Biometric imaging system and method

• US 20050180619A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• 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., Zyzdryn, Gregory, Scott, Walter Guy
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/993 Evaluation of the quality of the acquired pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1324 by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms G06V40/1312 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/67 by interactive indications to the user

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining a biometric image such as a ten-print fingerprint impression is provided. The system and method can include a live scanner having a platen and a finger guide coupled to the platen. The finger guide can be used to guide positioning of up to four fingers at a time onto the platen, and can include a physical barrier for separation of fingers or thumbs. The finger guide and physical barrier allow a determination of whether a left or right hand is placed on the platen. Fingerprint images can be separated into individual fingerprint images that can be placed onto corresponding areas of a fingerprint card.

Claims

1. A live scanner, comprising:

a platen; and

a finger guide coupled to said platen configured to guide positioning of up to four fingers at a time onto said platen, wherein said finger guide includes a physical barrier configured to separate said platen into two parts.

2. The live scanner of claim 1, wherein each part of said platen separated by said physical barrier is configured to guide positioning of up to two fingers at a time.

3. The live scanner of claim 1, wherein said physical barrier is configured to separate a ring finger from a middle finger.

4. The live scanner of claim 1, wherein said physical barrier is configured to separate two thumbs.

5. The live scanner of claim 1, wherein said finger guide is sized to accommodate diagonal placement of said fingers such that tips of a middle finger and a ring finger come in contact with said finger guide.

6. The live scanner of claim 5, further comprising a controller configured to determine whether a right hand or a left hand is placed on said platen based on an angle of said diagonal placement of said fingers with respect to a top portion of said finger guide.

7. A fingerprint workstation, comprising:

a live scanner, said live scanner having a finger guide and a platen configured to position up to four fingers onto said platen, wherein said finger guide includes a physical barrier configured to separate said platen into two parts; and

a computer, interfaced to said live scanner via a communication link, configured to control said live scanner.

8. The fingerprint workstation of claim 7, wherein each part of said platen separated by said physical barrier is configured to guide positioning of up to two fingers at a time.

9. The fingerprint workstation of claim 7, wherein said physical barrier is configured to separate a ring finger from a middle finger.

10. The fingerprint workstation of claim 7, wherein said physical barrier is configured to separate two thumbs.

11. The fingerprint workstation of claim 7, wherein said finger guide is sized to accommodate diagonal placement of said fingers such that tips of a middle finger and a ring finger come in contact with said finger guide.

12. The fingerprint workstation of claim 11, wherein said computer is configured to determine whether a right hand or a left hand is placed on said platen based on an angle of said diagonal placement of said fingers with respect to a top portion of said finger guide.

13. The fingerprint workstation of claim 7, wherein said live scanner is a ten-print scanner.

14. A fingerprinting method, comprising the steps of:

positioning up to four fingers upon a platen such that up to two fingers are on each side of a center barrier of a finger guide;

illuminating said platen to generate a fingerprint image; and

capturing said fingerprint image.

15. The fingerprinting method of claim 14, wherein said positioning step includes positioning up to four fingers of one of a right hand and a left hand upon the platen.

16. The fingerprinting method of claim 15, wherein said positioning the up to four fingers of one of a right hand and a left hand step includes positioning the up to four fingers such that the center barrier separates a middle finger from a ring finger.

17. The fingerprinting method of claim 14, wherein said positioning step includes positioning up to two thumbs upon the platen.

18. The fingerprinting method of claim 17, wherein said positioning the up to two thumbs step includes positioning the up to two thumbs such that the center barrier separates each thumb.

19. The fingerprinting method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

determining to which hand the fingers belong based on an angle of a diagonal placement of the fingers with respect to a top portion of the finger guide.

20. The fingerprinting method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

separating a captured fingerprint image into individual digit images; and

placing each of the individual fingerprint images into a corresponding area of a fingerprint card.