Abstract: A method for determining a degree of match between a search fingerprint and a reference fingerprint comprises the following steps: a) Extracting at least one first search feature from a first region of said search fingerprint thereby forming a local search feature vector, b) Extracting at least one second search feature from a second region of said search fingerprint thereby forming a global search feature vector, whereby said second region comprises said first region, c) Determining a first similarity degree by comparing said local search feature vector with a local reference feature vector, d) Determining a second similarity degree by comparing said global search feature vector with a global reference feature vector of said reference fingerprint and using said first similarity degree, e) Determining said degree of match from said second similarity degree.

Abstract: A mobile electronic apparatus in which biometrics information, free from being stolen or faked by a unauthorized person, is used for user verification, virtually perfectly protecting an authorized user's personal data stored in a storing section of the apparatus. A verifying section compares a user's biometrics feature information with the authorized user's reference biometrics feature information to discriminate whether the fingerprint feature information for verification matches the reference fingerprint feature information. If it matches, a display control section reads out the personal data stored in the storing section and controls a display section to display the read-out personal data.

Abstract: A fingerprint recognition method includes iterative gamma correction that compensates moisture effect, feature extraction operations, directional morphological filtering that effectively links broken ridges and breaks smeared ridges, adaptive image alignment by local minutia matching, global matching by relaxed rigid transform, and statistical matching with Gaussian weighting functions.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable-storage medium for generating an identification code from a fingerprint image exhibiting a plurality of features. The method includes establishing a reference point from the plurality of features, generating at least one metric from the reference point and at least one of the plurality of features and forming the identification code from the at least one metric. Changes in the temperature and humidity of a finger when the image is taken at different times will result in minor variations of the measured features which, upon quantization, result a metric that is invariant from one fingerprint image to the next, for the same finger. This lowers the false rejection rate to an acceptable level. Meanwhile, the metric is sufficiently unique for a given set of features such that the probability of assigning the same metric to two different fingers is lowered to an acceptable level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for comparing an infrared image of a person to a database of visual images of persons and calculating the probability that each is a match to the infrared image is characterized by extracting minutiae from the infrared image and extracting visible minutiae from the visible images. Coincident minutiae which occur in both spectra are used to scale and register the infrared and the visible images. Other minutiae are spectrum-dependent, but must obey rules relative to minutiae of the other spectrum, due to the anatomical structure of the human face and body. The primary application is for identification of persons seen in infrared surveillance imagery, using a reference database of visual images. Other applications include compression of talking head video and animation of synthetic faces. The method and apparatus can also be applied to areas of the body other than the face, to compare images from different spectra including images from medical sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for counting ridges in a captured print image frame is described. A pixel path through the captured print image frame is traversed. A hysteresis band for the pixel path is determined. A number of crossings of the determined hysteresis band is counted while traversing the pixel path. A number of print ridges based on the counted number of hysteresis band crossings is determined.

Abstract: A minute amplitude value emphasis device 2 has Fourier transformation devices 211, 212 which treat a two-dimensional original pictorial image 200 with a Fourier transformation to determine Fourier coefficients in x-axis and y-axis directions. Weight devices 221, 222 emphasize the respective Fourier coefficients in the corresponding directions so as to produce weighted Fourier coefficients. Inverse Fourier transformation devices 231, 232 treat the weighted Fourier coefficients with an inverse Fourier transformation in two directions to determine the corresponding minute amplitude value emphasis data 241, 242. A synthesizing device 250 synthesizes the corresponding minute amplitude value emphasis data 241, 242 to produce a minute amplitude value emphasis image 260. An obscure portion of the two-dimensional original pictorial image 200 is rectified to reproduce a clarified pictorial image.

Abstract: A system and a method for minutiae record matching is claimed that includes the processing a first plurality of minutiae match values having a first ordered series with at least a second plurality of weighting values corresponding to a function of the number of minutiae matched for each minutiae match record to define a third plurality of weighted match values. The obtained weighted match value are sorted to provide a fourth plurality of weighted match values having a second ordered series. The inventive minutiae matching system is also described.

