Patents by Inventor Robert K. Rowe

Robert K. Rowe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7620212
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that extend the functionality of electro-optical sensors. A device has a multiple light sources, a light detector, and a processor configured to operate the light sources and the light detector to perform distinct functions. At least one of the distinct functions includes a biometric identification function in which light is propagated from the plurality of light sources through presented material. The propagated light is received with the light detector, with the presented material being identified from the received light. Another of the distinct functions includes a nonidentification function performed with the light sources and the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Allen, Stephen P. Corcoran, David M. Gabel, Damien M. Gonzales, Robert M. Harbour, Shonn P. Hendee, Kristin A. Nixon, Robert E. Ostrom, Robert K. Rowe, Timothy Rowe
  • Patent number: 7613504
    Abstract: According to the invention, a sampling system for spectroscopic measurements of a biological sample is disclosed. The sampling system includes a plurality of illumination points, a plurality of detection points, a memory, and a processor. Each of the plurality of illumination points is involved in at least two measurements of illumination through the biological sample. Each of the plurality of detection points is involved in at least two measurements of illumination through the biological sample. The memory stores a plurality of measurements. The processor determines a value from the plurality of measurements that is related to the biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20090245591
    Abstract: A number of biometric systems and methods are disclosed. A system according to one embodiment includes an illumination subsystem, an imaging subsystem, and an analyzer. The illumination subsystem is disposed to illuminate a target space. The imaging subsystem is configured to image the target space under distinct optical conditions. The analyzer is provided in communication with the illumination subsystem, the imaging subsystem, and the three-dimensional subsystem. The analyzer also has instructions to operate the subsystems to collect substantially simultaneously a plurality of images of the object disposed at the predetermined spatial location under multispectral conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rowe, Matthew Ennis, Stephen P. Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20090148005
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a biometric measurement on an individual. A purported skin site of the individual is illuminated under a plurality of distinct optical conditions during a single illumination session. Light scattered beneath a surface of the purported skin site is received separately for each of the plurality of distinct optical conditions. A multispectral image of the purported skin site is derived from the received light. A biometric function is performed with the derived multispectral image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Patent number: 7545963
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a biometric function. A purported skin site of an individual is illuminated with illumination light. The purported skin site is in contact with a surface. Light scattered from the purported skin site is received in a plane that includes the surface. An image is formed from the received light. An image-texture measure is generated from the image. The generated image-texture measure is analyzed to perform the biometric function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Patent number: 7539330
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a liveness state of purported tissue. The purported tissue is illuminated under a plurality of distinct optical conditions during a single illumination session. Light scattered from the purported tissue is received separately for each of the plurality of distinct optical conditions. A multispectral image of the purported tissue is derived from the received light. It is verified that the derived multispectral image is consistent with living tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20090092290
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a biometric measurement on an individual. A purported skin site of the individual is illuminated under a plurality of distinct optical conditions during a single illumination session. Light scattered beneath a surface of the purported skin site is received separately for each of the plurality of distinct optical conditions. A multispectral image of the purported skin site is derived from the received light. A biometric function is performed with the derived multispectral image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: ROBERT K. ROWE
  • Publication number: 20090080709
    Abstract: A number of biometric systems and methods are disclosed. A system according to one embodiment includes an illumination subsystem, an imaging subsystem, and an analyzer. The illumination subsystem is disposed to illuminate a target space. The imaging subsystem is configured to image the target space under distinct optical conditions. The analyzer is provided in communication with the illumination subsystem, the imaging subsystem, and the three-dimensional subsystem. The analyzer also has instructions to operate the subsystems to collect substantially simultaneously a plurality of images of the object disposed at the predetermined spatial location under multispectral conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rowe, Matthew Ennis, Stephen P. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7508965
    Abstract: Combined multispectral and total-internal-reflectance biometric imaging systems are disclosed. A platen has multiple facets, at least one of which has a surface adapted for placement of a purported skin site by an individual and another facet may include an optical absorber. An illumination source and an optical arrangement are disposed to illuminate the purported skin site with light from the illumination source along distinct illumination paths, including paths at angles less than the critical angle and paths at angles greater than the critical angle. Both multispectral and total-internal-reflectance illumination are received by an imaging system. The imaging system may include first and second imaging locations adapted to record images from separate illumination paths. The platen may also include non parallel exits facets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rowe, Ryan Martin
  • Publication number: 20090046903
