Apple patent is apparently working on a fingerprint scanning system which will work over a phone's display. A leaked patent supports the rumors that Apple is looking to remove the home button and use a virtual button instead. The technology may be incorporated in the iPhone 8.
Apple's US Patent No. 9,460,332 titled 'Capacitive fingerprint sensor including an electrostatic lens' describes the use of the difference in electromagnetic fields between the ridges and valleys of a fingerprint. In the patent, Apple explains that such system would make the entire display serve as a virtual home button.
Apple's patent also mentions the use of an electrostatic lens for refining blurs. Apple had filed a patent for an electrostatic lens in 2014. It is not clear whether the company is planning to fit the lens in its future devices.
The latest iPhone comes with a touch-sensitive Home button. There are rumors that the next iPhone would not have a Home button. This will allow Apple to go for a "full-screen face" with an edge-to-edge display system. The new patent uses capacitive sensing technology, which makes it possible to place a Touch ID module behind the display. This paves the way for a Home button free iPhone. The virtual button is expected to have the same functions as the physical Home button.