Motorola’s new rollable smartphone patent suggests multiple in-screen fingerprint sensors

Motorola introduced its concept for a rollable device in 2023 and we’ve seen more developments in this area over the past few months, with larger manufacturers getting involved. A new patent from Motorola suggests new details about the company’s rollable Rizr concept. The Lenovo-owned brand appears to be planning to incorporate multiple fingerprint sensors across the entire display of the rollable smartphone. This would allow users to unlock the device by touching any part of the screen.

A rollable phone with full-screen fingerprint sensing could be in the works

Motorola filed a request patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a phone with a rollable display and full-screen fingerprint detection. The patent titled “Consistent Fingerprint Location On-Display (FOD) Management on a Rollable Device with Multiple Food Sensors” features a device that resembles the design of Motorola’s Rizr rollable smartphone. The US patent published on November 5 bears the patent number “12135587B1”.

Motorola’s design integrates multiple fingerprint sensors across the entire screen. This would unlock the device from any part of the screen. Currently, fingerprint sensors are limited to specific areas of a smartphone. According to the diagrams included in the document, the finger area is available in at least a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. “When retracted, both fingerprint scanners are aligned FOD areas for use while viewing the front or rear portions of the flexible display. When extended, the front fingerprint scanner is aligned with the second FOD zone while looking at the flexible screen”.

Motorola’s rollable device
Photo credit: USPTO

Motorola showed off its rollable Rizr concept at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023. It has a 5-inch display that can expand up to 6.5 inches with the press of a button. The part of the screen that is not in use when rolled up will wrap around the bottom and slide up onto the back panel.

Besides Motorola, brands like Vivo, Transsion Holdings, TCL and Samsung are working on rollable phones.