Biometrics authentication system

Abstract

A biometrics authentication system having a small and simple configuration and being capable of implementing both of biometrics authentication and position detection is provided. A biometrics authentication system includes: a light source emitting light to an object; a microlens array section condensing light from the object; a light-sensing device obtaining light detection data of the object on the basis of the light condensed by the microlens array section; a position detection section detecting the position of the object on the basis of the light detection data obtained in the light-sensing device; and an authentication section, in the case where the object is a living body, performing authentication of the living body on the basis of the light detection data obtained in the light-sensing device.

1 . A biometrics authentication system comprising:
 a light source emitting light to an object;   a microlens array section condensing light from the object;   a light-sensing device obtaining light detection data of the object on the basis of the light condensed by the microlens array section;   a position detection section detecting the position of the object on the basis of the light detection data obtained in the light-sensing device; and   an authentication section, in the case where the object is a living body, performing authentication of the living body on the basis of the light detection data obtained in the light-sensing device.   
   
   
       2 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light source driving section changing the output of the light source depending on a function to be executed which is selected between a position detection function by the position detection section and an authentication function by the authentication section.   
   
   
       3 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 in the case where the position detection function is executed, the light source driving section sets the output of the light source to a first light source output, and   in the case where the authentication function is executed, the light source driving section sets the output of the light source to a second light source output which is larger than the first light source output.   
   
   
       4 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a function determination section performing function determination of determining which one between the position detection function and the authentication function to be executed.   
   
   
       5 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the function determination section performs the function determination on the basis of pixel data in a plurality of regions of the light-sensing device, the plurality of regions being different from one another.   
   
   
       6 . The biometrics authentications system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 one other light-sensing device arranged outside a light-sensing region corresponding to the light-sensing device,   wherein the function determination section performs the function determination on the basis of an output value from the other light-sensing device.   
   
   
       7 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 one of the position detection function and the authentication function is executed on the basis of a signal inputted by an external command.   
   
   
       8 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image processing section performing image processing on the basis of the light detection data,   wherein the image processing section extracting pixel data in pixels at the same position in image pickup regions of microlenses of the microlens array section from the light detection data, and synthesizing the pixel data, thereby to produce a plurality of parallax image data.   
   
   
       9 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the position detection section detects the position of the object on the basis of a phase difference between the plurality of parallax image data.   
   
   
       10 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the light source emits light in a near-infrared region.   
   
   
       11 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one other light source emitting light in a visible region to the object,   wherein the light-sensing device obtains first light detection data on the basis of the light in the visible region by the other light source and second light detection data on the basis of the light in the near-infrared region by the light source, and   while the position detection section detects the position of the object on the basis of the first light detection data, the authentication section performs authentication of the living body on the basis of the second light detection data.   
   
   
       12 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the biometrics authentication system functions as a touch pad by which information is inputted in response to the position of the object detected by the position detection section.   
   
   
       13 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display device in a plane where the light-sensing device is arranged, the display device emitting display light on the basis of image data for display.   
   
   
       14 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the light source is arranged below the light-sensing device and the display device, and   the display device emits the display light through the use of light from the light source.   
   
   
       15 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the biometrics authentication system functions as a touch panel which displays an image, and by which information is inputted in response to the position of the object detected by the position detection section.   
   
   
       16 . The biometrics authentication system according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the light source emits light in a visible region and a near-infrared region.