The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 28, 1976
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1974
Harold Green, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Stephen J Halasz, Claremont, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enhancing prints, such as fingerprints, for direct comparison. The method utilizes a transparent pressure-sensitive gel to capture a print pattern. A polarized beam of collimated light is passed through the gel. The pattern features impressed in the surface of the gel scatter light out of the optical path. The beam is then directed to a polarizing element oriented so as to filter out the scattered light rays and thereby produce a high-contrast image for direct viewing or further automated processing. In one embodiment of the apparatus single pressure-sensitive transparencies of individual prints are inserted in a polarized light path. In another, a film transport mechanism exposes successive regions of a strip of transparent pressure-sensitive film in a window for application of individual prints and advances the film to position each image imprinted on the film surface in the polarized light path. In both embodiments the modified light beam emitted by the transparency is projected through a polarization analyzer. A lens train further enhances the image by magnifying it and apodizing the enlargement.