Rolled Fingerprint Capture with Interactive Surface Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fingerprint recording technologies face challenges in achieving high-quality, error-free rolled fingerprint recordings due to user behavior and the lack of interactive guidance, leading to suboptimal image quality and increased maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

A device with a laminated body containing a sensor layer and a light source that generates visually visible patterns for user information, allowing for interactive guidance during the rolling process, ensuring correct positioning, speed, and direction, while minimizing ambient light influence through controlled illumination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a device with moving components is used for image recording, then image recording quality is improved, but device reliability deteriorates due to intensive maintenance requirements and failure proneness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage recording qualityVSAvoiddevice reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical moving components with a stationary sensor array that captures the entire fingerprint image at once. Instead of using mechanical scanners or moving parts to record the fingerprint, the invention uses a fixed contact surface with embedded sensors that detect the fingerprint pattern statically, eliminating maintenance issues while preserving high-quality image capture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If user guidance is provided via external screens, then user information is delivered, but operation complexity increases due to repeated gaze switching between contact surface and screen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser guidanceVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the guidance display functionality directly into the contact surface itself. The contact surface can display visual information, instructions, or feedback directly where the user places their finger, eliminating the need for separate external screens and reducing the complexity of operating the device by keeping all information in one location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If ambient light is present during recording, then recording environment is flexible, but image quality deteriorates due to interference with optical detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording environment flexibilityVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements selective illumination where specific regions of the contact surface are illuminated with controlled light sources during the recording process. This localized lighting approach ensures that the fingerprint area receives adequate illumination for high-quality detection while minimizing ambient light interference, and the illumination can be adjusted based on environmental conditions to maintain flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution enables high-quality, error-free rolled fingerprint recordings by providing real-time user guidance and improved image quality, reducing the need for trained personnel and maintaining device reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a light source is present, which has lighting elements that can be controlled individually or in groups, in such a way that light components from the light source can pass through the support surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

optical arrangements are currently used, which work according to the principle of 'frustrated total internal reflection' (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection - FTIR - often just called TIR)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3279833B1Device and method for directly recording fingerprints from rolled fingers
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 JENETRIC GMBH
  • EP3279833B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3279833B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3
  • EP3279833B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to a device and a method for directly capturing fingerprints of a rolled finger. The object of providing a means for the optimal capture of rolled fingerprints by a user through visually indicated influence on the rolling motion during the rolling process is achieved according to the invention by directly capturing the rolled finger using a layered body with a sensor layer consisting of a two-dimensional matrix of sensor elements and a parallel, opposite support surface on which the finger can be rolled. This is achieved by ensuring that the distance between the sensor layer and the support surface is less than five times the center-to-center distance of two adjacent sensor elements. A light source is also provided, from which light components can be generated through the support surface as visually perceptible patterns for user information with spatial and temporal reference to the rolling finger, using individually or group-controllable light elements.and an electronic control system that controls the light source in different areas of the surface to generate a time-varying pattern.