Abstract: Systems and methods perform access control and mobile identity verification utilizing a memory, maybe on a handheld device, that stores at least biometric data, such as minutia. The handheld device may also store other data, such as a threshold value and Wiegand data. The data may be stored in a memory, a magnetic strip, a code, a bar code, or in all of these devices associated with the handheld device. The handheld device may be a SmartCard or the like. The threshold value may be a required value or parameter generated from input criteria based on biometric data read and extracted by an extracting system during an enrolling process. The threshold value is used during extracting, matching, or both, to most accurately determine the identity and characteristics of an individual wanting access to an accessed system or being questioned by law enforcement in the field.

Abstract: Light from an illumination source is injected into a prism of a print scanner through an illumination injection surface that is not directly imaged by an optical system and an image sensor of the print scanner. This light travels across the prism and hits a highly reflective surface of the prism. When this light hits the highly reflective surface, it is scattered and becomes diffused. Some of this diffused light remains in total internal reflection (TIR) within the prism and is reflected off the inside of the platen surface of the prism. The diffused light reflected off the inside of the platen surface is imaged by the optical system and the image sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for illuminating a platen are provided. A hybrid illumination system uses both diffusion and collimation to efficiently provide a flat, uniform illumination at a platen. One or more diffusers are disposed between the illumination source array and a collimating lens. An illumination system is provided which uses diffused light to illuminate a platen in a print scanner. The illumination system has an illumination source array and a light wedge. The light wedge reflects light internally which makes the illumination even more diffuse. An illumination source array has a plurality of sources that emit blue/green light. In one preferred example, the blue/green light is equal to or approximately equal to 510 nm. Sources are divided into at least a center region and a perimeter region. The density of sources provided in the perimeter region is greater than in the center region to correct for natural light falloff in the illumination system.

Abstract: A polymer slip for producing a ceramic body is disclosed. The slip includes a polymer, surfactant, dispersant and about 50-70 volume % ceramic powder. The slip can be set in a closed mold. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a green body. The method includes contacting a ceramic powder with a polymer to form a slip mixture, mixing the slip mixture, injecting the slip mixture in a mold and setting the mixture in the mold at a temperature of about 20-40° C. The slip mixture comprises about 50-65 volume % of the ceramic powder.

Abstract: A system and methods controls access to an accessed system utilizing a two-factor requirement for admittance. One factor may be biometric data read and extracted from an individual wishing to gain access to the accessed system. The other factor may be an electronic key signal received at an input device of the access control system that is converted to an input signal. In some instances, the input signal is used to access correlating biometric data in a memory. Then, the extracted live biometric data and the stored biometric data are compared to generate a matching result signal. The matching results signal is transmitted to a Wiegand access control panel to control access to the accessed system. In other instances, the extracted live biometric data is compared to biometric data stored in a memory corresponding to a plurality of individual's biometric data that are allowed access to the accessed system.

Abstract: Devices and methods for applying heat to a platen of a biometric image capturing device are described that remove and prevent the formation of excess moisture on the platen. These devices and methods prevent undesirable interruptions of total internal reflection of a prism that result in biometric images having a halo effect. In embodiments of the invention, heater assemblies, such as electrically conductive transparent material or resistive heating elements, can be used to heat an area where a biometric object is placed to remove and prevent the formation of excess moisture on the platen. Cooling assemblies, such as electrically conductive transparent material or Peltier elements, can be used to decrease temperature of an area where a biometric object is placed to prevent overheating of the platen.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining a biometric image such as a ten-print fingerprint impression is provided. The system and method can include a live scanner having a platen and a finger guide coupled to the platen. The finger guide can be used to guide positioning of up to four fingers at a time onto the platen, and can include a physical barrier for separation of fingers or thumbs. The finger guide and physical barrier allow a determination of whether a left or right hand is placed on the platen. Fingerprint images can be separated into individual fingerprint images that can be placed onto corresponding areas of a fingerprint card.

Abstract: A web-enabled live scanner is provided. In one embodiment, a live scanner includes an image interface capable of being coupled to a network. A camera detects an image of a print. The image is stored in a memory. The image interface includes a web server, socket server, and a picture taker. A remote user can use a browser to control the web-enabled live scanner over a network.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing image resolution in a palm print scanner. The method of the invention requires the synchronization of a nutating mirror with a camera frame sync. A first image is scanned at a first nutation position. The mirror is nutated by a fraction of a pixel amount in one direction. Another image is scanned at a second nutation position. The process of nutating the mirror to a different nutation position and scanning an image is repeated until all sub-pixels needed to increase an image resolution are obtained. All of the sub-pixels obtained are then interlaced to obtain a higher resolution image.

Abstract: Biometric object image capturing systems and methods prevent undesirable interruptions of total internal reflection of a prism that result in improper biometric images. A thermal assembly comprising a plurality of thermal elements is placed adjacent to the image capturing device. The thermal elements upon supply of a current are capable of either heating or cooling the image capturing device or a platen of the image capturing device. If cooling of the biometric object receiving surface is required, the thermal elements can be controlled to decrease temperature of an area where a biometric object is placed, or an area adjacent to where the biometric object is placed. If heating of the biometric object receiving surface is required, the thermal elements can be controlled to increase temperature of an area where a biometric object is placed, or an area adjacent to where the biometric object is placed, to remove and prevent accumulation of moisture.

