AUTHENTICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATING A PERSON

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of authentication of persons.

[0002] The patent application EP 1 434 162 A2 describes a memory card that has a fingerprint reader.

[0003] The patent application EP 2 083 398 A1 describes a biometric sensor.

[0004] Disclosure document US 2009 / 0153297 A1 describes a smart card comprehensively including a fingerprint sensor.

[0005] The publication "MALTONI D ET AL: "LIVE-SCAN FINGERPRINT SENSING"" describes a glass prism in which a finger rests on one of the prism's base surfaces. The base surface is illuminated from behind by a light source.

[0006] Disclosure document DE 10 2012 111113 A1 describes a security element for a valuable and / or security document.

[0007] Patent DE 10 2004 041397 B3 describes a storage device for at least one contactless chip card.

[0008] An authentication document, such as an identification document like an ID card or a smart card, is often assigned to a person and can be used to authenticate that person. The assignment of the authentication document to the person can be based on knowledge, possession, or being. For example, the authentication document may contain a biometric reference feature of the person, which is compared to a biometric feature of the person using an authentication device. The authentication device can be an external device that reads the biometric reference feature from the authentication document, or it can be a device integrated into the authentication document itself.

[0009] Furthermore, the authentication device can include a sensor for capturing the person's biometric characteristic. For example, the person's biometric characteristic is a fingerprint, and the sensor is a fingerprint sensor, in particular a capacitive or thermal semiconductor sensor. Alternatively, the semiconductor sensor can be a line sensor embedded on the card surface. Such semiconductor sensors output a signal that is often interpreted as an image. Elements usable for distinguishing fingers, such as minutiae, can be extracted from the image.

[0010] If the authentication device is integrated into the authentication document, the document is often comparatively thick due to the semiconductor sensor used. For example, the authentication document is often manufactured in a card format according to the ISO 7810 ID-T standard. This can be perceived as inconvenient and may limit the ergonomics of the authentication document.

[0011] It is therefore the object of the present invention to create an efficient concept for authenticating a person with an authentication device which has compact geometric dimensions.

[0012] This task is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent patent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0013] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an authentication device for authenticating a person according to claim 1. This achieves the advantage that efficient authentication of a person can be carried out based on the first and second image captures of the skin area. The second position can be any other position. In this way, a multitude of individual images can be captured at different positions of the skin area, which can then be combined to form a complete image of the skin area. Furthermore, the authentication device can have particularly compact geometric dimensions.

[0014] Authentication of a person authenticates the individual. This authentication can include identifying the person and / or verifying their identity.

[0015] The authentication device can be integrated into an authentication document, such as an ID card or a smart card, or it can form an authentication document, such as an ID card or a smart card.

[0016] The authentication document can be one of the following: an identity document, such as a national identity card, passport, access control card, authorization card, company ID card, tax stamp or ticket, birth certificate, driver's license or vehicle registration document, or a means of payment, such as a bank card or credit card. The authentication document can also include an electronically readable circuit, such as an RFID chip. The authentication document can be single- or multi-layered and / or paper- and / or plastic-based. The authentication document can be constructed from plastic-based films that are joined together to form a card body by gluing and / or laminating, with the films preferably having similar material properties.

[0017] Furthermore, the authentication device can be a component of a computer, laptop, mobile phone, or smartphone. For example, the authentication device is a component of an access control system.

[0018] The lighting device can comprise a number of light sources, in particular LEDs or laser diodes. The light sources can be configured to illuminate the surface with light in a predetermined wavelength range, in particular a wavelength range in the visible or near-infrared spectrum.

[0019] The image camera may include an optical sensor, in particular a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) detector, which is designed to detect illuminating light reflected, refracted and / or scattered at the skin area.

[0020] The skin area of ​​the person can be assigned to a finger of the person. For example, the skin area is a section of a fingertip of the person's finger.

[0021] The pad can be made of a semi-transparent material, for example, a semi-transparent plastic such as polycarbonate. According to the invention, the skin area, for example, the fingertip, can be positioned on the pad in a first position and a second position and can be moved across the pad. The person can, for example, stroke or wipe the skin area across the pad.

