IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO RECOGNITION SYSTEMS

Abstract: A device for reading or checking a palm print comprises a platform in which a viewing window (21) is provided. The hand (11) of a user is located in a precise manner above the window (21) by a hand location member (22) against which the joint between the thumb and forefinger is located. A reading can then be taken of a portion of the palm print of the user and compared with a known print taken previously to check the identity of the user.

Description: "Improvements relating to Recognition Systems" The invention aims to provide means whereby a distinc¬ tive feature of an individual may be recorded and read to enable secure recognition of that individual to be made, such as for a financial transaction. From one aspect the invention provides an identity creating device comprising a transparent strip of material held onto a backing sheet by a low impact adhesive and having a high impact adhesive on its upper surface, remov- able strips of release coated material along at least two side edges of the adhesive coated strip and a supply of coloured powder/ink which may be applied to an area of skin of a user and transferred therefrom onto the adhesive coated strip. This enables the print of a part of the skin of an individual (such as, especially, part of the palm of a hand) to be made and then transferred on the adhesive coated strip onto a carrier, where it will be affixed by the areas particularly where the removable release coated strips have subsequently been removed. Ideally the removable strips will define a frame surrounding an exposed region of the adhesive coated strip. Palm printing so formed can readily be compared with the actual palm of the user by persons of average intelligence, whereas fingerprints, for example, require very skilled analysis to determine a match. The invention further extends to a hand location system having a registration area and a location member spaced therefrom, the location member being shaped to receive a selected part of the hand of a user so as to locate a chosen area of the palm of the hand over the registration area. A suitably shaped location member can provide a very accurate and constant positioning of a hand regardless of the angle of the wrist or arm. One form of location member comprises a blade for positioning between two fingers on a hand. A preferred alternative is for the location member to be in the form of a wedge to fit between the outstretched thumb and first finger of a hand. This arrangement causes the hand to open to expose distinctive palm skin patterns. The critical points for the location member could be provided by a minimal set of upstanding, possibly retract¬ able, pegs, rather than a complete wedge, for example. The registration area can provide a location for the identity creating device of this invention as hereinbefore defined. Ideally the location region will be slightly raised above the rest of the registration area. This can be achieved by providing a firm location region surrounded by a resiliently padded area. In recognition devices it is advantageous for the registration area to provide a viewing window for a reading device. This viewing window can be incorporated in a telephone unit, transaction recording device (allowing additionally for image enhancement), copying machine or access authorization device. The overall system can include means for recording the length and/or width of a hand positioned onto the location member. The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a personal identity tab creation device of this invention; Figure 2 illustrates an identity card incorporating a personal identification tab formed by using the items shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is plan view of a hand location member of the invention for use with the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an illustration of a telephone unit incorporating a hand location and reading system of this invention; Figure 5 indicates part of the hand location and reading system shown in the device of Figure 4; Figure 6 illustrates an alternative form of hand location and reading system of this invention applied to a telephone unit; Figure 7 shows the location and reading system of Figure 6 in more detail; Figures 8, 9 and 10 are perspective plan and sectional views respectively of the hand location member shown in Figures 6 and 7; Figures 11 illustrates an adjustment modification to the hand location and reading system of Figures 6 and 7, Figure 12 illustrates an additional system for achiev¬ ing a measure of hand length; and Figures 13 to 16 illustrate various types of equipment incorporating a hand location and reading system of this invention. Figure 1 shows a device 1 for creating a tab incorpor- ating a record of physical characteristics of a person in the form of part of the palm of his hand (or indeed some other suitable part of the body). A protective top sheet overlies two parts of a bottom sheet 2. A first part 3 of the sheet 2 comprises a receptor for a non-toxic skin coloured combination of powder and ink. When a protective flap 4 of the top sheet is raised, the user can rub the ink and powder combination onto part of his palm. A protective flap 5 formed from a release coated paper is then raised to expose an adhesive area 6 which is covered around the perimeter by a frame member 7. The user then places his palm over the adhesive area 6 so that the ink and powder combination is transferred to the adhesive to create a print representing the line pattern on the part of the hand on which the ink and powder has been smeared. The frame member 7 is then raised (it is also formed from a release coated