Check for fingerprints

• US 20020050713A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nordin, Bjorn, Bergenek, Jerker
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/40 Spoof detection, e.g. liveness detection

Abstract

In a method of preventing false acceptance in a system for checking fingerprints, a latent fingerprint on the sensor (1) is detected by the location of a currently recorded fingerprint being compared with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint. If the location essentially corresponds, the recorded fingerprint is considered as originating from a latent fingerprint, and the fingerprint is rejected. Otherwise, the fingerprint is considered as originating from an actual finger on the sensor.

Claims

1. A method of preventing false acceptance in a system for checking fingerprints which comprises a sensor characterised by the step of detecting a latent fingerprint on the sensor (1).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a latent fingerprint comprises the steps of recording (100) a fingerprint by means of the sensor and, on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor, evaluating whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint on the sensor or from a finger placed on the sensor.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation step comprises comparing (130) the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising the step of, if the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor and the location of the previously recorded fingerprint essentially correspond, considering the recorded fingerprint as originating from a latent fingerprint.

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was considered as originating from a finger placed on the sensor.

6. A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was accepted.

7. A method according to any one of claims 2-6, further comprising the step of storing (150) information about the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor if the recorded fingerprint is not considered as originating from a latent fingerprint.

8. A method according to any one of claims 3-7, wherein the step of comparing (130) the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of at least one feature of the recorded fingerprint with the location on the sensor of the corresponding feature of the previously recorded fingerprint.

9. A method according to any one of claims 3-7, wherein the step of comparing (130) the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of a partial area of the recorded fingerprint with the location of a corresponding partial area of the previously recorded fingerprint.

10. A method according to any one of claims 3-7, further comprising the step of matching (110) at least one partial area of a reference fingerprint with the recorded fingerprint to obtain at least one matching partial area of the recorded fingerprint, wherein the step of comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of the matching partial area with the location of the corresponding partial area of the previously recorded fingerprint.

11. A method according to any one of claims 2-10, wherein the comparison of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint is carried out only in the event that a matching between a reference fingerprint and the recorded fingerprint reveals that the recorded fingerprint originates from an authorised person.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system further is arranged to record (100) a fingerprint by means of the sensor and, on the basis of the location of the fingerprint on the sensor, evaluate whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint on the sensor or from a finger placed on the sensor.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the system further comprises a comparison means (2) for comparison of the location of a recorded fingerprint on the sensor (1) with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.

16. A storage medium for digital information, which medium is readable for a computer system, the storage medium containing a computer program for preventing false acceptance of fingerprints, characterisedin that said program implements the method in any one of claims 1-11.

12. A system for fingerprint checking comprising a sensor, characterised in that the system is arranged to detect a latent fingerprint on the sensor (1) so as to prevent false acceptance.

15. A system according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein the sensor (1) has an integral coordinate system.