3216 results about "Fingerprint image" patented technology

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and system for fingerprint recognition and hand-print recognition comprising a scanner with a contoured surface, or a scanner the surface of which deforms to allow more fingerprint or hand-print data to be captured, an application specific circuit for conversion of analog data from a captured fingerprint image from an embedded sensor array into a digital image and a fingerprint security application for verification of said digital image against stored fingerprint templates. The scanner array wrap with the embedded scanner array may be placed over the fixture to be scanned, or it may be formed as a part of the fixture that is scanned to authenticate the identity of a person.

An input unit accepts a fingerprint image of a user. A pre-extraction and categorization unit generates pre-extracted data from the fingerprint image and uses the data to categorize the input fingerprint image into one of multiple groups. A feature extraction unit extracts fingerprint feature data from the fingerprint image by processing methods defined for the respective groups. A feature data matching processing unit matches the fingerprint feature data against fingerprint authentication data registered in a fingerprint authentication database by processing methods defined for the respective groups. An integrated authentication unit authenticates a user with the input fingerprint image based upon a result of matching.

The present invention combines the functionality of a computer pointing device with a fingerprint authentication system, In the preferred embodiment, by regularly scanning fingerprints acquired from the pointing device touch pad, fingerprint features may be extracted and compared to stored data on authorized users for passive authentication. Furthermore, calculations based upon the acquired fingerprint images and associated features allows the system to determine six degrees of freedom of the finger, allowing the user to control a variety of functions or to manipulate a three-dimensional model or virtual reality system.

Fingerprint image processing methods for fingerprint security systems, for example, in wireless communications devices, including capturing fingerprint images (320), identifying features from images (330), matching the identified features with reference features (340), and providing access to the device based upon feature matching (350) results. In one embodiment, minutiae features are extracted from the image and matched to reference minutiae features.

A color image sensor sequentially acquires a plurality of fingerprint images when a finger is pressed against the detector surface. A color information extraction unit detects the finger color in synchronization with the input of the plurality of fingerprint images. An areal information extraction unit detects a physical quantity representing the pressure applied by the finger to the color image sensor when the plurality of fingerprint images are acquired, particularly, the quantity related with the area of the finger in contact with the detector surface. A living body identification unit determines whether the finger is a live or dead one by the analysis of correlation between the physical quantity and the finger color. According to this configuration, even if the finger color does not change much, it is possible to distinguish living bodies from dead ones if there is a sufficient correlation with information such as the area of the fingerprint that reflects the finger pressure. The thickness of the fingerprint input unit is approximately 1-2 mm, determined by the sum of the thickness of the planar light source and that of the color image sensor.

A fingerprint sensing module for a touch screen device. The fingerprint sensing module includes a sensor, a light source, a motion detector, and an image processor. The sensor sets to capture portions for a fingerprint image as a finger is slid over the sensor. The motion detector determines a rate of the finger movement as the finger is slide over the touch screen device. The image processor reads fingerprint images from the sensor and the fingerprint motion data from the motion detector. The image processor subsequently combines portions of the fingerprint images into a complete fingerprint in accordance with the rate of the finger's movement.

A fingerprint sensing system includes an image sensor, a rate sensor and a sensor circuit. The image sensor includes a linear array of capacitive sensors for capacitive sensing of ridge peaks and ridge valleys of a fingerprint on a swiped finger. The rate sensor senses the speed of the finger as it is swiped across the image sensor. The sensor circuit supplies image drive signals to the image sensor and detects image signals in response to the drive signals. The sensor circuit supplies rate drive signals to the rate sensor and detects rate signals in response to the rate drive signals. The sensor circuit further coordinates the image signals and the rate signals to provide a fingerprint image. The image sensor may be configured as an image pickup plate and multiple image drive plates formed on a substrate, such as a flexible printed circuit board or other flexible substrate which may conform to the shape of the finger.

A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display.

A fingerprint sensor which includes a conductive layer which is incorporatable within an electronic display is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor also includes a controller coupled to the conductive layer to capture a fingerprint image and can further be adapted to control the display.

The invention discloses an optical fingerprint sensor module, comprising a protection layer and an optical fingerprint sensor located under the protection layer; the optical fingerprint sensor is equipped with a light transmitting substrate and an instruction layer; the instrument layer is equipped with multiple pixels; every pixel is equipped with a light transmitting region and a light proof region; the light proof region is equipped with a sensing element; the light transmitting region enables the lights to transmit the instrument layer; a backlight source is located under the optical fingerprint sensor; the instrument layer is located between the backlight source and the light transmitting substrate; or the light transmitting substrate is located between the backlight source and the instrument layer; at least one of a light condensing layer and a light straightening layer is arranged between the optical fingerprint sensor and the backlight source; the angle range of the transmitted lights is reduced by the light condensing layer and the light straightening layer. The definition of the fingerprint image formed by the optical fingerprint sensor module is improved.

