Palm print scanner and methods

• US 20050105078A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HID Global Corporation (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Cross Match Technologies Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: McClurg, George W., Carver, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,081,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1324 by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms G06V40/1312 takes precedence

Abstract

A live print scanner includes a transparent tray platen apparatus and a scanning system. The transparent tray platen apparatus includes a base region attached to two rounded side regions. The base region of the tray platen assembly includes a convex portion. A hand is placed atop the base region adjacent to one of the two rounded side regions such that the hand'"'"'s palm pocket is atop the convex portion. A sensor assembly within the rotary scanning system generates a complete image of a palm print pattern. Because of the side regions and the convex portion, the image generated includes an image of a print pattern on the palm pocket as well as on the side of the palm. A holographic element may be disposed in a light path between an illumination source and the sensor.

Claims

1. A system to scan a hand, comprising:

an optical element including a base region and at least one side region; and

a light source configured to illuminate the base region and the at least one side region with light,

wherein the base region is sized and shaped to be in optical contact with a palm of the hand, and the at least one side region is sized and shaped and positioned with respect to the base region to be in optical contact with a side of the hand, while the palm is in optical contact with the base region, and

wherein the light source illuminates the base region to produce a print image of the palm and the at least one side region to produce a print image of the side of the hand.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor arranged to detect the print image of the palm and the print image of the side of the hand.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a holographic element disposed in a light path between the light source and the sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one side region is sized and shaped, and positioned with respect to the base region, to be in optical contact with a hypothenar portion of the hand while the palm is in optical contact with the base region.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base region includes a convex surface portion sized and shaped to contact substantially all of a palm pocket of the palm.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the base region is configured to produce the print image of the palm as a result of total internal reflection of the light within the base region.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one side region is configured to produce the print image of the side of the hand as a result of total internal reflection of the light within the side region.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a surface of the optical element is coated with an optically transparent material.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the optically transparent material is silicone.

10. An optical element for use in a system for scanning a hand, comprising:

a base region sized and shaped to be contact with a palm of a hand; and

a first side region sized and shaped, and positioned with respect to the base region, to be in contact with a side of the hand while the palm is in contact with the base region.

11. The optical element of claim 10, wherein the base region is configured to produce a print image of the palm responsive to light directed through the base region to a base platen surface thereof in contact with the palm.

12. The optical element of claim 11, wherein the base region is configured to produce the print image of the palm as a result of total internal reflection of the light within the base region.

13. The optical element of claim 10, wherein the first side region is configured to produce a print image of the side of the hand responsive to light directed through the first side region to a side platen surface thereof in contact with the side of the hand.

14. The optical element of claim 13, wherein the first side region is configured to produce the print image of the side of the hand as a result of total internal reflection of the light within the first side region.

15. The optical element of claim 10, further comprising:

a second side region sized and shaped, and positioned with respect to the base region, to be in contact with a side of a second hand while a palm of the second hand is in contact with the base region.

16. The optical element of claim 15, wherein the second side region is positioned opposite the first side region.

17. The optical element of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one holographic element coupled to the base region and the first side region.

18. The optical element of claim 10, wherein at least one of the base region and the first side region is coated with an optically transparent material.

19. The optical element of claim 18, wherein the optically transparent material is silicone.

20. An optical element for use in a system for scanning first and second hands, comprising:

a first base region sized and shaped to be in contact with a palm of the first hand;

a first side region sized and shaped, and positioned with respect to the first base region, to be in contact with a side of the first hand while the palm of the first hand is in contact with the first base region;

a second base region, adjacent the first base region, sized and shaped to be in contact with a palm of the second hand; and

a second side region sized and shaped, and positioned with respect to the second base region, to be in contact with a side of the second hand while the palm of the second hand is in optical contact with the second base region.

21. The optical element of claim 20, wherein the first side region includes a first side platen surface and the second side region includes a second side platen surface substantially parallel to the first side platen surface.

22. The optical element of claim 20, wherein the first side region includes a first side platen surface and the second side region includes a second side platen surface opposite the first side platen surface, and wherein a separation distance between the first and second side platen surfaces is tapered.

23. The optical element of claim 20, further comprising at least one holographic element positioned to result in total internal reflection in at least one of the first base region, the first side region, the second base region, and the second side region.

24. The optical element of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first base region, the first side region, the second base region, and the second side region is coated with an optically transparent material.

25. The optical element of claim 24, wherein the optically transparent material is silicone.

26. A method of scanning a palm print pattern, comprising:

positioning a palm of a first hand so the palm is in contact with a base region of an optical element and a side of the hand opposite a thumb is in contact with a first side region of the optical element; and

scanning the base and first side regions with light to produce a print image of the entire palm of the first hand.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the scanning steps are performed sequentially.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

detecting the print image of the palm; and

detecting the print image of the side of the hand.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein

said scanning the base region step comprises directing the light through the base region so as to cause the light to undergo total internal reflection within the base region;

and

said scanning the side region step comprises directing the light through the side region so as to cause the light to undergo total internal reflection within the side region.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising after said scanning step:

positioning a palm of a second hand so the palm of the second hand is in contact with the base region of the optical element and a side of the second hand opposite a thumb is in contact with a second side region of the optical element; and

scanning the base and second side regions with light to produce a print image of the entire palm of the second hand.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising after said positioning step:

positioning a palm of a second hand so the palm of the second hand is in contact with the base region of the optical element and a side of the second hand opposite a thumb is in contact with a second side region of the optical element,

wherein said scanning step further comprises;

scanning the second side region and base to produce a print image of the entire palm of the second hand.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said positioning a side of the hand steps comprise positioning a hypothenar portion of each hand to be in contact with the respective side regions.

33. A print scanner, comprising:

a transparent tray platen apparatus for receiving a print pattern;

a holographic element coupled to the transparent tray platen apparatus; and

a scanning assembly for scanning the print pattern through the holographic element to capture an image of the scanned print pattern including the print pattern at or near a palm pocket, a hypothenar region, and a writer'"'"'s palm.

34. A method of scanning a print pattern on an object, comprising:

positioning the object on a transparent tray platen apparatus to contact a base region and a side region of the transparent tray platen apparatus; and

scanning the base and side regions with light to produce a print image of the print pattern on the object.