SWIR Imaging Barrier for Discreet Biometric Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera systems for discreet imaging, such as those used in biometric applications, face challenges in remaining undetectable while maintaining image quality, as they are often visible to the human eye or easily detectable using visible light sensors, and are vulnerable to malicious attacks like presenting digital images or wearing masks.

Innovation Solution

The use of short wave infrared (SWIR) sensors and illumination elements, combined with a barrier opaque to visible light but permeable to SWIR wavelengths, allows for discreet imaging by capturing SWIR images that are not visible to the human eye or standard visible light sensors, and differentiates between human skin and masks through specific wavelength analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a visible light camera is used for imaging, then the camera can capture images in the visible spectrum, but the camera becomes visible and detectable to the human eye and standard visible light sensors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediscreet imaging capabilityVSAvoidcamera detectability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating wavelength parameter from visible light to short-wave infrared (SWIR) range (900-1700 nm). This parameter change makes the camera invisible to the human eye and standard visible light sensors while maintaining imaging capability through SWIR-sensitive sensors and illumination sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from the visible light dimension to the infrared wavelength dimension. By operating in this different spectral dimension, the camera achieves discreet imaging since human eyes and conventional visible light sensors cannot detect SWIR wavelengths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a barrier opaque to visible light is placed in front of the camera, then the camera becomes invisible to visible light, but the barrier may block SWIR wavelengths and reduce image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediscreet imaging capabilityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite or specially selected materials for the barrier that have selective optical properties: opaque to visible light wavelengths but transparent to SWIR wavelengths. This allows the barrier to provide concealment while maintaining SWIR image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier material has different transparency properties for different wavelength ranges. It is opaque in the visible spectrum range but transparent in the SWIR range, providing local quality differentiation based on wavelength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional visible light sensors are used, then the system can capture visible images, but the system becomes vulnerable to malicious attacks such as presenting digital images or wearing masks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-spoofing capabilityVSAvoidsecurity against attacks

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces SWIR illumination and SWIR-sensitive sensing as an intermediary mechanism. This intermediary approach enables detection of physiological properties (such as blood flow, skin composition) that are invisible to conventional cameras, thereby providing passive liveness detection and resistance to spoofing attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach enables high-quality SWIR image capture without being visually detectable, resisting malicious attacks by distinguishing between human faces and masks, thereby enhancing security and surveillance effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a barrier positioned such that SWIR illumination reflecting off objects of scene within the field of view passes through the barrier to reach the at least one SWIR sensor, the barrier made out of a material and having a thickness selected for being opaque to visible light and non-opaque to the SWIR wavelength range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

SWIR illumination reflecting off objects of scene within the field of view passes through the barrier to reach the at least one SWIR sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10867492B1Systems and methods for discreet imaging of a scene

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 NEC CORP

AI summary

An apparatus for discreet imaging of a scene, comprising: at least one short wave infrared (SWIR) sensor that captures at least one SWIR image of the scene at a SWIR wavelength range, at least one SWIR illumination element that generates SWIR illumination at the SWIR wavelength range, and a barrier positioned such that SWIR illumination reflecting off objects of scene within the field of view passes through the barrier to reach the at least one SWIR sensor, the barrier made out of a material and having a thickness selected for being opaque to visible light and non-opaque to the SWIR wavelength range.