Remote biometric identification and lighting

Abstract

A biometric capture device is operative to adjust one or more environmental parameters to enhance a range (e.g., distance) at which a biometric may be captured from a subject. For example, a sample biometric capture device may be, include, or otherwise incorporate a retinal or iris scanner configured to capture an image of the retina or iris (e.g., a biometric) when the retina or iris is illuminated by infrared light. Generally, the amount of infrared light required to accurately image the retina or iris increases with the distance of the subject's retina or iris from the image capture device. The biometric capture device may capture a facial image using a first image sensor, identify a face in the facial image, capture an iris image using a second image sensor guided by the facial image, and identify a person using the iris image.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 an emitter configured to adjust an environmental parameter;   a detector configured to detect a distance from the detector to the subject;   a biometric sensor configured to capture a biometric of the subject; and   at least one processor operative to:
 determine a level of the environmental parameter based on the distance; 
 estimate a future position of the subject; 
 determine a rate at which to vary the environmental parameter based on the future position; and 
 instruct the emitter to vary the environmental parameter at the rate. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor estimates a time when the subject will be at the future position. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the environmental parameter is a property of light. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the property is an intensity. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the property is a focus. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the biometric sensor comprises an image sensor. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor instructs the biometric sensor to capture the biometric when the at least one processor determines that the environmental parameter enhances a likelihood that the biometric has sufficient detail to identify the subject. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor instructs the biometric sensor to capture the biometric at an additional distance from the detector to the subject. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor instructs the biometric sensor to capture the biometric after instructing the emitter to adjust the environmental parameter. 
     
     
         30 . A system, comprising:
 a biometric sensor configured to capture a biometric of the subject; and   at least one processor operative to:
 determine a level of an environmental parameter based on a distance from the detector to the subject detected by a detector; 
 estimate a future position of the subject; and 
 instruct an emitter to adjust the environmental parameter based on the future position. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the processor instructs the emitter to emit light at an intensity dependent upon the distance. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the processor omits instructing the biometric sensor to capture the biometric until the distance is less than a threshold. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the processor estimates the future position of the subject based at least on the distance. 
     
     
         35 . A method, comprising:
 determining a level of an environmental parameter based on a distance from the detector to the subject detected by a detector;   estimating a future position of the subject;   instructing an emitter to adjust the environmental parameter based on the future position; and   obtaining a digital representation of a biometric of the subject using a biometric sensor.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising varying the environmental parameter. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the varying the environmental parameter comprises varying the environmental parameter at a rate. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising obtaining an additional digital representation of the biometric of the subject using the biometric sensor prior to instructing the emitter to adjust the environmental parameter based on the future position. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein estimating the future position of the subject comprises estimating the future position of the subject based at least on the distance. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the digital representation of the biometric corresponds to at least a portion of a face.