Fingerprint Cards AB
Corporate brand
UnclaimedSwedish biometrics company supplying fingerprint, iris-recognition and related authentication technologies.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Fingerprint Cards AB, commonly known as FPC, is a Swedish biometrics technology company whose products are used to authenticate people through fingerprints and, historically, iris recognition. The company develops biometric sensors, recognition algorithms, software, packaging and application-specific semiconductor technology for devices that require compact, low-power identity verification. FPC originated from fingerprint-sensor work conducted by Swedish engineer Bo Löfberg during the 1980s. Löfberg patented the unfinished technology before his death in 1986, and the rights were later licensed to entrepreneur Lennart Carlson. Carlson founded Fingerprint Cards in 1997. The company became publicly listed in 1998, although its technology was still under development and it had not yet established a substantial commercial product business. During its early years, FPC pursued licensing and development relationships with major technology companies. A prototype based on FPC technology was demonstrated with Ericsson Mobile Communications at CeBIT in 1999. The company also entered into arrangements involving Motorola and Texas Instruments; one Texas Instruments project used FPC sensor technology with TI processing hardware and software-development tools. The development period required substantial external financing and generated losses before recurring commercial revenue was established. FPC's first commercial fingerprint sensor was launched in 2013, with compatibility for Android and Windows. Adoption accelerated as smartphone manufacturers began placing fingerprint readers on the back, front or side of handsets. The smaller FPC1150, developed with AnaCatum Design, helped enable front-mounted fingerprint sensors in Android devices. FPC technology subsequently appeared in phones from manufacturers including Google, Huawei, Oppo and BlackBerry, among others. The company has also supplied components for smart cards and has worked with partners on payment cards, wearables and other connected devices. The business experienced a sharp expansion in the middle of the 2010s as smartphone fingerprint authentication became mainstream. Its shares became heavily traded and the company entered the OMX Stockholm 30 in 2017 before being removed in 2018. The market later became more difficult as smartphone growth slowed, competitors increased, handset makers developed alternative authentication systems and some devices shifted toward under-display or other biometric approaches. FPC issued several profit warnings during 2017 and 2018, and its financial performance and market valuation declined substantially from the earlier peak. In response, Fingerprint Cards broadened its portfolio beyond conventional mobile-phone sensors. It acquired AnaCatum Design in 2014 to strengthen ASIC and licensing capabilities, and acquired California-based Delta ID in 2017 to add iris-recognition technology. The company has also pursued biometric smart cards, payment-card components, face and iris recognition, embedded authentication and software-supported identity solutions. Its technology is positioned around secure, convenient and energy-efficient authentication for mobile devices, payment instruments, access systems, vehicles and other connected products. FPC remains a listed Swedish biometrics company. Its strategic challenge is to convert expertise developed in the smartphone fingerprint market into broader, more diversified revenue streams while competing with established semiconductor, sensor and biometric-technology suppliers.
History
Fingerprint Cards traces its technical origins to work by Bo Löfberg, who developed and patented an early fingerprint-sensor concept during the 1980s. The technology was incomplete when Löfberg died in 1986, but the license was later obtained by Lennart Carlson. Carlson founded Fingerprint Cards in 1997 to continue development and commercialize the concept. FPC went public in 1998, before it had a finished product capable of generating meaningful sales. The company spent its early years refining sensor hardware, signal processing and biometric algorithms while seeking industrial partners. At CeBIT in 1999, Ericsson Mobile Communications demonstrated a prototype accessory for its mobile-phone line using a licensed FPC sensor and application-specific integrated circuit. FPC also secured development or licensing relationships involving Motorola and Texas Instruments. A Texas Instruments authentication-development platform used FPC sensor technology while relying on TI processing hardware for algorithmic work. The prolonged development phase produced significant losses and required investors to provide additional capital. Commercial momentum came much later. FPC launched its first sensor in 2013, supporting Android and Windows devices, and smartphone adoption expanded rapidly as handset makers introduced fingerprint unlocking and authentication. The company supplied sensors to a growing range of manufacturers, including Google, Huawei, Oppo and BlackBerry. The FPC1025 was associated with Google's first Pixel smartphone, while later Pixel products used other FPC sensors. FPC's compact component design and low power consumption also made its technology suitable