Abstract: A vision-based operating system is provided in which a computer-based system accepts visual inputs and takes appropriate actions in a wide variety of environments. One environment is a security environment in which the vision-based operating system acquires an image of a face and determines, with an arbitrarily small probability of a false positive, whether the face is of a person who is authorized to enter the environment. The method employed may include acquiring a digital image for comparison to a reference image and identifying two or more groups of pixels in the acquired image. The pixel groups in the reference image that are the best match for the two or more pixels groups in the acquired image are selected. The relative locations of the selected pixel groups in the reference image and the two or more pixel groups in the acquired image are compared, and the probability that the relative locations occurred randomly is determined.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing an optically based planar scanner for generating an image are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a switchable Bragg grating. An area of the switchable Bragg grating is configured to be activated to direct light to a platen. The platen is configured to reflect the light to a waveguide or to refract the light. The light reflected to the waveguide is guided to a light detector. By activating a number of the areas of the switchable Bragg grating and measuring the intensity of the light with a light detector, an image of an object contacting the platen may be formed.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing a micro-scanning system with low settle times for fingerprint image capture are provided. In one embodiment, a flexure apparatus includes a stiffening device and parallelogram structures. The flexure apparatus is configured to move an image sensor to different positions to capture images that can be used to form a composite image according to micro-scanning techniques. The stiffening device allows the resonant frequency of the flexure apparatus to be established at a higher level than the operation frequency of the flexure apparatus, minimizing the settle time required for the flexure apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system of transitivity matching suitable for object recognition, and in particular biometric recognition such as face or fingerprint recognition, is provided. The invention provides a means for pre-encoding object match information from each set of raw object sample data or scores from an underlying recognition algorithm. A sample space is constructed and the raw scores are mapped into that space. Preferably, a recognition space is also constructed and the sample space scores are further mapped into the recognition space. Each space may be truncated to remove dispensable modes of that space. The distance between object data samples encoded in the sample space or the recognition space can be more rapidly determined, and the encoded data samples are also significantly compressed, compared to the raw scores.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for providing rolled fingerprint capture and palm capture capability in a device having reduced size are provided. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods provide capture of rolled fingerprints, slap fingerprints and palm prints in one continuous workflow in a compact device. In certain embodiments, moisture discriminating optics and/or enhanced definition image formation previously achieved only in devices designed for capturing only fingerprints are provided. In certain embodiments, the systems employ a single scanning device to capture 500 ppi and/or 1000 ppi palm and fingerprint images.

Abstract: A vision-based operating system is provided in which a computer-based system accepts visual inputs and takes appropriate actions in a wide variety of environments. One environment is a security environment in which the vision-based operating system acquires an image of a face and determines, with an arbitrarily small probability of a false positive, whether the face is of a person who is authorized to enter the environment.

Abstract: A system for optically imaging an object includes an optical platen having an object receiving surface. The object receiving surface is illuminated by a multi-color light source, and a color imaging system forms an image of the object on the object receiving surface.

Abstract: A system for optically imaging an object includes an optical platen having an object receiving surface. The object receiving surface is illuminated by a multi-color light source, and a color imaging system forms an image of the object on the object receiving surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically imaging an object includes an optical platen having an object receiving surface. The object receiving surface is directly illuminated by a first light source, and is illuminated by total internal reflection by a second light source.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining the pose angle of an object in an input image. In a preferred embodiment, the present system comprises a pose estimator having a prototype projector, a regression estimator, and an angle calculator. The prototype projector is preferably adapted to reduce the input image dimensionality for faster further processing by projecting the input pixels of the image onto a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) neural network. The regression estimator is preferably implemented as a neural network and adapted to map the projections to a pattern unique to each pose. The angle calculator preferably includes a curve fitter and an error analyzer. The curve fitter is preferably adapted to estimate the pose angle from the mapping pattern. The error analyzer is preferably adapted to produce a confidence signal representing the likelihood of the input image being a face at the calculated pose.

