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:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 08, 1997
John Douglas Wong, Ottawa, CA;
Dew Engineering and Development Limited, Ottawa, CA;
Abstract
A fingerprint identifying device includes a transparent prism having a fingerprint receiving face, a fingerprint viewing face at an acute angle to the fingerprint receiving face, two opposed parallel faces perpendicular to the fingerprint receiving face and a further light-absorbing face generally opposite to the fingerprint viewing face. A light source in the form of a bank of LEDs is provided for transmitting light into the prism. A light diffuser is provided for light transmitted from the light source such that in operation diffused light is transmitted into the prism through both of the parallel faces and against the fingerprint receiving face to provide substantially uniform illumination of a finger contacting the fingerprint receiving face, a fingerprint image being visible through the fingerprint viewing face. Preferably, the bank of LEDs is disposed at the two opposed parallel faces adjacent to the fingerprint receiving face. It is also preferred if the light source extends above the plane of the fingerprint receiving face to illuminate the edges of a finger from outside of the prism.