Combined IR Biometric Capture System with Ambient-Free Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with multiple infrared (IR) biometric systems face space constraints and increased costs due to separate hardware for each system, and existing IR systems are affected by ambient IR, leading to reduced sensitivity and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A combined IR camera system that integrates multiple biometric technologies using a single hardware module with an adjustable IR pass filter and a rolling shutter sensor, allowing for ambient-free IR capture by subtracting ambient IR levels, thereby reducing physical space and costs while maintaining high resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate hardware is used for each IR biometric system, then each system can operate independently, but physical space and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate IR biometric systems (facial recognition, iris recognition, eye gaze tracking) into a single integrated hardware module. This consolidation reduces the physical space required while maintaining the independent operational capability of each biometric function through shared infrared sensing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated hardware module is designed to perform multiple biometric functions simultaneously or sequentially. A single infrared camera system can switch between different biometric modes (face, iris, eye tracking) based on operational requirements, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware for each function and optimizing space utilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate hardware is used for each IR biometric system, then system functionality is maintained, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple biometric systems into one hardware platform, the patent reduces component count, simplifies assembly processes, and lowers manufacturing costs. The shared infrared sensor, lens, and processing unit eliminate redundant parts while preserving all required biometric functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal hardware module is engineered to support multiple biometric applications through software configuration and parameter adjustment rather than physical customization. This approach reduces manufacturing complexity and costs while maintaining adaptability across different biometric use cases.
3Device complexity
If traditional IR systems are used, then hardware simplicity is maintained, but ambient IR interference reduces sensitivity and accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes ambient IR interference from the captured signal through computational techniques. By separating the ambient IR component from the total IR signal, the system can subtract this interference to reveal the true biometric features, thereby improving measurement precision without complicating the hardware design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as integration time, gain, and filtering thresholds to optimize performance under varying ambient IR conditions. These parameter changes enable the simple hardware to adapt to different lighting environments and maintain high biometric accuracy despite ambient interference.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is disclosed herein that includes an infrared light source to emit infrared light, a rolling shutter sensor, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is to: cause the rolling shutter sensor to output a first signal corresponding to a first frame of image data during exposure to the infrared light, reset the rows of the rolling shutter sensor at a same time, cause the rolling shutter sensor to output a second signal corresponding to a second frame of image data without exposure to the infrared light from the infrared light source, determine a difference between the first signal and the second signal to generate an ambient infrared free frame, and recognize a face based on the ambient infrared free frame.