Synaptics’ New Match-in-Sensor SoC is Production Ready

“The solution’s System-on-Chip approach may represent the next paradigm for fingerprint sensor technology.”

A new Synaptics fingerprint sensor module is designed to scan and match a user’s fingerprint within its own chip, allowing for heightened biometric security. Called FS7600 Match-in-Sensor, the solution is production ready, and is already being integrated into PC products.

The solution’s System-on-Chip approach may represent the next paradigm for fingerprint sensor technology. Contemporary solutions are generally designed to scan a fingerprint, and to then communicate that data with the host operating system of whatever product they are built into, leaving the data vulnerable to hardware-based attacks. By ensuring that all of the fingerprint matching is performed within the FS7600 Match-in-Sensor module, Synaptics ensures that this data cannot be compromised by attacks against the host computer, mobile device, etc.

The company’s partner, Microsoft, is enthusiastic about the approach. In a statement announcing the new solution, Microsoft Operating System Security Group Program Manager Dave Bossio asserted, “We recognize Synaptics’ match-in-sensor fingerprint security as one of the highest in the industry,” adding that his company is “pleased pleased to work closely with Synaptics in the development of next generation security platforms to support our OS strategy.”

Synaptics says its new solution is currently being integrated into “PC peripheral products expected to ship in early Q3” as well as new Windows notebooks that will ship in the “next refresh cycle” for those products. PC products are an important revenue driver for Synaptics, according to its most recent quarterly update.

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June 5, 2018 – by Alex Perala