Hand-held fingerprint recognition and transmission device

• US 6,111,977 A
• Filed: 04/17/1997
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonavation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cross Match Technologies Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Betensky, Ellis, Scott, Walter Guy, Davis, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Application Number:
  US08/839,934
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 382/124, 382/126, 382/127, 382/115, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 356/71
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1324 by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms G06V40/1312 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A portable fingerprint recognition transmitter that is compact, being less than the size of a cigarette pack, allowing the fingerprint recognition transmitter to be carried by an individual in a pocket or purse. The fingerprint recognition transmitter operates to take the image of the fingerprint and formulates a fingerprint image capable of transmitting through infrared or radio frequency to a receiver having previously stored fingerprint images so as to cause a comparison between the image taken and the image stored for purposes of unlocking a security area.

Claims

1. A portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus for granting access to a secured area, comprising:

a housing means;

a fingerprint reader means having a prism with a first side surface exposed through a surface of said housing means with a second side surface of said prism positioned in said housing;

a plurality of aspheric lenses optically coupled to said prism for collimating a fingerprint image;

camera means for capturing the fingerprint image focused through said plurality of aspheric lenses;

microprocessor means for encoding the fingerprint image captured by said camera means;

a transmitter means for the wireless transfer of a captured encoded fingerprint image;

a receiver means for receipt of said wireless transfer, said receiver means including a microprocessor having a memory for storing fingerprint code images wherein said receiver compares said transfer to said stored images to determine if a match occurs, wherein access to said secured area is granted if a match occurs; and

disable means for disabling said portable fingerprint recognition and transmission apparatus to prevent theft of said apparatus.

2. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing means includes an upper surface having a keypad operatively associated with said microprocessor means;

wherein said keypad provides a manual means for inputting authorization data into said microprocessor.

3. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing means includes a battery power supply.

4. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing means includes a plurality of indicator lamps.

5. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said camera means is a CCD camera.

6. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said camera means is a CMOS camera.

7. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter means is defined as an infrared transmitter.

8. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter means is defined as a radio frequency transmitter.

9. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is used to access multiple devices.

10. A portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus for granting access to a secured area, comprising:

a portable housing means;

a fingerprint reader means having a prism with a first side surface exposed through a surface of said housing means with a second side surface of said prism positioned in said housing;

at least three aspheric lenses optically coupled to said prism and placed within a mirror base for collimating a fingerprint image;

camera means for capturing the fingerprint image focused through said at least three aspheric lenses;

microprocessor means for encoding the fingerprint image captured by said camera means;

a keypad operatively associated with said microprocessor means;

a transmitter means for the wireless transfer of a captured encoded fingerprint image;

a battery power supply;

a receiver means for receipt of said wireless transfer, said receiver means including a microprocessor having a memory for storing fingerprint code images wherein said receiver compares said transfer to said stored images to determine if a match occurs, wherein access to said secured area is granted if a match occurs, and wherein said keypad provides authorized access to additional areas within said secured area; and

disable means for disabling said portable fingerprint recognition and transmission apparatus to prevent theft of said apparatus.

11. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said housing means includes a plurality of indicator lamps.

12. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said camera means is a CCD camera.

13. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said camera means is a CMOS camera.

14. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said transmitter means is defined as an infrared transmitter.

15. The portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said transmitter means is defined as a radio frequency transmitter.

16. A method for providing access to a secured area using a hand-held portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device, comprising the steps of:

(1) scanning an individual'"'"'s fingerprint placed on the hand-held portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device;

(2) generating information representative of the individual'"'"'s scanned fingerprint;

(3) transmitting the generated information to a receiver located within the secured area; and

(4) granting access to the secured area when the transmitted image information matches information representative of a fingerprint previously stored in a memory of the receiver, wherein any individual is allowed to share the transmitting device and the individual'"'"'s fingerprint allows the transmitting device to open the secured area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the secured area is a vehicle, and wherein step (4) comprises the step of granting access to the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (4) comprises the step of releasing the locking mechanism of a door of the vehicle when the transmitted information matches the information representative of the fingerprint previously stored in memory.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein step (4) comprises the step of releasing the locking mechanism of a door of the vehicle when the transmitted information matches the information representative of the fingerprint previously stored in memory using a shared recognition transmitter.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the secured area is a housing facility, and wherein step (4) comprises the step of granting access to the housing facility.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein step (4) comprises the step of unlocking the locking mechanism of a door to the housing facility when the transmitted image matches the previously coded fingerprint.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of using passwords in addition to the transmitted image matching the previously coded fingerprint before access to the secured area is provided.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of disabling the hand-held portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device to prevent theft of the transmitter.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the secured area is a computer system, and wherein step (4) comprises the step of granting access to the computer system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the computer system stores one or more fingerprint images for one or more individuals having access to the computer system.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein step (4) comprises the step of granting access to the computer system when the transmitted image matches the one or more fingerprint images stored on the computer system.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of using passwords in addition to the transmitted image matching the one or more fingerprint images to gain access into individual secured areas of the computer system.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the generated information representative of the individual'"'"'s fingerprint is transmitted to the receiver via radio frequency (RF) transmission.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the generated information representative of the individual'"'"'s fingerprint is transmitted to the receiver via infrared (IR) transmission.

