Image-input device

• US 6,591,001 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohta, Yuji, Oda, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): WERNER, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US09/425,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 382/117, 382/118, 382/115, 340/5.53, 340/5.83, 356/71, 902/3, 902/6, 345/863, 348/78, 396/18
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris

Abstract

An image-input device includes a camera for capturing an iris pattern, and a personal computer for displaying the captured iris image. The computer has software for registering iris data and for comparing iris data. A half mirror is connected to the camera. The camera is mounted to the display of the computer. The half mirror, which transmits a visible light element and reflects near infrared light, is disposed in front of the display when the camera is connected to the computer. The iris of a user is captured by the camera while the user watches the display of the computer through the half mirror.

Claims

1. An image-input device, comprising:

means for capturing an image of an object,

a display for displaying the captured image, said display being independent from said capturing means;

an optical unit, disposed between the capturing means and said display, for passing a visible light element from the displayed image, and for reflecting near infrared light from the object to be input to said capturing means, and

means for removably connecting said capturing means to an edge of said display wherein said optical unit is disposed between said display and said image of the object;

whereby a location of said capturing means at the edge of said display can be adjusted by releasing said connecting means from said edge of said display and by re-connecting said connecting means to said edge of said display.

2. An image-input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object to be input is an iris.

3. An image-input device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a memory which registers data corresponding to an iris pattern,

a comparator for comparing the registered iris pattern data with the iris pattern data captured by said capturing means, and

network access means, responsive to an indication from said comparison that the captured iris pattern is the same as the registered iris pattern, for providing access to a network.

4. An image-input device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a random access memory that temporarily stores the iris pattern data captured by said capturing means, due to compare with the registered iris pattern data.

5. An image-input device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a portable terminal device,

a random access memory that temporarily stores the iris pattern data captured by said capturing means,

a memory storing software for registering an iris pattern data,

a comparator for comparing the registered iris pattern data with the temporarily stored iris pattern data,

means for activating the stored software if the registered iris pattern data is identical to the stored iris pattern data.

6. An image-input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a desktop-type personal computer, which is connected to said display.

7. An image-input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an auto teller machine which is connected to said display.

8. An image-input device, comprising:

means for capturing an image of an object;

a display device including a screen showing a window therein on which said image of the object captured by said capturing means is displayed;

an optical unit, disposed between the capturing means and said display device, for passing a visible light element from the displayed image, and for reflecting near infrared light from the object to be input to said capturing means, and

a window mover, which gets said window moved on said screen of said display device, whereby a center of said window is aligned with a center of said optical unit.