Apparatus and method of biometric determination using specialized optical spectroscopy systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics. Apparatuses are disclosed that incorporate a spectral biometric sensor with a personal electronic device such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, wristwatches, electronic fobs for the purpose of providing secure biometric access to protected property.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 874,740, filed Jun. 5, 2001, entitled “Apparatus and Method of Biometric Determination Using Specialized Optical Spectroscopy Systems” (“the parent application”) which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. The parent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 832,534, filed Apr. 11, 2001, entitled “Apparatus and Method of Biometric Identification or Verification of Individuals using Optical Spectroscopy”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 415,594, filed Oct. 8, 1999, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Identification of Individuals by Near-Infrared Spectrum”; which is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 174,812, filed Oct. 19, 1998, entitled “Method for Non-Invasive Analyte Measurement with Improved Optical Interface”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 871,366, filed Jun. 9, 1997, e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]In addition to the fixed-system applications, the apparatus and methods disclosed in this application can be used in small personal biometric packages such as smart cards, electronic fobs or wristwatches that the user / owner / wearer can carry with them and provide biometrically-assured authorization to a variety of devices and systems. Such personal biometric systems act as keys that provide access to protected property only if activated by the authorized individual, and reduces or eliminates entry to the protected system by unauthorized people. Thus, the personal biometric devices of the present invention become a type of smart key that allow access to any system that interfaces to such device and for which the holder is authorized to access. Such systems and uses can include, but are not limited to, personal computers, network access devices, doors in office buildings and private residences, time-and-attendance systems, automobiles, security equipment, automated financial transactions, cellular telephones, toll booths, electronic vending machine transactions and pay-per-entry events such as movies, etc.

[0024]Alternatively, as personal electronics such as personal digital assistants (PDA) and cellular phones become integrated in a variety of wireless applications, the present invention provides a means to confirm the identity of the person using the device. This can be important when wireless applications such as mobile commerce use such devices to authorize monetary transfers or make purchases, while also allowing access to medical records and act as an electronic key for homes, offices and automobiles. By providing an integrated, compact, rugged, secure biometric system that can be used to confirm the identity of a person attempting to use the PDA to access protected property, the present invention provides a capability that is applicable in many everyday life situations.

[0025]In addition to the application of the spectral biometric sensor as a single biometric, the sensor and identification methods disclosed in this application can also be used in conjunction with other biometric techniques within a system to either increase the accuracy of the system or increase the robustness of the system. In cases where greater system security is required, the spectral biometric technique may be combined with one or more other biometric methods and the results can be combined to ensure a person's identity. Alternatively, the disclosed systems and methods can be combined with other biometric techniques to offer more than one method to identify a person in case one method is disabled due to system failure or other reason, ensuring a more robust system performance overall.

Problems solved by technology

The choice of which measurement wavelengths to use is driven in part by the availability and cost of suitable illumination sources and detectors.

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