Abstract: A system to generate a template of a fingerprint input image is described. The system provides for smoothing the input image, forming a binary image from it, and further processing the binary image to extract the minutia of the fingerprint. The minutiae are stored in the template, in the form of locations of each minutia in relation to all other minutiae. The system includes optional identification and verification steps, which compare the template generated according to the system with templates stored in a fingerprint database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fingerprint recognition method, a fingerprint control method and a fingerprint control system. The fingerprint recognition method includes following steps: calculating a direction field and a quality field of the obtained fingerprint image, and judging whether the fingerprint quality is qualified or not; filtering and bianarizing the image of the qualified fingerprints, and extracting the characteristic data of the fingerprints on the binarized fingerprint image; comparing the extracted characteristic data of the fingerprints with the fingerprints in the fingerprint characteristic data memory, and obtaining the recognition result according to the comparison, wherein, the direction field of the fingerprint image is locally corrected by use of the local preponderance method. The fingerprint control system according to the present invention can be used conveniently, has a low rejection ratio or low mis-recognition ratio, and is of important application value.

Abstract: A streaked pattern image matching method that matches a first streaked pattern image and a second streaked pattern image includes steps of: extracting data of skeleton pixels that indicate skeletons, which are lines obtained by thinning the streaks of each streaked pattern image; establishing correspondences between skeleton pixels by specifying pixels from among skeleton pixels of the second streaked pattern image that correspond to skeleton pixels of the first streaked pattern image; and, based on skeleton pixels of the first streaked pattern image for which the process of establishing correspondence has been carried out, rating the degree of matching between the first streaked pattern image and the second streaked pattern image and calculating a score that represents the degree of matching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for Contactless Hand Recognition (CHR) for positive identification of cooperative individuals seeking access to physical, logical, or informational systems. Contactless Hand Recognition (CHR) is based on a novel technique and apparatus that rapidly and contactlessly captures a livescan hand geometry video image with a visible wavelength, infrared, or thermal camera of a person desiring access, then reduces the image to a template, compares the livescan template to a reference template, and determines if there is a match. Contactless Hand Recognition (CHR) is a significant advancement over current state-of-the-art hand recognition systems because authentication is done contactlessly while on the move, and at a distance, while simultaneously verifying liveness. It can also be combined with a personal knowledge process to include the use of a Personnel Identification Number (PIN), a secret contactless sign (SCS), or unique hand/finger position biometrics known only to the user.

Abstract: A method for matching templates and a system thereof. Each template includes a plurality of data chunks, each data chunk representing a minutia and comprising a location, a minutia angle and a neighborhood. The location is represented by two coordinates. In one embodiment, each coordinate and the minutia angle are quantized. The neighborhood includes positional parameters with respect to a selected minutia for a predetermined number of neighbor minutiae. In one embodiment, a neighborhood boundary is drawn around the selected minutia and neighbor minutiae are selected from the enclosed area. A reference template is compared to a measured template on a chunk-by-chunk basis. A chunk from each of the template is loaded into a random access memory (RAM). The location, minutia angle and neighborhood of the reference data chunk are compared with the location, minutia angle and neighborhood of the measured data chunk, respectively. In one embodiment, the comparison uses straight subtractions.

Abstract: A method for matching biometric data on an authentication server is disclosed. An authentication server is provided having biometric template data stored thereon. A plurality of workstation processors in communication with the authentication server is also provided. A sensed biometric image is provided to a processor out of the plurality of workstation processors from an individual. From the authentication server to the processor, co-ordinate data relating to a plurality of non-contiguous features of the template data are provided. Characteristic data is extracted from the biometric image, the characteristic data for correlation with the provided coordinate data allowing for a subsequent alignment of the biometric image within a known frame of reference relative to the template data on the basis of the provided data and the other data.

Abstract: A method for matching biometric data on a smart card is disclosed. A smart card is provided having biometric template data stored thereon. A host processor in communication with the smart card is also provided. A sensed biometric image is provided to the host processor from an individual. From the smart card to the host processor, co-ordinate data relating to a plurality of non-contiguous features of the template data are provided. Other data is extracted from the biometric image, the other data for correlation with the provided co-ordinate data allowing for a subsequent alignment of the biometric image within a known frame of reference relative to the template data on the basis of the provided data and the other data. Once aligned, biometric data is extracted from the biometric image, the biometric data within the known frame of reference and then the extracted biometric data is transmitted to the smartcard.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a fingerprint sensor which is small; demonstrates high sensitivity, low power consumption, high data acquisition rate and is insensitive to vibration and pressure. The sensor produces a high contrast fingerprint representation and is not subject to repeated deformation which could potentially reduces its lifetime. The fingerprint sensor has a microthermistor array for converting temperature variation into an electrical signal, the array being composed of a plurality of microthermistors, each of the thermistors being adapted to output an electrical signal proportional to a temperature variation; a read-out integrated circuit operatively connected to the microthermistor array for receiving the electrical signal and converting it into an electronic output signal representative of the ridge and valley structure of a finger; and a substrate for supporting the read-out integrated circuit and the microthermistor array. The invention is based on microthermistor array.

