Cross Match Technologies Gmbh

John F Carver

George William McClurg

Walter Guy Scott

Daniel Henri Raguin

Gregory Zyzdryn

Joseph F Arnold

Richard Irving

Trent G Francis

Frank L Ebright

William T Plummer

Dean J Fedele

John M Van Dusen

Joe F Arnold

Joseph L Navarro, Jr

Gary Barton

Tillman Smith

Michael V Byrne

Neck pillow

A sensor for capturing images of skin topology is provided having a platen, and a one or two-dimensional array of light sensing pixel elements for receiving light representative of skin topology when skin, such as finger(s), are present upon the platen. Such sensor being improved by structures, layers, or methods for reducing or blocking ambient light which would hinder the light sensing pixel elements from sensing the light representative of skin topology. The sensors are non-imaging contact sensors as they have platen to contact skin to be imaged, and do not require optics, such as lenses for focusing and/or magnification, to enable proper capture of light representative of skin topology on the sensor's light sensing pixel elements.

Ambient light rejection for non-imaging contact sensors

A sensor is provided for capturing images of skin topology having an upper surface providing a platen, and a one or two-dimensional array of light sensing pixel elements for receiving light representative of the topology of skin when upon the upper surface and illuminated by at least redirected ambient light received within the sensor through the upper surface. One or more layers or coatings of reflective or scattering materials are provided in the sensor for redirecting ambient light by one or more of reflection, scattering, or propagation towards the platen to illuminate the skin. The pixel elements are sensitive to one or more selected wavelengths or wavelength ranges of the ambient light present. Optional light source(s) may be provided for use when ambient light present is inadequate for proper sensor operation.

Ambient light illumination for non-imaging contact sensors

A sensor for detecting fingerprints is provided having first and second substrates, a two-dimensional array of sensing elements formed on the first substrate, and a plurality of thin-film transistors or TFTs for controlling the sensing elements at pixel locations along the array. Each of the sensing elements detects one of electrical signals (e.g., capacitance, resistance, or impedance), temperature, or light via one of the first or second substrates representative of one or more fingerprints. The top of the second substrate or the bottom of the first substrate may provide a platen upon which one or more fingers can be disposed. The sensor may be utilized in a fingerprint scanner having one or more processors driving sensing elements or reading from sensing elements analog signals representative of one or more fingerprints, and generating an image representative of the one or more fingerprints from the analog signals.

Fingerprint sensors

A system and method for obtaining a biometric image such as a ten-print fingerprint impression is provided. The system and method can include a live scanner having a platen and a finger guide coupled to the platen. The finger guide can be used to guide positioning of up to four fingers at a time onto the platen, and can include a physical barrier for separation of fingers or thumbs. The finger guide and physical barrier allow a determination of whether a left or right hand is placed on the platen. Fingerprint images can be separated into individual fingerprint images that can be placed onto corresponding areas of a fingerprint card.

Biometric imaging system and method

A directionally-oriented reflective device is optically coupled to a prism surface in a skin ridge pattern imaging system to reflect illumination light at relatively small angles, along an optical path to an imaging device, so that minimal light is lost from the optical system. Examples of such directionally-oriented reflective devices include, but are not limited to, echelon reflectors, faceted reflective surfaces, retroreflectors, aluminum paint, nacreous pigment, and slightly rough mirror surfaces.

System for print imaging with prism illumination optics

A system and method for obtaining a biometric image such as a ten-print fingerprint impression is provided. The system and method can include a ten-print scanner having a platen and a finger guide coupled to the platen. The finger guide can be used to guide positioning a finger slap of four fingers at a time onto the platen. The ten-print scanner can also include at least four indicators that indicate an acceptable scan condition of each finger of a finger slap in response to a detected finger slap image.

Systems and methods for illuminating a platen are provided. A hybrid illumination system uses both diffusion and collimation to efficiently provide a flat, uniform illumination at a platen. One or more diffusers are disposed between the illumination source array and a collimating lens. An illumination system is provided which uses diffused light to illuminate a platen in a print scanner. The illumination system has an illumination source array and a light wedge. The light wedge reflects light internally which makes the illumination even more diffuse. Sources are divided into at least a center region and a perimeter region. The density of sources provided in the perimeter region is greater than in the center region to correct for natural light falloff in the illumination system. Intensity control can be performed individually or in groups.

