Patent ID: 6463166
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A fingerprint input apparatus comprising:a first prism placed such that a surface in one direction serves as a fingerprint collection surface; a light source for irradiating light on the fingerprint collection surface through said first prism; a pinhole set in a path of light which is reflected by a pattern surface of a finger placed on said fingerprint collection surface and emerges from said first prism; an imaging plane on which the light emerging from said first prism and passing through said pinhole is formed into an image; and a second prism placed in front of said imaging plane, wherein the fingerprint collection surface of said first prism is set to be substantially parallel to said imaging plane, the fingerprint collection surface of said first prism is set to be substantially parallel to a surface of said second prism on the imaging plane side, and an exit surface of said first prism with respect to said pinhole is set to be substantially parallel to an incident surface of said second prism with respect to said pinhole.