Image capturing apparatus for palm authentication

• US 20050286744A1
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Frontech Limited (Fujitsu Limited), Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Frontech Limited (Fujitsu Limited), Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hiroyuki, Yoshizu, Yoshio, Tone, Kazumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1312 direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/145 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/63 by static guides

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus for palm authentication captures images of a palm for use in palm authentication. In order to correctly guide the palm of a user into an image capturing region, on one side of a non-contact sensor unit for image capturing the palm, a front face guide is provided for supporting a wrist having a hand to be captured by the non-contact sensor unit. When the palm is to be captured for palm authentication, the front face guide enables guiding the palm naturally to an image capturing region of the sensor unit. Because the front face guide supports the wrist, the palm can correctly be positioned within an image capturing region of the sensor unit.

Claims

1. An image capturing apparatus for palm authentication for image capturing an authentication pattern from a palm, comprising:

a non-contact sensor unit which irradiates light to the palm, receives reflected light to capture images of the palm; and

a front face guide disposed on one side of the non-contact sensor unit, for supporting a wrist with a hand to be captured by the non-contact sensor unit.

2. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1,

wherein the front face guide is disposed in such a position from the non-contact sensor unit as to support the wrist and to position the palm in an image capturing region of the non-contact sensor unit.

3. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1,

wherein the front face guide has a height from the non-contact sensor unit as to support the wrist and to position the palm in a reading region of the non-contact sensor unit.

4. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1,

wherein the front face guide includes a wrist support portion having a portion formed along the wrist.

5. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 4,

wherein the front face guide includes a curved wrist-support portion having a plane contact to the wrist.

6. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1, further comprising:

a rear face guide disposed on the other side of the non-contact sensor unit, for supporting fingers of the hand.

7. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 6,

wherein the rear face guide is disposed in such a position from the non-contact sensor unit as to support the fingers of the hand and to position the palm in an image capturing region of the non-contact sensor unit.

8. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 6,

wherein the rear face guide has a height from the non-contact sensor unit as to support the fingers of the hand and to position the palm in an image capturing region of the non-contact sensor unit.

9. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1,

wherein the front face guide is a virtually L-shaped guide having an upright portion and a horizontal portion for supporting the wrist.

10. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1,

wherein the front face guide comprises a transparent member or a substantially transparent member.

11. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1,

wherein the non-contact sensor unit further comprises a sensor unit, which irradiates near infrared light to the palm, receives reflected light from the palm, and detects a vein pattern of the palm.

12. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 1,

wherein the non-contact sensor unit comprises:

a light emitter for irradiating near infrared light to the palm; and

a photo-detector for receiving reflected light from the palm,

and wherein a reading region of the non-contact sensor is determined from the performance of the light emitter and the photodetector.

13. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 6,

wherein the rear face guide comprises a transparent member or a substantially transparent member.

14. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 13, further comprising:

a light emitter which is selectively driven so as to change guidance colors of the rear face guide.

15. The image capturing apparatus for palm authentication according to claim 6,

wherein the rear face guide is structured to be rotatable around an axis.