Check for fingerprints

• US 7,035,441 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nordin, Björn, Bergenek, Jerker
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAWAN, SHEELA C
• Application Number:
  US09/842,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/116, 382/124, 382/125, 382/126, 382/127, 382/312, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 713/186, 713/185, 902 3- 6, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82, 340/5.83
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/40 Spoof detection, e.g. liveness detection

Abstract

In a method of preventing false acceptance in a system for checking fingerprints, a latent fingerprint on the sensor (1) is detected by the location of a currently recorded fingerprint being compared with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint. If the location essentially corresponds, the recorded fingerprint is considered as originating from a latent fingerprint, and the fingerprint is rejected. Otherwise, the fingerprint is considered as originating from an actual finger on the sensor.

Claims

1. A method of preventing false acceptance in a system for checking fingerprints which comprises a sensor, said method comprising:

recording a fingerprint with the sensor; and

evaluating whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint on the sensor or from a finger placed on the sensor on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor in relation to an integral coordinate system of the sensor.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation step comprises comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was accepted.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of at least one feature of the recorded fingerprint with the location on the sensor of the corresponding feature of the previously recorded fingerprint.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of a partial area of the recorded fingerprint with the location of a corresponding partial area of the previously recorded fingerprint.

7. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of matching at least one partial area of a reference fingerprint with the recorded fingerprint to obtain at least one matching partial area of the recorded fingerprint, wherein the step of comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of the matching partial area with the location of the corresponding partial area of the previously recorded fingerprint.

9. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of storing information about the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor if the recorded fingerprint is not considered as originating from a latent fingerprint.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, if the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor and the location of the previously recorded fingerprint essentially correspond, considering the recorded fingerprint as originating from a latent fingerprint.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was considered as originating from a finger placed on the sensor.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was accepted.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing information about the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor if the recorded fingerprint is not considered as originating from a latent fingerprint.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the comparison of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint is carried out only in the event that a matching between a reference fingerprint and the recorded fingerprint reveals that the recorded fingerprint originates from an authorised person.

15. A storage medium for digital information, which medium is readable for a computer system, the storage medium containing a computer program for preventing false acceptance of fingerprints, wherein said program implements the method in claim 1.

3. A method according to claim 3, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was considered as originating from a finger placed on the sensor.

8. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of, if the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor and the location of the previously recorded fingerprint essentially correspond, considering the recorded fingerprint as originating from a latent fingerprint.

16. A system for fingerprint checking comprising a sensor, wherein the system is arranged to detect a latent fingerprint on the sensor so as to prevent false acceptance, and wherein the sensor has an integral coordinate system.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the system is further arranged to record a fingerprint by means of the sensor and, on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor, evaluate whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint on the sensor or from a finger placed on the sensor.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the system further comprises a comparison means for comparison of the location of a recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.

19. A method of preventing false acceptance in a system for checking fingerprints which comprises a sensor, said method comprising:

recording a fingerprint with the sensor; and

evaluating whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint disposed on the sensor or from a subsequent fingerprint disposed on the sensor on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor in relation to an integral coordinate system of the sensor.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the subsequent fingerprint corresponds to that of a finger in contact with the sensor at the time the recorded fingerprint is recorded by the sensor.

21. A system for fingerprint checking comprising:

a sensor having an integral coordinate system; and

a processing unit coupled to the sensor,

wherein the system is configured to record a fingerprint using the sensor; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to evaluate whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint disposed on the sensor or from a subsequent fingerprint disposed on the sensor on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor in relation to the integral coordinate system of the sensor.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein the subsequent fingerprint corresponds to that of a finger in contact with the sensor at the time the recorded fingerprint is recorded by the sensor.