[0022] The first and second images can be captured sequentially. By wiping or sweeping the skin across the surface, two different sections of the skin can be captured in succession. Thus, the first and second images can each depict different parts of the skin. Because only portions of the main area are captured at a time, the surface, camera, and lighting system can have particularly compact dimensions. Furthermore, the first and second images can be strip images.

[0023] The overlay is positioned on the side or edge of the card body to create an identification document with particularly compact geometric dimensions.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the lighting device, the camera, and the processor are integrated into the card body, which is in particular a plastic card body. This offers the advantage that the authentication device can be integrated into an authentication document particularly easily.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the processor is configured to generate a combined image of the skin area based on the first and second image acquisitions, and to authenticate the person based on this combined image. This achieves the advantage of efficient identification of the person. The first and second image acquisitions can each depict different sub-areas of the skin. The processor can be configured to combine the images of these sub-areas into the combined image.

[0026] The combined image can depict the entire skin area or a larger section of the skin area than the individual images. The combined image can depict the skin area of ​​a fingertip or fingertip.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the processor is configured to detect a surface structure of the skin area, in particular minutiae, in the combined image capture and to authenticate the person based on this surface structure. This achieves the advantage of enabling efficient identification of the person based on the combined image capture.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the image camera comprises a line sensor, a lens array detector, or a CCD detector. This achieves the advantage that the image camera can have particularly compact geometric dimensions.

[0029] The camera can include an image sensor, in particular a thermal or a capacitive image sensor. The image sensor can be designed for image acquisition in the visible spectrum or in the near-infrared. Furthermore, the image sensor can be a semiconductor sensor.

[0030] The authentication device includes a mirror arranged within it to reflect illumination light reflected from the skin area towards the camera. This allows for efficient image capture of the skin area by the camera. The mirror can also be configured to reflect refracted and / or scattered illumination light from the skin area towards the camera.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the authentication device comprises a lens arrangement positioned between the support and the camera to focus the camera on the support. This achieves the advantage of enabling efficient image capture of the skin area by the camera.

[0032] The lens arrangement may include a lens positioned to focus illumination light reflected from the skin onto the camera. The distance between the lens and the camera may correspond to the focal length of the camera. The lens arrangement may also include a lens element.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the support is made of a semi-transparent plastic, in particular polycarbonate. The support can have a smooth or a ribbed surface. The support can be coated with an anti-reflective coating.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the lighting device comprises a number of light sources, in particular near-infrared LEDs. This achieves the advantage that the lighting device can efficiently illuminate the surface or skin area. The light sources can be arranged in a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional array.

[0035] The authentication device comprises a light guide structure designed to direct illumination light reflected from the skin area towards the camera. This achieves the advantage of efficient image capture of the skin area by the camera.

[0036] The light guide structure can further be configured to direct the illumination light from the illumination device towards the surface. Furthermore, the light guide structure can be configured to direct the illumination light reflected from the skin area towards the mirror and, after reflection from the mirror, towards the camera.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the light guide structure is designed to direct the reflected illumination light towards the camera by means of total internal reflection, in particular by means of disturbed total internal reflection. This achieves the advantage that the illumination light reflected from the skin area can be guided through the light guide structure particularly efficiently.

[0038] The optical fiber structure is a cavity, in particular a wedge-shaped cavity, within the card body. The cavity can extend longitudinally within the card body. The illumination device, the support, and the camera can be arranged on the sides or edges of the cavity. Furthermore, the mirror is a mirrored edge of the cavity.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the cavity is filled with air or with a semi-transparent plastic, in particular polycarbonate. This achieves the advantage that the illumination light reflected from the skin area can be guided through the light guide structure particularly efficiently.

[0040] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for authenticating a person according to claim 12. The method is carried out with an authentication device, which is a card authentication device and comprises a card body. The support is arranged on a side surface or an edge of the card body.

[0041] The invention can be implemented in hardware and / or software.

[0042] Further examples of implementation are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an authentication device for authenticating a person; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an authentication device designed as a card authentication device; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of an authentication device with a lens arrangement; and Fig. 4 a flowchart of a method for authenticating a person.

