Elliptical finger press scanner with rotating light source
First Claim
1. A fingerprint scanner comprising:
- a cylindrical elliptically concave finger contact surface in a prism for receiving a finger to be scanned, the finger contact surface having a first focal axis and a second focal axis parallel to said first focal axis;
a first cylindrically elliptical reflecting means having a source focal axis and a sink focal axis, the sink focal axis being the same as said second focal axis, and the source focal axis being parallel to and lying in the plane of said first and second focal axes;
a scanning light source located at said source focal axis of said first cylindrically elliptical reflecting means for scanning a line of light across reflecting means for reflecting the line of light onto said finger contact surface from where it is selectively reflected depending upon whether or not a ridge of a fingerprint is in contact with the finger contact surface at the point of possible reflection;
a second cylindrically elliptical reflecting means having a sink focal axis and a source focal line, the source focal axis being the same as said first focal axis, and the sink focal axis being parallel to and lying in the plane of said first and second focal axes; and
an array of light detectors located at said sink focal axis of said second cylindrically reflecting means for receiving light selectively reflected from the finger contact surface and again reflected from said second reflecting means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scanner for scanning an increased area of a finger held or pressed on a concave elliptically cylindrical surface having two focal axes includes a linear light source positioned at one focal axis of a first reflective cylindrical elliptical surface, the other focal axis coinciding with one focal axis of the concave elliptical surface in contact with the finger. A second reflective, cylindrical elliptical surface has two focal axes where one of the axes coincides with the position of a linear array combination of photosensitive elements and charged coupled devices and the other coincides with the other focal axis of the concave elliptical surface in contact with the finger. The linear light source resides within a scanning drum having a longitudinal opening or slit and suitable rotated whereby a line of light is projected along the cylindrical elliptical surface of the first reflective surface whereby light rays are reflected to the finger contact surface to scan a finger held thereon and then totally internally reflected to the second reflective surface and then reflected therefrom as an image on the linear array.
65 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A fingerprint scanner comprising:
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a cylindrical elliptically concave finger contact surface in a prism for receiving a finger to be scanned, the finger contact surface having a first focal axis and a second focal axis parallel to said first focal axis; a first cylindrically elliptical reflecting means having a source focal axis and a sink focal axis, the sink focal axis being the same as said second focal axis, and the source focal axis being parallel to and lying in the plane of said first and second focal axes; a scanning light source located at said source focal axis of said first cylindrically elliptical reflecting means for scanning a line of light across reflecting means for reflecting the line of light onto said finger contact surface from where it is selectively reflected depending upon whether or not a ridge of a fingerprint is in contact with the finger contact surface at the point of possible reflection; a second cylindrically elliptical reflecting means having a sink focal axis and a source focal line, the source focal axis being the same as said first focal axis, and the sink focal axis being parallel to and lying in the plane of said first and second focal axes; and an array of light detectors located at said sink focal axis of said second cylindrically reflecting means for receiving light selectively reflected from the finger contact surface and again reflected from said second reflecting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A finger press scanner comprising:
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light source means for sweeping light rays progressively along an arcuate path, an optical finger contact surface for supporting a finger to be scanned, said finger contact surface being elliptical and having first and second focal axes for total internal reflection of light rays; a first elliptical reflective surface positioned to receive light rays from said light source means and reflect the same to said finger contact surface to scan a finger placed thereon, said finger contact surface internally reflecting only those light rays reflected by said first elliptical reflective surface unabsorbed by fingerprint valleys; light sensing means; and a second elliptical reflective surface positioned to receive light rays internally reflected by said finger contact surface and reflecting the same to said light sensing means whereby said sensing means produces data signals indicating detection of fingerprint valleys in response to the presence of internally reflected light rays and indicating detection of fingerprint ridges in response to the absence of internally reflected light rays. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification