Finger identification apparatus

• US 20110176126A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kono, Miyuki, Amano, Yoshiaki, Miyatake, Takafumi, Miura, Naoto, Nagasaka, Akio, Kasai, Yoshimi, Umemura, Shinichiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/71
• 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 40/1347 Preprocessing; Feature extraction
• 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 identification apparatus that keeps the conditions for imaging uniform among successive identifications and requires a user to perform only a series of simple maneuvers. An identification apparatus comprising a guide member, a light source, and an imaging unit. The guide member includes a pattern or a structure that inspires a user to position his/her finger thereon or to approach his/her specific finger region thereto. A contact member such as a button switch is preferably located at a position in the guide member at which a fingertip is to be positioned. An optical opening is formed at a position coincident with a position at which a portion of a finger to be imaged for identification should be placed. The light source radiates near-infrared light through the portion of the finger to be imaged. The imaging means acquires an image of the finger, and the apparatus compares the image to previously registered images. The apparatus may also include dual light sources power saving functionality, and means for limiting the interference of external light sources.

Claims

1. A terminal for capturing an image which has blood vessel pattern comprising;

a guide member for positioning a finger;

at least one light source for irradiating light to the finger;

an imaging unit for imaging the blood vessel pattern based on transmitted light through the finger;

a shading unit which is capable of preventing invasion of extraneous light;

wherein the shading unit is formed in the direction of at least one of the sides of the guide member,

wherein the light source is formed between the guide member and the shading unit.

4. The terminal according to claim 1,

the guide member has an optical opening which transmits the transmitted light through the finger;

wherein the optical opening is formed as a part of the guide member.

5. The terminal according to claim 1,

wherein the image which is taken by the imaging unit is sent to a processing unit which extracts blood vessel pattern from the image.

6. The terminal according to claim 1,

wherein the terminal is connected to a identifying unit which performs identification based on the image.

7. The terminal according to claim 1,

wherein the guide member has finger rests for positioning a root of the finger or a forward of the finger.

2. An interface for capturing an image which has blood vessel pattern for identification comprising;

a guide member for guiding a finger;

at least one light source for irradiating light to the finger;

an imaging unit which images the blood vessel pattern based on transmitted light through the finger;

a shading part which is capable of preventing invasion of extraneous light;

wherein the light source is formed on at least one of the sides of the guide member;

wherein the shading part is intersected with an axis of light irradiated from the light source, and formed more far from the guide member than the light source.

8. The interface according to claim 2,

the guide member has an optical opening which transmits the transmitted light through the finger;

wherein the optical opening is formed as a part of the guide member.

9. The interface according to claim 2,

wherein the image which is taken by the imaging unit is sent to a processing unit which extracts blood vessel pattern from the image.

10. The interface according to claim 2,

wherein the interface is connected to a identifying unit which performs identification based on the image.

11. The interface according to claim 2,

wherein the guide member has finger rests for positioning a root of the finger or a forward of the finger.

3. A blood vessel imaging apparatus for capturing an image which has blood vessel pattern comprising;

a guide member for positioning a finger;

at least one light source for irradiating light to the finger;

an imaging unit for imaging the blood vessel pattern based on transmitted light through the finger;

a light source unit which has the light source and prevents invasion of extraneous light;

wherein the light source unit is formed in the direction of at least one of sides of the guide member;

wherein the light source is formed on a surface of the light source unit;

wherein the surface is exposed toward the guide member.

12. The blood vessel imaging apparatus according to claim 3,

the guide member has an optical opening which transmits the transmitted light through the finger,

wherein the optical opening is formed as a part of the guide member.

13. The blood vessel imaging apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the image which is taken by the imaging unit is sent to a processing unit which extracts blood vessel pattern from the image.

14. The blood vessel imaging apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the blood vessel imaging apparatus is connected to a identifying unit which performs identification based on the image.

15. The terminal according to claim 3,

wherein the guide member has finger rests for positioning a root of the finger or a forward of the finger.