FINGER GUIDE DEVICE WITH CIRCUMSCRIBING RING

• US 20140086460A1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United States CP LLC
• Original Assignee: Pen-One Inc.
• Inventors: Bechtel, J. Scott
• Application Number:
  US14/033,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20140086460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/126
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1353 Extracting features related to minutiae or pores
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1371 Matching features related to minutiae or pores
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/63 by static guides

Abstract

A finger guide device that positions a finger (or minutiae containing digit) of a human subject on a fingerprint sensor in a manner optimal for the data capture operation of authentication or identification of said subject wherein a relevant portion of the finger is in alignment with a sensor or scanner. The finger guide device may also be used for enrollment of the initial fingerprint data into the system. The device may contain an outer surface ridge which feels somewhat uncomfortable due to application of a high pressure per square inch on small areas of the finger where the finger is incorrectly positioned to encourage correct placement of the finger. The finger guide device may have a curved inside surface to contour to a wide variety of fingertip shapes and sizes, wherein the sides and front have shorter radii of curvature than the reward portion of the finger guide device.

Claims

1. A finger guide device for mounting in alignment with a fingerprint sensor, the fingerprint sensor being disposed in a position of a global minimum relative to said finger guide device, the finger guide device having side surfaces that form a recess for receiving a finger, the side surfaces having a coefficient of friction that is sufficiently low for enabling the finger to slide downwardly until reaching a stable position of global minimum over the fingerprint sensor, the side surfaces of the finger guide device having a forward and backward portion, the side surfaces of the finger guide device having side edges,

whereby the finger guide device aligns the finger with the fingerprint sensor in essentially the same position in an axial direction to capture a relevant portion of the finger, said axial alignment occurring along a forward and backward portion of the finger guide device, the forward and backward portion of the side surfaces of the finger guide device guiding the finger toward the same position in the axial direction onto the fingerprint sensor in a repeatable manner for purposes of identification and authentication,

whereby the finger guide device aligns the finger with the fingerprint sensor in essentially the same position in a lateral direction to capture the relevant portion of the finger, said lateral alignment occurring between side edges of the finger guide device, the side edges of the side surfaces of the finger guide device guiding the finger toward the same position in the lateral direction onto the fingerprint sensor in a repeatable manner for purposes of identification and authentication, and

whereby the recess is defined by sloped end walls in the axial direction, the end wall in the axial direction which, in use, is adjacent the tip of the user'"'"'s finger being more steeply sloped than the end wall in the axial direction which, in use, is remote from the tip of the user'"'"'s finger,

whereby the finger guide device enables the relevant portion of the finger to rest in a stable position onto the fingerprint sensor each time identification and authentication is needed, the finger guide device reducing incidents of “

false rejects”

for purposes of identification and authentication of a person touching the finger guide device, the fingerprint sensor being in alignment with the finger guide device and in a proper position to provide the relevant portion of the fingerprint, and

whereby the finger guide device has a higher thermal conductivity than surrounding parts so that heat is conducted away from the skin more rapidly by said finger guide device than by the surrounding parts, said finger guide device having a tactile property of feeling cooler to the touch than the surrounding parts, thereby communicating to the user that the finger is placed in the correct area.

2. A finger guide device for mounting in alignment with a fingerprint sensor, the finger guide device enabling a relevant portion of a fingerprint to be captured during an enrollment process, the finger guide device having side surfaces that form a recess, the side surfaces of the finger guide device include a forward and backward portion, the side surfaces of the finger guide device include side edges, the recess having the same general shape as a finger, the finger guide device guiding the finger onto the fingerprint sensor in essentially the same position in an axial direction and in a lateral direction during a subsequent identification or authentication request, the forward and backward portion of the side surfaces of the finger guide device guide the finger toward the same position in the axial direction onto the fingerprint sensor in a repeatable manner for purposes of identification and authentication, the side edges of the side surfaces of the finger guide device guide the finger toward the same position in the lateral direction onto the fingerprint sensor in a repeatable manner for purposes of identification and authentication, the finger guide device enabling a relevant portion of the finger to rest in a stable position onto the fingerprint sensor repeatably each time the finger guide device is used for the subsequent identification or authentication, the finger guide device reducing incidents of “

false rejects”

for purposes of identification and authentication of a person touching the finger guide device, the fingerprint sensor being in alignment with the finger guide device and in a proper position to provide the relevant portion of the fingerprint,

whereby the front of the finger guide device has sufficient steepness of its sides and shortness of radius of curvature to serve as a stop positioning the tip of the finger approximately between 0.20 and 0.90 inches ahead of the center of the fingerprint sensor, the stop serving as “

the”

reference for positioning the finger relative to the fingerprint sensor, and

wherein the finger guide device has a higher thermal conductivity than surrounding parts so that as heat is conducted away from the skin more rapidly by said finger guide device than by the surrounding parts, said finger guide device has a tactile property of feeling cooler to the touch than the surrounding parts, thereby communicating to the user that his finger is placed in the correct area.