Biometric Station Lighting and Feedback System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biometric data acquisition stations for identity documents are inefficient, requiring multiple attempts for high-quality fingerprint and photo captures, often leading to user confusion and increased processing time due to lack of real-time feedback and ergonomic design.

Innovation Solution

A biometric data acquisition system with integrated fingerprint sensors and cameras, featuring a user-friendly interface with real-time quality feedback and adjustable lighting, ensuring compliance with ICAO and ISO standards, and secure data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple acquisitions of fingerprints and photos are performed to ensure quality, then data quality is improved, but processing time and user confusion increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata qualityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays real-time feedback to the user during fingerprint and photo acquisition, showing whether the captured data meets quality standards. This immediate feedback allows users to adjust their positioning or finger placement on the spot, ensuring quality data is captured in fewer attempts and reducing overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary quality assessment of captured biometric data before final enrollment. By evaluating fingerprint clarity and photo quality in advance, the system can immediately inform users of any issues that need correction, preventing the need for multiple re-acquisitions and streamlining the enrollment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If oral guidance is provided to users during enrollment, then device complexity is reduced, but user understanding and positioning accuracy worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoiduser positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces oral mechanical guidance with visual electronic displays that show users exactly how to position themselves, place their fingers, and what quality standards their biometric data must meet. This visual feedback mechanism is more precise and easier to understand than verbal instructions, improving user positioning accuracy without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If lighting means are added to ensure photo quality compliance, then photo quality is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephoto qualityVSAvoidinstallation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting means are integrated directly into the existing station structure, merging the illumination function with the housing or mounting framework. This integration approach ensures consistent, high-quality lighting for photo capture while avoiding the need for separate, complex lighting assemblies that would increase installation difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses controllable lighting elements that act as intermediaries between the camera and the subject, providing optimized illumination that ensures ICAO compliance. These lighting means are designed to be easily adjustable and integrated into the station, maintaining photo quality without requiring complex installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2817677B1Station for acquiring biometric and biographic data
Publication Date: 2016.06.15 THALES SA
  • EP2817677B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2817677B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2B
  • EP2817677B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A system allowing the acquisition of biometric and biographic data of an individual, characterised in that it comprises, in combination, at least the following elements: A station (1) incorporating at least one of the following elements: a biometric fingerprint sensor (15), a camera (10) for photographing said individual, a return screen (14), a portal (21) comprising lighting means suitable for providing lighting that complies with given conditions for acquiring biometric data. The lighting means consist of a curved metal reflector (22) attached to the back and to the top (23) of the frame (21), a first upper light tube (24) placed substantially horizontally, provided with a protection lowered and oriented towards said reflector, a second light tube (25) arranged substantially horizontally in the lower part of the frame, power P2 of the second light tube is lower than that P of the first tube, said station being linked via connectors to a microcomputer (19). Use of the system for collecting all the biometric and biographic data required to produce secure documents. Figure