A biometric secured system grants a user access to a host system by classifying a fingerprint used to verify or authorize the user to the system as real or fake. The classification is based on a probability that fingerprint image data corresponds to characteristics that reliably identify the finger as real. The system includes a fingerprint sensor for capturing fingerprint image data coupled to a spoof detection module. In one embodiment, the spoof detection module is programmed to determine spoof probability based on a combination of metrics that include, among other metrics, pixel gray level average and the variance of pixels corresponding to a fingerprint ridge, pixel gray level average and the variance of pixels corresponding to a fingerprint valley, density of sweat pores, and density of sweat streaks, to name a few metrics.

A method of analyzing and recognizing fingerprint images that utilizes vector processing of a vector field that is defined as the tangential vector of the fingerprint ridge curves is disclosed. The raw fingerprint image is divided into blocks, filtered to remove noise, and the orientation direction of each block is found. This allows the ridge curves to be enhanced and approximated by piece-wise linear approximations. The piece-wise linear approximations to the ridge curves allow the minutiae to be extracted and classified and a fingerprint minutiae template to be constructed. An enrollment process gathers multiple fingerprint images, creates fingerprint minutiae templates corresponding to the acquired fingerprint images, and stores the templates and other data associated with the respective individual or the enrolled fingerprint in a fingerprint database. In an identification process, an unknown raw fingerprint image is obtained via a fingerprint scanner and processed similarly to the enrollment process such that the fingerprint minutiae template of the unknown fingerprint is compared to one or more previously enrolled fingerprint minutiae templates. The identity of the individual associated with the unknown fingerprint is thereby ascertained. In addition, live finger detection can be accomplished in conjunction with the verification or identification process through analysis of the fingerprint image thus enhancing the security of the overall system.

A method and system of increasing the acceptance rate in fingerprint scans by the application of cascaded selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules using a plurality of sensors. The finger is swiped over multiple sensors. A whole fingerprint sample is constructed from the scan of each of the multiple sensors, thereby generating a multiplicity of whole fingerprint samples. Predetermined selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules are set for each of the whole fingerprint samples. The sequence of application of the rules is set for the fingerprint recognition. The accuracy level for fingerprint recognition is set. The selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules are sequentially applied to match the captured fingerprint image with stored fingerprint templates. The stored fingerprint templates are sequentially filtered until the set accuracy level is achieved.

A biometric secured system grants a user access to a host system by classifying a fingerprint used to verify or authorize the user to the system as real or fake. The classification is based on a probability that fingerprint image data corresponds to characteristics that reliably identify the finger as real. The system includes a fingerprint sensor for capturing fingerprint image data coupled to a spoof detection module. In one embodiment, the spoof detection module is programmed to determine spoof probability based on a combination of metrics that include, among other metrics, pixel gray level average and the variance of pixels corresponding to a fingerprint ridge, pixel gray level average and the variance of pixels corresponding to a fingerprint valley, density of sweat pores, and density of sweat streaks, to name a few metrics.

A fingerprint sensing system includes an image sensor, a rate sensor and a sensor circuit. The image sensor includes a linear array of capacitive sensors for capacitive sensing of ridge peaks and ridge valleys of a fingerprint on a swiped finger. The rate sensor senses the speed of the finger as it is swiped across the image sensor. The sensor circuit supplies image drive signals to the image sensor and detects image signals in response to the drive signals. The sensor circuit supplies rate drive signals to the rate sensor and detects rate signals in response to the rate drive signals. The sensor circuit further coordinates the image signals and the rate signals to provide a fingerprint image. The image sensor may be configured as an image pickup plate and multiple image drive plates formed on a substrate, such as a flexible printed circuit board or other flexible substrate which may conform to the shape of the finger.

Enhanced accuracy finger position and motion sensors devices, algorithms, and methods are disclosed that can be used in a variety of different applications. The sensors can be used in conjunction with partial fingerprint imagers to produce improved fingerprint scanners. The finger motion sensors may also be used (either with or without a partial fingerprint imager) to produce highly accurate fingerprint images as well as to control electronic devices. Here improved signal analysis algorithms and methods are disclosed that enable finger position to be determined with higher levels of accuracy as the finger is swiped over finger position sensing arrays. These algorithms are particularly useful for deep finger penetrating radio frequency (RF) based sensing arrays.

