Synaptics has started mass production of its new Clear ID FS9500 family of optical in-display fingerprint sensors, which can be installed under the surface of an OLED screen.

Designed for smartphones with infinity displays, Synaptics' Clear ID in-display fingerprint sensors activate in the display only when needed. Clear ID provides a faster than alternative biometrics such as 3D facial, highly-secure with SentryPoint technology, and convenient with one-touch/one-step biometric authentication directly in the touchscreen display area of smartphones.

The new Clear ID optical fingerprint sensors deliver one-touch high-resolution scanning through full cover glass and enable button-free, bezel-free infinity displays. The optical solution works with wet, dry and cold fingers, and since it's protected by glass, is durable, scratchproof and waterproof. In-display fingerprint technology allows users to securely unlock the device in situations including while it's sitting on the table, at any angle, or while in a car mount. Synaptics says that the Clear ID performance is twice as fast as 3D facial recognition and requires only one touch to access your smartphone.

Synaptics optical fingerprint sensors are available with SentryPoint technology, offering OEMs a wide-range of secure authentication features including: Quantum Matcher for adaptive fingerprint template matching and authentication; PurePrint anti-spoof technology to examine fingerprint images using unique artificial intelligence technology to distinguish between spoofs and actual fingers; and SecureLink which combines support for TLS protocol with ECC authentication and AES encryption.

The first smartphones featuring the technology are due in Q1 2018. Synaptics does not disclose the manufacturers of the devices, but says that it is one of the Top 5 smartphone suppliers. But since the FS9500 sensor only works with OLED screens, this big producer of the smartphones has to have access to the AMOLED technology.