for wearables, smart cards and embedded systems. In 2014, FPC acquired AnaCatum Design AB, a Swedish company focused on ASIC development and technology licensing. The collaboration contributed to the FPC1150, a smaller touch sensor designed for front-mounted use in Android phones. This helped extend FPC's product range beyond earlier rear-mounted implementations. In 2015, the company began generating substantial sales and attracted intense investor attention as smartphone biometrics became a high-growth market. Management and governance were affected by insider-trading investigations during this period. Johan Carlström, chief executive from 2009, stepped down in 2015 and was succeeded by Jörgen Lantto. Lantto was replaced by Christian Fredrikson in 2016. Separate investigations and court proceedings involved former or serving company-related individuals, including board member Lars Söderfjell and former executive and shareholder Johan Carlström. These matters became an important part of the company's public history, although they concerned alleged trading conduct rather than the technical performance of its products. The smartphone boom also created vulnerability. FPC's shares rose dramatically during 2015, but the market later became crowded and handset demand for standalone fingerprint components weakened. The company issued multiple profit warnings in 2017 and 2018. It was added to the OMX Stockholm 30 in July 2017 and removed one year later. Management responded by pursuing applications outside smartphones, including smart cards, payment cards, iris recognition, face recognition and embedded authentication. FPC acquired Delta ID in 2017, adding California-based iris-recognition technology. It also worked with Precise Biometrics, STMicroelectronics and Gemalto on authentication, wearable and payment-card initiatives. The payment-card work focused on flexible, low-energy fingerprint sensors suitable for dual-interface cards. Through these moves, Fingerprint Cards sought to evolve from a largely smartphone-oriented sensor supplier into a broader biometric-systems company. Its continuing identity is based on biometric hardware and software, with diversification intended to reduce exposure to the cyclical and competitive handset market.
- 2018
The company emphasizes diversification
[1]FPC responds to weakening smartphone fingerprint demand by pursuing smart cards, iris recognition and other applications.
- 2017
Delta ID is acquired
[1]FPC adds iris-recognition technology through the acquisition of the California-based company.
- 2017
FPC joins the OMX Stockholm 30
[1]The company is added to the Stockholm exchange's leading turnover-based index.
- 2015
Smartphone business accelerates
[1]FPC begins generating significant sales as fingerprint authentication spreads across smartphones.
- 2014
AnaCatum Design is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthens ASIC development and licensing capabilities.
- 2013
First commercial sensor launches
[1]FPC introduces a commercial fingerprint sensor compatible with Android and Windows devices.
- 1999
Prototype demonstrated with Ericsson
[1]An Ericsson mobile-phone accessory shown at CeBIT incorporates licensed FPC sensor and ASIC technology.
- 1998
The company becomes publicly listed
[1]FPC goes public while its product platform is still under development.
- 1997
Fingerprint Cards is founded
[1]Lennart Carlson establishes Fingerprint Cards to develop and commercialize the licensed sensor technology.
- 1986
Bo Löfberg dies after patenting an unfinished sensor concept
[1]Löfberg's fingerprint-sensor work and patent later became the technical foundation licensed to Lennart Carlson.
Products and positioning
A specialist provider of compact, low-power biometric authentication components and software for consumer electronics, payment cards, access systems and other connected products.
Fingerprint sensors · 2013
FPC fingerprint sensor families
FPC develops capacitive, touch-based, swipe-based and area-based fingerprint sensors. The components are designed for compact devices and emphasize low energy use, integration flexibility and biometric image quality. They have been used in smartphones, smart cards, wearables and other embedded products.
Mobile fingerprint sensors
FPC1020 and FPC1025
These sensor models belong to the company's earlier mobile-oriented portfolio. They supported the expansion of fingerprint authentication into Android smartphones and helped establish FPC as a major component supplier during the smartphone biometrics boom.
Touch fingerprint sensor · 2014
FPC1150
Developed with AnaCatum Design, the FPC1150 was a substantially smaller touch sensor intended for front-mounted integration in Android smartphones. Its size enabled placement in a home-button area where earlier FPC sensors were less suitable.
Fingerprint sensors
FPC1200 and FPC1300 series
These families extend FPC's fingerprint-sensor portfolio for mobile and embedded applications. Their value proposition centers on compact packaging, low power consumption and integration into products with limited internal space.
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
FPC1540
The FPC1540 is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor designed for smartphone integration. It illustrates the company's effort to support multiple handset form factors as manufacturers moved sensors from front and rear surfaces to side buttons.
