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

Problems solved by technology

The choice of which measurement wavelengths to use is driven in part by

Images