30. A method for permitting personalized recognition of an individual using a fingerprint recognition and transmission device, comprising the steps of:

(1) scanning the individual'"'"'s finger placed on a fingerprint scanner;

(2) transmitting a coded image of a fingerprint of the individual'"'"'s finger to a receiver;

(3) enabling one of personalized recognition, verification of identity, and authorization if the projected image matches a previously coded fingerprint stored in a memory module of the receiver; and

(4) disabling the fingerprint recognition and transmission device to prevent theft of the device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said enabling of personalized recognition comprises the step of enabling personalized recognition for access to bank accounts and business records.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said enabling of verification of identity comprises the step of enabling verification of identity at a point of sales transaction.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said enabling of authorization comprises the step of enabling of authorization of financial and contractual transactions.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein step (2) comprises the step of coding an image of the individual'"'"'s fingerprint.

35. A method for providing authorization using a hand-held portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device, comprising the steps of:

(1) scanning an individual'"'"'s finger placed on a recognition reader of said hand-held portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device, wherein said scanning of said individual'"'"'s finger produces a fingerprint image;

(2) coding said fingerprint image;

(3) transmitting said coded fingerprint image and a plurality of control input functions identifying a plurality of authorizations to be performed to a receiver located on an item to be secured; and

(4) disabling the portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device to prevent theft of the a device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein step (3) further comprises the step of generating said plurality of control input functions in response to depression of a keypad having a plurality of switches, each depressed switch identifying a different authorization for accessing said secured item.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of accessing said secured item if said coded fingerprint image matches a stored image within said receiver.

38. A method for providing authorization using a hand-held portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device, comprising the steps of:

(1) capturing an individual'"'"'s fingerprint image using said hand-held portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device;

(2) determining whether the individual'"'"'s fingerprint image matches a stored fingerprint image;

(3) providing access to authorization protocols on multiple devices if the individual'"'"'s fingerprint image matches a stored fingerprint image; and

(4) disabling the portable fingerprint recognition and transmission device to prevent theft of the device.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining whether the individual'"'"'s fingerprint image matches a stored fingerprint image in a respective receiver located on each of said multiple devices.

40. A portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus for granting access to a secured area, comprising:

a housing;

a fingerprint reader having a prism with a first side surface exposed through a surface of said housing with a second side surface of said prism positioned in said housing;

a plurality of aspheric lenses optically coupled to said prism for collimating a fingerprint image;

a camera for capturing the fingerprint image focused through said plurality of aspheric lenses;

a microprocessor for encoding the fingerprint image captured by said camera;

a transmitter for the wireless transfer of a captured encoded fingerprint image;

a receiver for receipt of said wireless transfer, said receiver including a microprocessor having a memory for storing fingerprint code images wherein said receiver compares said transfer to said stored images to determine if a match occurs, wherein access to said secured area is granted if a match occurs area; and

a disabler for disabling said portable fingerprint recognition and transmission apparatus to prevent theft of said apparatus.

41. A portable fingerprint recognition and transmitter apparatus for granting access to a secured area, comprising:

a portable housing;

a fingerprint reader having a prism with a first side surface exposed through a surface of said portable housing with a second side surface of said prism positioned in said portable housing;

at least three aspheric lenses optically coupled to said prism and placed within a mirror base for collimating a fingerprint image;

a camera for capturing the fingerprint image focused through said at least three aspheric lenses;

a microprocessor for encoding the fingerprint image captured by said camera;

a keypad operatively associated with said microprocessor;

a transmitter for the wireless transfer of a captured encoded fingerprint image;

a battery power supply;

a receiver for receipt of said wireless transfer, said receiver including a microprocessor having a memory for storing fingerprint code images wherein said receiver compares said transfer to said stored images to determine if a match occurs, wherein access to said secured area is granted if a match occurs, and wherein said keypad provides authorized access to additional areas within said secured area; and

a disabler for disabling said portable fingerprint recognition and transmission apparatus to prevent theft of said apparatus.