Economical skin-pattern-acquisition and analysis apparatus for access control; systems controlled thereby

Apparatus for acquiring surface-relief data from a relieved surface such as a finger;

• said apparatus comprising:
• prism means formed from optical fibers and including:
• an optical data-input end, comprising terminations of fibers of the bundle, for contact with such relieved surface at the fiber terminations,
• at least one side face for receiving light into the prism means across the fibers in a region where the prism means satisfy at least one physical condition for efficient nonducting transillumination based upon a relationship between indices of refraction in the prism means, and
• a partially reflecting surface for redirecting light received through the side face to illuminate the fiber terminations at the data-input end;
• means for receiving light that passes through the partially reflecting surface from the illuminated fiber terminations, and in response providing at least one signal which is characteristic of such surface relief;
• and
• intermediate focal means for relaying light that passes through the partially reflecting surface to the receiving-and-providing means.

Apparatus for acquiring surface-relief data from a relieved surface such as a finger;

• said apparatus comprising:
• prism means formed from optical fibers and including:
• a first end, comprising terminations of the fibers for contact with such relieved surface, and
• a second end, comprising opposite terminations of the same or corresponding fibers, for passage of light traveling along the fibers from the first end;
• means for projecting light across the fibers for lighting the first-end terminations;
• wherein a light fraction dependent on contact between such relieved surface and each illuminated first-end termination is ducted from that termination along its fiber;
• and
• electrooptical means for receiving at the second end each light fraction from the first end, and in response forming an electrical signal characteristic of such surface relief;
• and
• intermediate focal means for relaying each light fraction at said second end to the electrooptical means;
• wherein the prism means, at least in a region where the light crosses the fibers, have a numerical aperture that does not exceed
• 2n.sub.avg (D/x.sub.F).sup.1/4,
• where
• n.sub.avg .ident.average of core and cladding refractive indices in said region of the prism means;
• D.ident.periodicity of the fiber structure in said region;
• and
• x.sub.F .ident.illumination-path distance in said region;
• said illumination-path distance being measured across the prism means if the apparatus is illuminated through one said side face, and being measured to the midplane of the prism means if the apparatus is illuminated through more than one said side face.

Apparatus for acquiring surface-relief data from a relieved surface such as a finger;

• said apparatus comprising:
• prism means formed from optical fibers and including:
• a first end, comprising terminations of the fibers for contact with such relieved surface, and
• a second end, comprising opposite terminations of the same or corresponding fibers, for passage of light traveling along the fibers from the first end;
• means for projecting light across the fibers for lighting the first-end terminations;
• wherein a light fraction dependent on contact between such relieved surface and each illuminated first-end termination is ducted from that termination along its fiber;
• and
• electrooptical means for receiving at the second end each light fraction from the first end, and in response forming an electrical signal characteristic of such surface relief;
• and
• intermediate focal means for relaying each light fraction at said second end to the electrooptical means;
• wherein the prism means, at least where the light crosses the fibers, have a numerical aperture that does not exceed one-half.

Apparatus for acquiring surface-relief data from a relieved surface such as a finger;

• said apparatus comprising:
• prism means formed from optical fibers and including:
• a first end, comprising terminations of the fibers for contact with such relieved surface, and
• a second end, comprising opposite terminations of the same or corresponding fibers, for passage of light traveling along the fibers from the first end;
• means for projecting light across the fibers for lighting the first-end terminations;
• wherein a light fraction dependent on contact between such relieved surface and each illuminated first-end termination is ducted from that termination along its fiber;
• and
• electrooptical means for receiving at the second end each light fraction from the first end, and in response forming an electrical signal characteristic of such surface relief;
• and
• intermediate focal means for relaying each light fraction at said second end to the electrooptical means and
• wherein the prism means, at least in a region where the light crosses the fibers, have a numerical aperture that does not exceed
• 2n.sub.avg (D/2x.sub.F).sup.1/4,
• where
• n.sub.avg .ident.average of core and cladding refractive indices in said region of the prism means;
• D.ident.periodicity of the fiber structure in said region;
• and
• x.sub.F .ident.illumination-path distance in said region;
• said illumination-path distance being measured across the prism means if the apparatus is illuminated through one said side face, and being measured to the midplane of the prism means if the apparatus is illuminated through more than one said side face.

Apparatus for acquiring surface-relief data from a relieved surface such as a finger;

• said apparatus comprising:
• prism means formed from optical fibers and including:
• a first end, comprising terminations of the fibers for contact with such relieved surface, and
• a second end, comprising opposite terminations of the same or corresponding fibers, for passage of light traveling along the fibers from the first end;
• means for projecting light across the fibers for lighting the first-end terminations;
• wherein a light fraction dependent on contact between such relieved surface and each illuminated first-end termination is ducted from that termination along its fiber;
• and
• electrooptical means for receiving at the second end each light fraction from the first end, and in response forming an electrical signal characteristic of such surface relief;
• and
• intermediate focal means for relaying each light fraction at said second end to the electrooptical means;
• wherein the prism means, at least where the light crosses the fibers, have a numerical aperture that does not exceed 0.42.

