Skin detection sensor

• US 20080219514A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wunderlin, David J., Determan, Gary E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1394 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

A device for detecting the presence of human skin including an illuminator source for providing an IR band at a predetermined frequency known as a blue LED. The IR band frequency ranges from about 400 nanometers (nm) to about 500 nm, and preferably from about 450 nm to about 485 nm. Most preferred is a blue LED with a frequency of about 468 nm. The band is reflected off a target and received by a sensor such as a photo detector. The value for human skin is compared to the signal detected. Other materials that have been used to spoof detectors have different values and thus are distinguished from human skin.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the presence of skin, comprising:

an illuminator source for providing a blue LED light source capable of being reflected from skin;

a detector for receiving said light source after said source has contacted said skin and for providing a signal representative of said reflected light source; and

a detector processing unit for comparing said signal with a known value indicating the presence of skin.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 400 nm to about 500 nm.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 450 nm to about 485 nm.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 468 nm.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said detector is a photodiode.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said detector is a phototransistor.

7. A device for detecting the presence of skin, comprising:

illuminator source means for providing a blue LED light source capable of being reflected from skin;

detector means for receiving said light source after said source has contacted said skin and for providing a signal representative of said reflected light source; and

detector processing unit means for comparing said signal with a known value indicating the presence of skin.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 400 nm to about 500 nm.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 450 nm to about 485 nm.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 468 nm.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein said detector means is a photodiode.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein said detector means is a phototransistor.

13. A method for detecting the presence of skin, comprising the steps of:

providing a blue LED light source capable of being reflected from skin;

directing said blue LED light source against an object proposed to be human skin;

positioning a detector to receive said light source after said source has contacted said skin and providing a signal representative of said reflected light source; and

comparing said signal with a known value indicating the presence of skin;

whereby values outside said known value indicate the presence of a material other than human skin.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 400 nm to about 500 nm.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 450 nm to about 485 nm.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said blue LED band frequency is about 468 nm.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said detector is a photodiode.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said detector is a phototransistor.