Handheld Imaging System for Contactless Tri-Modal Biometric Identification

Fingerprinting is the most widely used form of biometric identification because large databases are already available and law enforcement agencies have decades of experience with this technology. In addition, many fingerprinting units on the market are small in size, low power, and inexpensive. Common deficiencies carried by current fingerprinting technologies are distortions introduced when the finger touches the surface of the reader. The current study describes the development of a novel, handheld, contactless fingerprinting system which is capable of acquiring individual fingers with 180 degree view (first modality). Liveliness is examined by transmitted Infra-Red (IR) light (second modality), which allows the viewing of blood vessel networks and "four-slap" images and palm prints (third modality). This system is able to produce fingerprint images which are approximately 99% accurate representations of a finger's surface. This was verified by exam- ining a NIST certified aluminum test sample. As demonstrated in our study, this is compared to an average of 15% distortion of the distances between a finger's ridges when imaged with contact based systems. Our radial line-scan imaging allows for "nail-to-nail" acquisition of an individual fingerprint, where the format of the recorded image is analogous to an "ink-rolled" fingerprint. The system will securely and wirelessly transfers fingerprint images to any law enforcement center via built-in Wi-Fi connection.