Systems and methods for illuminating a platen in a print scanner

This invention relates to the use of holographic optical elements in the design and application of biometric scanning instruments used typically for capturing biometric information such as fingerprints and handprints. A live print scanning system for generating a high contrast print image is presented. The system includes a flatbed scanner with a scanning surface and an image sensor, a holographic platen placed on the scanning surface, and a reference beam source that provides a reference beam to the holographic platen. A high contrast print image of a biometric object that is placed on the holographic platen is obtained at the image sensor. A method for generating a high contrast print image is also presented.

Live print scanner with holographic platen

A system and method include a non-planar prism and a scanning imaging system configured to locate and/or scan all or part of a hand print for one or more hands positioned on a curved portion of the non-planar prism. The curved portion can be symmetrical about an axis of symmetry of the non-planar prism. Typically, a print pattern on a palm pocket, a writer's palm, or the like, is hard to capture on a flat surface. In contrast, the non-planar prism of the present invention provides a form so that a print pattern on the palm pocket, writer's palm, or the like, can be captured. Print patterns or different parts of a hand (e.g., fingertips and a writer's palm) are also more easily captured using the non-planar prism. Hand and/or finger characteristic data can also be captured, for example hand geometry (e.g., finger lengths and spacing between fingers). The scanning imaging system can be stationary or it can be rotated along an arcuate scan path about a centerline axis of the optical element. During the rotation, an image of the full hand print (including thenar, hypothenar, inter digital, palm heel, palm pocket, and fingertips) and/or full palm and finger prints can be captured. The optical element can also include a calibration area (e.g., target) that can be used to calibrate the measuring device during each scan and/or be captured with the image for future quality control of the captured image.

System for obtaining print and other hand characteristic information using a non-planar prism

A method and system of obtaining a ten-print plain impression fingerprint includes scanning a print image, processing the scanned image, separating the processed image into individual fingerprint images, and determining how many print images have been scanned. The method also includes comparing the print image to a previously scanned print image, quality classifying the separated images, indicating a quality classification of the print image based on the classifying step, and determining whether the print image is of a good quality. The system can include a ten-print scanner having a finger guide and a platen used to position four finger slaps onto the platen.

A system and method are provided for scanning all or part of a hand print for one or more hands positioned on a non-planar portion of a prism. The non-planar portion can be symmetrical about an axis of symmetry of the prism. Typically, a palm pocket, writer's palm, or the like, is hard to capture on a flat surface. In contrast, the non-planar portion of the prism according to embodiments of the present invention provides a form so that the palm pocket, writer's palm, or the like, can be captured. Hand and/or finger characteristic data can also be captured, for example hand geometry (e.g., finger lengths and spacing between fingers). The prism can also include a positioning device (e.g., a hand-locating feature) than can be used to position a hand based on a point between a thumb and an index finger, between any other two fingers, a full hand on one side of the alignment device, both hands with each hand on either side of the alignment device, or to capture writer's palm and/or writer's palm and fingertip images.

Non-planar prism

This invention relates to the use of holographic optical elements in the design and application of biometric scanning instruments used typically for capturing biometric information such as fingerprints and handprints. A system and method for capturing print images from select areas of a platen are presented. The system includes a reference beam source that provides a reference beam, holographic material that receives the reference beam, a platen on a surface of the holographic material that receives a biometric object, and an image sensor. Variations in orientation of the reference beam cause differing areas of the platen to be mapped onto the image sensor, thereby obtaining both different image translations and magnifications of at least a portion of the biometric object.

Live print scanner with holographic imaging a different magnifications

A method, system, and computer program product is provided that controls platen movement during a live scan. The platen moves in response to finger movement. The present invention then applies a counter force that counters the platen movement. In one embodiment, the counter force has a magnitude which is a function of the speed of the platen movement. The platen can move in a lateral direction (right or left) in response to the finger. The direction in which the counter force is applied is a direction that counters the platen movement in a determined direction. In one example, the force is applied through a motor that drives the platen in a direction opposite the direction of movement caused by the finger or fingers during the live scan. In this way, the counter force which is applied helps prevent a user from moving a finger too rapidly during the live scan. As a result, a high-quality fingerprint image can be obtained with less training and experience in live scan fingerprinting. A user need not follow complicated live scan bars or other indications of a recommended speed or rate of platen movement.

Growing community of inventors

Palm City, FL, United States of America

John F Carver