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an authentication device 100 for authenticating a person according to one embodiment.

[0044] The authentication device 100 comprises a support 101 for placing a skin area of ​​the person on it, wherein the skin area can be positioned on the support 101 in a first position and a second position; a lighting device 103, which is configured to illuminate the support 101 from behind with an illumination light in order to illuminate the skin area in the first position and in the second position; an image camera 105 for taking a first image of the skin area in the first position on the support 101 and a second image of the skin area in the second position on the support 101; and a processor 107, which is configured to authenticate the person on the basis of the first image and the second image.

[0045] Authentication of a person authenticates the individual. This authentication can include identifying the person and / or verifying their identity.

[0046] The authentication device 100 can be integrated into an authentication document, such as an ID card or a smart card, or can form an authentication document, such as an ID card or a smart card.

[0047] The authentication document can be one of the following: an identity document, such as a national identity card, passport, access control card, authorization card, company ID card, tax stamp or ticket, birth certificate, driver's license or vehicle registration document, or a means of payment, such as a bank card or credit card. The authentication document can also include an electronically readable circuit, such as an RFID chip. The authentication document can be single- or multi-layered and / or paper- and / or plastic-based. The authentication document can be constructed from plastic-based films that are joined together to form a card body by gluing and / or laminating, with the films preferably having similar material properties.

[0048] Furthermore, the authentication device 100 can be a component of a computer, laptop, mobile phone, or smartphone. For example, the authentication device 100 is a component of an access control system.

[0049] The lighting device 103 can comprise a number of light sources, in particular LEDs or laser diodes. The light sources can be configured to illuminate the support 101 with the illumination light in a predetermined wavelength range, in particular a wavelength range in the visible spectrum or in the near-infrared.

[0050] The image camera 105 can include an optical sensor, in particular a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, which is designed to detect illuminating light reflected, refracted and / or scattered at the skin area.

[0051] The skin area of ​​the person can be assigned to a finger of that person. For example, the skin area is a section of a fingertip of the person's finger.

[0052] The pad 101 can be made of a semi-transparent material, for example, a semi-transparent plastic such as polycarbonate. The skin area, for example, the fingertip, can be moved across the pad 101. The person can, for example, stroke or wipe the skin area across the pad 101.

[0053] The first and second images can be captured sequentially. By wiping or sweeping the skin across the surface 101, two different sections of the skin can be captured consecutively. Thus, the first and second images can each depict different parts of the skin. Since only sections of the main area are captured at a time, the surface 101, the camera 105, and the lighting device 103 can have particularly compact dimensions. Furthermore, the first and second images can be strip images.

[0054] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the authentication device 100, which is designed as a card authentication device, according to one embodiment.

[0055] The authentication device 100 in Fig. 2 comprises a card body 201. The card body 201 can be shaped as a plastic card body, for example made of polycarbonate.

[0056] In the card body 201 in Fig. 2 The support 101, the lighting device 103, the camera 105 and the processor 107 are integrated. The support 101 is arranged on a side surface or edge of the card body 201.

[0057] Fig. 2 The figure further shows the skin area 207 of a finger 209, which can be moved over the support 101 on the side surface or edge of the card body 201 for image capture. The movement can be performed in a swiping motion perpendicular to the edge or along the edge of the card body 201.

[0058] As the skin area 207 moves across the support 101, the first and second images can be captured consecutively. In this way, different sections of the skin area 207, which are within the detection range of the camera 105 at the moment of the first or second image capture, can be recorded.

[0059] The processor 107 can be trained to generate a combined image of the skin area 207 based on the first image capture and the second image capture, and to authenticate the person based on the combined image capture.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the first image acquisition and the second image acquisition are each strip images depicting adjacent sub-areas of the skin area 207. The processor 107 can be configured to combine the first and second image acquisitions into a single image acquisition. The single image acquisition can depict the entire skin area 207 or a larger section of the skin area 207 than the individual image acquisitions.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the processor 107 is configured to detect a surface structure of the skin area 207, in particular minutiae, in the joint image acquisition and to authenticate the person on the basis of the surface structure.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the lighting device 103 comprises a number of light sources, in particular LEDs. The light sources can be arranged in a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional array. The lighting device can be configured to emit the illumination 211 in the direction of the support 101 or the skin area 207.