Payment and smart-card biometrics
Biometric smart-card components
FPC develops flexible, low-power fingerprint-sensor components for biometric payment and identification cards. The company has worked with partners on dual-interface cards intended to authenticate cardholders without requiring a separate PIN in every transaction context.
Iris recognition · 2017
Delta ID iris-recognition technology
Added through the 2017 Delta ID acquisition, this technology uses iris characteristics for biometric authentication in smartphones, computers, tablets, vehicles and other systems. It supports FPC's strategy of broadening beyond fingerprint sensors.
Controversies
2017
Further insider-trading proceedings
Board member Lars Söderfjell and shareholder Johan Carlström were arrested in proceedings connected with trading before a 2016 profit warning. Söderfjell denied the allegations; the proceedings involving Carlström were repeatedly postponed according to the reference account.
2014
Insider-trading investigation involving the chief executive
Swedish economic-crime authorities investigated Johan Carlström and another board member over alleged trading before important company events. Carlström subsequently left the chief executive and board roles in 2015.
2013
Fake acquisition announcements move FPC shares
A fraudulent website and fabricated releases claimed that Samsung would acquire FPC and use its technology. The claims sharply affected the share price before trading was halted. The investigation was later dropped without an arrest, and both companies denied the claims.
2012
Insider-trading convictions involving company-related individuals
Two individuals connected with FPC were investigated and convicted in relation to insider trading involving company shares. The reported appellate outcomes reduced the original sentences and included trading bans and repayment of alleged gains.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Biometric payment-card collaboration
Global
FPC collaborated with Gemalto and semiconductor and biometric-software partners on payment cards using flexible, low-power fingerprint sensors.
Outcome. Expanded the company's target market from handsets into payment and smart-card authentication.
- 1999CeBIT Ericsson prototype demonstration
Europe
FPC technology was demonstrated in an Ericsson mobile-phone accessory at CeBIT, providing early visibility for the company's licensed sensor and ASIC platform.
Outcome. Helped establish industrial partnerships and demonstrate a practical mobile application.
Brand decisions
2018
Diversify beyond the smartphone fingerprint marketStrategyBackground
FPC faced increased competition, multiple profit warnings and declining demand for conventional smartphone fingerprint sensors.
Action taken
The company increased its focus on iris recognition, smart cards, payment cards, face recognition and other embedded authentication applications.
Aftermath
Diversification became a central part of the company's response to a more mature and competitive handset market.
2017
Acquire Delta IDM&ABackground
FPC sought to diversify beyond smartphone fingerprint sensors and add another biometric modality.
Action taken
FPC acquired California-based Delta ID, which developed iris-recognition authentication technology.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded FPC's portfolio into iris recognition for phones, computers, tablets and vehicles, although several Delta ID personnel later departed.
2014
Acquire AnaCatum DesignM&ABackground
FPC needed stronger application-specific chip and licensing capabilities as it developed smaller fingerprint sensors.
Action taken
The company acquired Swedish technology company AnaCatum Design for an undisclosed amount.
Aftermath
The companies worked on the FPC1150, a smaller front-mounted touch sensor for Android phones.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Fingerprint Cards and Digi-Key announce collaboration[3]
Fingerprint Cards announced a collaboration with Digi-Key Electronics to expand into new markets and application areas within IoT and access globally; Digi-Key offers Fingerprints' BM-Lite Module and Development Kit.
Reported
Fingerprint Cards develops FPC1540 capacitive fingerprint sensor[4]
Fingerprint Cards announced the development of the FPC1540, a slim capacitive fingerprint sensor designed for side-mounting on mobile devices. The company said the first smartphone incorporating it was expected to launch in early 2020.
Reported
Fingerprints launches Touchless 2.0 platform[5]
Fingerprint Cards (Fingerprints) launched its Touchless 2.0 platform, combining face and iris recognition for mobile and IoT use cases.
Sources7 sources
- 1Fingerprint Cardsen.wikipedia.org
- 2Fingerprint Cards corporate websitefingerprints.com
- 3Fingerprint Cards与Digi-Key宣布合作sourcesecurity.com
- 4Fingerprint Cards开发FPC1540电容式指纹传感器biometricupdate.com
- 5Fingerprints推出Touchless 2.0平台finanznachrichten.de
- 6Fingerprint Cards AB announces two capacitive touch sensors to enhance biometric performancesourcesecurity.com
- 7Fingerprint Cards Unveils New Slim Side-mounted Capacitive Sensor for Mobile Devicesfinanznachrichten.de
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