Apparatus for acquiring and using surface-relief data, from a relieved surface such as a finger, for controlling access to facilities, equipment, a financial service or information;

• said apparatus comprising:
• prism means formed from optical fibers and including:
• a first end, comprising terminations of the fibers for contact with such relieved surface, and
• a second end, comprising opposite terminations of the same or corresponding fibers, for passage of light traveling along the fibers from the first end;
• means for projecting light across the fibers in a region where the prism means satisfy at least one physical condition for efficient nonducting transillumination based upon a relationship between indices of refraction in the prism means, for lighting the first-end terminations;
• wherein a light fraction dependent on contact between such relieved surface and each illuminated first-end termination is ducted from that termination along its fiber;
• electrooptical means for receiving at the second end each light fraction from the first end, and for processing the received light to determine identity of the relieved surface, and for applying the determined identity to control access to such facilities, equipment, financial service or information;
• and
• intermediate focal means for relaying each light fraction at said second end to the electrooptical means.

A secured system subject to access control based upon surface-relief data from a relieved surface such as a finger;

• said system comprising:
• utilization means, susceptible to misuse in the absence of a particular such relieved surface that is related to an authorized user, said utilization means being selected from the group consisting of:
• a facility,
• apparatus,
• means for providing a financial service, and
• means for providing information;
• prism means formed from optical fibers and including:
• a first end, comprising terminations of the fibers for contact with such relieved surface, and
• a second end, comprising opposite terminations of the same or corresponding fibers, for passage of light traveling along the fibers from the first end;
• means for projecting light across the fibers in a region where the prism means satisfy at least one physical condition for efficient nonducting transillumination based upon a relationship between indices of refraction in the prism means, for lighting the first-end terminations;
• wherein a light fraction dependent on contact between such relieved surface and each illuminated first-end termination is ducted from that termination along its fiber;
• electrooptical means for receiving at the second end each light fraction from the first end, and for processing the received light to determine identity of the relieved surface, and for applying the determined identity to control access to the utilization means and
• intermediate focal means for relaying each light fraction at said second end to the electrooptical means.

Self-contained apparatus for skin-pattern verification, comprising:

• a case having volume less than about two liters (one hundred twenty cubic inches), and having mounted within or for access at the surface of the case all the following elements;
• means for holding an electrical-energy storage device or for receiving electrical power from an external source, to power the apparatus;
• means for contacting a skin pattern to develop an electronic data array corresponding to an image of the skin pattern;
• means for generating in response a corresponding electronic data array for use in verification;
• means for performing a verification procedure;
• output means for indicating or effectuating, or both, a verification decision;
• means for formatting the data array in a compact form for use in storage, import or export;
• and
• means for converting the data array from said compact form to a different form for use by the verification-procedure performing means.

Self-contained apparatus for skin-pattern verification, comprising:

• a case having volume less than about two liters (one hundred twenty cubic inches), and having mounted within or for access at the surface of the case all the following elements;
• means for holding an electrical-energy storage device or for receiving electrical power from an external source, to power the apparatus;
• means, including an imaging unit and a sensor array disposed to receive an image therefrom, for contacting a skin pattern to develop an electronic data array corresponding to an image of the skin pattern;
• a video controller for controlling the sensor array to develop said electronic data array;
• an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the electronic data array;
• a digital signal processor for performing verification procedures based upon the electronic data array, and for developing a decision signal based upon the verification procedures;
• memory means for holding an authorized-user skin-pattern template, program firmware for the digital signal processor, and data used in the verification procedures;
• an output register for holding the decision signal;
• output means for transmitting a utilization-means switching signal, based on the decision signal, from the apparatus for effectuation of the decision signal;
• and
• a control, address, and data bus interconnecting the video controller, analog-to-digital converter, video processor, memory means, and output register.

Self-contained apparatus for skin-pattern verification, comprising:

• a case having volume less than about two liters (one hundred twenty cubic inches), and having mounted within or for access at the surface of the case all the following elements;
• means for holding an electrical-energy storage device or for receiving electrical power from an external source, to power the apparatus;
• an optical bench disposed within or forming part of, or both, the case;
• said bench having:
• mounting bosses for optical-fiber prism means,
• a mounting ring for an objective lens, and
• a mounting pocket for a sensor array;
• optical-fiber prism means mounted to the optical-bench bosses for contacting a skin pattern to develop an image thereof;
• an objective lens mounted to the optical-bench ring for relaying the skin-pattern image to a sensor array;
• a sensor array mounted to the optical-bench pocket for receiving said image and in response developing an electronic data array corresponding to the image;
• a surface-mount electronics board holding a digital signal-processing chip for analyzing the data array to verify identity corresponding to such skin pattern;
• and
• verification-decision indicating or effectuating means, or both.