Mirror system and method for acquiring biometric data

• US 8,958,606 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EyeLock LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EyeLock Inc. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanna, Keith J., Riddle, George Herbert Needham, Hirvonen, David James, Sliney, David Hammond
• Primary Examiner(s): STREGE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US13/493,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20120243749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 382/117, 348/78, 351/206
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining biometric imagery such as iris imagery from large capture volumes is disclosed wherein a substantially rotationally symmetric mirror such as a cone or sphere is rotated at a constant velocity about a central axis.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring biometric imagery in a large capture volume, the method comprising:

rotating a first rotationally symmetric mirror about a first axis;

rotating a second rotationally symmetric mirror about a second axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the first rotationally symmetric mirror reflecting biometric imagery that is reflected off the second rotationally symmetric mirror; and

acquiring, by a sensor, biometric imagery reflected off the first rotationally symmetric mirror as the first rotationally symmetric mirror is rotated about the first axis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the first rotationally symmetric mirror comprises rotating the first rotationally symmetric mirror at a substantially constant rotational velocity around the first axis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring biometric imagery comprises acquiring biometric imagery in synchronization with the rotation of the first rotationally symmetric mirror.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring biometric imagery comprises acquiring biometric imagery in synchronization with stroboscopic illumination on a corresponding subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring biometric imagery comprises acquiring portions of a scene that are offset with respect to each other.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating a corresponding subject with stroboscopic illumination.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the sensor in a fixed position.

8. A system for acquiring biometric imagery in a large capture volume, the system comprising:

a first rotationally symmetric mirror;

motor means to rotate the first rotationally symmetric mirror about a first axis;

a second rotationally symmetric mirror rotating about a second axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the first rotationally symmetric mirror reflecting biometric imagery that is reflected off the second rotationally symmetric mirror; and

a sensor to acquire biometric imagery reflected off of the first rotationally symmetric mirror as the first rotationally symmetric mirror is rotated about the first axis.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first rotationally symmetric mirror rotates at a substantially constant rotational velocity around the first axis.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor acquires biometric imagery in synchronization with the rotation of the first rotationally symmetric mirror.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor acquires biometric imagery in synchronization with stroboscopic illumination on a corresponding subject.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor acquires portions of a scene that are offset with respect to each other.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising stroboscopic illumination for illuminating a corresponding subject.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is maintained in a fixed position.

15. A method for acquiring biometric imagery in a large capture volume, comprising:

mounting a first non-flat reflective surface on a first rotating axis such that at least a portion of the first surface is not perpendicular to the first axis;

mounting a second non-flat reflective surface on a second rotating axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the first non-flat reflective surface reflecting biometric imagery that is reflected off the second non-flat reflective surface;

configuring a sensor to view a scene reflected off the first non-flat surface,

the sensor comprising at least one lens for removing distortion due to the first non-flat reflective surface; and

acquiring imagery of the scene when the first non-flat reflective surface is rotating about the first rotating axis.

16. A method for acquiring biometric imagery in a large capture volume, comprising:

mounting a first non-flat reflective surface on a first rotating axis such that at least a portion of the first surface is not perpendicular to the first axis;

configuring a sensor to view a scene reflected off the first non-flat surface, the sensor using a second reflective surface to remove distortion due to the first non-flat reflective surface, the second reflective surface being configured to rotate about a second rotating axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the first non-flat reflective surface reflecting biometric imagery that is reflected off the second non-flat reflective surface; and

acquiring imagery of the scene when the first non-flat reflective surface is rotating about the first rotating axis.

17. A method for acquiring biometric imagery in a large capture volume, comprising:

mounting a first non-flat reflective surface on a first rotating axis such that at least a portion of the first surface is not perpendicular to the first axis;

mounting a second non-flat reflective surface on a second rotating axis, the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the first non-flat reflective surface reflecting biometric imagery that is reflected off the second non-flat reflective surface;

configuring a sensor to view a scene reflected off the first non-flat surface, the sensor digitally removing distortion due to reflection off the first non-flat reflective surface; and

acquiring imagery of the scene when the first non-flat reflective surface is rotating about the first rotating axis.