DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE TAKING OF FINGERPRINTS

• US 20100027855A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Italdata Ingegneria Dell'Idea SPA
• Original Assignee: Italdata Ingegneria Dell'Idea SPA
• Inventors: Boccacci, Roberto
• Application Number:
  US12/521,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20100027855A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/126
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1324 by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms G06V40/1312 takes precedence

Abstract

Device (1) for the taking of fingerprints, wherein the fingerprint is impressed on an impression surface (3) of a prism (5), allows to obtain of a predetermined image by indirect light, less sensitive to the presence of residues and dirt, and comprises a light source (15) laterally placed with respect to the taking surface (11) on which the fingerprint is impressed, one surface (12) adjacent to that on which the fingerprint is impressed being treated so as to have one layer (13) having a reduced reflectivity directed toward the inside of the prism (5).

Claims

1. Device for the taking of fingerprints, wherein a fingerprint is impressed on a first impression surface of a prism, and wherein a light source is laterally placed with respect to a second taking and reading surface on which the fingerprint is impressed, a third surface adjacent to the second taking and reading surface being treated so as to have one layer having a reduced reflectivity directed toward the inside of the prism.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said prism is an anamorphic prism, having the second taking and reading surface opposite to said first impression surface.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the anamorphic prism results from matching a first right-angled triangular prism and a second right-angled triangular prism, both having, as base polygon, a right-angled triangle.

4. Device according to claim 2, wherein said first impression surface corresponds to a first inclined surface of the anamorphic prism.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said second taking and reading surface corresponds to a second inclined surface of the anamorphic prism.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said third surface is treated so as to overlap a high emissivity layer.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein said high emissivity layer has a light absorption coefficient close to one.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the LED arrangement is such as the lighting is more intense at a lateral margin of the first impression surface, and at the prism vertex of said first impression surface.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is placed on a satinized surface, so as to improve the light diffusion inside the prism.

11. Device according to claim 2, wherein a reflecting surface reflects the image formed on the second taking and reading surface.

12. Device according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs are of the IRLED type.

13. Device according to claim 11, wherein the image formed on the second taking and reading surface is filtered through a filter having a bandwidth for wavelengths greater than a 700 nm.

14. Device according to claim 1, comprising an optical sensor.

15. Device according to claim 14, wherein said sensor is of the CCD type.

16. Device according to claim 1, which is substantially portable and suitable to be connected, as peripheral, to a computer for the treatment, the storing and the comparison of the fingerprint.

17. Device according to claim 1, which is a device for generating the required data for an electronic passport or for an electronic identity card.

18. Method for the taking of fingerprints using a prism, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first prism surface to impress on it a fingerprint;

b) providing a layer having a reduced reflectivity directed toward the inside of the prism on a second surface adjacent to said first surface;

c) laterally illuminating said first surface; and

d) taking the image of the fingerprint on a further prism surface.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein said prism is an anamorphic prism.

20. Method according to claim 18, wherein said surface having a reduced reflectivity has a light absorption coefficient close to one.

21. Method according to claim 18, wherein lighting is more intense at a lateral margin of said first surface, and at the prism vertex at said first surface.

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein said lighting is carried out by infrared radiations.