Method and device for registering and collating palm imprints

• US 6,370,263 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Yoshifumi, Amanai, Teruhito, Hiratsuka, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Werner, Brian P.
• Application Number:
  US09/229,750
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/124-127, 382/173, 382/201, 382/217, 382/218, 348/156, 348/161, 340/5.53, 340/5.83, 713/186, 902/3, 902/6, 356/71, 421/1, 434/155
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1347 Preprocessing; Feature extraction

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of registering palm imprints of individuals to be identified to authenticate the individuals. Each palm imprint is divided into parts having regions with predetermined positions and sizes. Feature points are extracted from the parts of the imprint. The obtained feature information is registered as information for identity of individuals.

Claims

1. A method of registering a palm imprint of an individual to be identified to authenticate the individual, said method comprising the steps of:

dividing said palm imprint into plural image parts having regions having predetermined positions and sizes;

extracting feature points from said image parts; and

registering said feature points as information for identification of the individual,

wherein said step of dividing said palm imprint into said plural image parts is done using division lines that are established with respect to fingers of said palm imprint and positions of a heart line and a lifeline of the palm imprint.

2. A method of collating a palm imprint, comprising the steps of:

registering palm imprints by the method of claim 1 such that each palm imprint is divided into plural image parts and that feature points derived from the image parts are registered;

obtaining a palm imprint from an individual as an input palm imprint;

dividing said input palm imprint into said parts;

extracting feature points from at least one of said image parts of said input palm imprint;

comparing said extracted feature points with the previously registered feature points; and

authenticating said individual if there is a match between the feature points compared.

3. A method of collating a palm imprint as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of dividing said input palm imprint into said plural image parts is done using division lines that are established with respect to fingers of said input palm imprint and positions of a heart line and a lifeline of the input palm imprint.

4. A method of collating a palm imprint as set forth in claim 2, wherein said plural image parts of said palm imprint includes at least a four-finger base portion close to the bases of the four finger of said individual, a thumb mount close to the base of the thumb, and a little finger mount occupying a remaining region, and wherein said step of dividing said palm imprint is done using a mount division line and a base division line, said mount division line connecting a midpoint between a middle finger and a third finger with a first intersection at which the lifeline on the wrist side meets a straight line on the wrist side, said base division line extending from a second intersection perpendicularly to said mount division line, said second intersection being a point at which the heart line meets a side surface under the little finger.

5. A method of collating a palm imprint as set forth in claim 4, wherein said information to identify the individual includes second feature points derived from various portions of the palm imprint when the palm imprint is not divided, in addition to feature points of the separate parts of the palm imprint.

6. A method of collating a palm imprint as set forth in claim 4, wherein said information to identify the individual includes second feature points derived from various portions of the palm imprint when the palm imprint is not divided and features points of a side surface of the palm, in addition to feature points of the separate parts of the palm imprint.

7. A method of registering a palm imprint as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plural image parts of said palm imprint includes at least a four-finger base portion close to the bases of the four fingers of said individual, a thumb mount close to the base of the thumb, and a little finger mount occupying a remaining region, and wherein said step of dividing said palm imprint is done using a mount division line and a base division line, said mount division line connecting a midpoint between a middle finger and a third finger with a first intersection at which the lifeline on the wrist side meets a straight line on the wrist side, said base division line extending from a second intersection perpendicularly to said mount division line, said second intersection being a point at which the heart line meets a side surface under the little finger.

8. A method of registering a palm imprint as set forth in claim 7, wherein said information to identify the individual includes second feature points derived from various portions of the palm imprint when the palm imprint is not divided, in addition to feature points of the separate parts of the palm imprint.

9. A method of registering a palm imprint as set fourth in claim 7, wherein said information to identify the individual includes second feature points derived from various portions of the palm imprint when the palm imprint is not divided and features points of a side surface of the palm, in addition to feature points of the separate parts of the palm imprint.