[0063] The authentication device 100 in Fig. 2 It also includes a light guide structure 205. The light guide structure 205 is designed to direct the illumination light 213 reflected from the skin area 207 towards the image camera 105.

[0064] The optical fiber structure 205 is formed as a cavity 205 within the card body 201. The cavity 205 can extend longitudinally within the card body 201. Furthermore, the cavity 205 can be wedge-shaped.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the lighting device 103, the support 101, and the camera 105 are each arranged on side surfaces, in particular different side surfaces, or edges of the cavity 205. The support 101 can be arranged on an outer edge of the cavity 205. The support 101 can also be arranged on a top or bottom surface of the card body 201.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the lighting device 103 comprises a light guide or a light guiding element, as disclosed in German patent DE 10 2014 205 363 A1, for homogeneous illumination of the surface 101 or the skin area 207.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the cavity 205 is filled with air or with a semi-transparent plastic, in particular polycarbonate. Filling the cavity 205 with semi-transparent plastic can increase the mechanical strength of the authentication device 100.

[0068] Furthermore, the filling of the cavity 205 can be designed in such a way that the cavity 205 can be used as a lens by the image camera 105 or a line sensor of the image camera 105 to image the skin area 207 sharply.

[0069] According to a further embodiment, the light guide structure 205 is designed to guide the illumination light 211, 213 by means of total reflection, in particular by means of disturbed total reflection.

[0070] The authentication device 100 in Fig. 2 further comprises a mirror 203. The mirror 203 is arranged in the authentication device 100 to reflect illumination light 213 reflected from the skin area 207 towards the image camera 105.

[0071] The mirror 203 can also be designed to reflect refracted and / or scattered illumination light 213 from the skin area 207 towards the image camera 105.

[0072] Mirror 203 is a mirrored edge of cavity 205 in the map body 201.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the light guide structure 205 is configured to direct the illumination light 211 from the illumination device 103 towards the support 101. Furthermore, the light guide structure 205 can be configured to direct the illumination light 213 reflected from the skin area 207 towards the mirror 203 and, after reflection of the reflected illumination light 213 at the mirror 203, further towards the image camera 105.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the support 101 is formed from a semi-transparent material, for example, a semi-transparent plastic such as polycarbonate. The support 101 can have a smooth or a ribbed surface. The support 101 can also be coated with an anti-reflective coating.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the image camera 105 comprises a line sensor, a lens array detector, or a CCD detector. The image camera 105 may further comprise an image sensor, in particular a thermal or a capacitive image sensor.

[0076] The image sensor can be designed for image acquisition in the visible spectrum or in the near-infrared. Furthermore, the image sensor can be a semiconductor sensor.

[0077] The 105 image camera can incorporate a line sensor with a resolution of 200x8 pixels in either the longitudinal or transverse direction of the line sensor. Furthermore, the height of the line sensor can be less than half a millimeter. The minimum height of the line sensor may be limited by the number of pixels in the transverse direction.

[0078] The resolution of the line sensor can be increased by increasing the number of pixels, for example to more than 8 pixels in the transverse direction, in order to improve image precision and / or the operating speed of the 105 camera. In this way, the resolution of the line sensor can be increased, for example, from 500 dpi to 1000 dpi.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the image camera 105, the illumination device 103 and the light-guiding structure 205 are arranged in a plane of extension of the card body 100 in order to create a card authentication device that is as flat as possible.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the card authentication device is manufactured in a card format according to the ISO 7810 ID-T standard.

[0081] Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the authentication device 100 with a lens arrangement 301 according to one embodiment. The lens arrangement 301 is in Fig. 3 arranged between the edition 101 and the image camera 105.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the lens arrangement 301 focuses the camera 105 onto the support 101. The distance between the lens and the camera 105 can correspond to the focal length of the camera 105. The lens arrangement 301 can further comprise a lens.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the lens arrangement 301, as shown in Fig. 3 shown, comprising a lens which is arranged to focus reflected illumination light 213 onto the image camera 105 at the skin area 207.

