Other

Allen Topping

Austin Gormley

Vladimir Kuperschmidt

A system for encoding and recognizing individuals by the unique characteristics of their fingernails or other body part employs a master oscillator (430) which controls a plurality of monochromatic light sources (400) and (410). The light beams are coupled to an acousto-optic, 2-D beam deflector (500) which selectively illuminates individual input port fibers (530). The light beams then pass through sensing ports (520) and enter the individual's skin or a fingernail. Light reflected from the individual's body part then enters sensing ports (520) and exits through output ports (540). Output ports (540) are optically coupled to a CCD sensor (450) which detects the amplitudes of light reflected from the subject's fingernail, for example. The output of sensor (450) is connected to an analog-to-digital converter (460), which in turn presents a digital representation of the intensity of the reflected light to a computer (470). This system measures the spacing of capillary loops (355) which are separated by valleys (362) in the nail bed (500) of fingernail (300). The spacings of loops (355) are unique to each individual, much as fingerprints are unique. Detection of loops (355) and determination of their spacings is accomplished through the use of two different wavelengths of light, one of which is strongly absorbed and the other of which is strongly scattered by blood which perfuses nail bed (500). After data analysis and correction, a simple binary representation of the relative positions of loops (355) is obtained, providing a positive, unique, and readily obtained identification of an individual subject.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Allen Topping