The sensor measures the temperature differential between the skin ridges and the air caught in the fingerprint valleys. This method provides a high quality image even on poor quality fingerprints such as ones that are dry or worn with little depth between the peaks and valleys of the fingerprint. The thermal technology also operates well under extreme environmental conditions, like extreme temperatures, high humidity, dirt, oil and water contamination.

In addition to providing a small form factor, the sweeping method also has the benefit of self-cleaning the sensor, which avoids latent fingerprints. Latent fingerprints are prints left behind on a non-sweeping sensor which not only can cause problems with future reads but also leaves an image that can be copied and possibly used to gain access to a system. In fact, the sweeping method utilizing thermal based technology allows the FingerChip to be resistant of many other technologies. The fingerchip works in low-temperature and high humidity environments, too.

Another benefit of this technology is a very big image of good quality, and an always clean sensor. The disadvantage is, that the image quality depends a little bit from the users skill in using the scanner. The second disadvantage is the heating of the sensor array which increases the power-consumption of the sensor. The heating of the sensor is necessarry to avoid the possibility of a thermal equillibrium between the sensor and the fingerprint surface.

In high volume the design of the scanner leads to lower prices because the manufacturing process needs less silicon.