Vein authentication apparatus, imaging apparatus for vein authentication, and vein illuminating method

• US 8,649,568 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Chan S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Mia M
• Application Number:
  US12/668,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20100208949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382115-118, 382/124, 382/162, 382/165, 382/181, 382/190, 382/195, 382/199, 382/203, 382/209, 382/289, 382/312, 340 551- 554, 340 582- 584, 600/476, 713/176, 348/156
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1382 Detecting the live character of the finger, i.e. distinguishing from a fake or cadaver finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns

Abstract

A vein authentication apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include an imaging unit having a plurality of imaging sections. Each imaging section may be configured to image light reflected from a vein plexus inside a finger and light transmitted through the vein plexus. The apparatus may also include an illumination source located on the same side as the imaging unit with respect to the vein plexus and configured to emit near-infrared light. The apparatus may further include a controller. The controller may be configured to perform authentication processing on the basis of an image imaged by the imaging unit and vein information previously stored. The controller may also be configured to control the illumination source such that the near-infrared light emitted from the illumination source is scattered behind a vein section corresponding to an imaging section being in an imaging period among the plurality of imaging sections.

Claims

1. A vein authentication apparatus, comprising:

an area image sensor including a first imaging section performing imaging in a first time period and a second imaging section performing imaging in a second time period, the first and the second imaging sections imaging light reflected from a vein plexus inside a finger and light transmitted through the vein plexus;

an illumination source located on the same side of the vein plexus as the area image sensor, the illumination source including light sources configured to emit near-infrared light; and

a controller, which;

activates a first portion of the light sources such that the near-infrared light emitted from the first portion is;

permitted to enter a gap between the second imaging section and the vein plexus; and

scattered behind a first vein section corresponding to the first imaging section during the first time period;

activates a second portion of the light sources such that the near-infrared light emitted from the second portion is;

permitted to enter a gap between the first imaging section and the vein plexus; and

scattered behind a second vein section corresponding to the second imaging section during the second time period; and

performs authentication on the basis of an image obtained by the area image sensor and stored vein information.

2. The vein authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area image sensor includes at least a third imaging section.

3. The vein authentication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

when the controller activates the first portion, the controller turns off the second portion and all light sources other than the first portion, and

when the controller activates the second portion, the controller turns off the first portion and all light sources other than the second portion.

4. The vein authentication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the illumination source is configured such that an angle of a section for emitting near-infrared light varies, and

the controller is configured to make the angle of the section vary such that the near-infrared light emitted from the illumination source is scattered behind the vein section corresponding to the imaging section being in the imaging period among the plurality of imaging sections.

5. The vein authenticating apparatus according to claim 1, further including a plurality of prisms.

6. The vein authenticating apparatus according to claim 5, further including a microlens array.

7. The vein authenticating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the microlens array further includes:

a plate member; and

a plurality of objective lenses attached to the plate member in a first grid.

8. The vein authenticating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the array image sensor further includes a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a second grid.

9. The vein authenticating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second grid is located below the first grid and aligned with the first grid.

10. An imaging apparatus for vein authentication, comprising:

an area image sensor including a first imaging section performing imaging in a first time period and a second imaging section performing imaging in a second time period, the first and the second imaging sections imaging light reflected from a vein plexus inside a finger and light transmitted through the vein plexus;

an illumination source located on the same side of the vein plexus as the area image sensor, the illumination source including light sources configured to emit near-infrared light; and

a controller which;

activates a first portion of the light sources such that the near-infrared light emitted from the first portion is;

permitted to enter a gap between the second imaging section and the vein plexus; and

scattered behind a first vein section corresponding to the first imaging section during the first time period; and

activates a second portion of the light sources such that the near-infrared light emitted from the second portion is;

permitted to enter a gap between the first imaging section and the vein plexus; and

scattered behind a second vein section corresponding to the second imaging section during the second time period.

11. A method of vein authentication comprising:

emitting near-infrared light using an illumination source;

illuminating a vein plexus inside a finger using the illumination source;

directing light reflected from the vein plexus and light transmitted through the vein plexus to an area image sensor, the image sensor including a first imaging section and a second imaging section;

activating a first portion of the illumination source such that the near-infrared light emitted from the first portion is;

permitted to enter a gap between the second imaging section and the vein plexus; and

scattered behind a first vein section corresponding to the first imaging section during a first time period; and

activating a second portion of the illumination source such that the near-infrared light emitted from the second portion is;

permitted to enter a gap between the first imaging section and the vein plexus; and

scattered behind a second vein section corresponding to the second imaging section during a second time period.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

illuminating the first portion includes turning off the second portion; and

illuminating the second portion includes turning off the first portion.