Latent fingerprint imaging system
First Claim
1. A latent fingerprint imaging system, comprising:
- a light source that illuminates a sample surface having a raw latent fingerprint, wherein the sample surface is at an ambient temperature;
an optical detector arranged relative to the light source to capture fluorescence instantaneously upon illumination of the sample surface at the ambient temperature from gap portions of the sample surface between ridges of the latent fingerprint and to use the fluorescence from the gap portions to generate image data of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface; and
wherein light from the light source has a wavelength that is greater than a propagation threshold wavelength such that the light is configured to propagate from the light source to the sample surface, and wherein the wavelength is less than an absorption threshold wavelength such that the light is mostly absorbed by material of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This document relates to a latent fingerprint imaging system. The system includes a light source that illuminates a sample surface having a raw latent fingerprint. The system further includes an optical detector arranged to capture fluorescence instantaneously from gap portions of the sample surface between ridges of the latent fingerprint and use the fluorescence from the gap portions to generate image data of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface. The light from the light source has a wavelength that is greater than a propagation threshold wavelength so the light can propagate from the light source to the sample surface and is less than an absorption threshold wavelength so the light is mostly absorbed by material of the latent fingerprint.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A latent fingerprint imaging system, comprising:
-
a light source that illuminates a sample surface having a raw latent fingerprint, wherein the sample surface is at an ambient temperature; an optical detector arranged relative to the light source to capture fluorescence instantaneously upon illumination of the sample surface at the ambient temperature from gap portions of the sample surface between ridges of the latent fingerprint and to use the fluorescence from the gap portions to generate image data of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface; and wherein light from the light source has a wavelength that is greater than a propagation threshold wavelength such that the light is configured to propagate from the light source to the sample surface, and wherein the wavelength is less than an absorption threshold wavelength such that the light is mostly absorbed by material of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A latent fingerprint imaging system, comprising:
-
a light source configured to output light with a wavelength that is greater than a propagation threshold wavelength such that the light can propagate a maximum distance and less than an absorption threshold wavelength such that most of the light is absorbed by fingerprint material; wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate a sample surface having a raw latent fingerprint with the light, said sample surface separated from the light source by a distance that is less than the maximum distance; and an optical detector arranged relative to the light source such that the optical detector captures fluorescence from gap portions of the sample surface between ridges of the latent fingerprint and uses the fluorescence of the gap portions to generate image data of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. The system of claim wherein the light source is a flash lamp, said system further comprising:
-
at least one mirror with a reflective coating to filter out wavelengths from the flash lamp other than wavelengths greater than the propagation threshold wavelength and less than the absorption threshold wavelength; and a baffle configured to reduce scattering of the filtered wavelengths of the light from the at least one mirror incident on the sample surface.
-
-
17. A method for imaging latent fingerprints, comprising:
-
outputting light from a light source with a wavelength that is greater than a propagation threshold wavelength such that the light can propagate a maximum distance and less than an absorption threshold wavelength such that most of the light is absorbed by fingerprint material; positioning the light source to be separated by less than the maximum distance from a sample surface at an ambient temperature and having a raw latent fingerprint; illuminating the sample surface and the fingerprint with the light; instantaneously capturing fluorescence from gap portions of the sample surface between ridges of the latent fingerprint with an optical detector; and generating image data with the fluorescence of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification