Image analysis – Applications – Personnel identification
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-25
2001-09-11
Mancuso, Joseph (Department: 2721)
Image analysis
Applications
Personnel identification
C351S218000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289113
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to identification of physical characteristics of a human being or other animal. More particularly, the present invention relates to iris recognition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various technologies are used for uniquely identifying a person in accordance with an examination of particular attributes of either the person's interior or exterior eye. One of these technologies involves the visual examination of the particular attributes of the exterior of the iris of at least one of the person's eyes. The iris of the human eye has random patterns of striations, ciliary processes, crypts, rings, furrows and other features which had been shown capable of generating highly unique biometric templates for personal identification. In this regard, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,349, “Iris Recognition System”, issued to Flom et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,560, “Biometric Personal Identification System Based on Iris Analysis”, issued to Daugman. As made clear by these patents, the visible texture of a person's iris can be used to distinguish one person from another with great accuracy. Thus, iris recognition can be used for such purposes as controlling access to a secure facility or a bank automatic teller machine, for example. An iris recognition system involves the use of an imager to video image the iris of each person attempting access, and image processing means for comparing this iris video image with a reference iris image on file in a database.
Iris identification systems have been developed that are capable of collecting images of the iris and processing them to produce biometric templates. These templates may be used to identify individual irises with extremely low error rates, on the order of 1 in 10
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. The systems capture the iris images using stationary optical platforms that are often large, complex, and expensive. The systems are difficult to use with minimal cooperation of the subject being identified. As a result their usefulness in many applications is limited.
Although the art of human recognition systems is well developed, there remain some problems inherent in this technology, particularly the lack of a portable or handheld device specifically designed to solve the problems inherent in capturing a close-up, high-quality, properly focused image of the iris of the eye. Therefore, a need exists for a recognition system that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a handheld iris imaging apparatus for obtaining an image of an iris of an eye, comprising: iris acquisition means having a front surface; a lens having a image plane disposed in front of the front surface of the iris acquisition means; a mirror disposed on a side of the lens opposite the iris acquisition means; and an illuminator disposed along a side of the mirror.
According to one aspect of the invention, the iris acquisition means comprises a camera, and the mirror is a cold mirror. The camera is sensitive to light having a wavelength in a range between about 400 nm and about 1100 nm. The mirror reflects light having a wavelength in a range between about 400 nm and about 700 nm and passes light having a wavelength greater than about 700 nm.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the illuminator emits light having a wavelength in a range between about 680 nm and about 900 nm towards the iris of the eye being imaged, the eye being out of contact with the iris imaging apparatus.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the iris imaging apparatus further comprises at least a visible indicator or an audible indicator to indicate when the image of the iris has been obtained.
A further embodiment within the scope of the present invention is directed to a method of obtaining an iris image of a subject, comprising the steps of: (a) illuminating an iris of the subject; (b) forming an approximately centered image of the iris at an image plane of a camera; (c) storing the image in a memory; (d) determining if the image is an image of sufficient quality; and (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) until the image of sufficient quality is obtained.
According to one aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the step of activating an indicator if the image is of insufficient quality. The indicator is an audible indicator.
According to one aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the step of activating an indicator if the image is of sufficient quality. The indicator is a visible indicator.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the step of displaying the image on a display.
A further embodiment within the scope of the present invention is directed to a system of identification, comprising: a handheld imaging apparatus; a first memory for storing at least one template of at least one image of an iris of at least one person's eye; a second memory for storing a template of an iris image obtained by the iris acquisition means; and a comparator for comparing the template of the iris image of the second memory with the at least one stored template of the first memory to identify the person.
According to one aspect of the invention, the iris acquisition means comprises a camera, and the mirror is a cold mirror.
According to another aspect of the invention, the comparator comprises a processor responsive to an output of the camera for comparing the template of the second memory with the at least one stored template of the first memory.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first memory, the second memory, and the comparator are disposed in a housing that is separate from the handheld iris imaging apparatus. In an embodiment, the housing is coupled to the handheld iris imaging apparatus by a wireless modem.
According to another aspect of the invention, the system further comprises at least one of a visible indicator and an audible indicator disposed within the handheld iris imaging apparatus.
According to another aspect of the invention, the system further comprises a focus assessment processor coupled to the at least one of a visible indicator and an audible indicator.
According to another aspect of the invention, the system further comprises a display disposed within the handheld iris imaging apparatus.
A further embodiment within the scope of the present invention is directed to a method of identification of a person, comprising the steps of: (a) storing image information of the iris of at least one person's eye; (b) illuminating an eye of an unidentified person having an iris; (c) obtaining an image of the iris of the unidentified person; (d) storing the image in a memory; (e) determining if the image is an image of sufficient quality for a step (g) of comparing; (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until the image of sufficient quality is obtained; and (g) comparing a template of the obtained image with the stored image information to identify the unidentified person.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of activating an indicator if the image is of insufficient quality. The indicator is an audible indicator.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of activating an indicator if the image is of sufficient quality. The indicator is a visible indicator.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the step of determining if the image is an image of sufficient quality comprises the step of focus assessment processing the image.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of displaying the image on a display.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4641349 (1987-02-01), Flom et al.
patent: 4876608 (1989-10-01), Eaton
patent: 5106183 (1992-04-01), Yoder, Jr.
patent: 5151583 (1992-09-01), Tokunaga et al.
patent: 5187506 (1993-02-01), Carter
patent: 5291560 (1994-03-01), Daugman
patent: 5359669 (1994-10-01), Shanley et al.
patent: 5404163 (1995-04-01), Kub
Kuhla Cletus Bonaventure
Lee James Henry
McHugh James Timothy
Iridian Technologies, Inc.
Mancuso Joseph
Woodcock Washburn Kurtz Mackiewicz & Norris LLP
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