Abstract: An electronic device apparatus includes: a generating unit for acquiring an authentication image containing an image of a fingerprint of an owner of the electronic device apparatus and/or an image of a possession of the owner, and for generating first authentication image data based on the given acquired authentication image; a write unit for writing the first authentication image data, to a recording medium which the owner has purchased; a read unit for reading given authentication image data from a recording medium to which the given authentication image data and given content data are written; a determination unit for comparing the given authentication image data with the first authentication image data, and for determining whether or not they match with each other; and a processing unit for processing the given content data based on a determination result by the determination unit.

Abstract: Sensor elements are arranged in a hexagonal grid. A processor element in the form of a primitive automaton is assigned to each of the sensor elements in the grid. The processor elements are set up to perform algorithms which enable lines of a fingerprint to be simplified such that characteristic minutiae of the fingerprint (endings and branchings of the lines) can be extracted. The processor elements are embodied using CMOS/Neuron MOS threshold value logic or using CMOS/NMOS pass transistor logic. The image grid can be read out via read-out circuits as a matrix.

Abstract: A method of identifying an individual from examination of their natural physical characteristics is shown. The method comprises obtaining from an individual during a registration process, a fingerprint image having at least one registration pore and at least one registration macrofeature; wherein registration pore data is derived from the registration pores, and registration macrofeature data is derived from the registration macrofeatures. In a bid step, a fingerprint image having at least one bid pore and at least one bid macrofeature is obtained; wherein bid pore data is derived from the bid pores and bid macrofeature data is derived from the bid macrofeatures. Bid associated data is constructed from associating the bid pore data with the bid macrofeature data, and constructing registration associated data derived from associating the registration pore data with the registration macrofeature data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fingerprint image judgment apparatus capable of judging whether or not fingerprint image data has been correctly read when a CPU having a small utilizable memory space is used.

Abstract: A fingerprint input apparatus includes a light source 2 for emitting light and a fiber optic plate 3 having a finger contact surface with which a finger 1 is brought into contact in order to pick up a fingerprint image of the finger 1. The light from the light source 2 is at first introduced into an inside of the finger 1, is scattered within the inside of the finger 1, and comes out of the finger through the surface of the finger 1 as outgoing light. By the use of the outgoing light, the fingerprint image is formed. The light source 2 is disposed so that the light from the light source 2 enters into a substantial center of a part of the finger 1 including a first joint on a palm side and that the light source 2 is contacted with the finger 1.

Abstract: A multipoint inspection system for evaluating manufactured assemblies includes a robotic arm and a robot controller for controlling the robotic arm. A camera is mounted to an end of the robotic arm and includes a camera controller for capturing images. The robot controller is in communication with the camera controller and the robot controller causes the robotic arm to position the camera at a first inspection point. The camera controller then causes the camera to capture a first inspection point image of a manufactured assembly at the first inspection point. The robotic controller then causes the robotic arm to position the camera at a next inspection point where the camera controller then causes the camera to capture a next inspection point image of the manufactured assembly at the next inspection point.

Abstract: In a fingerprint image, this fingerprint matching method extracts as skeleton stability the area of a zone which is drawn around a pre-determined attention point and which does not contain any minutiae that are bifurcations or endpoints in ridges forming a fingerprint pattern, and calculates similarity by collating said skeleton stability thus extracted with skeleton stability already registered.

Abstract: A method of encoding images such as fingerprint type images (FIG. 2) is disclosed. A phase map structure for the image is formed (FIG. 3) and any singularities (+1, 2, 0.5) in the phase map structure are removed to create a continuous phase map structure (FIG. 5). The structure of the singularities and the continuous phase map structure are then separately encoded to form an encoded representation (88) of the image (50). Preferably, the singularity encoding includes encoding a position of each singularity in addition to its order and orientation. The phase map structure can be of the form: ƒ(x,y)=a(x,y)+b(x,y)cos(&phgr;(x,y))+c(x,y)+n(x,y) The significance map can further include a separate encoding of phase map magnitude components.

