MOBILE IDENTITY PLATFORM

• US 20130162798A1
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EyeLock LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EyeLock LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanna, Keith J., Greene, Gary Alan, Hirvonen, David James, Hoyos, Hector T., Riddle, George Herbert Needham
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/78
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0091 Fixation targets for viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/67 by interactive indications to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed towards a compact, mobile apparatus for iris image acquisition, adapted to address effects of ocular dominance in the subject and to guide positioning of the subject'"'"'s iris for the image acquisition. The apparatus may include a sensor for acquiring an iris image from a subject. A compact mirror may be oriented relative to a dominant eye of the subject, and sized to present an image of a single iris to the subject when the apparatus is positioned at a suitable distance for image acquisition. The mirror may assist the subject in positioning the iris for iris image acquisition. The mirror may be positioned between the sensor and the iris during iris image acquisition, and transmit a portion of light reflected off the iris to the sensor.

Claims

1. A compact, mobile apparatus for iris image acquisition, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor for acquiring a plurality of images of a subject over a period of time; and

an image processing module for selecting an image of the subject'"'"'s iris from the plurality of acquired images for further processing, the selected image of better quality for biometric matching than at least some of the other images in the plurality of acquired images.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image processing module selects the iris image based at least in part on a predetermined image quality threshold.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image processing module stores the selected iris image in a buffer while acquiring or processing additional images.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image processing module overwrites a previously-selected image stored in a buffer with the selected iris image.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image processing module performs biometric matching on the selected iris image.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image processing module encrypts the selected iris image.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image processing module sends the selected iris image to a computer via a physical or wireless connection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an infra-red illuminator integrated with a display screen of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display having an image of a portion of the subject'"'"'s face, the display moving an image of the subject'"'"'s eye towards a physical location of the sensor to guide the subject'"'"'s gaze towards the sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor acquires an infra-red image of the subject'"'"'s iris and a non-infra-red image of a feature of the subject.

11. A method for iris image acquisition by a compact, mobile apparatus, the method comprising:

acquiring, by a sensor, a plurality of images of a subject over a period of time; and

selecting, by an image processing module, an image of the subject'"'"'s iris from the plurality of acquired images for further processing, the selected image of better quality for biometric matching than at least some of the other images in the plurality of acquired images.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising selecting the iris image based at least in part on a predetermined image quality threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing, by the image processing module, the selected iris image in a buffer while acquiring or processing additional images.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising overwriting, by the image processing module, a previously-selected image stored in a buffer with the selected iris image.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising performing, by the image processing module, biometric matching on the selected iris image.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising encrypting, by the image processing module, the selected iris image.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending, by the image processing module, the selected iris image to a computer via a physical or wireless connection.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing an infra-red illuminator integrated with a display screen of the apparatus.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a display having an image of a portion of the subject'"'"'s face, the display moving an image of the subject'"'"'s eye towards a physical location of the sensor to guide the subject'"'"'s gaze towards the sensor.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising acquiring, by the sensor, an infra-red image of the subject'"'"'s iris and a non-infra-red image of a feature of the subject.