CrucialTec, a listed South Korean tech company, said Wednesday that the company and its software affiliate CrucialSoft have developed an algorithm for small area-type fingerprint sensing modules.

The algorithm, named “Fermion,” is expected to pave the way for mobile device makers to embed “ultra-small” biometric trackpad touch modules for fingerprint data processing and authentication, the company said.

CrucialTec’s latest development would enable the production of thinner and smaller BTP sensors in all kinds of shapes such as oval, circle and rectangle than existing ones on the market, with a very low false recognition and rejection rates.

Its BTP algorithm showed a probability of 1 in 100,000 people being falsely accepted, and 1 in 100 incorrectly rejected. A false rejection rate of 3 percent has been common with biometric security systems.

CrucialTec, which already has the technology for swipe-based BTP, said this marked the first time for a Korean company to develop such an algorithm for potentially small area fingerprint sensors.

It added that it will aim to commercialize its invention sometime in the second half of this year after further collaborating with fingerprint sensor makers.

“Collaborations between CrucialTec, which has algorithm and module packaging technologies, and fingerprint sensor companies are necessary in order to make ultra-small touch or area fingerprint sensor modules,” a CrucialTec official said.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)