Fingerprint apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor comprising:
- a transparent cover having first and second surfaces;
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover in a narrow line-type array, wherein when said first surface of said cover is in sliding contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate an electrical signal representing a raw image of a fingerprint as said skin surface is slid across said first surface of said cover; and
means responsive to said electrical signal representing a raw image of a fingerprint for reconstructing an image of the fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fingerprint input apparatus includes an image sensor which responds to scattered light emanating from a finger. The scattered light is generated inside a finger having a fingerprint pattern in accordance with external light. The sensor may be a two-dimensional image sensor made of a large number of light-receiving elements arranged in a two-dimensional array or a one-dimensional sensor made of a large number of light-receiving elements arranged in a line-type array. In the latter case, the fingerprint is input by swiping the finger across the image sensor and reconstructing the fingerprint image. The fingerprint input apparatus is used to control use of a variety of devices, including electronic devices such as cellular telephones and personal computers, and access to buildings, rooms, safes and the like. The fingerprint input apparatus makes possible the elimination of personal identification numbers (PINs) and signatures in a variety of transactions.
210 Citations
39 Claims
-
1. An image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor comprising:
-
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces;
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover in a narrow line-type array, wherein when said first surface of said cover is in sliding contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate an electrical signal representing a raw image of a fingerprint as said skin surface is slid across said first surface of said cover; and
means responsive to said electrical signal representing a raw image of a fingerprint for reconstructing an image of the fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.
-
-
2. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling a door for entry into a building, room or vehicle comprising:
-
an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals authorized to enter the building, room or vehicle; and
a lock mechanism at a door responsive to said image sensor for accessing said data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting entry to the building, room or vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling access to a safe, locker or display case for securing cash, documents, securities and/or valuables comprising:
-
an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals authorized to access the safe, locker or display case; and
a lock mechanism responsive to responsive to said image sensor for accessing said data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting access to the safe, locker or display case. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling authenticating a user of a telephone, personal computer, terminal or communication device comprising:
-
an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals; and
authenticating means accessing said data storage means for authenticating a user of the telephone, personal computer or terminal upon matching an image of a fingerprint input by the user with fingerprint data stored in data storage means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling credit card transactions comprising:
-
a credit card reader incorporating an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals to whom credit cards have been issued; and
a database system receiving credit card and fingerprint data and accessing said data storage means for determining if the person offering the credit card for a credit transaction is the owner of the credit card. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. Fingerprint method for controlling a door for entry into a building, room or vehicle comprising the steps of:
-
affixing an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger to or adjacent to the door, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
registering in data storage means fingerprint data of individuals authorized to enter the building, room or vehicle; and
in response to a fingerprint applied to said image sensor, accessing the data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting entry to the building, room or vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. Fingerprint method for controlling access to a safe, locker or display case for securing cash, documents, securities and/or valuables comprising the steps of:
-
affixing to the save locker or display case an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
registering fingerprint data in a data storage means of individuals authorized to access the safe, locker or display case; and
in response to a fingerprint applied to the image sensor, accessing said data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting access to the safe, locker or display case. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. Fingerprint method for controlling authenticating a user of a telephone, personal computer, terminal or communication device comprising:
-
affixing to the telephone, personal computer, terminal or communication device an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
registering in data storage means fingerprint data of individuals; and
accessing said data storage means for authenticating a user of the telephone, personal computer or terminal upon matching an image of a fingerprint input by the user with fingerprint data stored in data storage means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. Fingerprint method for controlling credit card transactions comprising:
-
incorporating into a credit card reader an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including;
a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and
a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger;
registering in a data storage means fingerprint data of individuals to whom credit cards have been issued; and
receiving credit card and fingerprint data by a database system and accessing said data storage means for determining if the person offering the credit card for a credit transaction is the owner of the credit card. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
-
Specification