Abstract: Light wedges that reflect light internally and produce diffuse light for uniformly illuminating a platen in a print scanner are presented. In one example, a light wedge has a first surface that receives light emitted from an illumination source and a second surface that limits specular reflections. The light wedge transmits light from the illumination source toward the platen, whereby uniform illumination is provided to the platen. In another example, a light wedge has an illumination surface that receives light emitted from the illumination source, a first surface that limits specular reflections, and a second surface that acts as a diffuser. The second surface reflects light out of the light wedge toward the platen, whereby uniform illumination is provided to the platen.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for enabling transactions in architecture that provides the users (both merchants and consumers) with simplicity, convenience and security. The systems introduces the new concept of a personality, which is a data set about an individual that can be securely brought close to a transaction to assist in facilitating the transaction. An interface secures the access to the personality based on a biometric presented by a user in a transaction. In one embodiment, architecture is provided for supporting biometrically secure transactions over networks.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining biometric identification data for an individual using a sensor and a processor coupled to the sensor are presented. In an embodiment, the present invention involves placing a portion of a biological object such as a finger, thumb, palm or foot of the individual proximate to piezo ceramic elements of the sensor and generating an output signal with the sensor that is representative of at least one feature of the biological object. The output signal is processed using the processor to produce biological data useful for identifying the individual. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor includes at least fifty thousand piezo ceramic elements arranged in an array. These piezo ceramic elements are spaced on a pitch equal to or less than approximately two hundred microns. A multiplexer couples the output of the sensor to the processor.

Abstract: Light from an illumination source is injected into a prism of a print scanner through an illumination injection surface that is not directly imaged by an optical system and an image sensor of the print scanner. This light travels across the prism and hits a highly reflective surface of the prism. When this light hits the highly reflective surface, it is scattered and becomes diffused. Some of this diffused light remains in total internal reflection (TIR) within the prism and is reflected off the inside of the platen surface of the prism. The diffused light reflected off the inside of the platen surface is imaged by the optical system and the image sensor.

Abstract: System and methods for authenticating biometric data (e.g., fingerprint data, or the like) have an automatic location selection operation (i.e., a failsafe operation) or a manual location selection operation (i.e., a selectivity operation). These two operations ensure an authentication operation can always quickly and accurately take place. The automatic location selection operation is based on having main system including a local and remote authentication system. If a network link to the remote authentication system is broken, the main system detects that and switches authentication to a local authentication system. The manual location selection operation allows an operator to select, through an input device (e.g., buttons or a switch), whether to perform authentication operations locally or remotely. Even in this manual location selection mode, if remote authentication is selection, but a network link to the remote system is broken, the main system switches to local authentication.

Abstract: A multiplexer for a biometric apparatus having at least fifty thousand piezo ceramic sensor elements arranged in a two-dimensional array on a pitch spacing equal to or less than approximately two hundred microns. The multiplexer includes a plurality of first and second orthogonal conductors. Each of the first conductors is coupled to Y piezo ceramic sensor elements. Each of the second conductors is coupled to X piezo ceramic sensor elements. Switches couple the first conductors to either an output port of a signal generator, a high impedance node, or a low impedance node. Switches also couple the second conductors to either an input port of a processor, a high impedance node, or a low impedance node. Shift registers coupled to the switches are used to control the position of the switched.

Abstract: Devices and methods for applying heat to a platen of a biometric image capturing device are described that remove and prevent the formation of excess moisture on the platen. These devices and methods prevent undesirable interruptions of total internal reflection of a prism that result in biometric images having a halo effect. In embodiments of the invention, an electrically conductive transparent material is used to apply heat to the platen. In other embodiments, resistive heating elements attached to non-optical areas of the platen (e.g., the ends) are used to apply heat to the platen. Heater assemblies according to the invention can be used to heat an area where a biometric object is placed, or an area adjacent to where the biometric object is placed, to remove and prevent the formation of excess moisture on the platen.

Abstract: A dynamic image adaptation system and method for adjusting the quality of digital prints. The system includes an illumination source that illuminates an imaging surface of a live scanner optical system, the live scanner optical system scanning a biometric object placed on the imaging surface, a camera for capturing the print image of the biometric object placed on the imaging surface, a memory that stores data generated in the system, and a controller that adaptively controls at least one of the illumination source or the camera to obtain the print image with the predetermined quality. The controller adaptively controls the camera and the illumination source by adjusting one or more of contrast, gain, and integration time for the camera, and illumination for the illumination source.

Abstract: A rotating optical system includes an optical element and a measuring device for locating and/or scanning a full palm print and/or full palm and fingerprint for a hand positioned on a non-planar surface of an optical element. The hand is placed on the non-planar surface of the optical element. A measuring device can be rotated about a centerline axis of the optical element. During the rotation, a circular image of the full palm print (including thenar, hypothenar, interdigital, palm heel, “writers palm,” palm pocket, and fingertips) and/or full palm and finger prints, and/or hand characteristic information (e.g., hand geometry, spacing, etc.) can be captured by the measuring portion.

Abstract: A calibration and correction procedure for a fingerprint scanner. The calibration and correction procedure performs an automatic calibration procedure and gray level linearity procedure. The automatic calibration procedure includes a brightness function to correct for distortions in brightness, a focus check function to identify when the fingerprint scanner is out of focus, and a geometric distortion function to correct for imperfect linearity in the geometry of the fingerprint scanner. The gray level linearity procedure corrects for linear distortions in brightness and contrast of gray levels.