Samsung patents hint at two new fingerprint scanner solution for its upcoming devices. With the first option being a finger scanner on the rear of the device and the second being a circular home key, similar to an iPhone.

The two Samsung patents discovered hint at a solution to fingerprint scanning that is not dissimilar is shape and design of the iPhone. The Apple device has been using the same set-up, a circular home button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner, since the feature was first implemented. The second option is similar to the likes of many Chinese OEM’s such as Huawei, where the scanner is placed on the rear of the device for the purposes of simplicity and improving recognition using a larger scanner.

Even with the two patents indicating new fingerprint scanning options, there is little to suggest that these might turn into reality. Given Samsung’s history with Apple surrounding courthouses and accusations of copying, there is little incentive for Samsung to copy any design, be it an iPhone or otherwise, even though it is absolutely legal in this case. This then raises the question of why Samsung would patent such technology — well, Samsung as well as other manufacturers do have a lot of patents that are tucked away in an empty, dark closet for a number of varied reasons.

Do you thing Samsung might use these patents?