Method and system for biometric image assembly from multiple partial biometric frame scans

• US 7,751,595 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AuthenTec Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Russo, Anthony P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter; Aaron W
• Application Number:
  US11/707,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 382115-127, 902/3, 713/186, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340 58- 586
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/08 Randomization, e.g. dummy operations or using noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861

Abstract

Method and system for reconstructing seamless fingerprint image from set of image slices, or frames, from fingerprint swipe sensor. Robust normalized cross-correlation procedures are used for frame evaluation and image matching. Efficient use of device processing resources including memory by keeping only data frames that indicate moving finger and discards frames where no finger exists at sensor during acquisition or finger has not moved since last frame was acquired. Capability to adjust sensor settings during acquisition process to obtain optimal results. Logic ensures operation across different physical systems and sensor characteristics with varying acquisition speeds. Statistics regarding resulting reconstructed image and finger swiping process are computed and embedded in reconstructed image and are useful to the downstream fingerprint matching system, and by embedding in image, inventive system and method ensure that any fingerprint processing system can use information if when called upon to do so.

Claims

1. A method for generating a composite biometric image from a plurality of acquired frames, the method comprising:

using a sensor to acquire a new frame of a portion of a biometric; and

using a processor for

comparing the acquired new frame with at least one earlier acquired frame by performing normalized cross-correlation to determine if any registration alignment exists therebetween,

augmenting the at least one earlier acquired frame with the acquired new frame if any registration alignment is determined to exist therebetween, and

repeating the acquiring, comparing, and augmenting until the composite biometric has been generated.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising using the processor for determining if the acquired new frame has the same biometric information content to the at least one earlier acquired frame and discarding the acquired new frame if so.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising using the processor for determining if the acquired new frame has no biometric information and discarding the acquired new frame if so.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric comprises a finger biometric.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric comprises at least one of a fingerprint biometric, an iris biometric, a retinal biometric, and a voice biometric.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of sensing pixels.

7. A method for generating a composite biometric image from a plurality of acquired frames, the method comprising:

using a finger biometric sensor to acquire a new frame of a portion of a finger biometric; and

using a processor for

comparing the acquired new frame with at least one earlier acquired frame by performing normalized cross-correlation to determine if any registration alignment exists therebetween,

augmenting the at least one earlier acquired frame with the acquired new frame if any registration alignment is determined to exist therebetween, and

repeating the acquiring, comparing, and augmenting until the composite biometric has been generated.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising using the processor for determining if the acquired new frame has the same finger biometric information content to the at least one earlier acquired frame and discarding the acquired new frame if so.

9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising using the processor for determining if the acquired new frame has no finger biometric information and discarding the acquired new frame if so.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the finger biometric sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of sensing pixels.

11. A biometric device for generating a composite biometric image from a plurality of acquired frames, the biometric device comprising:

a sensor to acquire a new frame of a portion of a biometric; and

a processor cooperating with said sensor for

comparing the acquired new frame with at least one earlier acquired frame by performing normalized cross-correlation to determine if any registration alignment exists therebetween,

augmenting the at least one earlier acquired frame with the acquired new frame if any registration alignment is determined to exist therebetween, and

repeating the acquiring, comparing, and augmenting until the composite biometric has been generated.

12. The biometric device according to claim 11 wherein said processor is also for determining if the acquired new frame has the same biometric information content to the at least one earlier acquired frame and discarding the acquired new frame if so.

13. The biometric device according to claim 11 wherein said processor is also for determining if the acquired new frame has no biometric information and discarding the acquired new frame if so.

14. The biometric device according to claim 11 wherein said biometric sensor comprises a finger biometric sensor.

15. The biometric device according to claim 11 wherein said biometric sensor comprises at least one of a fingerprint biometric sensor, an iris biometric sensor, a retinal biometric sensor, and a voice biometric sensor.

16. The biometric device according to claim 11 wherein said biometric sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of sensing pixels.