Finger-Joint Print Biometric Identification Using Gabor Phase Coding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biometric systems face challenges such as difficulty in acquiring features for labor workers and the elderly due to hand abrasions, high costs for iris scanners, and large device sizes for palm print systems, necessitating a more versatile and cost-effective biometric method.

Innovation Solution

A method and system using finger-joint print images, specifically capturing the outer skin around the proximal interphalangeal joint, which involves capturing images, extracting region of interest (ROI) based on local convexity, and representing features using an extended Gabor phase coding scheme for identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fingerprint identification is used, then it works well in most cases, but it has difficulty acquiring fingerprint features for labor workers and the elderly due to hand abrasions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidapplicability to labor workers and elderly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the finger into different regions for identification: the fingertip region for conventional fingerprint features and the finger joint region (proximal interphalangeal joint) for the new finger-joint print features. This segmentation allows the system to use the most suitable region based on the user's condition, making it adaptable to both general populations and specific groups like labor workers and elderly people whose fingertip ridges may be degraded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If iris based systems are used, then extremely high accuracy is achieved, but iris scanners are very expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive iris scanning hardware with a low-cost digital imaging device (such as a standard camera or image sensor) that can capture finger images. While iris scanners provide high accuracy, they are prohibitively expensive for widespread deployment. The finger-joint print system achieves comparable reliability using inexpensive imaging equipment, making biometric identification accessible and manufacturable at scale.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If palm print based systems are used, then identification can be performed, but the acquisition device must be large size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification capabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the identification features from a specific, localized region of the finger (the proximal interphalangeal joint area) rather than requiring the entire palm. By focusing on this smaller, more compact region, the acquisition device can be significantly reduced in size compared to palm print systems that require capturing the whole palm, while still maintaining sufficient feature information for reliable identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fingerprint systems are used, then identification works for most people, but the inner parts of hands are easily abraded affecting performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewide applicabilityVSAvoidperformance under hand abrasion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using the conventional fingertip region (which is most susceptible to abrasion), the invention inverts the approach by using the finger joint region (proximal interphalangeal joint) for identification. This region is protected by the finger structure and less exposed to external wear and tear, thereby maintaining reliable identification performance even for labor workers and elderly people whose hands are prone to abrasion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

The system achieves high recognition rates, is user-friendly, cost-effective, and suitable for labor workers, with a small form factor, offering a viable alternative to traditional fingerprint and palm print systems.

Implementation Method 1

A real part GR of a neurophysiology-based Gabor filter may be applied to the ROI image IROI to extract the orientation information of the ROI image IROI.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGabor filter:

Data Source

PatentUS8208692B2Method and system for identifying a person using their finger-joint print

Publication Date: 2012.06.26 THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIV

AI summary

A method for identifying a person using their finger-joint print including the outer skin around the proximal interphalangeal joint of a finger, the method comprising: capturing (10) an image of the finger-joint print of the person; extracting (12) a region of interest (ROI) based on a local convexity property of the finger-joint print; extracting (13) features representing the orientation of the lines in a finger-joint print image from the ROI using an extended Gabor phase coding scheme and the extracted features are represented in competitive code maps; wherein angular distance between the competitive code maps is compared (14) with a reference set in a database to identify the person.