Protective element for a fingerprint and / or palm print acquisition device

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective element (12) for a portable device (10) for acquiring fingerprints and / or palm prints, the protective element (12) comprising a main panel (22) which is movable relative to an acquisition surface (14) of the portable device (10) and which is configured to pivot between what is referred to as a closed position, in which it covers the acquisition surface (14), and at least one deployed position, in which it uncovers the acquisition surface (14); wherein the main panel (22) comprises an opening (46) which extends over a predefined zone (16) of the acquisition surface (14) when the main panel is in the closed position.

Description

Protective element for fingerprint and / or palm print acquisition device

[0001] The invention relates to a protective element for a portable electronic device for acquiring fingerprints and / or palm prints. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] A portable fingerprinting device generally consists of an electronic box comprising an acquisition surface equipped with a sensor on which the hand or part of a hand is placed for taking fingerprints and / or palm prints.

[0003] The size of the acquisition surface is adapted to allow the taking of prints of the palm of the hand or of several fingers simultaneously. The acquisition surface can also include a special area of ​​reduced dimensions dedicated to the taking of rolled fingerprints.

[0004] To facilitate the location of this area, and therefore to encourage taking a rolled impression, it is common to delimit this area using a marking on the case.

[0005] The portable fingerprinting device has a small geometric footprint and is ergonomic to be easily transported anywhere, whether indoors or outdoors.

[0006] US 2012 014569 A1 and US 2017 046554 A1 describe a portable device comprising an acquisition surface adapted for the acquisition of fingerprints.

[0007] An example of the use of a portable fingerprinting device outdoors could be the collection, by law enforcement, of fingerprints and / or palm prints of people, including suspects and accused persons, near the scene of an offense, an offense, or a crime, or during a routine identity check. The portable device must therefore be adapted to operate optimally regardless of weather conditions. For outdoor use, it is common to equip the devices with a protective screen to protect the acquisition surface from external attacks.

[0008] CN107590417A describes a portable fingerprinting device with a movable upper main panel to protect the acquisition surface from external moisture.

[0009] US20060115134A1 describes a retractable protective housing for a fingerprinting device. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0010] When a portable fingerprint and / or palm print device is used outdoors, it may be subject to highly variable lighting conditions. In particular, in very bright conditions and depending on the angle of the light source relative to the acquisition surface and the position of the fingers on said surface, the sensor may be dazzled and additional reflection phenomena may occur in the optical elements of the device. This results in the acquisition of partial and / or poor quality fingerprint images. The quality of the images may be further deteriorated if the person whose fingerprints are acquired is uncooperative.

[0011] This disadvantage is particularly pronounced for devices that include a dedicated area for taking prints wrapped around their acquisition surface. Not only is the acquisition surface outside the dedicated area always exposed to variable lighting conditions, but also, when the person whose prints are being acquired is uncooperative, the fingers may be poorly positioned relative to this dedicated area. The acquired print images are then unusable. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0012] The invention proposes a protective element for a portable device for acquiring fingerprints and / or palm prints, said protective element comprises a main panel which is movable relative to an acquisition surface of the portable device, and which is configured to pivot between a so-called closed position in which it covers said acquisition surface and at least one deployed position in which it uncovers said acquisition surface; in which the main panel comprises an opening which extends over a predefined area of ​​the acquisition surface when it is in the closed position.

[0013] The opening in the main panel is designed to match the area of ​​the sensor's top surface intended for roll-up printing. Thus, when the main panel is in the closed position, only the predefined area of ​​the sensor is accessible, which promotes roll-up printing.

[0014] Preferably, the opening is a through opening formed in a peripheral edge of the main panel.

[0015] Preferably, the protective element further comprises a flap which is movable relative to the main panel, said flap being configured to pivot between a so-called closing position in which the flap extends to cover the opening of the main panel and a so-called release position in which the flap does not cover the opening.

[0016] Preferably, the shutter is configured to pivot relative to the main panel using a hinge.