Abstract: The disclosed invention herein is a method for extracting fingerprint feature data using a ridge orientation model. The fingerprint feature data extracting method includes the steps of inputting a fingerprint image, extracting ridge orientations according to regions, calculating ridge qualities according to regions and separating background region from the fingerprint image, extracting regions having a core and a delta, setting an initial ridge orientation model, calculating a ridge orientation function, and extracting the ridge orientations and the core and delta positions of the fingerprint image.

Abstract: A method for combining two templates. A first template having a first minutia set and a second template having a second minutia set are provided. The first template is compared with the second template to obtain a matching minutia set. Registration parameters are calculated from the matching minutia set. The registration parameters can be referenced to either the first minutia set or the second minutia set. All minutiae in the first or the second minutia set are translated to be on the same coordinate system as the other minutia set. The minutia sets are then combined to construct a combined minutia set. In one embodiment, an overlap region is drawn for the first template and the second template, the overlap region containing at least minutiae from the matching minutia set.

Abstract: A fingerprint input device capable of obtaining a fingerprint image presenting sufficient contrast is provided. The fingerprint input device includes: a two-dimensional image sensor for picking up a fingerprint image from a fingerprint measured portion of a measurement target finger; and a transparent solid film mounted on an image pickup surface of the two-dimensional image sensor, the fingerprint measured portion being mounted on the transparent solid film when the two-dimensional image sensor picks up the fingerprint image, wherein the fingerprint input device picks up an image of a fingerprint ridgeline portion in the fingerprint measured portion as a light portion, and picks up an image of a fingerprint valley portion in the fingerprint measured portion as a dark portion through an air layer, and a refractive index of the transparent solid film satisfies that contrast of the image is more than a given value.

Abstract: Embodiments of a technique for reducing false minutiae are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and/or apparatus to provide a binary image are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a system for comparing a set of minutiae of a current image with a set of minutiae of a reference image, according to which the minutiae are sorted by their Cartesian coordinates in the image plane from a predetermined point of origin, a common path of similar minutiae is searched in the reference set and in the current set, and it is considered that there is an identity between the two images if the common path is comprised of a number of segments greater than a first threshold.

Abstract: A method of analyzing and recognizing fingerprint images that utilizes vector processing of a vector field that is defined as the tangential vector of the fingerprint ridge curves is disclosed. The raw fingerprint image is divided into blocks, filtered to remove noise, and the orientation direction of each block is found. This allows the ridge curves to be enhanced and approximated by piece-wise linear approximations. The piece-wise linear approximations to the ridge curves allow the minutiae to be extracted and classified and a fingerprint minutiae template to be constructed. An enrollment process gathers multiple fingerprint images, creates fingerprint minutiae templates corresponding to the acquired fingerprint images, and stores the templates and other data associated with the respective individual or the enrolled fingerprint in a fingerprint database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for comparing an infrared image of a person to a database of visual images of persons and calculating the probability that each is a match to the infrared image is characterized by extracting minutiae from the infrared image and extracting visible minutiae from the visible images. Coincident minutiae which occur in both spectra are used to scale and register the infrared and the visible images. Other minutiae are spectrum-dependent, but must obey rules relative to minutiae of the other spectrum, due to the anatomical structure of the human face and body. The primary application is for identification of persons seen in infrared surveillance imagery, using a reference database of visual images. Other applications include compression of talking head video and animation of synthetic faces. The method and apparatus can also be applied to areas of the body other than the face, to compare images from different spectra including images from medical sensors.