[0084] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a Procedure 400 for authenticating the person.

[0085] The method 400 for authenticating the person comprises placing 401 the skin area 207 of the person onto the support 101, wherein the skin area 207 can be positioned on the support 101 in a first position and a second position, back-illuminating 403 the support 101 to illuminate the skin area 207 in the first position and in the second position, taking 405 a first image of the skin area 207 in the first position on the support 101 and a second image of the skin area 207 in the second position on the support 101, and authenticating 407 the person on the basis of the first image and the second image. Reference symbol list

[0086] 100 Authentication device 101 Support 103 Lighting device 105 Camera 107 Processor 201 Card body 203 Mirror 205 Light guide structure 207 Skin area 209 Finger 211 Illumination light 213 Reflected illumination light 301 Lens arrangement 400 Procedure 401 Place 403 Illuminate 405 Record 407 Authenticate

Claims

1. Authentication device (100) for authenticating a person, wherein the authentication device (100) is a card authentication device and comprises a card body (201), wherein the card body (201) has a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface, the authentication device (100) comprising: a support (101) for placing a skin region (207) of the person, wherein the skin region (207) is positionable on the support (101) in a first position and a second position; an illumination device (103), which is configured to illuminate the support (101) with an illumination light (211) at a back side in order to illuminate the skin region (207) in the first position and in the second position; an image camera (105) for capturing a first image capture of the skin region (207) in the first position on the support (101) and a second image capture of the skin region (207) in the second position on the support (101); and a processor (107), which is configured to authenticate the person based on the first image capture and the second image capture; wherein the support (101) is arranged on the side surface or an edge of the card body (201), wherein the authentication device (100) comprises a light guide structure (205), which is configured to guide illumination light (213) reflected at the skin region (207) towards the image camera (105), wherein the light guide structure (205) is a cavity in the card body (201), characterized in that the authentication device (100) comprises a mirror (203), which is arranged in the authentication device (100) in order to reflect illumination light (213) reflected at the skin region (207) towards the image camera (105), wherein the mirror (203) is a mirrored edge of the cavity.

2. Authentication device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device (103), the image camera (105) and the processor (107) are integrated into the card body, which is in particular a plastic card body.

3. Authentication device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor (107) is configured to generate a joint image capture of the skin region (207) on the basis of the first image capture and the second image capture, and to authenticate the person on the basis of the joint image capture.

4. Authentication device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the processor (107) is configured to detect a surface structure of the skin region (207), in particular minutiae, in the joint image capture and to authenticate the person on the basis of the surface structure.

5. Authentication device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the image camera (105) comprises a line sensor, a lens array detector or a CCD detector.

6. Authentication device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the authentication device (100) comprises a lens arrangement (301), which is arranged between the support (101) and the image camera (105) in order to focus the image camera (105) on the support (101).

7. Authentication device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (101) is formed from a partially transparent plastic, in particular polycarbonate.

8. Authentication device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the illumination device (103) comprises a number of light sources, in particular near-infrared LEDs.

9. Authentication device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guide structure (205) is configured to guide the reflected illumination light (213) by means of disturbed total reflection in the direction of the image camera (105).

10. Authentication device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity (205) is a wedge-shaped cavity (205).

11. Authentication device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity (205) is filled with air or with a partially transparent plastic, in particular polycarbonate.

12. Method (400) for authenticating a person, comprising: placing (401) a skin region (207) of the person on a support (101), wherein the skin region (207) is positionable on the support (101) in a first position and a second position; illuminating (403) the support (101) at a back side in order to illuminate the skin region (207) in the first position and in the second position; capturing (405) a first image capture of the skin region (207) in the first position on the support (101) and a second image capture of the skin region (207) in the second position on the support (101); and authenticating (407) the person based on the first image capture and the second image capture, wherein the method is carried out with an authentication device according to one of the preceding claims.