bearing this in mind, Recently received a patent by Apple This feature may help in solving the technical problems that the tech giant has faced while working on it. Apple was having trouble getting the infrared light used to scan and verify a user’s face through the pixels on the bottom of the iPhone’s display. Patent granted to Apple by USPTOis called “Methods and configurations for improving the performance of sensors under displays”.
Apple plans to remove the affected portion of each pixel, called a subpixel. These subpixels display red, green or blue light. Removing a portion of the subpixel array should allow infrared light to get through to the pixels at the bottom of the screen. Even if subpixels are removed, the final image will remain the same because the removed subpixels align themselves with nearby subpixels of the same color.
Illustration from Apple’s new patent. , Image Credit-Apple
The patent also states that removing parts of the touch-sensitive mesh could improve infrared pass-through. The pieces of mesh removed will be too small to affect the response of the touch screen.
Under-display Face ID may not be ready until next year’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Or, it’s possible that the complex technology discussed in the patent has never been used and Apple will have to come up with another way to allow the components used in Face ID to be placed below the display. The patent granted to Apple is worth US$12,201,004 and its issuance date was January 14, 2025. seven different Apple Employees are listed as inventors.
