Apparatus and method for optically imaging features on the surface of a hand

An apparatus for optically imaging features on a surface of a hand, comprising:

• means for illuminating an imaging area;
• means for contacting a hand with a convex contact surface and guiding portions of the hand in fixed contact with the contact surface through the imaging area;
• means for intercepting light from the imaging area and generating therefrom a signal representative of surface features of the hand contacting the contact surface in the imaging area;
• and
• means for dampening coupled to the contact surface for adjusting the rate at which portions of the hand are guided through the imaging area.

An apparatus for optically imaging features on a surface of a hand, comprising:

• a light source to illuminate an imaging area;
• a rotatable transparent cylinder having a cylindrical contact surface to contact the hand and configured to guide portions of the hand contacting the contact surface through the imaging area;
• and
• a detector positioned to intercept light from the imaging area and to generate therefrom a signal representative of surface features of the hand contacting the contact surface in the imaging area, the detector being configured to receive primarily light reflecting from the contact surface at an observation angle relative to a normal to the contact surface in the imaging area that is greater than a critical angle for an interface between the contact surface and water.

A method for optically imaging features on the surface of a hand, comprising:

• placing the hand in contact with a convex contact surface;
• guiding the hand in fixed contact with the convex contact surface through an imaging area;
• dampening movement of the contact surface to adjust the rate at which the hand moves through the imaging area;
• illuminating the imaging area with light;
• intercepting light from the imaging area;
• and
• generating from the intercepted light a signal representative of surface features of the contacting hand being guided through the imaging area.