[0017] Preferably, the shutter comprises means for holding it in one and / or the other of the closed and released positions, said fixing means preferably being of the magnet type or of the self-gripping hook and loop type.

[0018] Preferably, the main panel comprises side wings, each side wing being hinged relative to a side edge of the main panel and being configured to, in a first so-called folded position, hold the main panel in its closed position and to, in a second position, hold the main panel in its deployed position, in which the main panel is inclined relative to the acquisition surface of the portable device and form an additional side panel to the main panel.

[0019] Preferably, the main panel comprises means for holding it in either the closed or deployed positions, said holding means preferably being of the magnet type or of the self-gripping hook and loop type.

[0020] Preferably, the protective element comprises a secondary panel on which the main panel is pivotally mounted, said secondary panel comprising means adapted for securing said secondary panel with the portable device, said securing means preferably being of the magnet type or of the self-gripping hook and loop type.

[0021] Preferably, the secondary panel includes means for positioning it relative to the portable device.

[0022] The invention also relates to a fingerprint acquisition system comprising a portable device for acquiring fingerprints and palm prints and a protective element according to the invention.

[0023] Preferably, the portable device comprises an upper acquisition surface provided with a predefined area intended for taking rolled impressions and in which the opening of the main panel of the protective element extends over said predefined area of ​​the upper acquisition surface when the main panel is in the closed position.

[0024] is a schematic representation of a portable device for acquiring fingerprints and / or palm prints.

[0025] is a schematic perspective representation of a portable device and a protective element in which the main panel is in a closed position.

[0026] is a schematic representation of a protective element in which the main panel is in a deployed position according to a first embodiment.

[0027] is a schematic representation of a portable device provided with the protective element of the.

[0028] is a schematic representation of a protective element in which the main panel is in a deployed position according to a second embodiment.

[0029] is a schematic representation of a portable device provided with the protective element of the.

[0030] is a schematic representation of a protective element similar to that of the, showing the shutter in its position closing the opening of the main panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] A portable device 10 is shown for capturing fingerprints and palm prints. It comprises an upper acquisition surface 14 provided with a sensor on which the hand or part of a hand is placed for taking fingerprints and / or palm prints.

[0032] This upper surface 14 of the portable device 10 itself comprises a predefined area 16 which is intended for taking rolled fingerprints or taking static prints of one or more fingers joined together without rolling. Taking rolled prints consists of rolling a finger by turning it around its main direction to acquire a larger surface area of ​​the finger compared to taking a static print.

[0033] This predefined zone 16, the limits of which have been represented by dotted lines, is not identified on the upper surface 14, so as not to harm the quality of the impressions taken at this demarcation. It can, however, be identified by a specific marking on the periphery of the casing 18 of the portable device 10, that is to say here by the presence of notches 20, or not, on the latter.

[0034] In the following figures, a protection element 12 is shown intended to protect the upper acquisition surface 14 which consists of an element attached to the portable device 10.

[0035] The protective element 12 comprises a main panel 22 which is movable relative to the acquisition surface 14 of the portable device 10.

[0036] The main panel 22 is configured to pivot relative to the upper surface 14 between a closed position shown in and several deployed positions.

[0037] With reference to the, the main panel 22 is configured to occupy with respect to the upper surface 14 a first closed position, in which the main panel 22 is affixed against the upper surface 14 and covers it.

[0038] The main panel is capable of occupying several deployment positions.

[0039] According to a first aspect, when the main panel 22 is in a first deployment position shown in set 4, it frees up all of the space above the acquisition surface of the device. This configuration allows the main panel 22 not to hinder the acquisition of the palm print or of several fingers of the hand in particular.

[0040] According to a second aspect, when the main panel 22 is in a second deployment position shown in set 6, it is inclined relative to the upper surface 14 at a predefined angle. This second deployment position allows the main panel 22 to form a screen against the sun so that the sensor is not dazzled by the sun.

[0041] Preferably, the main panel 22 is pivotally mounted relative to the portable device 10 at one of its peripheral edges. Here, around a transverse hinge edge 24 located at a longitudinal end of the main panel 22.

