IDEX Biometrics is hoping to reduce the cost of biometric smart cards with the launch of its new TrustedBio line of products. TrustedBio iterates on the company’s existing off-chip fingerprint sensors with a range of biometric-system-on-chip solutions.

Since the biometric system is built directly into the chip (instead of existing as a standalone sensor), TrustedBio will eliminate the need for the additional electronic components that have traditionally been embedded in the inlay of the card itself. Doing so will reduce the amount of materials needed to manufacture biometric cards. It will also make biometric technology easier to integrate and lower the amount of time needed to bring a new card to market.

As a result, IDEX believes that the new products will make biometric smart cards more appealing and boost adoption rates for the technology.

“TrustedBio was accomplished by driving the entire biometric system to an advanced semiconductor process node,” said IDEX Chief Technology Officer Anthony Eaton. “By looking at ways to reduce costs associated with biometric systems we’ve removed one of the major barriers to mass production.”

The dual-interface solutions are compatible with current and next generation EMV chips, which makes TrustedBio more flexible and allows customers to use the platform to develop cards that are tailored to the specific needs of their organization. The first product featuring the new technology will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2020, following a sample run in Q2.

IDEX is hoping that the new solutions will allow the company to build on its strong start to 2020. The company recently received production orders with a minimum commitment of $6 million, and became a verified provider of EMVCo components after its Farnborough development site achieved EMVCo Certification.

IDEX was also granted several new patents that increased the scope of its on-card enrollment platform.