    Abstract: A biometric feature detection system is provided according to one embodiment. The system may include a target, an illumination source, a color filter array, a light detector, and a computational unit. The illumination source illuminates a portion of the target with monochromatic light at a large angle of incidence measured from the normal of the target surface. The light detector may be configured to receive light from the target through the color-filter array and provide an image of the target surface. Each pixel of the light detector may correspond to one of a plurality of color filter mosaics such that each pixel detects light associated with a corresponding color filter. The computational unit may be interfaced with at least the light detector. The computational unit may include instructions to monitor the levels of monochromatic light and make proximity, presence and segmentation determinations based on the detected levels of monochromatic light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Corcoran, Robert K. Rowe, Ryan Martin
  • Publication number: 20080304712
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rowe, Stephen P. Corcoran, Shonn P. Hendee
  • Publication number: 20080298649
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing a biometric measurement on an individual are disclosed. A containment film is disposed between a skin site of the individual and a platen. Light is directed through the containment film to the skin site to illuminate the skin site under multiple distinct optical conditions. Light scattered from the skin site is received for the multiple optical conditions. A multispectral image of the skin site is derived from the received light. A biometric function is performed with the derived multispectral image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Ennis, Robert K. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20080297788
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rowe, Stephen P. Corcoran, Shonn P. Hendee
  • Patent number: 7460696
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a biometric measurement on an individual. A purported skin site of the individual is illuminated under a plurality of distinct optical conditions during a single illumination session. Light scattered beneath a surface of the purported skin site is received separately for each of the plurality of distinct optical conditions. A multispectral image of the purported skin site is derived from the received light. A biometric function is performed with the derived multispectral image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Patent number: 7440597
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for biometric sensing. An illumination subsystem provides light at discrete wavelengths to a skin site of an individual. A detection subsystem receives light scattered from the skin site. A computational unit is interfaced with the detection system. The computational unit has instructions for deriving a spatially distributed multispectral image from the received light at the discrete wavelengths. The computational unit also has instructions for comparing the derived multispectral image with a database of multispectral images to identify the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20080232653
    Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and software are described for biometric sensors that permit a reduction in the size of the sensing area without significant reduction in biometric functionality of the sensor. A skin site of an individual is illuminated, and light scattered from the skin site is received. An image of a locally consistent feature of the skin site is formed from the received light. The locally consistent feature is analyzed to perform a biometric function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20080192988
    Abstract: A skin site of an individual is illuminated and light scattered from the skin site under multispectral conditions is received. The light includes light scattered from tissue beneath a surface of the skin site. Multiple biometric modalities are derived from the received light. The biometric modalities are fused into a combined biometric modality that is analyzed to perform a biometric function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Umut Uludag, Robert K. Rowe, Kristin A. Nixon, Matthew S. Ennis
  • Patent number: 7394919
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a biometric measurement on an individual. A purported skin site of the individual disposed relative to a platen is illuminated under distinct optical conditions during a single illumination session. At least one of the optical conditions includes illuminating the purported skin site with light at an angle greater than a critical angle defined by an interface of the platen with an external environment. At least another of the distinct optical conditions includes illuminating the purported skin site with light at an angle less than the critical angle. Light scattered from the purported skin site is received separately for each of multiple optical conditions to derive a multispectral image of the purported skin site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rowe, Stephen P. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7386152
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for biometric sensing. An illumination subsystem provides light at discrete wavelengths to a skin site of an individual. A detection subsystem receives light scattered from the skin site. A computational unit is interfaced with the detection system. The computational unit has instructions for deriving a spatially distributed multispectral image from the received light at the discrete wavelengths. The computational unit also has instructions for comparing the derived multispectral image with a database of multispectral images to identify the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rowe, Robert M. Harbour
  • Patent number: 7347365
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for combining total-internal-reflectance and tissue imaging to perform biometric functions. The system may include an illumination source, a platen, a light detector, an optical train, and a computational unit. The platen is disposed to make contact with a skin site of an individual. The optical train is disposed to provide optical paths between the illumination source and the platen, and between the platen and the light detector. The combination of the illumination source and optical train provides illumination to the platen under multispectral conditions. The computational unit is interfaced with the light detector and has instructions to generate a total-internal-reflectance image of the skin site from a first portion of light received from the skin site, and to generate a tissue image of the skin site from a second portion of light received from the skin site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Lumidigm, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Rowe