US2019362123A1PendingUtilityA1

Method for recording a fingerprint image

64
Assignee: BAWOLEK EDWARD JOHNPriority: Nov 24, 2017Filed: Aug 8, 2019Published: Nov 28, 2019
Est. expiryNov 24, 2037(~11.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Edward J. BawolekDouglas E. Loy
H04N 25/76H04N 25/709G02F 1/167G02F 1/1368G02F 1/163G09G 2354/00G09G 3/344G02F 1/1685G06K 9/0004H04N 5/3698G06V 40/1318G06V 40/12
64
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A fingerprint image capture system comprises an electro-optical material which captures a static fingerprint image and an apparatus for converting the static fingerprint image into an electronic signal. The image capture system includes an electrode for contacting a finger, and a bias supply for creating an electric field where epidermal ridges contact the electro-optical material. A transistor array senses charge or optical density variations in the electro-optical material to create an electronic representation of the fingerprint image. An initialization electrode places the electro-optical material into a uniform condition prior to acquisition of the fingerprint image. A physical artifact of the fingerprint image can be archived by removing the electro-optical material from the system following the fingerprint image acquisition.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for electronically recording a fingerprint image acquired by an electro-optical material, the method comprising:
 directing light from an illumination source to a fingerprint image on the electro-optical material; and   capturing an electronic image with a CMOS image sensor module directed to the contact side fingerprint image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the illumination source produces a wavelength invisible to the human eye. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electro-optical material is an electrophoretic material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the illumination source is directed to a contact side fingerprint image. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the illumination source is directed to an opposing side fingerprint image. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the illumination source is directed to the fingerprint image from at least one side of the fingerprint image. 
     
     
         7 . A method for electronically recording a fingerprint image acquired by an electro-optical material, the method comprising:
 directing light from an illumination source through a fingerprint image on the electro-optical material; and   capturing an electronic image with a CMOS image sensor module directed to an opposing side fingerprint image.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the illumination source is located on a contact side of the fingerprint image. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the illumination source is located on an opposing side of a fingerprint image. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the illumination source produces a wavelength invisible to the human eye. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the electro-optical material is an electrophoretic material. 
     
     
         12 . A method for electronically recording a fingerprint image acquired by an electro-optical material, the method comprising:
 mechanically coupling a free surface of the electro-optical material to a transistor array, the array configured convert illumination incident upon pixels comprising the array into a quantity of electrical charge;   directing light from an illumination source through a contact side fingerprint image on the electro-optical material;   directing emergent illumination from an opposing side fingerprint image onto the transistor array; and   sequentially addressing the transistor array so as to couple the array transistors to charge sensing amplifier circuits.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the electro-optical material is an electrophoretic material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the free surface of the electro-optical material is coupled to the transistor array while the fingerprint image is being acquired. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the free surface of the electro-optical material is coupled to the transistor array after the fingerprint image has been acquired. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transistor array is a CMOS array fabricated on crystalline silicon. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the transistor array is a thin film transistor (TFT) array fabricated on a flexible substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the illumination source produces a wavelength invisible to the human eye.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2019362123A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.