Biometric Touch Scanner Merging Ultrasonic and Optical Liveness Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fingerprint scanning technologies face challenges in providing robust and cost-effective authentication systems that can effectively differentiate between live and fake fingerprints, especially in the presence of contaminants or prosthetic fingers.
Innovation Solution
The development of a biometric sensing device that integrates an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor with an optical system. The ultrasonic sensor uses transducers to transmit ultrasound signals and generate images of fingerprints, while the optical system transmits light through the sensor to detect liveness parameters such as heart rate and blood oxygenation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If optical fingerprint scanners are used, then authentication speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to fake fingerprints and contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines optical fingerprint scanning with ultrasonic sensing in a single integrated device. The optical system captures fingerprint images while the ultrasonic transducers detect subsurface fingerprint patterns and liveness parameters simultaneously, creating a multi-modal authentication system that maintains speed while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic transducer array serves multiple functions: it detects fingerprint patterns, verifies liveness by measuring tissue properties, and can detect contaminants. This multi-functional approach allows a single component to address multiple authentication challenges, improving reliability without sacrificing speed
2Reliability
If ultrasonic fingerprint sensors are used, then reliability is improved by detecting subsurface features, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic transducer array is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: fingerprint pattern detection, liveness verification through tissue property measurement, and contaminant detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensor systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved reliability
3Reliability
If liveness detection is added to fingerprint scanning, then authentication security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Liveness detection functionality is merged into the ultrasonic fingerprint sensing system. The same ultrasonic transducers that capture fingerprint patterns also measure tissue properties such as elasticity and blood flow to verify liveness, eliminating the need for separate liveness detection hardware and reducing overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This integrated system provides robust authentication by generating high-resolution images of fingerprints and verifying liveness parameters, thus preventing false authentication from fake or prosthetic fingers.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor comprising ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit an ultrasound signal to the surface
Implementation Method 2
generate data indicative of an image of at least a portion of a fingerprint of the finger on the surface
Implementation Method 3
The optical system is configured to transmit light to the receiving surface through the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
Implementation Method 4
generate a liveness parameter based on light reflected by the finger that is received by the optical system
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of this disclosure relate to a biometric sensing device that combines sensing with an actuator for two way communication between a finger on a surface and the device. The sensor can also function as an actuator. A finger can be authenticated based on an image of the finger generated by the sensor and also based on a response to energy delivered to the finger by the actuator. Two way communication can provide more robust authentication than fingerprint sensing alone.