US 5,509,083 AGranted

Method and apparatus for confirming the identity of an individual presenting an identification card

AssigneeNooral S. Abtahi

InventorsNooral S. Abtahi, Grady C. Shumate, Sr., Waddie Heyward, Hedong Yang

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Abstract

A system for confirming the identity of an individual presenting an identification card includes a card reader, an associated central processing unit, a preselected feature template library associated with the central processing unit, a scanner for scanning preselected portions of an epidermis, such as a fingerprint, RAM storage means operatively associated with the central processing unit and the scanner, a communication interface such as a modem communicating with a remote site, and an output display indicating the identifier correlation. This invention provides an improved method of verifying that a card holder is the card owner by matching the image of the card holder's fingerprint to the unique code which has been assigned to the card owner and encoded on the card's magnetic strip, which requires only a relatively small amount of data to perform identification, making it possible to use low cost, low density encoding methods including bar code and magnetic strip. Fingerprint verification apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for adding individuals to a system which confirms the identity of an individual presenting an identification card comprising:

providing a central processing unit;
providing a preselected feature template library in communication with said central processing unit;
scanning preselected portions of an epidermis to provide a scanned image, and sending said scanned image to said central processing unit;
wherein said scanning step comprises:
providing a finger cradle;
operatively associating an imaging system with said finger cradle;
operatively associating a charged couple device camera with said imaging system;
operatively associating a frame grabber with said charged couple device camera;
operatively associating a stepper motor with said charged couple device camera;
operatively associating a control interface with said stepper motor and said central processing unit;
and
operatively associating a position detector with said control interface;
dividing said scanned image into an array of image blocks;
correlating each image block with each feature stored in said preselected feature template library;
identifying and selecting features of said epidermis by said central processing unit;
determining a reference code corresponding to features contained in said feature template library for each feature selected by said central processing unit;
encoding said reference code on an identification card;
and
recording said reference code at a centralized data bank;
said central processing unit generating a signal to said stepper motor to adjust said charged couple device camera to locate a distinctive reference position on preselected portions of an epidermis, and said central processing unit generating a distinctive position code corresponding to a distance between said distinctive reference position and a center portion of said preselected portions of said epidermis;
said charged couple device camera generating an analog video image of said preselected portions of an epidermis;
said charged couple device camera generating several video images of said preselected portions of an epidermis;
averaging each of said video images with other of said video images to produce a single video image, and temporarily saving said single video image.

20 more elements

A method for confirming the identity of an individual cardholder presenting an identification card, comprising:

providing a predetermined feature template library containing a plurality of feature templates and corresponding feature codes;
providing an identification card containing information regarding a preselected portion of the cardholder's epidermis and codes corresponding to feature codes in said feature template library;
scanning a preselected portion of said cardholder's epidermis and temporarily storing the results of the scan as temporary results;
reading said information from said identification card;
comparing said temporary results with the information read from said card, and generating a comparison;
determining a correlation between the information scanned and the information contained on said card;
and
displaying results of said correlation, thereby indicating whether to accept the identity of said cardholder;
generating a signal to a stepper motor to adjust a charge coupled device camera to locate a distinctive reference position on preselected portions of an epidermis, and generating a distinctive position code corresponding to a distance between said distinctive reference position and a center portion of said preselected portion of an epidermis;
said charge coupled device camera generating an analog video image of said preselected portions of an epidermis;
and
said charge coupled device camera generating several video images of said preselected portions of an epidermis;
and
averaging each of said video images with other of said video images to produce a single video image, and temporarily saving said single video image.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/259,879Filed 15 Jun 1994
Granted: 16 Apr 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G07F 7/1008
Together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric…
G06K 7/10831
Further details of bar or optical code scanning devices: arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms
G06Q 20/341
Using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards: active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including…
G06Q 20/40145
Identity check for transactions: biometric identity checks