[0042] The main panel 22 comprises an opening 46 which extends over a predefined area 16 of the acquisition surface 14.

[0043] Preferably, the dimensions and arrangement of the opening 46 in the main panel 22 correspond to those of the predefined area 16 of the device on which the protective element is likely to be used.

[0044] The presence of this opening 46 makes it possible, when the main panel 22 is in the closed position, to have only the predefined zone 16 of the upper surface 14 which is accessible, the rest of the upper surface 14 being masked by the main panel 22.

[0045] When the main panel 22 is in its closed position, the protective element according to the invention makes it possible, when used on a fingerprint and / or palm print acquisition device as described above, to eliminate, if not significantly reduce, the exposure of the surface outside the predefined zone to variable brightness conditions, and thus the risk of glare. When this predefined zone corresponds to an area of ​​the acquisition surface of the device suitable for taking rolled prints, this elimination of light exposure allows the acquisition of better quality rolled fingerprint images, in particular with better contrast and a larger print.

[0046] In addition, the opening 46 provides a guide for better positioning of the fingers when acquiring the rolled impressions. It is thus easier to position the finger of the person from whom the rolled impression is to be taken on this predefined area 16.

[0047] With reference to the, according to one embodiment, the opening 46 opens into the front edge 44 of the main panel 22, it comprises a transverse bottom 54 located set back from the front edge 44 and two lateral edges 56. The bottom 54 and the two lateral edges 56 of the opening 46 are preferably located at the limits of the predefined zone 16. As a variant, the bottom 54 and the two lateral edges 56 of the opening 46 are located outside the limits of the predefined zone 16.

[0048] According to another aspect of the invention, the main panel 22 further comprises a flap 48 movable relative to the main panel 22 between a closed position, shown in particular at 7, in which the flap 48 extends to cover the opening 46, and a release position, shown in 1, in which the flap 48 does not cover the opening 46.

[0049] With reference to the, when the flap 48 is in the closed position and the main panel 22 is in the closed position, the flap 48 participates, with the rest of the main panel 22, in protecting the upper surface 14 of the portable device 10 against external aggressions. With reference to the, when the flap 48 is in the released position and the main panel 22 is in the closed position, only the predefined zone 16 of the upper surface 14 of the portable device 10 is not covered by the main panel, thus allowing the taking of rolled impressions.

[0050] The flap 48 is here of rectangular main shape. Preferably, the width of the flap 48 is equal to the width of the main panel 22 and the length of the flap 48 is substantially equal to half the length of the main panel 22. With reference to set 7, the flap 48 comprises a first movable edge 50 which is located at the front edge 44 of the main panel 22 when the flap 48 is in the closed position and which is located at the articulation edge 24 of the main panel 22 when the flap is in the released position. The flap 48 comprises a second fixed edge 52, forming a hinge, by means of which the flap 48 is articulated relative to the main panel 22. The flap 48 is connected to the main panel 22 at this fixed edge 52 by means of the hinge.

[0051] The shutter 48 may also include means for maintaining it in one or other of the closed position and the released position.

[0052] According to one embodiment, with reference to 7, these means for holding the shutter 48 in position comprise a fin 42 which is associated with the front edge 44 of the main panel 22. Preferably, this fin 42 is carried by the shutter 48 and more particularly by the movable edge 50 of the shutter 48. The fin 42 makes it possible to simultaneously hold the shutter 48 in the closed position and hold the main panel 22 in the closed position.

[0053] This fin 42 also makes it possible to maintain the flap 48 in the released position by its cooperation with an associated component of the protection element 12, for example with a partition 36.

[0054] As stated previously, the main panel 22 is capable of occupying several deployment positions, in particular a first deployment position shown in set 4, in which the main panel 22 frees up all of the space above the acquisition surface 14 of the device 10 and a second deployment position shown in set 6, in which the main panel 22 is inclined relative to the upper surface 14 at a predefined angle.

