Fingerprint image database and method of matching fingerprint sample to fingerprint images

• US 20050265587A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Schneider, John K.
• Application Number:
  US11/142,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265587A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement

Abstract

A database of fingerprint images and methods of using such a database are disclosed. The database may have at least two fingerprint images that are impression images produced by a single finger. Each impression image shows a different portion of the friction ridge surface of the finger. Methods using the database may be focused on determining whether a match exists between a fingerprint sample and the database images.

Claims

1. A database of fingerprint images, comprising at least two impression images produced by a single finger, each of the impression images showing a different portion of the friction ridge surface of the finger.

2. The database of claim 1, wherein one of the impression images corresponds to an end of the finger.

3. The database of claim 1, wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a right side of the finger.

4. The database of claim 1, wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a left side of the finger.

5. The database of claim 1, wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a palm-side of the finger.

6. The database of claim 1, wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a portion of the finger presented in a tilted position and pressed to an imaging surface.

7. The database of claim 1, further comprising a rolled impression image corresponding to the finger.

8. A method of comparing a sample fingerprint to a database of fingerprint images, comprising:

providing a database of fingerprint images, wherein at least two of the images are impression images produced by a single finger, each of the impression images showing a different portion of the friction ridge surface of the finger;

providing a sample fingerprint;

comparing the sample fingerprint to each of the impression images;

determining whether the sample matches the impression images; and

providing an indication as to whether a match was found with the impression images.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the sample matches includes determining whether the sample is similar enough to the impression images to constitute a match.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a similarity indicator for each of the images;

mathematically combining the similarity indicators to provide a combined indicator; and

comparing the combined indicator to a threshold value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein mathematically combining includes:

multiplying a weighting factor to each similarity indicator to provide a weighted score for each image; and

adding the weighted scores to provide the combined indicator.

12. A method of comparing a sample fingerprint to a database of fingerprint images, comprising:

providing a database having a set of fingerprint images, wherein the set includes at least two impression images produced by a single finger, each of the impression images showing a different portion of the friction ridge surface of the finger;

providing a first sample fingerprint and a second sample fingerprint;

comparing the first sample to one of the impression images to produce a first similarity indicator;

comparing the second sample to one of the impression images to produce a second similarity indicator;

mathematically combining the similarity indicators to produce a combined-similarity-indicator;

comparing the combined-similarity-indicator to a threshold value; and

providing information indicating whether the combined-similarity-indicator is less than, greater than or equal to the threshold value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein mathematically combining the similarity indicators includes:

multiplying the first similarity indicator with a weight to provide a weighted first indicator;

multiplying the second similarity indicator with a weight to provide a weighted second indicator;

adding the weighted first indicator to the weighted second indicator to provide the combined-similarity-indicator.