Biometric identification scanner

• US 8,786,403 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffery Robert Vangemert
• Original Assignee: Jeffery Robert Vangemert
• Inventors: Vangemert, Jeffery Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US13/645,777
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.83, 382/124, 382/125, 382/126, 382/127
• US Class Current: 340/5.83
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1329 Protecting the fingerprint sensor against damage caused by the finger

Abstract

A biometric identification system effective for identifying individuals according to a combination of biometric records and predetermined finger stroke sequences. The system allows a user to easily access multiple bank accounts and multiple credit accounts in a secure manner. The user can decide which account to use for a purchase at the last minute. The system features a cleaning system for cleaning the fingerprint scanner after each use. The cleaning system is only accessible to qualified maintenance personnel.

Claims

1. A biometric identification system (100) effective for identifying a user and linking said user to an account according to a combination of a biometric record and a predetermined finger stroke sequence, said system (100) comprising:

(a) a housing (110) having a first side (111), a second side (112), a scanning end (113), a top surface (115), and an inner cavity (118);

(b) a microprocessor (210) disposed in the inner cavity of the housing (110);

(c) a display (160) disposed on the top surface of the housing (110), the display comprises a touch screen display, the display (160) is operatively connected to the microprocessor (210);

(d) a palm rest (150) disposed at the scanning end (113), the palm rest (150) extends inwardly toward the inner cavity (118) of the housing (110) and below the top surface (115) of the housing (110), forming a concave indentation in the scanning end (113) of the housing (110) when viewed from a side (111, 112);

(e) a cylindrical fingerprint roller (180) disposed in the inner cavity (118) of the housing (110) extending from at or near the first side (111) of the housing (110) to at or near the second side (112) of the housing (110), a portion of the fingerprint roller (180) is accessible via a slot (158) in the scanning end (113) of the housing (110), the slot (158) is positioned at an inner end (151) of the palm rest (150), a remaining portion of the fingerprint roller (180) is hidden in the inner cavity (118) of the housing (110), the fingerprint roller (180) can rotate in at least a first direction about an axis extending from near the first side (111) of the housing (110) to near the second side (112) of the housing (110), the fingerprint roller (180) can move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the palm rest (150) between a released position and a pressed position, the fingerprint roller (180) is biased in the released position and is moved to the pressed position when a user pushes his/her fingers downwardly on the fingerprint roller (180) toward a bottom surface (116) of the housing (110);

(f) a fingerprint scanner (190) disposed in the fingerprint roller (180), the fingerprint scanner (190) functions to detect fingerprints on the fingerprint roller (180), the fingerprint scanner (190) is operatively connected to the microprocessor (210);

(g) a flange (115a) extending outwardly from the top surface (115) of the housing (110) a distance over the palm rest (150) of the housing (110) to create a hood to help shield the palm rest (150) and fingerprint roller (180) from onlookers;

(h) a first half contact (220a) and a second half contact (220b) disposed in the inner cavity (118) of the housing (110), at least one contact (220) is operatively connected to the microprocessor (210), at least one contact (220) is operatively connected to the fingerprint scanner (190), the contacts (220) are separated when the fingerprint roller (180) is in the released position, when the fingerprint roller (180) is pressed to the pressed position the contacts (220) make contact and the fingerprint scanner (190) sends fingerprint data detected on the fingerprint roller (180) to the microprocessor (210); and

(i) a cleaning system for cleaning fingerprints on the fingerprint roller (180), the cleaning system comprises (i) a cleaning cartridge (310) disposed in the inner cavity (118) of the housing (110), the cleaning cartridge (310) has a cleaning end (311) and an attachment end (312) and houses a cleaning solution;

(ii) a sponge (320) disposed on the cleaning end (311) of the cleaning cartridge, the sponge (320) makes contact with a portion of the fingerprint roller (180) in the inner cavity (118), the sponge (320) transfers cleaning solution from the cleaning cartridge to the fingerprint roller (180); and

(iii) a scrubber (330) disposed on the cleaning end (311) of the cleaning cartridge (310), the scrubber (330) makes contact with a portion of the fingerprint roller (180) in the inner cavity (118), the scrubber (330) comprises bristles or wipers (338) tor cleaning the fingerprint roller (180).

wherein when the system (100) is activated, the display (160) prompts the user to place a fingerprint on the fingerprint roller (180), the fingerprint is registered as a first fingerprint signal, whereupon the fingerprint scanner (190) sends the first fingerprint signal to the microprocessor (210), the microprocessor communicates with a server and sends the first fingerprint signal to the server, whereupon the server matches the first fingerprint signal to a user'"'"'s identity;

subsequently the display (160) prompts the user to place a unique user-determined finger stroke sequence on the fingerprint roller (180), the unique user-determined finger stroke sequence is registered as a second fingerprint signal, whereupon the fingerprint scanner (190) sends the second fingerprint signal to the microprocessor (210), the microprocessor communicates with a server and sends the second fingerprint signal to the server, whereupon the server matches the second fingerprint signal to a user'"'"'s bank or credit account;

wherein after the system (100) matches the second fingerprint signal to a user'"'"'s bank or credit account, the system (100) activates the cleaning system to clean the fingerprint roller (180).

2. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the display (160) is at an angle (101a) with respect to the top surface of the housing (110).

3. The system (100) of claim 2, wherein the angle (101a) is between about 90 to 180 degrees.

4. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint roller (180) is constructed from a material comprising glass.

5. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint roller (180) is mounted on mounting rollers (170), which help the fingerprint roller (180) rotate about its axis.

6. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint roller (180) is biased in the released position via a spring (188).

7. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the cleaning system or a portion thereof is removable.

8. The system (100) of claim 7, wherein the cleaning system or a portion thereof is removable via an access door (305) disposed in either the first side (111) or the second side (112) of the housing (110).

9. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the system (100) is in communication with a server via a wireless communication system.

10. The system (100) of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a network, a wireless internet system, radio, Bluetooth®

, or a combination thereof.

11. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the unique user-determined finger stroke sequence comprises a sequence and orientation of finger strokes on the fingerprint roller (180).