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Mouse adapted to scan biometric data

  • US 5,991,431 A
  • Filed: 02/12/1997
  • Issued: 11/23/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for providing fingerprint imaging information and positional information for use with a computer, comprising:

  • a housing;

    a pointing device housed within the housing and for providing a first signal in dependence upon location;

    a contact imager housed within the housing and having a surface for accepting fingerprint information and for providing a second signal corresponding to detected fingerprint information, the contact imager comprising;

    a source of light for illuminating an object to be imaged so that a light beam derived from said object and carrying its image is formed;

    a prism having a plurality of illuminating surfaces for illuminating said object with said light source and having a plurality of viewing faces corresponding to said illuminating surfaces for transmitting therethrough said light beam derived from said object;

    image focusing means for dividing said derived light beam into a plurality of sub-beams carrying subimages of said object, and for focusing each of said sub-beams on a focal plane; and

    ,a plurality of image sensors corresponding to said plurality of sub-beams, each image sensor disposed in a focal plane corresponding to one of said sub-beams, for receiving and converting a corresponding subimage into an electric signal; and

    ,means for accepting the first signal and the second signal and for combining and/or multiplexing information from the first signal and the second signal to provide a third signal to the computer.

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