Method and apparatus for sensing fingerprint

A fingerprint sensing apparatus, comprising:

• a light source configured produce an emitted light to illuminate a fingerprint of a user;
• a light modifier prism configured to illuminate the fingerprint with a substantially uniform light intensity using the emitted light from the light source, wherein the light modifier prism includes a curved surface configured to produce a diffused and reflected light based on the emitted light from the light source;
• the light modifier prism is further configured to direct a reflected light of the fingerprint illuminated by the diffused and reflected light, and wherein the light modifier prism further comprises a second surface configured to receive the emitted light from the light source, wherein the second surface of the light modifier prism is further configured to refract the emitted light received from the light source to the curved surface of the light modifier prism;
• an image sensor configured to capture a fingerprint image from the reflected light of the fingerprint;
• and
• a housing configured to hold the light source, the light modifier prism, and the image sensor within the housing.

A method for fingerprint sensing, comprising:

• producing, by a light source, an emitted light to illuminate a fingerprint of a user;
• illuminating, by a light modifier, the fingerprint with a substantially uniform light intensity using the emitted light from the light source, wherein the light modifier includes a curved surface configured to produce a diffused and reflected light based on the emitted light from the light source;
• and wherein the light modifier further comprises a first surface configured to attach the light modifier to a prism and a second surface configured to receive the emitted light from the light source, wherein the second surface of the light modifier is further configured to refract the emitted light received from the light source to the curved surface of the light modifier;
• directing, by the prism, a reflected light of the fingerprint illuminated by the diffused and reflected light from the light modifier;
• and
• capturing, by an image sensor, a fingerprint image from the reflected light of the fingerprint.