Iris recognition based on three-dimensional signatures

#Iris recognition is utilized as a secure form of biometric authentication and user verification. A user's identity may be inferred based on unique characteristics that can be derived from imaging that user's eye.

#FIG. 1A shows a schematic view of a head-mounted display device with eye imaging capabilities according to an example of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 1B shows an additional view of the head-mounted display device with eye imaging capabilities of FIG. 1A.

#FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show anatomical features of a human eye.

#Iris imaging may be used to generate authentication factors for methods that recognize and/or verify the identity of a user. For example, iris imaging may be used to authenticate a user signing onto a computing device, to grant physical access to a secured location, etc. These authentication factors are considered unique and secure, even when compared to other forms of biometric authentication and verification. Iris recognition may be used for authentication by any device coupled to a high-resolution digital camera. With cameras decreasing in size and becoming incorporated into a significant portion of consumer electronic devices, iris recognition can now be used as the primary mode of authentication for securing data on the same device that performs the iris imaging.

#The prevalence of high-resolution cameras also increases the ability of would-be attackers to generate or obtain a high-fidelity image of a user's face, and to use such an image to generate a spoof (e.g., printed replica) of the user's iris. Such spoofs may be presented to imaging cameras as a means for mimicking a user's iris. As such, there is a demand for anti-spoofing technology that increases the security of iris imaging based authentication.

#Iris imaging is typically performed via a two-dimensional (2D) camera. A single image may be taken with the user staring directly into the camera. The unique structure and qualities of the user's iris yields an image with unique, repeatable features. During authentication, another eye image is taken, and features of the new image are then compared to stored data from the original eye image.