Synaptics Shrinks Fingerprint Sensors.

At CES this week, Synaptics is demonstrating a new generation of smaller fingerprint sensors that offer the ease and reliability of a touch sensor in the space of a swipe-style sensor. The company has a prototype working in a Samsung Galaxy S5.

 The S5 already comes with a fingerprint sensor integrated into the home button, that requires a swipe motion, which can be cumbersome to use. The prototype Synaptics sensor on the back is the same size and narrow shape as Samsung's home button sensor, but is operated with a simple light touch, much like the TouchID sensor on recent iPhones.

 The company has developed advanced pattern recognition technology to provide robust security using only partial fingerprints. In our hands-on time with the prototype, it worked well, and was much easier to use than the swipe-style sensor.