Abstract: The present invention determines whether fingerprint ridgeline information is contained within the fingerprint image using a simple method by considering the properties of the fingerprint ridgeline. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, a density is obtained of a reference point provided within the fingerprint image and a density is obtained of a comparison point that is shifted from the reference point by a predetermined distance. The amount of fingerprint ridgeline information contained within the fingerprint image is evaluated based upon a difference between the density of the reference point and the density of the comparison point. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, the characteristic of the fingerprint ridgeline, in which a fingerprint furrow line exists proximally to the fingerprint ridgeline, is utilized. Therefore, erroneous determinations can be prevented in which an image, which is not in fact a fingerprint image, is determined to be a fingerprint image.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for deriving a single dimensional representation for a set of points e.g.,minutiae, in image of a two dimensional pattern of lines, e.g. a fingerprint, by creating a one dimensional (string) representation of one or more points (e.g., minutiae) and the respective attributes of each point therein. A landmark point is selected from the two dimensional image, preferably from the set of the points to be represented in single dimension. The relationships of each of the points with reference to the landmark determines a linear order for the points and the attributes associated with each point.

Abstract: A prescreen filtering method and algorithm based upon Attributed Relational Graph (ARG) techniques are employed in a node-by-node matching to individually determine a best alignment of the sets of minutia of a pair of search and file fingerprints. First, the directional components of each and every different pair of minutia from the two sets are compared to ensure that they are within a given angular tolerance, which is selected to allow for a reasonable variation in possible rotational misalignments. After this directional alignment tolerance criteria has been passed, a Distance Matrix (DM) score is generated for each passed [u,v] minutia pair by performing a virtual alignment of the [u,v] minutia pair in location and direction, and then by comparing the distances and relative orientations between each of four pairs of minutia neighbors in each of the four local quadrants, which represents how well each different [u,v] minutia pair match each other.

Abstract: A method of identifying fingerprints, the method including the steps of acquiring a test image formed by a number of test points characterized by different grey levels defining a test surface; determining significant points in the test image; and verifying the similarity between regions surrounding the significant points and corresponding regions of a reference image whose points present different grey levels defining a reference surface. The similarity between the regions is verified by computing the integral norm of portions of the test and reference surfaces; and the integral norm is computed using flash cells programmed with a threshold value correlated to the value of the grey levels in the reference region, by biasing the flash cells with a voltage value correlated to the grey level in the test region, and measuring the charge flowing through the flash cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for enabling the remote authentication of fingerprints over an insecure network using a client-server architecture by generation of a set of random queries relating to fingerprint patterns based on stored fingerprint data at the server, to which the client responds based on the observed fingerprint patterns, followed by the issuing of a randomly generates set of challenges pertaining to geometrical relationships between the fingerprint patterns for which confirm responses are received by their server, the final authentication being determined by the proportion of correct responses by the client to said challenges.

Abstract: A method of identifying an individual from examination of their natural physical characteristics is shown. The method comprises obtaining from an individual during a registration process, a fingerprint image having at least one registration pore and at least one registration macrofeature; wherein registration pore data is derived from the registration pores, and registration macrofeature data is derived from the registration macrofeatures. In a bid step, a fingerprint image having at least one bid pore and at least one bid macrofeature is obtained; wherein bid pore data is derived from the bid pores and bid macrofeature data is derived from the bid macrofeatures. Bid associated data is constructed from associating the bid pore data with the bid macrofeature data, and constructing registration associated data derived from associating the registration pore data with the registration macrofeature data.

Abstract: A system and method reduces the amount of variation in a fingerprint image due to distortion from elastic deformation of the finger surface and projection onto a planar coordinate system. The amount and extent of distortion is estimated, and the process is inverted in a systematic way, so that the amount of distortion is minimized, and the distortion present is consistent, so that different images of the same print will have very similar distortion and thus matching of the fingerprints will be reliable and unaffected by the distortion.

Abstract: A system and method reduces the amount of variation in a fingerprint image due to distortion from elastic deformation of the finger surface and projection onto a planar coordinate system. The amount and extent of distortion is estimated, and the process is inverted in a systematic way, so that the amount of distortion is minimized, and the distortion present is consistent, so that different images of the same print will have very similar distortion and thus matching of the fingerprints will be reliable and unaffected by the distortion.

Abstract: A fingerprint image processing device and fingerprint image processing method used for instance in fingerprint check devices which reliably processes the fingerprint image by detecting the ripple DM of the brightness level of the fingerprint image and starts the processing of a fingerprint image based on the ripple DM.

Abstract: A small capacitance change detection device includes a capacitance detection element, signal generation circuit, signal amplification circuit, and output circuit. The signal amplification circuit includes a first transistor and first to third voltage sources. The second or third voltage source is connected to the other output terminal of the first transistor via a first switch. A voltage to be applied from the second voltage source to the other output terminal is set to have a value equal to or larger than a value obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of the first transistor from a voltage of the first voltage source while a voltage to be applied from the third voltage source to the other output terminal is set to have a value equal to or smaller than a value obtained by subtracting the threshold voltage from the voltage of the first voltage source.

