Optical vs. Capacitive

SecuGen Sensors		Semiconductor Sensors

Sensor Type	Optical (Patented SEIR method)	Semiconductor or Chip (Capacitive)

Sensor Surface	No special treatments or maintenance required	Usually needs surface treatments, including ESD and other protective coatings Coatings may be uneven, wear out over time, degrade performance, and shorten product lifetime

Overall Durability	Scratch-proof, unbreakable glass platen made of material as hard as quartz Resistant to shock, ESD, and extreme weather Performs well in high traffic, outdoor or rough environments	Corrodes easily from repeated handling and everyday exposure Susceptible to damage by electrostatic discharge Thin silicon chips are inherently fragile and susceptible to damage by hard external impact and scratches

Imaging Area, Resolution, and Size	Large imaging area High 500 dpi resolution Large image size	Usually smaller imaging area, image size, and resolution due to greater cost of manufacturing larger, high quality chips

Cost-Effectiveness	Low manufacturing cost, long life, no maintenance required	Consistent quality surface coatings may be expensive to produce Replacement, maintenance, and downtime costs can add up