Upcoming iPhones to add more faces for Face ID

Cupertino-based iPhone maker Apple is looking to revamp Face ID feature for its upcoming iPhones and has acquired patents of Lighthouse, a company that makes security cameras.

The acquired patents on which Apple will work largely deals with AI-based computer vision to scan and recognise faces. Apple could use Lighthouse’s patents to add more than one faces to unlock a device using Face ID in its forthcoming iPhones.

The Face ID was first introduced in the iPhone X that uses a TrueDepth camera system consisting of a dot projector, infrared camera and flood illuminator. Face ID projects over 30,000 invisible IR dots. The IR image and dot pattern are pushed through neural networks to create a mathematical model of your face and send the data to the secure enclave to confirm a match, while adapting to physical changes in appearance over time.

If you have read about Lighthouse’s patents, the company works on almost the same technology that Apple uses for Face ID on its iPhone XS and XR devices. Thus, it’s likely possible that Apple could use Lighthouse’s technology to further enhance Face ID. Or Apple could use Lighthouse’s research to recognise more than one approved users to add for Face ID on a single device.

While Apple continuously acquires companies to improve its ecosystem, but with the Lighthouse acquisition, it could be possible that Apple is increasing its efforts to defend itself from lawsuits, given the similarity between Face ID and Lighthouse’s patents.

In 2019, Apple iPhones are expected to retain the same design and display sizes as seen in the 2018 iPhone XS and iPhone XR. This means 2019 will witness three iPhones with 6.5-inch, 5.8-inch, and 6.1-inch display sizes.

Other new features that Apple could bring include higher band connectivity, frosted glass finish, reverse charging, big batteries and a triple camera system.