[0055] According to an advantageous example of implementation of this second deployment position, the protection element 12 comprises lateral wings 26, each of which is connected to a lateral edge 28 of the main panel 22. The lateral wings 26 cooperate with the housing 18 of the portable device 10 to maintain the main panel 22 in the deployment position.

[0056] According to an alternative embodiment, the side wings 26 and the main panel 22 are made of opaque material to form a better screen against light. Thus, it will be understood that the main panel 22 and / or the side wings 26 can be made of a less opaque material.

[0057] Preferably, each lateral wing 26 is pivotally mounted around the lateral edge 28 of the main panel 22; they can in particular occupy a folded position against the main panel 22 and an unfolded position intended to maintain the main panel in its second deployment position for which the main panel 22 is inclined relative to the acquisition surface 14 of the device 10.

[0058] In the unfolded position, each side wing 26 extends substantially perpendicular to the main panel 22 and to the upper surface 14 of the portable device 10. In the folded position, each side wing 26 is pressed against an internal face of the main panel 22.

[0059] With reference to set 7, when the main panel 22 is in the closed position, with the flap 48 in either the closed position or the released position, the lateral wings 26 of the protective element 12 are in the folded position against the main panel 22. They are then concealed by the main panel 22. Similarly, when the main panel 22 is in its first deployed position, as illustrated in the, the lateral wings 26 of the protective element 12 are pressed against the internal face of the main panel 22, which limits the size of the protective element.

[0060] The shape and dimensions of the side wings 26 are determined so that they do not cover the predefined area 16 of the upper surface 14 and therefore so that they are not located opposite the opening 46 when they are in their folded position.

[0061] With reference to set 6, when the main panel 22 is in its second deployment position, the main panel 22 and the side wings 26 delimit a housing 30 in the shape of a triangular prism, one face of which is open. This open face allows the introduction into this housing 30 of the fingers whose prints are to be acquired.

[0062] According to certain advantageous embodiments, the protective element 12 also comprises means for holding the main panel 22 in either the closed position or the second deployed position. According to an exemplary implementation, the main panel 22 may comprise fins 42 which comprise holding elements capable of cooperating with complementary holding elements which are carried by the housing 18 of the portable device 10. The holding elements are preferably of the magnet type or of the self-gripping hook and loop type.

[0063] The main panel 22 carries a fin 42 on each of its lateral edges 28 as well as on a front transverse edge 44. These three fins cooperate with the housing 18 to hold the main panel 22 in the closed position.

[0064] The main panel 22 also carries a fin 42 on each end edge of each side wing 26. These last two fins 42 cooperate with the housing 18 to hold the main panel 22 in its second deployment position.

[0065] According to another aspect, the protective element 12 comprises a secondary panel 32 on which the main panel 22 is pivotally mounted. The secondary panel 32, shown in set 5, is mounted under the housing 18 of the portable device 10.

[0066] The main panel 22 is hinged, at its hinge edge 24, relative to a rear end 34 of the secondary panel 32 which carries a partition 36 supporting the hinge of the main panel 22.

[0067] The secondary panel 32 includes means for its attachment to the housing 18 of the portable device 10.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, the secondary panel 32 is mounted under the housing 18 of the portable device 10. It comprises means for its attachment to the housing 18 which are for example magnetic connection means 38 which cooperate with associated magnetic elements carried by the housing 18 or of the self-gripping hook and loop type.

[0069] The secondary panel 32 also comprises means for its positioning relative to the housing 18. These positioning means can for example be produced by the magnets 38 and the magnetic elements associated with them and which are carried by the housing 18. According to an alternative embodiment, which can be combined with the previous embodiment, the positioning means comprise orifices 40 formed in the secondary panel 32 and in which feet (not shown) of the housing 18 are received without play.

[0070] The protective element 12 may be produced in the form of a single compound having parts that are movable relative to each other. It is preferably designed not to hinder the handling of the portable device 10, in particular due to its mass and size. It is preferably made from materials that are not likely to damage the upper surface 14 of the sensor.

[0071] Thus, by way of non-limiting example, the protective element 12 is made of rigid plastic covered with a microfiber material or imitation leather plastic, such as polyurethane, or PU.

