System and method for improved scanning of fingerprint edges
First Claim
1. A method of assembling a two dimensional image of a fingerprint from a series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, formed by a linear one-dimensional array of gap sensor elements aligned generally orthogonally to a direction of motion of a finger, comprising:
- obtaining position data versus time for the position of the finger as the finger swipes the linear one dimensional array, in the direction of finger motion;
determining motion versus time for the finger, based at least in part on the position data versus time as the finger swipes the linear one-dimensional array;
removing poor fingerprint image data contained in at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, by determining from the motion a probable finger position in relation to the linear one dimensional array versus the time of the at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images; and
including the at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images in the two dimensional image of the fingerprint based upon the probable finger position and an analysis of the content of the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fingerprint analysis method for partial fingerprint scanners that has an improved ability to resolve fingerprints from the tips of fingers, as well as an improved ability to cope with suboptimal finger swipes. The method uses various extrapolation methods to more accurately determine the position of a scanned fingertip is as the tip of the finger passes a partial fingerprint scanner. The method also monitors the image characteristics of the partial fingerprint image returned by the partial fingerprint scanner, and uses these image characteristics to determine exactly where the image of the fingertip itself is lost, and imaging of non-fingerprint data begins. By combining the most probable fingertip position as a function of time data obtained from extrapolated finger motion data, with image analyzed fingerprint images more precisely determined to be near the fingertip edges, superior fingerprint images extending closer to the edge of the fingerprint may be obtained.
421 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of assembling a two dimensional image of a fingerprint from a series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, formed by a linear one-dimensional array of gap sensor elements aligned generally orthogonally to a direction of motion of a finger, comprising:
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obtaining position data versus time for the position of the finger as the finger swipes the linear one dimensional array, in the direction of finger motion; determining motion versus time for the finger, based at least in part on the position data versus time as the finger swipes the linear one-dimensional array; removing poor fingerprint image data contained in at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, by determining from the motion a probable finger position in relation to the linear one dimensional array versus the time of the at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images; and including the at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images in the two dimensional image of the fingerprint based upon the probable finger position and an analysis of the content of the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of assembling a two-dimensional image of a fingerprint from a series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, formed by a linear one-dimensional array of gap sensor elements aligned generally orthogonally to a direction of motion of a finger composed of multiple pixels, each pixel defined by gap sensor element, each pixel having a pixel value, the method comprising:
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obtaining position data versus time for the position of the finger as the finger swipes the linear one dimensional array, in the direction of finger motion; determining motion versus time for the finger, based at least in part on the position data versus time as the finger swipes the linear one-dimensional array; and removing poor fingerprint image data contained in at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, by determining from the motion probable finger position in relation to the linear one dimensional array versus the time of the at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images; and including the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images in the two dimensional image of the fingerprint based upon the probable finger position and an analysis of the content of the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of assembling a two dimensional image of a fingerprint from a series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, formed by a linear one-dimensional array of gap sensor elements aligned generally orthogonally to a direction of motion of a finger, composed of multiple pixels, each pixel having a pixel value, the method comprising:
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obtaining position data versus time for the position of the finger as the finger swipes the linear one dimensional array, in the direction of finger motion; determining motion versus time of the finger, based at least in part on the position data versus time as the finger swipes the linear one-dimensional array; removing poor fingerprint image data contained in at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, by determining from the motion probable finger position in relation to the linear one dimensional array versus time as the finger swipes over the linear one dimensional array; and assembling an image of a fingerprint from a series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images, and including the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images in the two dimensional image of the fingerprint based upon the probable finger position and an analysis of the content of the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images for the presence of non-fingerprint image data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A tangible machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of assembling an image of a fingerprint from a series of partial fingerprint images and finger position data obtained by a partial fingerprint imager, comprising:
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assembling a two dimensional image of a fingerprint from a series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, formed by a linear one-dimensional array of gap sensor elements aligned generally orthogonally to a direction of motion of a finger; obtaining position data versus time for the position of the finger as the finger swipes the linear one dimensional array, in the direction of finger motion; determining motion versus time for the finger, based at least in part on the position data versus time as the finger swipes the linear one-dimensional array; removing poor fingerprint image data contained in at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images, by determining from the motion a probable finger position in relation to the linear one dimensional array versus the time of the at least one of the series of one-dimensional linear fingerprint images; and including the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images in the two dimensional image of the fingerprint based upon the probable finger position and an analysis of the content of the at least one of the series of linear one-dimensional fingerprint images.
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Specification