MIRROR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING BIOMETRIC DATA

• US 20120242821A1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EyeLock LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eyelock Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Riddle, George Herbert Needham, Hirvonen, David James, Sliney, David Hammond, HANNA, Keith J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,055,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/78
• 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 reflective device about a first rotational axis, the first reflective device comprising at least a first and a second reflective regions, the first reflective region at least partially asymmetric with respect to the second reflective region about the first rotational axis, and

acquiring, by a sensor, biometric imagery reflected off the first reflective device as the reflective device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring biometric imagery comprises acquiring biometric imagery in synchronization with the rotation of the first reflective device.

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

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

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

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

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating a second reflective device about a second rotational axis, the second rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis, the first reflective device reflecting biometric imagery that is reflected off the second reflective device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein rotating the second reflective device comprises rotating the second reflective device at a rotational velocity greater than and synchronized with the rotational velocity of the first reflective device.

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

a first reflective device comprising a first rotational axis and at least a first and a second reflective regions, the first reflective region at least partially asymmetric with respect to the second reflective region about the first rotational axis, and

a sensor configured to acquire biometric imagery reflected off the first reflective device as the first reflective device is rotated about the first rotational axis.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first reflective device rotates at a substantially constant rotational velocity around the axis of the rotational axis.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor acquires biometric imagery in synchronization with the rotation of the first reflective device.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising stroboscopic illumination for illuminating a corresponding subject.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor acquires biometric imagery in synchronization with stroboscopic illumination on a corresponding subject.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor acquires portions of a scene that are offset with respect to each other.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is maintained in a fixed position.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second reflective device rotating about a second rotational axis, the second rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the first rotational axis, the first reflective device reflecting biometric imagery that is reflected off the second reflective device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second reflective device is rotated at a rotational velocity greater than and synchronized with the rotational velocity of the first reflective device.