Apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes

• US 6,652,099 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iris Id
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Chae, Jang Jin, Min, Seung Gi
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/988,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 351/204, 351/205, 351/206, 351/208, 351/210, 351/220, 351/221, 382/117, 382/128, 382/324
• US Class Current: 351/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1216 for diagnostics of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to an iris recognition system, and more particularly, to an apparatus for approaching the iris images of the both eyes most adjacent within a range beyond which the iris images overlap each other in an iris recognition system using all of the iris images of the both eyes at the same time. The iris recognition system using all of the iris images of the both eyes at the same time adopts an apparatus for narrowing the distance between the iris images of the both eyes acquired in CCD images when the iris images are obtained through photographing the iris images of the both eyes are photographed. The apparatus of the invention comprises iris image focusing means for converting an incident path, whereby the distance between the iris images of the both eyes is narrowed on an optical path along which eye images of the user are focused to a camera, in which the focusing means can be an angled reflector with one side being inclined at an angle about the center.

Claims

1. An apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes in a system which executes iris recognition by using the iris images of the both eyes of a user, the apparatus comprising:

iris image focusing means for changing propagation directions of the iris images by different amounts, so as to reduce a distance between the iris images of both eyes at a detector.

2. The apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes according to claim 1, wherein said focusing means includes an angled reflector with one side being inclined at an angle about the center.

3. An apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes comprising:

a reflector inclined at an angle about a reference position for setting the iris images of the both eyes with reflection angles different with each other when the iris images of the both eyes are inputted;

a lens for refracting the iris images reflected from said reflector; and

a photographing device for converting optical signals which contain the iris images into electric signals.

4. The apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes according to claim 3, wherein said photographing device is an MOS.

5. The apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes according to claim 3, wherein said photographing device is a CCD.

6. The apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes according to claim 3, wherein at least one side of the said reflector is inclined as angled opposite to a direction along with the iris images of the both eyes are inputted for approaching the iris images of the both eyes formed on said photographing device.

7. The apparatus for focusing iris images of both eyes according to claim 3, wherein the reference position is the center of said reflector.

8. A method for recognizing iris images of both eyes comprising the following step of:

reflecting lights inputted as the iris images of both eyes at different angles for narrowing a distance between the iris images at a detector, wherein all of the iris images of the both eyes are used in user authentication, through focusing, photographing and authentication, whereby the distance between the iris images of the both eyes formed on a photographing device is narrowed.

9. A system for simultaneously imaging left and right irises onto a detector, comprising:

relay optics for simultaneously directing left and right iris optical signals to the detector;

wherein the relay optics alter propagation directions of the left and right iris optical signals by different amounts, so as to reduce a distance between left and right iris images formed at the detector.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the relay optics comprise a reflector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the reflector comprises:

a first reflective surface for reflecting the left iris optical signal towards the detector at a first reflection angle; and

a second reflective surface for reflecting the right iris optical signal towards the reflector at a second reflection angle;

wherein the first and second reflection angles are different.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the relay optics further comprise a lens positioned to receive optical signals reflected from the reflector.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the propagation directions are altered such that the left and right iris images are positioned immediately adjacent to one another at the detector.