Iris image capture devices and associated systems

• US 20060098097A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Incorporated (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Original Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Incorporated (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Inventors: Wach, Hans Brandon, Narayanswamy, Ramkumar, Silveira, Paulo E.X.
• Granted Patent: US 7,652,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0025 for optical correction, e.g. distorsion, aberration
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

An iris image capture device includes an optical arrangement that utilizes Wavefront Coding phase modifications to produce an optical image of a user iris and a detector for detecting the optical iris image and for converting the optical iris image into an electronic data signal. The iris image capture device also includes an image processor configured for processing the electronic data signal from the detector to reverse the Wavefront Coding phase modifications and to produce an electronic iris image of the user iris.

Claims

1. An iris image capture device, comprising:

an optical arrangement that utilizes Wavefront Coding phase modifications to produce an optical iris image of a user iris;

a detector for detecting the optical iris image and for converting the optical iris image into an electronic data signal; and

an image processor configured for processing the electronic data signal from the detector to reverse the Wavefront Coding phase modifications, to produce an electronic iris image of the user iris.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device exhibits a depth of field, and wherein the Wavefront Coding and image processor cooperate to increase the depth of field of the device beyond a depth of field that would be exhibited by the device if Wavefront Coding were not utilized.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is included in a camera phone system, and wherein the camera phone system is configured to be non-operational until the electronic iris image is matched to an iris pattern of an authorized user of the camera phone system.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the iris pattern of the authorized user is stored within the camera phone system, and wherein the image processor is further configured for comparing the electronic iris image to the iris pattern.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic iris image is wirelessly transferred to a remote entity, the remote entity storing the iris pattern of the authorized user and matching the electronic iris image to the iris pattern.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the remote entity is an independent authentication service.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the remote entity is a camera phone service provider.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is included in a camera phone, wherein the camera phone is configured for operating as an authentication system for a financial transaction.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the camera phone is further configured for communicating with an external transaction device, the external transaction device being configured for matching the electronic iris image to an iris pattern of an authorized user of a credit card, stored on the credit card, to authenticate the financial transaction.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is included in a portable system configured for storing financial information of an authorized user of the portable system, and wherein the financial information is inaccessible until the electronic iris image, produced by the image processor, is matched to an iris pattern of the authorized user of the portable system.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is included in a personal digital assistant (PDA) system, and wherein the PDA system is configured to be non-operational until the electronic iris image, produced by the image processor, is matched to an iris pattern of an authorized user of the PDA system.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is included in a video camera system, and wherein the video camera system is configured to be non-operational until the electronic iris image, produced by the image processor, is matched to an iris pattern of an authorized user of the video camera system.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said detector and said image processor are integrated onto an electronic chip.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said image processor is further configured for encrypting the electronic iris image.

15. An device comprising:

an optical arrangement that utilizes Wavefront Coding phase modifications to produce an optical iris image of a user iris; and

an integrated chip including

a detector for detecting the optical iris image and for converting the optical iris image into an electronic data signal, and

an image processor configured for receiving the electronic data signal from the detector and for processing the electronic data signal to produce an electronic iris image of the user iris.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the image processor is further configured to reverse the Wavefront Coding phase modifications in producing the electronic iris image.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is incorporated within an electronic system having at least one feature, and wherein the at least one feature of the electronic system is configured to be non-operational until the electronic iris image, produced by the image processor, is matched to an iris pattern of an authorized user of the electronic system.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the iris pattern of the authorized user is stored within the integrated chip, and wherein the image processor is further configured for comparing the electronic iris image to the iris pattern stored within the integrated chip.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the integrated chip is further configured for storing a plurality of iris patterns corresponding to a plurality of authorized users thereon.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the image processor is further configured to encrypt the electronic iris image.