Portable IC Card Fingerprint Similarity Checks for Diverse Templates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable electronic devices, such as IC cards, fail to properly generate authentication data when a user continuously touches a sensor with the same finger, resulting in identical biometric information acquisition.

Innovation Solution

The IC card system includes a fingerprint sensor that acquires multiple fingerprint images, extracts feature point information, and generates a template by comparing similarities between images, rejecting images that match too closely and prompting the user to adjust finger placement when necessary, ensuring varied biometric data for effective template creation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the device continuously acquires biometric information without validation, then the acquisition speed is high, but the authentication accuracy deteriorates due to identical biometric data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiometric information acquisition speedVSAvoidauthentication data accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device implements a feedback mechanism by comparing each newly acquired biometric image with previously stored images using similarity calculation. When the similarity exceeds a threshold, the system provides feedback to reject the duplicate image and prompt the user to provide a different biometric sample, thereby ensuring authentication accuracy while maintaining efficient acquisition processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary similarity comparison and validation checks before accepting biometric images into the template. By pre-screening images for uniqueness and quality, the system prevents duplicate or low-quality data from being stored, ensuring high authentication accuracy from the outset without requiring re-acquisition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the device requires multiple different biometric images for template generation, then the authentication accuracy is improved, but the operation complexity increases due to user guidance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemplate generation accuracyVSAvoiduser operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically manages the biometric image selection and validation process without requiring user intervention. It autonomously compares images, identifies duplicates, selects suitable images for template generation, and guides users through the process via automated prompts, making the system both accurate and easy to operate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The similarity calculation module acts as an intermediary between the image acquisition module and the template generation module. It automatically filters and validates images based on similarity thresholds, translating raw image data into validated biometric templates without requiring users to manually select or validate images

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the device stores multiple biometric images for comparison, then the authentication reliability is improved, but the memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiometric authentication reliabilityVSAvoidmemory storage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential biometric features and similarity metrics from acquired images, storing only validated unique images in the template rather than all captured images. This selective storage approach maintains high authentication reliability by keeping diverse biometric samples while minimizing memory consumption by excluding duplicates and low-quality images

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3996037B1Portable electronic device, IC card, and program
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP3996037B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3996037B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3996037B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an embodiment, a portable electronic device that executes a command from a host device includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor acquires biometric information. The processor causes the sensor to acquire first biometric information for generating a template used for authentication, and after the first biometric information is acquired, causes the sensor to acquire second biometric information used for generating the template. Where the similarity between the first biometric information and the second biometric information exceeds a first threshold value, the processor outputs a signal indicating that the second biometric information is inappropriate for use as biometric information for generating the template.