A sensor which uses a plurality of partial fingerprint readers (imagers), and various computational algorithms, to detect changes in fingerprint images as a function of finger movement. The sensor can provide both finger motion information and fingerprint images. The sensor uses multiple partial fingerprint readers, arranged in different directions on a surface, to detect finger motion in two dimensions. The sensor can also detect the relative speed and direction of finger movement. Some sensor embodiments use deep finger penetrating radio frequency (RF) based circuits, which can be inexpensively printed or formed on the surface of robust and flexible dielectric materials such as Kapton tape. The sensor also has textured surfaces to help guide the user. The sensor both small and robust, and is well suited for control applications for low-cost mass market microprocessor controlled devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, laptop computers, and other devices.

A fingerprint-sensing device with a sensor array that does not use active switching elements is fabricated on a base. Sensor support integrated circuits, which contain processing and addressing circuitry, are separately fabricated and subsequently mounted on the base, establishing electrical connections with an interconnect structure within the base, and are thus not integrated with the sensor array. The sensor support integrated circuits can be covered by a bezel structure and the sensor array by a covering material. In addition, a connection cable can be provided to connect the sensor array and the sensor support integrated circuits with a power source and to other external devices and to convey signals generated by the sensor array to the external devices.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an efficient and accurate system and method are described for detecting a fingerprint from swipe sensor system. A swipe sensor module is coupled to a microprocessor module. The swipe sensor module collects fingerprint image data as a plurality of frames and passes the frames of data to the microprocessor module. The microprocessor module assembles the frames of data into a complete image of the fingerprint that is cropped and processed to remove noise and artifacts. The cropped image is used to generate a template in a first instance and to compare an extracted portion of the cropped image to existing templates in a second instance.

Fingerprint recognition and matching systems and methods are described that utilize features at all three fingerprint friction ridge detail levels, i.e., Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3, extracted from 1000 ppi fingerprint scans. Level 3 features, including but not limited to pore and ridge contour characteristics, were automatically extracted using various filters (e.g., Gabor filters, edge detector filters, and / or the like) and transforms (e.g., wavelet transforms) and were locally matched using various algorithms (e.g., the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm). Because Level 3 features carry significant discriminatory and complementary information, there was a relative reduction of 20% in the equal error rate (EER) of the matching system when Level 3 features were employed in combination with Level 1 and Level 2 features, which were also automatically extracted. This significant performance gain was consistently observed across various quality fingerprint images.

The method and apparatus of the present invention provide for automatic recognition of fingerprint images. In an acquisition mode, subsets of the feature points for a given fingerprint image are generated in a deterministic fashion. One or more of the subsets of feature points for the given fingerprint image is selected. For each selected subset, a key is generated that characterizes the fingerprint in the vicinity of the selected subset. A multi-map entry corresponding to the selected subset of feature points is stored and labeled with the corresponding key. In the recognition mode, a query fingerprint image is supplied to the system. The processing of the acquisition mode is repeated in order to generate a plurality of keys associated with a plurality of subsets of feature points of the query fingerprint image. For each key generated in the recognition mode, all entries in the multi-map that are associated with this key are retrieved. For each item retrieved, a hypothesized match between the query fingerprint image and the reference fingerprint image is constructed. Hypothesized matches are accumulated in a vote table. This list of hypotheses and scores stored in the vote table are preferably used to determine whether a match to the query fingerprint image is stored by the system.

A sweep-type fingerprint sensor module includes a microprocessor and a sweep-type fingerprint sensor, which includes a substrate, and a sensing members array, a speed-detecting unit, and a processing circuit on the substrate. The array is composed of plural fingerprint sensing members. When the finger sweeps across the fingerprint sensor, the array sequentially acquires plural fingerprint fragment images from the finger with a sampling time interval. The speed-detecting unit is composed of first and second plate electrodes. The processing circuit processes and then outputs signals from the array and the speed-detecting unit. The microprocessor electrically connected to the processing circuit derives a sweeping speed of the finger by the time difference when the finger sweeps across the sensor surface and sequentially contacts the first and second plate electrodes, determines the sampling time interval and minimize the number of captured fragment images for re-construction of the initial complete fingerprint image.

