Authentication Apparatus Using Visible and Thermal Image Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication systems face challenges in accurately determining whether a person in an image is a living being, particularly when using thermal imaging, as they often fail to account for the positional relationship between visible and thermal camera images, leading to inaccuracies in identifying a living body.
Innovation Solution
An authentication apparatus and method that utilizes a visible camera to capture an initial image of a person and a thermal camera to generate multiple thermal images at specific times, with a determination unit identifying an attention area in the thermal images based on the visible camera's image to assess whether the person is a living body, improving accuracy by reflecting the imaging environment's conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal imaging is used to determine whether a person is a living body, then the ability to detect living bodies is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to positional discrepancies between visible and thermal camera images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges visible light image data with thermal image data by performing positional alignment between the two types of images. This allows the system to combine the advantages of both imaging modalities - the structural information from visible images and the thermal information from thermal images - to accurately determine whether a person is a living body while compensating for positional discrepancies between the two camera systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that uses the visible light image as a reference to correct positional deviations in the thermal image. By using the visible image as an intermediary reference frame, the system can accurately map thermal data to the correct anatomical locations, thereby improving measurement precision without sacrificing the ability to detect living bodies
2Device complexity
If thermal image analysis is performed without considering visible camera data, then device complexity is reduced, but accuracy in determining living body status deteriorates due to environmental factors and positional discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data sources (visible light images and thermal images) into a unified analysis framework. By merging these different types of information, the system achieves higher accuracy in determining living body status while compensating for the limitations of each individual imaging modality, particularly regarding environmental factor interference
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
Enhances the accuracy of determining whether a person is a living body by aligning thermal image analysis with visible camera data, reducing errors caused by positional discrepancies and environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of thermal images generated by a thermal camera imaging the target person
Data Source
AI summary
An authentication apparatus includes: an authentication unit that authenticates a target person, by using a person image generated by a visible camera imaging the target person at a first time; and a determination unit that determines whether or not the target person is a living body, by using a plurality of thermal images generated by a thermal camera imaging the target person at a second time closest the first time, and a third time before and/or after the second time, of a plurality of times when the thermal camera images the target person.