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:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1999
John Michael Merjanian, Burlington, MA (US);
The National Registry, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL (US);
Abstract
A housing in accordance with the invention includes a platen therein having a platen surface adapted to be contacted by a digit of a person's hand and first and second exterior surfaces. The first surface has an aperture, and the platen surface is in register with the aperture for contact by a digit. The second surface is displaced from the first to provide a grasping surface. The housing is shaped to orient the digit relative to the platen to ensure a firm grip of the housing and is also shaped such that the second surface contacts four digits of the user's hand while a chosen, fifth digit is positioned on the platen. A further, optional feature is base which is shaped to support the housing so that the housing is universally positionable in the base to a preselected position for grasping the first and second surfaces and acquiring the print. A fingerprint acquisition device including the foregoing housing construction further houses a light source for irradiating the platen surface and any digit thereon with light, a light conductor for conveying light from the irradiated platen surface, and an image sensor for sensing the conducted light.