Imaging system, and identity authentication system incorporating the same

• US 7,554,598 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Togino, Takayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US10/809,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 348/370, 348/371, 348/262, 348/260, 348/340, 348/294
• US Class Current: 348/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to an imaging system 50 wherein, without recourse to any large-size pupil relay optical system, a plurality of minute imaging optical systems are arranged in rows and columns to pick up pixel images of a divided fundus through separate imaging optical systems, so that a fundus image is synthesized from the thus picked up pixel images as well as an identity authentication system. A plurality of imaging units 10₁, 10₁ and 10₃ comprising imaging lenses 1₁, 1₂ and 1₃ and imaging devices 3₁, 3₂ and 3₃ located on their image planes are two-dimensionally arranged in rows and columns. An illumination device for illumination 4 of a subject E in a direction along the optical system of each imaging unit is provided, wherein each of the optical axes 2₁, 2₂ and 2₃ of the respective imaging units is defined by an axis that passes through a common object point P at an imaging position and the center of each imaging lens.

Claims

1. An imaging system, comprising:

a plurality of imaging units, and

an illumination device, wherein;

each of said plurality of imaging units comprises an imaging lens and an imaging device located on an image plane of said imaging lens,

said plurality of imaging units are two-dimensionally arranged in rows and columns,

with an optical axis of each imaging unit defined as an axis through a common object point at an imaging position and the center of each imaging lens, directions of the optical axes of the imaging units adjacent to each other are different,

said common object point and each imaging device are located at a conjugate position, and

said illumination device is positioned in such a way as to direct illumination light in a direction along the optical axis of each imaging unit.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device is located at a position where a subject is illuminated from a periphery of said imaging device or said imaging lens.

3. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device comprises a common light source located behind said imaging devices.

4. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device comprises a plurality of illumination light sources, wherein said plurality of illumination light sources are each located with respect to each of said plurality of imaging units.

5. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device is located at a position where illumination light is directed coaxially with respect to the optical axes of said imaging units.

6. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of imaging lenses are a lens array with integrally formed lenses.

7. The imaging system according to claim 6, wherein said lens array is located at a position adjustable in a normal direction to a plane thereof.

8. The imaging system according to claim 6, wherein said lens array is located at a position adjustable in two orthogonal directions in a plane thereof.

9. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein each of said imaging units is located with a center substantially in alignment with an optical axis thereof.

10. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein in each of said plurality of imaging units, said imaging lens and said imaging device are located such that in adjoining imaging units, a spacing between said imaging lenses is larger than that between said imaging devices.

11. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein each of said imaging lenses and each of said imaging devices are arranged in an at least one direction and on a concavely curved surface with respect to said common object point.

12. An identity authentication system, comprising:

an imaging system as recited in claim 1,

a fundus image synthesis block,

a data generation block, and

an identification block, wherein;

in said imaging system, said each imaging unit simultaneously picks up images inclusive of an image of a pupil of an individual to be authenticated, which is located at an object point position,

said fundus image synthesis block comprises a step of cutting the image of the pupil of the individual to be authenticated out of each of the images picked up by said imaging system, and a step of using cut-out images of the pupil as pixels to rearrange said pixels corresponding to an arrangement of said imaging units for synthesis of a fundus image,

said data generation block extracts, from a synthesized fundus image, data indicative of traits thereof, and

said identification block compares extracted data with separately stored data.

13. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging lenses are each the same.

14. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis of said each imaging unit is substantially in alignment with the optical axis of said each imaging lens.