Qualcomm’s Fingerprint Sensors for Display represent the first commercially available mobile solution leveraging ultrasound technology. While Qualcomm has made significant progress, Apple appears to be exploring similar ultrasonic fingerprint recognition methods for on-display sensors. However, Qualcomm's current solution still needs time before mass production, possibly delaying it until next year. Rumors suggest that Qualcomm's next-generation ultrasonic fingerprint chip might give vivo exclusive rights for a limited period.
At the 2017 Biometrics Technology and Applications Summit, Qualcomm unveiled its face recognition technology for the first time. As a leading player in mobile chipsets, Qualcomm has invested heavily in security applications. Alongside unveiling its face recognition tech, Qualcomm also showcased its ultrasonic fingerprint technology and associated hardware token solutions. By combining ultrasonic fingerprinting, face recognition, machine learning, and hardware tokens, Qualcomm has created a comprehensive suite of hardware and software security solutions tailored for mobile environments.
Let’s start by examining the public face recognition technology. Qualcomm introduced three key image processing modules. On the left is the iris recognition module, in the middle is a passive light system used for depth calculations, and on the right is a motion recognition module.
According to Liu Xuehui, Senior Product Manager at Qualcomm, iris recognition hasn’t gained much traction in the mobile space due to challenges in design, cost, and user experience. For instance, it requires users to face the device directly, which can be problematic under bright lighting conditions.
The passive light modules essentially function as dual cameras capturing images from slightly different angles and overlapping them to calculate the distance between objects and the camera. This approach uses less power and doesn't require extra lighting, but performance can suffer in dim environments.
Rumors suggest that iPhone 8 might use this technology for advanced facial recognition, incorporating an RGB human eye recognition image and using infrared light spots to measure distances between various points on an object. Combining these elements creates a 3D model, a technology many manufacturers are likely to adopt soon.
One downside of the motion recognition module is reduced efficiency in low-light conditions. This module allows for active 3D depth modeling, useful not only for front-facing mobile phone face recognition but also for VR applications, simultaneous localization, and mapping. When users wear VR headsets, this technology can quickly map the surrounding environment and overlay it, enhancing the sense of immersion for VR users.
In conclusion, Qualcomm's advancements in both fingerprint and face recognition technologies mark significant strides in mobile security. While challenges remain, particularly in low-light scenarios, these innovations promise to redefine how we secure our devices in the future.
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