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Samsung patents a new facial recognition system for smartphones with a new dual under-display camera

Neeraj Singh

Oct 03,2022
3 min read
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South Korean tech giant Samsung is likely working on a camera system for facial recognition that involves two under-display cameras. The patent does not really go into so much detail. However, it does show a mockup of a regular "slab" style phone with two UDC cameras -- one at the top and one at the bottom. Another thing mentioned in the patent is measuring pupil size. As per the report, the idea is that a human's pupil size should vary depending on lighting conditions.

Design of smartphone

Samsung thought of putting multiple under-display cameras beneath the phone’s screen. The diagram showed two UDCs – one each at the top and bottom – scanning the user’s face for authentication. At its core, the idea is relatively straightforward -- get multiple images of the user from two angles to better construct a 3D model of the face and use that for authentication purposes.

Model

Samsung patents a new facial recognition system with a new dual under-display camera setup (2)

At its core, the idea is fairly straightforward – get multiple images of the user from two angles to better construct a 3D model of the face and use that for authentication purposes. Samsung specifically mentions using under-display cameras, though, which is interesting in its own right. Up until now, the Korean giant has more or less just experimented with the technology on its Galaxy Fold line without a broader release.

Research Analysis

The tech giant mentioned using under-display cameras, though, which is interesting in its own right. Up until now, it has more or less just experimented with the technology on its Galaxy Fold line without a broader release, the report said. This could be used as an extra security measure against using things like photos or masks to trick facial authentication.

Patent technology

The patent doesn’t really go into so much detail. However, it does show a mockup of a phone with two UDC cameras – one at the top and one at the bottom. Another thing mentioned in the patent is measuring pupil size. The idea is that a human’s pupil size should vary depending on lighting conditions. This could be used as an extra security measure against using things like photos or masks to trick facial authentication.

One speculation then would be that Samsung is exploring this new dual UDC tech for its foldables. And while that might very well be true, we believe that the tech has broader implications and that the desire to use UDC cameras stems from the need to have the two cameras spaced out as far as possible to get two different angles of the user.

Samsung patents a new facial recognition system with a new dual under-display camera setup (2)

That could necessitate placing a camera near the bottom of the phone around where the under-display fingerprints reside now. Perhaps even combining the two into one optical module.

According to GSMArena, it is described in a patent application Samsung filed with the KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service) back in March 2021. The document in question was made public last week and picked up by a Dutch publication. The patent explains how scanning from multiple angles would offer higher levels of phone security, since requiring multiple angles for facial authentication would be more reliable.

Conclusion

The concept is certainly interesting, but it should be noted that at this stage, it is just a concept, not an actual product or any indication of one. It is described in a patent application Samsung filed with the KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service) back in March 2021. The document in question was made public last week and picked up by a Dutch publication.