Self service terminal

• US 6,583,864 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Atleos Corp.
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Stanners, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenberger, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US09/538,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 356/71, 351/206, 348/78
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A self service terminal (10) including a human iris identification system is described. The iris identification system comprises a camera (30) for recording an image of a human iris via a lens (32), a processor (54) for processing the recorded image, and a plurality of visual indicators (72,74,76 or 82,84,86) associated with the lens (32) for directing a user'"'"'s eye towards the lens (32) of the camera (30), thereby enabling the camera (30) to record a clear image of the user'"'"'s eye. A method of directing a user'"'"'s eye towards a lens (32) of a camera (30) used in a human iris identification system is also described.

Claims

1. A self-service terminal comprising:

a camera including a lens for recording an image of a human iris;

a process for processing the recording image; and

a visual indicator display providing a plurality of selectively energizable visual indicators successively energized and associated with the lens for directing a user'"'"'s eye towards a center of the lens of the camera.

2. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein each visual indicator comprises a single indicator element at least partially surrounding the center of the lens.

3. A self-service terminal according to claim 2, wherein each element is substantially circular, and each visual indicator has a different diameter so that the indicators are substantially concentric about the center of the lens.

4. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein each indicator comprises two or more indicator elements, and each element is substantially equidistant from the center of the lens.

5. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual indicators are successively energized, starting with a furthest indicator from the center of the lens and finishing with a closest indicator to the center of the lens.

6. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicators are pulsed so that they flash.

7. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein the color of the visual indicators changes once the user has been identified.

8. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicators are de-energized once the user has been identified.

9. A human iris identification system comprising:

a camera including a lens for recording an image of a human iris;

a processor for processing for recorded image;

a visual indicator display providing a plurality of selectively energizable visual indicators successively energized and associated with the lens for directing a user'"'"'s eye towards a center of the lens of the camera.

10. A human iris identification system according to claim 9, wherein each visual indicator comprises a single indicator element at least partially surrounding the center of the lens.

11. A human iris identification system according to claim 10, wherein each element is substantially circular, and each visual indicator has a different diameter so that the indicators are substantially concentric about the center of the lens.

12. A human iris identification system according to claim 9, wherein each indicator comprises two or more indicator elements, and each element is substantially equidistant from the center of the lens.

13. A human iris identification system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of visual indicators are successively energized, starting with a furthest indicator from the center of the lens and finishing with a closest indicator to the center or the lens.

14. A human iris identification system according to claim 9, wherein the visual indicators are pulsed so that they flash.

15. A human iris identification system according to claim 9, wherein the color of the visual indicators changes once the user has been identified.

16. A human iris identification system according to claim 9, wherein the visual indicators are de-energized once the user has been identified.

17. A method of directing a user'"'"'s eye towards a lens of a camera used in a human iris identification system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of visual indicators, each visual indicator being spaced from the center of the lens by a different amount; and

successively energizing individual indicators starting with the indicator furthest away from the center of the lens so that a user'"'"'s eye is directed towards the lens.

18. A method of operating a self-service terminal having a lens of a camera of a human iris identification system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of visual indicators, each visual indicator being spaced from the center of the lens by a different amount; and

successively energizing individual indicators starting with the indicator furthest away from the center of the lens so that an eye of a self-service terminal user is directed towards the lens.

19. A method of operating an automated teller machine (ATM) having a lens of a camera of a human iris identification system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of visual indicators, each visual indicator being spaced from the center of the lens by a different amount; and

successively energizing individual indicators starting with the indicator furthest away from the center of the lens so that an eye of an ATM customer is directed towards the lens.

20. A method of directing a user'"'"'s eye towards a lens of a camera used in a human iris identification system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of visual indicators, each visual indicator being spaced from a center of the lens by a different amount; and

successively energizing the plurality of visual indicators so that a user'"'"'s eye is directed towards the center of the lens.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each visual indicator comprises a single indicator element at least partially surrounding the center of the lens.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein each element is substantially circular, and each visual indicator has a different diameter so that the indicators are substantially concentric about the center of the lens.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein each indicator comprises two or more indicator elements, and each element is substantially equidistant from the center of the lens.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of visual indicators are successively energized, starting with a furthest indicator from the center of the lens and finishing with a closest indicator to the center of the lens.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the visual indicators are pulsed so that they flash.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the color of the visual indicators changes once the user has been identified.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the visual indicators are de-energized once the user has been identified.

28. A method of operating a self-service terminal having a lens of a camera of a human iris identification system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of visual indicators, each visual indicator being spaced from a center of the lens by a different amount; and

successively energizing the plurality of visual indicators so that an eye of a self-service terminal user is directed towards the center of the lens.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein each visual indicator comprises a single indicator element at least partially surrounding the center of the lens.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein each element is substantially circular, and each visual indicator has a different diameter so that the indicators are substantially concentric about the center of the lens.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein each indicator comprises two or more indicator elements, and each element is substantially equidistant from the center of the lens.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of visual indicators are successively energized, starting with a furthest indicator from the center of the lens and finishing with a closest indicator to the center of the lens.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the visual indicators are pulsed so that they flash.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the color of the visual indicators changes once the user has been identified.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the visual indicators are de-energized once the user has been identified.