Microsoft patent could bring fingerprint sensor to the Windows key

It looks like Microsoft may have its sights set on your keyboard's Windows key for fingerprint sensors on future keyboards. That's according to a patent published on March 7 (via Windows United), which integrates a fingerprint sensor within the Windows key.

Currently, fingerprint sensors in laptops are mostly either integrated in power buttons or appear as discrete sensors on a laptop's body. Microsoft's patent would allow sensors to be combined with existing keys on the keyboard.

Windows Hello has been an integral part of Microsoft's vision for PCs, with the company setting its sights on eventually using the tech as part of a play to eliminate passwords altogether. A portion of that strategy involves infrared cameras that can be used for facial recognition, but fingerprint sensors are also an important avenue to achieve the same goal.

As with all patents, there's a chance this may never see the light of day. However, it's not hard to imagine a future Surface device with a dedicated fingerprint sensor included in the keyboard alongside Windows Hello facial recognition.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl