illustrated:
Another illustration shows how you might rotate your finger on the Touch ID sensor to twist a clock-like on-screen interface to select different numbers and unlock a mobile device.
Apple could implement this with the ring around the fingerprint reader; that surface is now used to enable Reachability: By double tapping the ring, iOS will slide the display contents downward, making it easier to reach items that were previously on the top of the screen.
Again, the application of a patent doesn’t mean Apple is definitely going to implement a feature. It does lay the groundwork — at least from the standpoint of protecting the idea — however, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Apple did include this as an option this in future iOS devices.


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