10. A device for registering a palm imprint of an individual to be identified to authenticate the individual, said device comprising:

a first image display unit for displaying said palm imprint as image information;

a first partial division unit for dividing said palm imprint into plural parts having regions represented by predetermined positions and sizes;

a first feature extraction unit for extracting feature points of said parts of said palm imprint; and

registration data memory unit for storing part information about said parts of said palm imprint, feature information about said feature points, and personal identity information for identity of individuals in a correlated manner, said personal identity information being entered separately,

wherein said partial division unit divides said palm imprint into said plural parts according to division lines that are established with respect to fingers of said palm imprint and positions of a heart line and a lifeline of the palm imprint.

11. A device for registering a palm imprint as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first image display unit displays the whole palm imprint formed by impressing a palm.

12. A device for registering a palm imprint as set forth in claim 10, wherein said data memory unit has a communications means and searches for various kinds of information stored therein and sends out the searched information through a communications bus according to requests from external devices.

13. A collating device for comparing an input palm print left behind with palm prints registered by the registration device of claim 10 to authenticate individuals, said collating device comprising:

a second image display unit for displaying said input palm print left behind as image information;

a collating data memory unit for storing the feature information in said registration data memory unit intact;

a second partial division unit for dividing the input palm print left behind into plural parts having regions represented by predetermined positions and sizes;

a second feature extraction unit for extracting information about feature points of said parts of the palm print; and

information collating unit for comparing the feature information about said parts of the input palm print with the feature information stored in said collating data memory unit and producing information for identification of the individual if there is a match between them.

14. An integrated registration/collating device, wherein the registration device and the collating device of claim 13 are combined into a unit, and wherein said registration device and said collating device have said image display unit, said partial division unit, said feature extraction unit, and said data memory unit in common such that said registration device and said collating device share the same functions.

15. The integrated registration/collating device of claim 14, wherein said input palm print is divided according to division lines that are established with respect to fingers of said input palm imprint and positions of a heart line and lifeline of the input palm imprint.

16. The integrated registration/collating device of claim 15, wherein said plural regions of said palm print include at least a four-finger base portion close to the bases of the four fingers of said individual, a thumb mount close to the base of the thumb, and a little finger mount occupying a remaining region, and wherein said step of dividing said palm imprint is done using a mount division line and a base division line, said mount division line connecting a midpoint between a middle finger and a third finger with a first intersection at which the lifeline on the wrist side meets a straight line on the wrist side, said base portion division line extending from a second intersection perpendicularly to said mount division line, said second intersection being a point at which the heart line meets a side surface under the little finger.

17. The integrated registration/collating device of claim 14, wherein said plural regions of said palm print include at least a four-finger base portion close to the bases of the four fingers of said individual, a thumb mount close to the base of the thumb, and a little finger mount occupying a remaining region, and wherein said step of dividing said palm imprint is done using a mount division line and a base division line, said mount division line connecting a midpoint between a middle finger and a third finger with a first intersection at which the lifeline on the wrist side meets a straight line on the wrist side, said base portion division line extending from a second intersection perpendicularly to said mount division line, said second intersection being a point at which the heart line meets a side surface under the little finger.

18. The integrated registration/collating device of claim 17, wherein said information to identify the individual includes second feature points derived from various portions of the palm imprint when the palm imprint is not divided, in addition to feature points of the separate parts of the palm imprint.

19. The integrated registration/collating device of claim 17, wherein said information to identify the individual includes second feature points derived from various portions of the palm imprint when the palm imprint is not divided and feature points of a side surface of the palm, in addition to feature points of the separate parts of the palm imprint.

20. A collating device for comparing an input palm print left behind with palm prints registered by the registration device of claim 10 to authenticate individuals, said collating device comprising:

a second image display unit for displaying said input palm print left behind as image information on a viewing screen;

a second partial division unit for dividing the input palm print left behind into plural parts having regions represented by predetermined positions and sizes;

a second feature extraction unit for extracting information about feature points of said parts of the palm print; and

information collating unit for comparing the feature information about said parts of the palm print with the feature information about said palm print stored in said registration data memory unit and producing information for identity of the individual if there is a match between them.