Methods for obtaining print and other hand characteristic information using a non-planar prism

• US 20040114785A1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cross Match Technologies Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Cross Match Technologies Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: McClurg, George W., Carver, John F.
• Application Number:
  US10/725,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114785A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1324 by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms G06V40/1312 takes precedence

Abstract

A method is provided that images a full palm print and/or a full palm and fingerprint for a hand positioned on a non-planar surface of an optical element. The hand is placed on the non-planar surface of the optical element. A measuring device can be rotated about a centerline axis of the optical element. During the rotation, a circular image of the full palm print (including thenar, hypothenar, interdigital, palm heel, “writers palm,” palm pocket, and fingertips) and/or full palm and finger prints, and/or hand characteristic information (e.g., hand geometry, spacing, etc.) can be captured by the measuring portion. The optical element can also include a calibration area (e.g., target) that can be used to calibrate the measuring device during each scan and/or be captured with the image for future quality control of the captured image.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

totally internally reflecting light from a curved inside surface of a non-planar prism when a portion of a body of a person is received on a curved outside surface of the non-planar prism; and

scanning the curved inside surface with an scanning imaging device to capture the totally internally reflect light that forms an image on a detection device representative of print pattern data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first result corresponding to a palm print area of the image;

generating a second result corresponding to a fingerprint area of the image; and

generating a third result correlating the first and second results.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third result comprises data relating to a distance between a section of the fingerprint area and a section of the palm print area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the body of the user comprises one or more hands.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a quality check on the image through comparison of one or more aspects of the image to one or more threshold values.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the quality check was successful, wherein,

the image is stored if the quality check was successful, and

an operator is notified to continue scanning the portion of the body of the user if the quality check was unsuccessful.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using visual indicators to perform the notifying step.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising using audible indicators to perform the notifying step.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating and storing biometric information from the image.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and storing hand geometry data from the image.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and storing finger length data from the image.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and storing writer'"'"'s palm data from the image.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and storing a relationship between writer'"'"'s palm data and fingertip data from the image.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning is performed using a scanning imaging system that rotates around an axis of symmetry of the prism.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning is performed using a scanning imaging system that moves along an arcuate path to capture radial scan line images transmitted through a base of the prism.

16. A method comprising:

(a) capturing an image representing a print pattern of a person interacting with a non-planar platen of a prism;

(b) capturing calibration data;

(c) generating image information including both the captured image and the captured calibration data; and

(d) storing the image information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises capturing a palm print pattern.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises capturing a fingerprint pattern.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises capturing a palm print pattern and a fingerprint pattern.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises capturing a hand print pattern.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises capturing a calibration target associated with the prism.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

(e) using the calibration data in the image information during subsequent displaying of the image, such that the image is properly displayed.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

(e) using the calibration data to determine a quality of the image.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed simultaneously.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein steps (a) through (d) are performed a predetermined number of times to capture a series of images.