Abstract: A method for ensuring security of a system accessed utilizing a keypad wherein access is provided to said system via a security code entered on the keypad. A security code is entered on the keypad utilizing a first character configuration of the keypad. Following this, the location of one or more access characters on the keypad is repositioned to present a second character configuration of the keypad. The repositioning of the character configuration is completed electronically in a generally random manner. The change in configuration may take place immediately after each user interface, or after a predetermined number of user interfaces.

Abstract: A method of identifying an individual from examination of their natural physical characteristics is shown. The method comprises obtaining from an individual during a registration process, a fingerprint image having at least one registration pore and at least one registration macrofeature; wherein registration pore data is derived from the registration pores, and registration macrofeature data is derived from the registration macrofeatures. In a bid step, a fingerprint image having at least one bid pore and at least one bid macrofeature is obtained; wherein bid pore data is derived from the bid pores and bid macrofeature data is derived from the bid macrofeatures. Bid associated data is constructed from associating the bid pore data with the bid macrofeature data, and constructing registration associated data derived from associating the registration pore data with the registration macrofeature data.

Abstract: A system and means, which stores, regenerates, or matches shape of curves, by using a specified group of data in length to express a shape of curve. They use a sequence of several measure points on the curve, which are determined so as to make the same distances between those adjacent measure points. They are the data of lengths of arcs between starting measure point and ending measure points among every 3 consecutive measure points on the curve.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for determining a reference orientation (pattern orientation) to a fingerprint-like pattern, formed with a number of curves, accurately in a short time. The apparatus includes a pattern-center determination section for determining a reference center to the pattern, a reference-circle generation section for generating a reference circle centered at the pattern center, a reference-circle-intersecting-point calculation section for calculating intersecting points of the reference circle and the curves of the pattern, a reference-point determination section for determining a reference point for the pattern orientation based on a relationship between directions of the reference circle and directions of the pattern curves at the intersecting points, and a pattern-orientation determination section for determining the pattern orientation based on the pattern center and the reference point.

Abstract: A security access method and/or apparatus is disclosed in the present invention. The present invention discloses a security method that verifies both the user's fingerprints and the fingerprint entering sequence to determine whether an access can be authorized. By using both the fingerprints and the entering sequence as the access criteria, a highly secured device can be created using low cost commercial available components.

Abstract: Fingerprinting and fingerprint detection, techniques are described which, unlike typical fingerprint systems used to conceal video signals, are compatible with all conceivable forms of signal compression systems while still allowing viewing of the video signal. The fingerprint technique is based on the principle of applying very slight local spatial distortion to the pixels in a video image, and the like, by means of selected warp patterns. Thus the technique provides means for conveying, within the video signal, selected information in the form of the fingerprint which is detectable electronically but which is not noticeable to a critical viewer who is watching the video signal. That is, the resultant fingerprinted video signal will appear to be identical to the undistorted video signal.

Abstract: A biometric authentification system and method including a biometric input device structured to detect biometric data of a fingerprint placed on a scanning surface of the biometric input device, a biometric data storage assembly structured to store fingerprint reference data corresponding to an authenticated user, and a biometric comparison assembly structured to identify two minutia points and a connecting pattern therebetween in the fingerprint data, utilizing the minutia points, the connecting pattern and/or pseudo minutia points defined from the connecting pattern as comparison characteristics of the fingerprint which it compares to corresponding characteristics of the stored fingerprint reference data.

Abstract: A device for sensing and digitizing a fingerprint from a subject finger comprising a prism, a pixilated LED array affixed to the bottom surface of the prism and providing for the internal illumination, with a plurality of sub-beams, of the contact surface where the finger of the subject is pressed on the top surface of the prism, and a photoelectric sensor to detect the sub-beam radiation reflected from the fingerprint valley points. A sensor lens may also used for focusing the sub-beam radiation on the sensor. A lens wafer may be affixed between the prism and the LED array for focusing the radiation from each LED on its corresponding illumination point on the contact surface. The fingerprint ridge contact points do not reflect incident sub-beam radiation.