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:
Jan. 16, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1998
Thomas F. Sartor, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Identix Incorporated, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for optically imaging features on the surface of a hand are described. An apparatus in accordance with one implementation includes a fixed light source for illuminating an imaging area, a movable convex contact surface, and a detector. The convex contact surface is exposed to contact a hand and to guide portions of the hand through the imaging area while maintaining contact with the hand. The detector is positioned to intercept light from the imaging area and is adapted to generate therefrom a signal representative of surface features of a hand contacting the contact surface in the imaging area. In accordance with another implementation, a method includes the following steps: placing the hand in contact with a contact surface; guiding the hand in fixed contact with the convex contact surface through an imaging area; illuminating the imaging area with light; intercepting light from the imaging area; and generating from the intercepted light, a signal representative of surface features of the contacting hand being guided through the imaging area.