Fingerprint Image Contrast Normalization for Pressure Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fingerprint recognition technologies face challenges in accurately processing images due to variations in finger pressure, leading to non-uniform brightness distributions and degraded authentication performance.

Innovation Solution

A method is proposed to generate a reference image reflecting the brightness change trend of an original fingerprint image, normalize the contrast distribution using a kernel function, and apply smoothing techniques to remove noise, thereby enhancing ridge extraction and image registration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fingerprint images are captured with varying finger pressure, then the authentication process can be completed, but the brightness distribution becomes non-uniform leading to degraded authentication performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication performanceVSAvoidbrightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies histogram equalization to transform the brightness distribution of the fingerprint image. By changing the parameter distribution of pixel intensities through histogram equalization, the method converts non-uniform brightness caused by pressure variations into a uniform distribution, thereby improving authentication performance without requiring controlled pressure conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If traditional fingerprint processing methods are used, then the processing is simple, but ridge extraction and image registration accuracy are degraded due to non-uniform contrast

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveridge extraction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs histogram equalization as a preliminary processing step before ridge extraction and image registration. By pre-processing the fingerprint image to achieve uniform brightness distribution, the method improves the accuracy of subsequent ridge extraction and registration operations without adding complex real-time processing requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3786837B1Electronic apparatus and method of processing fingerprint image
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3786837B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3786837B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3786837B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of processing a fingerprint image in an electronic apparatus includes: obtaining an original fingerprint image by sensing a fingerprint of a user; estimating a spatial change trend of original contrast values in the original fingerprint image; generating a reference contrast map based on the estimated spatial change trend; normalizing a contrast distribution of the original fingerprint image based on the reference contrast map, and generating a normalization fingerprint image having a normalized contrast distribution.