Wired
On September 22, 2022 local time, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a patent filed by Apple that could have a side button with built-in Touch ID on the Apple Watch.
Patent application for button with built-in biometric authentication system
The patent filed by Apple relates to “an electronic device with a sealed button that incorporates a biometric authentication system”.
A similar patent was filed in December 2020, and an updated version was approved in July 2022.
The patent filed this time includes the materials used for the side button with built-in Touch ID, the sensor, the sealing material, etc., which are necessary for manufacturing.
Is it the same as the top button with built-in Touch ID for iPad Air?
Patently Apple states that the content of this patent is to apply the top button with built-in Touch ID installed in iPad Air to the side button of Apple Watch and use it as a side button with built-in Touch ID.
Source: USPTO via Patently Apple
Photo: Apple Hub/Facebook
(FT729)
Source: iPhone Mania