# US 2018/0025206 A1 · Iris recognition via plenoptic imaging

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- Number: US 2018/0025206 A1
- Document ID: US20180025206A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/721,306
- Filed: 2017-09-29
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-12
- Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC
- Applicants: UT-Battelle, LLC
- Inventors: Hector J. Santos-Villalobos; Chris Bensing Boehnen; David S. Bolme
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025206A1

## CPC

- G06V 40/193: {Preprocessing; Feature extraction}
- G06T 5/50: using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
- G06T 5/73: Deblurring; Sharpening
- G06V 40/19: Sensors therefor
- G06T 2200/21: involving computational photography
- G06T 2207/10052: Images from lightfield camera
- G06T 2207/30041: Eye; Retina; Ophthalmic
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Iris recognition can be accomplished for a wide variety of eye images by using plenoptic imaging. Using plenoptic technology, it is possible to correct focus after image acquisition. One example technology reconstructs images having different focus depths and stitches them together, resulting in a fully focused image, even in an off-angle gaze scenario. Another example technology determines three-dimensional data for an eye and incorporates it into an eye model used for iris recognition processing. Another example technology detects contact lenses. Application of the technologies can result in improved iris recognition under a wide variety of scenarios.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-8. (canceled)

### Claim 9

A method implemented at least in part by a computing system, the method comprising:
receiving a plenoptic iris image depicting an iris;
from the plenoptic iris image depicting an iris, determining a three-dimensional shape of the iris;
storing the three-dimensional shape of the iris; and
applying the three-dimensional shape of the iris as part of iris recognition processing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein:
determining a three-dimensional shape of the iris comprises:
computing a depth map of the plenoptic iris image;
segmenting the iris as depicted in the plenoptic iris image; and
registering the segmented iris to the depth map.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein:
applying the three-dimensional shape of the iris as part of iris recognition processing comprises:
constructing a personalized eye model based on the three-dimensional shape of the iris; and
performing iris recognition via the personalized eye model.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein:
applying the three-dimensional shape of the iris as part of iris recognition processing comprises:
constructing a personalized eye model based on the three-dimensional shape of the iris;
via the personalized eye model, reconstructing a frontal view of an iris depicted in an off-angle iris image; and
performing iris recognition with the reconstructed frontal view.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising:
from the plenoptic iris image, determining a three-dimensional shape of a limbus depicted in the plenoptic iris image;
storing the three-dimensional shape of the limbus; and
applying the three-dimensional shape of the limbus during iris recognition processing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising:
performing iris recognition, wherein the iris recognition accounts for the three-dimensional shape of the limbus.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 wherein:
the plenoptic iris image depicts an iris with an off-angle gaze;
wherein the method further comprises:
based on the three-dimensional shape of the limbus, determining a portion of the iris that is occluded by the limbus in an on-angle gaze; and
during iris recognition, removing the occluded portion of the iris from consideration.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising:
storing a three-dimensional position of the limbus.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein:
the plenoptic iris image depicts an iris with an off-angle gaze;
wherein the method further comprises:
based on the three-dimensional position of the limbus, determining a portion of the iris that is occluded by the limbus in an on-angle gaze; and
during iris recognition, removing the occluded portion of the iris from consideration.

### Claim at position 11

18-20. (canceled)