The invention discloses a fingerprint identification method, a fingerprint template updating method, a fingerprint template updating device and a mobile terminal. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring a fingerprint image input by a user; comparing the fingerprint image with N fingerprint templates in a pre-stored fingerprint template group, and making a mobile terminal execute a corresponding target operation and further judging whether the matching value between the fingerprint image and the ith fingerprint template in the pre-stored fingerprint template group is greater than a second preset threshold if the matching value between the fingerprint image and the ith fingerprint template in the pre-stored fingerprint template group is greater than a first preset threshold, wherein the second preset threshold is greater than the first preset threshold; and generating a new fingerprint template according to the fingerprint image and adding the new fingerprint template to the fingerprint template group if the matching value is greater than the second preset threshold. According to the fingerprint identification method provided by the embodiment, the fingerprint templates are no longer fixed, and the fingerprint templates in the fingerprint template group are constantly improved and supplemented according to the fingerprint image used by the user in the subsequent using process.

The mobile communication device is for use as a cell phone, as a wireless identity authentication device with other electronic devices (with cell phones, computers, and ATM's), and as a headset in the form of an earphone, an eye-covering, or a head covering for audio communication with a central processor, another mobile terminal a cell phone, or a pda. The mobile communication device is hands-free being worn on or near the face, and only requires a finger touching for bimodal identity authentication. An audio receiver is compatible with the ear of the user and a microphone transmits words spoken by the user, electronically therethrough. A fingerprint sensor is mounted and positioned within the device. When user authentication is required, the user is prompted to touch the fingerprint sensor, and said fingerprint data is compared with fingerprint images of authorized users. In another aspect of the invention, mobile communication device is an eye-covering, a head covering, or an identification badge including a fingerprint sensor and a processor and is used for wireless authentication of the user.

A method for assisting a user of a fingerprint sensing system includes sensing a position of a user's finger relative to a swiped fingerprint image sensor, and providing to the user, in response to the sensed finger position, an indication of finger placement relative to the fingerprint image sensor. The indication of finger placement may include a display on a computer monitor of actual finger placement and desired finger placement. The fingerprint sensing system may include an image sensor to sense a fingerprint on a swiped finger, a finger position sensor to sense the position of the finger relative to the image sensor, and processing apparatus to provide the indication of finger placement to the user.

An electronic signature capture system and process meets the legal requirements of a valid electronic signature while also providing electronically signed documents that have the appearance, and thus equivalent acceptability, of a traditional pen-and-ink signature. The documents can be signed using a mouse, a stylus, a touch screen, a graphics tablet, or other suitable input device to draw a signature analogue on the screen similar to signing a paper document with a pen. A fingerprint image, retinal scan image, or other similar biometric input may be captured in addition to or instead of a signature. The signature analogue is saved and linked to a particular user and to particular documents. The signature analogue may be combined with the document in a composite image file, or the signature analogue may be applied dynamically to appropriate document components to assemble an executed document as needed.

Enhanced accuracy finger position and motion sensors devices, algorithms, and methods are disclosed that can be used in a variety of different applications. The sensors can be used in conjunction with partial fingerprint imagers to produce improved fingerprint scanners. Such improved scanners can use image analysis techniques, such as interpolation between partial fingerprint images to correct for missing data, or discarding redundant partial fingerprint image data, to produce adequate fingerprint images even when the finger has not been applied to the sensor using an optimum technique.

A pointing device having a fingerprint recognition function, a fingerprint image recognition and pointing method, and a method for providing a portable terminal service using the same are disclosed. In the pointing device having a fingerprint recognition function and a fingerprint recognition method, fingerprint images having small sizes are mapped to generate a large fingerprint image or a small fingerprint image extracted from the large fingerprint image so that the pointing device performs user recognition and pointer control. As a result, respective sensors for the user recognition and for the pointer control are not comprised in the pointing device, but only one kind of sensors for performing both functions of user recognition and pointer control is comprised in the pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Also, it is possible to easily embody miniaturization of a portable terminal device because the user recognition which requires a large fingerprint can be performed only with a small fingerprint image, thereby reducing manufacturing cost. Additionally, important information in the portable terminal device having the pointing device can be protected by selectively limiting kinds of service usable in the portable terminal device depending on user recognition.

A method and apparatus whereby a fingerprint verifier has a mechanism to slide a prism over an imaged area of a camera. The position of the prism being determined by a binary absolute linear code on a sliding mechanism imaged by the same camera at the side of the fingerprint wherein the images are knitted together to simulate a large CCD.