Abstract: Quality of biometric prints is enhanced by any one of several different methods. In one embodiment, if a biometric print does not have a high enough quality, the biometric print is discarded. In another embodiment, a matching score is associated with the degree to which the two biometric prints match. In another embodiment, a ranking is associated with a biometric print, and the ranking is determined based upon two or more matching scores associated with the biometric print. In another embodiment, a variety of distinguishing features are derived from a given biometric print and are stored for authenticating a biometric print of a user requesting access to a secure entity. In an embodiment, a transformation is applied to at least a portion of a newly acquired biometric print to improve the match of the newly acquired biometric print to a stored biometric print.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a lock mechanism has a lock shaft, a motor, and a lock cylinder, wherein the motor rotates a cog that moves the lock cylinder into and out of the lock shaft. The lock cylinder is oriented concentric to an axis about which the lock cylinder rotates. Rotating the cog causes the lock cylinder to rotate about the axis, which in turn causes the lock cylinder to more into and out of the lock shaft in a direction along the axis. In an embodiment, the cog has no translational motion in a direction parallel to the axis. The lock cylinder may have grooves, and the cog may engage the grooves. Rotating the cog may causes the lock cylinder to rotate with the cog, and the cog to slide within the grooves as the lock cylinder moves along the axis.

Abstract: Quality of biometric prints is enhanced by any one of several different methods. In one embodiment, if a biometric print does not have a high enough quality, the biometric print is discarded. In another embodiment, a matching score is associated with the degree to which the two biometric prints match. In another embodiment, a ranking is associated with a biometric print, and the ranking is determined based upon two or more matching scores associated with the biometric print. In another embodiment, a variety of distinguishing features are derived from a given biometric print and are stored for authenticating a biometric print of a user requesting access to a secure entity. In an embodiment, a transformation is applied to at least a portion of a newly acquired biometric print to improve the match of the newly acquired biometric print to a stored biometric print.