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:
Nov. 23, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 10, 1997
Applicant:
Inventor:
Mitsuo Kamiko, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Assignee:
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06K / ; H01J / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
382312 ; 382124 ; 2502081 ; 2502 / ;
Abstract
An inexpensive, miniaturized and thin image reading apparatus reads various types of images, such as fingerprints. The apparatus includes a transparent substrate. A light-emitting unit emits light to pass through the transparent substrate and to be applied to a subject pressed against the substrate. A plurality of light-receiving units are disposed on the substrate in the vertical and horizontal directions with intervals therebetween and receive the light which is emitted from the light-emitting unit and is reflected from the subject. A reading device reads an image of the subject in accordance with the amount of light received by the light-receiving units.