Abstract: Information management systems for clinical research, and related methods, are disclosed. The management system may have a database of biometric sample information. At least some of the pieces of sample information in the database may have been received from a test-subject in a first clinical research effort, and each piece of sample information may have a related pointer stored in the database. Each pointer may identify the location of clinical research information obtained during the first clinical research effort.

Abstract: A gas sensor assembly detects a constituent in a gaseous stream. The assembly comprises: (a) a mounting surface, (b) a sensor mounted on the mounting surface and sensor capable of generating a detectable signal in the presence of the constituent, and (c) an enclosing structure. The enclosing structure comprises: (i) a walled component having a pair of vertically spaced ends and mounted at one end on the mounting surface so as to circumscribe the sensor, and (ii) a gas-permeable membrane attached at the other end of the walled component, thereby defining an interior volume within said enclosing structure. Flowing the gaseous stream across the membrane infuses a portion of the gaseous stream into said interior volume containing the sensor.

Abstract: A system for sensing a gas stream constituent comprises: (a) a thermally conductive, electrically insulative substrate, (b) a gas-sensing element mounted on the substrate and capable of sensing the constituent, (c) a reference element mounted on the substrate having electrical properties congruent with the gas-sensing element and being insensitive to the constituent, (d) an electronic circuit interconnecting the gas-sensing element and the reference element. The circuit is capable of actuating both of the elements and measuring the voltage difference between the elements. The voltage difference is proportional to the concentration of the constituent in the gas stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods of authorizing an activity, such as a financial transaction, are disclosed. Authorizing the activity may be accomplished by comparing a biometric sample to a biometric specimen. The sample is stored in a database and includes biometric information corresponding to two physiologically distinct portions of an individual. When that individual later is a person desiring to authorize an activity, he provides a specimen that includes biometric information corresponding to two physiologically distinct portions of his person. A comparison between the sample and the specimen is performed, and if a match is determined then the activity is authorized. If the comparison is performed and a match is not determined, then the activity is not authorized.

Abstract: An acoustic (sound or ultrasound) wave transmitter having a plurality of waveguides is described, and a method of making such a transmitter is described. Each waveguide may have a cladded core. The cladded core is capable of transmitting acoustic wave energy from a first end surface to a second end surface of the cladded core. The waveguides may be substantially fixed relative to each other by a binder. The binder may be formed by fusing the claddings together, potting a material between the waveguides and/or mechanically holding the waveguides.

Abstract: An acoustic (sound or ultrasound) wave transmitter having a plurality of waveguides is described, and a method of making such a transmitter is described. Each waveguide may have a cladded core. The core may be a liquid such as water, alcohol or mineral oil. Alternatively, the core may be a colloidal gel, such as gelatin dissolved in at least one of water, vinyl plastisol or silicone gel. The cladded core is capable of transmitting acoustic wave energy from a first end surface to a second end surface of the cladded core. The waveguides may be substantially fixed relative to each other by a binder. The binder may be formed by fusing the claddings together, potting a material between the waveguides and/or mechanically holding the waveguides.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied as a fingerprint scanner having an ultrasonic wave detector, a platen, an ultrasonic wave generator located between the detector and the platen. The invention may be embodied as a method of scanning a finger. One such method includes providing a platen, a detector and a generator, the generator being placed between the platen and the detector. A finger may be provided on the platen, and an ultrasound wave pulse may be sent from the generator toward the finger. The wave pulse may be reflected from the finger, and received at the detector. The received wave pulse may be used to produce an image of the finger.

Abstract: Methods and systems according to the invention may compare a large-area biometric specimen and a small-area biometric sample. For example, a large-area plain surface fingerprint image may be stored in a fingerprint database as a specimen, and then a small-area plain surface fingerprint image may be acquired as a sample. The small-area image sample may be submitted to a fingerprint matching system for comparison with a large-area image specimen from the database. A determination may be made as to whether the small-area image matches a portion of the large-area image.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and a method of scanning fingerprints. A system may include an imaging surface, an ultrasound transducer, a probe arm joined to the transducer, a driver capable of moving the pivot location linearly and the transducer arcuately, a measurer capable of measuring a linear position of the pivot-location and an arcuate position of the transducer, and a coupler capable of coupling information corresponding to the linear position and the arcuate position with information from the transducer.

