Hand-Detected Contactless Authentication With Biometric and ID Reading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biometric authentication systems require users to physically touch surfaces for fingerprint reading, posing a risk of contact and transmission of infectious diseases.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that detects a user's hand presenting a reading target object, reading biometric information from an image of the hand, and identifying information from the object, reducing direct contact during authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fingerprint authentication is performed by pressing finger against substrate, then authentication accuracy is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to contact with potentially contaminated surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefingerprint reading accuracyVSAvoidinfectious disease transmission risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transparent sheet as an intermediary between the user's finger and the substrate. The sheet is positioned on the substrate surface, allowing the fingerprint imaging unit to capture fingerprint information through the sheet while preventing direct contact between the user's finger and the substrate, thereby eliminating infectious disease transmission risk while maintaining authentication accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based fingerprint reading method with an optical imaging method. Instead of requiring physical pressure contact between the finger and substrate, the system uses an fingerprint imaging unit to optically capture fingerprint patterns through the transparent sheet, substituting mechanical interaction with optical field interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transparent sheet is introduced to prevent contact, then user safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact preventionVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a transparent sheet, which is a thin film structure, to achieve contact prevention. This thin film approach maintains simplicity by using a lightweight, easy-to-implement component that does not significantly increase device complexity while effectively preventing user contact with the substrate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent sheet serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a protective barrier preventing contact, serves as a transmission medium for optical fingerprint imaging, and maintains structural integrity of the substrate. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If hand is held over reading target object without contact, then hygiene is improved, but reading accuracy may deteriorate due to positioning difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene maintenanceVSAvoidbiometric information reading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a detection unit that detects the position of the user's hand holding the reading target object. This detection feedback allows the system to determine when the hand is correctly positioned over the substrate, ensuring that biometric information can be accurately read through the transparent sheet while maintaining the no-contact hygiene benefit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables biometric authentication without direct contact, enhancing hygiene by allowing users to present identification information and biometric data without touching the apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

an image obtaining unit that obtains an image of the hand by imaging the hand detected by the detection unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20250238491A1Information processing apparatus, authentication system, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2025.07.24 NEC CORP

AI summary

Provided is an information processing apparatus capable of reducing the possibility of contact between a user and a member in authentication of the user. An information processing apparatus (100) includes a detection unit (101) that detects a hand presenting a reading target object including identification information of a user, and a reading unit (102) that reads biometric information from an image obtained by imaging the detected hand and reads identification information from the reading target object presented by the hand.