Operator interface for face and iris recognition devices

• US 8,306,279 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EyeLock LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EyeLock Inc. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanna, Keith J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Repko, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunphy, David F
• Application Number:
  US12/559,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20110002510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/67 by interactive indications to the user

Abstract

A primarily hand-held or adjustable-mount iris recognition device wherein feedback to the operator is provided by visible illumination or imagery projected onto the face of the subject, as well as an audio signal, while infra-red illumination is projected onto the face of the subject as an illumination source for an iris recognition process. When the device is pointed in the direction of the subject, the infra-red illumination is directed to illuminate primarily the eye region whereas the visible illumination is directed to illuminate primarily other regions including the cheeks. The visible illumination is configured such that the position of the visible illumination on the face indicates to the operator whether the iris recognition device is pointed in the correct direction and at the correct distance for optimal iris recognition. The brightness of the visible illumination is modified in response to the result of an eye detection process performed on the iris recognition device, and the brightness, color and other attributes of the visible illumination or the audio signal are modified in response to the result of eye-finding or other process, including the results of an iris recognition process.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing feedback to an operator of an iris recognition device, the apparatus comprising:

a visible illuminator, projecting visible illumination to convey information to the operator of the iris recognition device such that the operator can position the iris recognition device to acquire an iris image without diverting the operator'"'"'s gaze from a subject'"'"'s face; and

a controller for turning on the visible illumination if within a predetermined region around an eye region of the subject and turning off the visible illumination if deviating beyond the predetermined region, wherein the controller turns on or off the visible illumination based on detecting a location of the eye.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an infra-red illuminator for illuminating the eye of the subject with infra-red illumination.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the visible illuminator is arranged so that the visible illuminator is substantially directed away from a region of the eye when the infra-red illuminator is illuminating the eye.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible illuminator illuminates a portion of the subject'"'"'s face when the infra-red illuminator is illuminating the eye.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible illuminator is arranged to include an angle offset from the direction of the infra-red illuminator.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible illuminator and the infra-red illuminator are spatially separated with respect to one another in arrangement.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible illuminator is arranged so that the visible illumination is projected at a side of, or around the region of the eye.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible illuminator is arranged so that the visible illumination is projected at a side of, or around a region of the infra-red illumination.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible illuminator is arranged so that the visible illumination overlaps a portion of the infra-red illumination.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the visible illuminator is arranged so that the visible illumination does not overlap a portion of the infra-red illumination.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle for an operator to adjust or operate the apparatus.

12. An apparatus for providing feedback to an operator of an iris recognition device, the apparatus comprising:

an infra-red illuminator, illuminating an eye of a subject with infra-red illumination; and

a visible illuminator, projecting visible illumination at a face region of the subject, to convey information to the operator of the device such that the operator can position the system to acquire an iris image without diverting the operator'"'"'s gaze from the face of the subject, the visible illuminator comprising at least one illuminating element angled at around 3.6 degrees from the pointing direction of the iris recognition device, wherein the visible illuminator modifies the color of the visible illumination projected on the face responsive to a result of iris recognition performed on the acquired image.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a handle for an operator to adjust or operate the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the visible illuminator and the infra-red illuminator are spatially separated with respect to one another in arrangement.

15. An apparatus for providing feedback to an operator of an iris recognition device, the apparatus comprising:

an infra-red illuminator, illuminating an eye of a subject with infra-red illumination; and

a visible illuminator, projecting visible illumination at a face region of the subject, to convey information to the operator of the device such that the operator can position the system to acquire an iris image without diverting the operator'"'"'s gaze from the face of the subject, the visible illuminator comprising at least one illuminating element angled at around 3.6 degrees from the pointing direction of the iris recognition device, wherein the visible illuminator modifies the color of the visible illumination projected on the face responsive to identification of the subject based on iris recognition performed on the acquired image.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a handle for an operator to adjust or operate the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the visible illuminator and the infra-red illuminator are spatially separated with respect to one another in arrangement.

18. An apparatus for providing feedback to an operator of an iris recognition device, the apparatus comprising:

an infra-red illuminator, illuminating an eye of a subject with infra-red illumination; and

a visible illuminator, projecting visible illumination at a face region of the subject, to convey information to the operator of the device such that the operator can position the system to acquire an iris image without diverting the operator'"'"'s gaze from the face of the subject, the visible illuminator comprising at least one illuminating element angled at around 3.6 degrees from the pointing direction of the iris recognition device, wherein the visible illuminator reduces the brightness of the projected illumination or turns off the illumination, responsive to detecting that the visible illumination is projected at or near the eye region of the subject.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a handle for an operator to adjust or operate the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the visible illuminator and the infra-red illuminator are spatially separated with respect to one another in arrangement.