Abstract: A gas sensor for sensing a gas stream constituent includes, mounted a substrate, a first gas-sensing element capable of sensing the constituent in a first concentration range, a reference element insensitive to the constituent and having electrical properties congruent with the first gas-sensing element, a heating element substantially circumscribing the first gas-sensing element and the reference element, a temperature-sensing element circumscribing the first gas-sensing element and the reference element, and a second gas-sensing element capable of sensing the constituent in a second concentration range. The first gas-sensing element and the reference element are preferably metal-gated metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) solid-state devices. The gas sensor is particularly configured to sense hydrogen concentration in a gas stream.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied as a fingerprint scanner having a housing, a curved-surface imaging system and a planar imaging system. The curved-surface imaging system may be capable of collecting information that may be used to produce a curved-surface image of a finger. The planar imaging system may be capable of collecting information that may be used to produce a planar image of one or more fingers at a time.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of deciding whether a data set is acceptable for making a decision. A first probability partition array and a second probability partition array may be provided. One or both of the probability partition arrays may be a Copula model. A no-match zone may be established and used to calculate a false-acceptance-rate (“FAR”) and/or a false-rejection-rate (“FRR”) for the data set. The FAR and/or the FAR may be compared to desired rates. Based on the comparison, the data set may be either accepted or rejected. The invention may also be embodied as a computer readable memory device for executing the methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fingerprint scanning system and a method of scanning a fingerprint. A system according to the invention may have (a) an imaging surface capable of receiving a finger, (b) a rotatable disk, the disk having a pivot-location about which the disk rotates, (c) an ultrasound transducer joined to the disk and capable of providing information corresponding to a fingerprint of the finger, (d) a disk driver capable of rotating the disk in order to cause the transducer to move along a substantially circular path, (e) a linear driver capable of moving the pivot-location linearly, (f) a measurer capable of measuring linear positions of the pivot-location and arcuate positions of the transducer; and (g) a coupler capable of producing sets of coupled information, each set comprising one linear position of the pivot-location, one arcuate position of the transducer and information produced from the transducer at the pivot-location and arcuate position.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and a method of scanning fingerprints. A system may include an imaging surface, an ultrasound transducer, a probe arm joined to the transducer, a driver capable of moving the pivot location linearly and the transducer arcuately, a measurer capable of measuring linear and arcuate positions of the transducer, and a coupler capable of coupling information corresponding to linear and arcuate positions of the transducer with information from the transducer.

Abstract: The invention includes methods, systems and devices for authenticating transactions. A method may begin by enrolling at least two biometric specimens to a database. A false acceptance ratio (“FAR”) is determined for each of the specimens, and authorization options are identified. A cost value is calculated for at least one of the options to provide a calculated cost value (“CCV”). The CCV may be a function of the FAR(s) of the specimen(s) corresponding to the option. An acceptable cost value range (“ACV range”) may be identified, and compared to the CCV. If it is determined that the CCV is in the ACV range, then the option is selected. If the CCV is in the ACV range, then a set of biometric samples is provided (the “sample set”). The sample set is compared to the biometric specimens, and it is determined whether the biometric samples match the biometric specimens. If the biometric samples match the biometric specimens, then the transaction is authorized.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied as an identity authentication system or method. A system according to the invention may have a biometric sensor capable of providing static biometric indications, an adhesive capable of positioning the sensor on an organism, and a computer in communication with the sensor. The computer may have software running on the computer in order to (a) cause the computer to determine whether there is a match between a subsequent static biometric indication and an initial static biometric indication, and (b) cause the computer to send a signal indicating whether a match was determined in order to authenticate the identity of the organism.

Abstract: A hydrophone array includes hydrophones having an electret means and may have TFT FETs to generate current in response to received longitudinal wave signals. The arrangement may also be used to transmit longitudinal wave signals. Storage capacitors may be coupled to each TFT FET output to act as sample and hold means. Digital switches may allow the sample and hold circuit to both reset and measure the output of the hydrophone element. Data lines may be used to indicate the location of the received signal on the longitudinal wave detector sensor array.

Abstract: A method of creating a friction-ridge image is disclosed. An energy transducer is aimed at a body part having skin. The transducer is used to obtain information about the papillae beneath an outer surface of the skin. The information about the papillae is used to obtain information about valleys between the papillae, and a friction-ridge image having friction-ridge valleys that correspond with the valleys between the papillae is created.

Abstract: A method and a system of authorizing a transaction without using a man-made token is disclosed. In a method according to the invention, a biometric sample is registered, biometric information is provided, the biometric information is compared to the biometric sample, a determination is made as to whether the biometric information matches the biometric sample, and if a match is determined, then the transaction is authorized.

Abstract: A finger imaging system having a linear actuator, a pivot arm mounted to the linear actuator and an energy transducer mounted to the pivot arm is disclosed. The system may include an arcuate platen positioned to receive energy from the transducer. A finger may be placed on the platen, and the position of the transducer may be fixed at a first position relative to the length of the finger. The pivot arm may be moved in order to move the transducer along an arcuate path while maintaining the transducer at the first position relative to the length. As the transducer moves along the arcuate path, energy may be emitted from the transducer and reflected from the finger. The reflected energy may be detected and data corresponding to the amount of time between sending and receiving energy may be stored as data along with the linear and angular position of the transducer.