A new waterproof cell phone scheduled for high-volume production in the fourth quarter of 2008 will employ AuthenTec’s TouchStone fingerprint sensor packaging technology, according to Authentec. The TouchStone package allows easy integration into various waterproof industrial design configurations. It offers the durability and water resistance required for this new class of handsets while adding Power of Touch features, including security, convenience, personalization, and navigation.
The leading cause of cell phone returns not covered under warranty is damage from exposure to excess moisture or immersion in water or other liquids, notes Authentec. Driven by consumer demand for more rugged water-resistant designs, leading cellular handset manufacturers including Casio, Fujitsu, LG, and Toshiba have introduced waterproof cell phones, many of which are capable of submersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. TouchStone technology extends the proven durability of AuthenTec sensors by tripling the protective coating over the fingerprint sensor die.
TouchStone is a durable, thin-profile fingerprint sensor packaging technology that expands aesthetic and product integration options for makers of cell phones, laptop computers, and other consumer electronics. The technology enables a new class of fingerprint sensors that combine all the features of AuthenTec’s patented TruePrint technology with thin, durable, easy to integrate, waterproof packaging for today’s stylistic cell phone designs.
The TruePrint technology reads below the surface of the skin to the live layer where a person’s true fingerprint resides. This subsurface approach enables the sensors to read virtually every fingerprint, every time—a critical requirement in any fingerprint-enabled device. The technology also combines the company’s TrueNav menu navigation features, TrueFinger anti-spoofing security, and TrueMatch pattern matching to ensure the highest level of security, usability, and convenience.
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