[0072] The invention which has just been described concerns the protective element 12 itself, which comprises an opening 46 as described previously.

[0073] The invention also relates to a fingerprint acquisition system comprising the protective element 12 and the portable device 10 for acquiring fingerprints and palm prints.

[0074] In this acquisition system, the protective element 12 is fixed to the portable device 10 by means of the secondary panel 32 which is fixed under the housing 18 of the acquisition device 10 by the connecting means such as the magnets 38.

[0075] The main panel 22 of the protective element 12 is pivotally mounted relative to the upper surface 14 of the sensor. It is capable of occupying a closed position in which it completely covers this upper surface 14 of the sensor, protecting it from various external attacks.

[0076] The fins 42 mounted on its edges 28, 44 cooperate with the housing 18 to maintain the main panel 22 in this closed position.

[0077] Also, in this closed position of the main panel 22, the side wings 26 are folded against the main panel 22.

[0078] When the main panel 22 is in this closed position, the predefined area 16 of the sensor intended for the acquisition of rolled-up impressions can be discovered by pivoting the flap 48 relative to the main panel 22 around its fixed edge 52.

[0079] The main panel 22 is also capable of occupying the first deployment position shown in , in which the upper surface 14 of the sensor is completely uncovered, to allow the acquisition of palm prints and a second deployment position shown in , in which the main panel 22 is inclined relative to the upper surface 14.

[0080] In this second deployment position, the main panel 22 is held in position by the lateral wings 26, the fins 42 of which they carry cooperate with the housing 18.

Claims

Protective element (12) for a portable device (10) for acquiring fingerprints and / or palm prints, said protective element (12) comprises a main panel (22) which is movable relative to an acquisition surface (14) of the portable device (10), and which is configured to pivot between a so-called closed position in which it covers said acquisition surface (14) and at least one deployment position in which it uncovers said acquisition surface (14); in which the main panel (22) comprises an opening (46) which extends over a predefined area (16) of the acquisition surface (14) when it is in the closed position; in which the opening (46) is a through opening formed in a peripheral edge (44) of the main panel (22). Protective element (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which it further comprises a flap (48) which is movable relative to the main panel (22), said flap (48) is configured to pivot between a so-called closing position in which the flap (48) extends to cover the opening (46) of the main panel (22) and a so-called release position in which the flap (48) does not cover the opening (46). Protective element (12) according to the preceding claim, such that the flap (48) is configured to pivot relative to the main panel using a hinge.

4. Protective element (12) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, in which the flap (48) comprises means for holding it in one and / or the other of the closed and released positions, said fixing means preferably being of the magnet type or of the self-gripping hook and loop type. Protective element (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the main panel (22) comprises lateral wings (26), each lateral wing (26) being articulated relative to a lateral edge (28) of the main panel (22) and being configured to, in a first so-called folded position, hold the main panel (22) in its closed position and to, in a second position, hold the main panel in its deployed position, in which the main panel (22) is inclined relative to the acquisition surface (14) of the portable device (10) and form an additional lateral panel to the main panel (22).

6. Protective element (12) according to claim 4, in which the main panel comprises means (42) for holding it in one or other of the closed and deployed positions, said holding means preferably being of the magnet type or of the self-gripping hook and loop type.

7. Protective element (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a secondary panel (32) on which the main panel (22) is pivotally mounted, said secondary panel (32) comprising means (38) adapted for fixing said secondary panel (32) with the portable device (10), said fixing means (38) preferably being of the magnet type or of the self-gripping hook and loop type.

8. Protective element (12) according to claim 7, in which the secondary panel (32) comprises means for its positioning relative to the portable device (10).

9. Fingerprint acquisition system comprising a portable device (10) for acquiring fingerprints and palm prints and a protective element (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the portable device (14) comprises an upper acquisition surface (14) provided with a predefined area (16) intended for taking rolled impressions and wherein the opening (46) of the main panel (22) of the protective element (12) extends over said predefined area (16) of the upper acquisition surface (14) when the main panel (22) is in the closed position.

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