Abstract: A compact-sized fingerprint imaging device includes an optical plate for creating a fingerprint pattern at a finger field on the optical plate. The fingerprint pattern is illuminated with light from an illuminating tool to create imaging light rays. A small thickness of the optical plate, and hence of the fingerprint imaging device, is possible due to a design that includes an array of microreflectors covering a part of the optical plate, the microreflectors being distributed along a base surface. The imaging light rays from the fingerprint pattern that are reflected by the array of microreflectors are received by an imaging lens that projects an image of the fingerprint pattern to an image sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically imaging an object includes an optical platen having an object receiving surface. The object receiving surface is directly illuminated by a first light source, and is illuminated by total internal reflection by a second light source.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for accessing a secure resource using a certificate bound with authentication information. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a certificate request from a user, the certificate request including identification information and authentication information associated with the user; verifying the identification information; issuing a certificate to the user when the identification information is verified; and sending the authentication information and a certificate identifier for the certificate to an authentication server. According to one aspect, the sending step includes signing a combination of the authentication information and the certificate identifier to form a unique user identifier; signing the authentication information; and sending the unique user identifier to the authentication server.

Abstract: An expansion card with an integrated fingerprint acquisition system is provided hat is able to be connected to a portable computer. In one aspect of the invention, CMCIA standards are used for the expansion card. The expansion card is built such the fingerprint acquisition system is on a slidable carriage which may extend out from the expansion card housing, or may be retracted into the housing when the fingerprint acquisition system is not in use. A locking mechanism keeps the carriage in the retracted position, and a spring provides the force necessary to slide the carriage into the extended position when pressure is placed on the slidable carriage. An advantage of the invention is that the fingerprint recognition device is small enough to fit within a PCMCIA standard expansion card.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for optically imaging features on the surface of a hand are described. An apparatus in accordance with one implementation includes a fixed light source for illuminating an imaging area, a movable convex contact surface, and a detector. The convex contact surface is exposed to contact a hand and to guide portions of the hand through the imaging area while maintaining contact with the hand. The detector is positioned to intercept light from the imaging area and is adapted to generate therefrom a signal representative of surface features of a hand contacting the contact surface in the imaging area.

Abstract: A fingerprint image capture system reduces tip smear by ceasing to update a data array characteristic of the rolled fingerprint image behind an advancing freeze column at least about half way from the trailing edge to the leading edge of a finger contact strip.

Abstract: A device for providing a plain image signal indicative of a plain image of surface characteristics of more than one finger on a hand includes an plain platen prism having a flat, rectangular shaped finger receiving surface having a platen aspect ratio greater than 1.33:1. An illumination source internally illuminates the finger receiving surface such that light internally illuminating a bare portion of the finger receiving surface is internally reflected from the finger receiving surface and light internally illuminating a contacted portion of the finger receiving surface in contact with the fingers is not internally reflected from the finger receiving surface. The internally reflected light forms a reflection image of the surface characteristics of the fingers. Optical elements direct the reflection image to a camera. The camera, which has a rectangular receiving surface with an aspect ratio of approximately 1.33:1, receives the reflection image and provides the plain image signal in response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verification of personnel identity by correlation of fingerprint images.

Abstract: A fingerprint imaging apparatus for use in an identity verification system or the like. The imaging apparatus includes a carriage rotatably mounted on a frame, with the carriage being driven by a stepper motor. A transparent optical element having an arcuate recess for receiving a finger to be imaged is secured to the frame. The rotatable carriage supports a light source and mirror which are positioned adjacent the optical element. The mirror is positioned with respect to the source and optical element to receive light issuing from the element which originated from the source. The light is reflected by the mirror through a lens arrangement to a second mirror and then to a linear photo-diode array which are also mounted on the carriage. When a finger is positioned in the recess of the optical element, the motor causes the carriage to rotate so that the finger is scanned by the light source. The linear diode-array is periodically read out during the scan with the output of the array containing imaging data.