paper) and the adhesive strip 6 is then pressed firmly against a carrier so that it will be attached to the carrier, particularly around the region previously covered by the frame member 7. The rear face of the strip 6 is held in position by a low tack adhesive so that when a base portion 8 as part of the sheet 2 is pulled away, the strip 6 is retained on the carrier. The strip 6 is transparent and thus the imprint can readily be viewed through the strip 6 when mounted on the carrier. The carrier 6 has a blue/green hue which, with a pinkish powder from the area 3, will give a dark brown colour for the imprint as viewed. The strip 6 needs to be robust yet sufficiently flexible to be peeled off. A 50 micron film is preferred. This strip 6 on the carrier can then be attached in a suitable way to an item which is subsequently to be used for identification purposes (or the carrier itself may comprise the item). This item can, for example, be a credit card as illustrated in Figure 2. The representation of the distinctive physical characteristics of the palm of the owner can be seen clearly on the identi¬ fication card and can be compared, by another person, with the actual physical characteristics on the palm of the owner of the card. This will provide an indisputable indiction of the identity of the holder of the card. Many items exist where it would be most advantageous to be able to check the identity of the person presenting that item. These include, Travellers Cheques, Cheque Guarantee Cards, Authorised Entry Access Cards, Pension Books and Passports. The system could also be used to act as an identification of a newly born child on a card which also carries a palm print representa¬ tion of the mother. The print for the child would be created at the moment of birth and applied to the identity card, thus ensuring that the relationship between the mother and the child can readily be determined if there is subsequently any doubt as to whether a particular child belongs to a particular mother. The device of Figure 1 could be modified to provide the strip 6 and backing 8 as a continuous strip (on a roll for example) which can be used with a separate powder supply. The frame 7 would then be replaced by strips of release coated paper down the two edges of the continuous strip to provide two bands of clear adhesive at the edges of a removed strip 6. It is envisaged that this identification system will be in widespread use, particularly for checking the identity of a person carrying out a monetary transaction. It is important that there should be a standardised method of checking the identity palm area of each person so that standardised document readers can be utilised, in particu¬ lar. For this purpose the device shown in Figure 3 will be used. This incorporates a platform 10 on which the hand of the user will be rested when the ink and powder imprint is to be transferred to the strip 6 on the tab creation device 1. The device 1 will be opened out to expose the strip 6 surrounded by the frame 7 and the user's hand 11 will then be placed over the device 1, with the thumb and forefinger being registered against a location member 12. This has a shaped corner portion 13 which receives the angle between the outstretched thumb and the forefinger. This ensures that the hand 11 is precisely located and that folds in the skin of the palm will be opened out. The hand 11 is then pressed against the strip 6 to transfer the ink and powder combination. A frame 14 for the device 1 can be slightly raised above the level of the rest of the platform 10, to ensure that the palm portion of the hand 11 is pressed firmly against the strip 6. Figure 4 illustrates a telephone unit incorporating a form of hand location member 16 and a viewing window 17 between the recesses provided to locate the handset of the telephone unit. As can be seen from Figure 5 the location member 16 is in the form of a thin blade which will be positioned between the first two fingers of the hand of a user and which will thus position a particular part of his palm immediately above the window 17. The window position can be varied as illustrated in Figure 5. A reader below the window 17 can then transmit a signal down the telephone line to another station where the palm identity of the user can be checked against a palm print record stored at the other location. By this means the identity of the person using the telephone can be checked securely to ensure proper authority, for example for the payment of a transaction through a credit system, or the authorised entry to a secure area. Figure 6 shows a telephone unit 19 provided with a hand location member 20 comparable to the member 12 shown in Figure 3. This positions the hand so that a relevant part of the palm is positioned above a viewing window 21. Figure 7 shows the relationship between the hand 11 and the viewing window 21 and a particularly preferred shape for a hand location member 22. The angles A, B and C indicate possible angle positions. For the thumb relative to the remainder of the hand. For the average person the angle B is likely to give the best results. As shown in Figure 8 in particular, the member 22 ideally has concavely formed vertical walls 23 in which the finger and thumb can nestle securely. As shown in Figure 9 the member 22 could be extended in length to the shape 22A if desired. The curved wall shape 23 can be seen clearly from Figure 10. Figure 9 also illustrates a grid pattern 24 for the viewing window 21. This can provide an added security feature in that a person carrying out a remote identifica- tion by telephone ( for example) could instruct reading of a particular region of the grid 24 by specifying one or more of the squares 25. This would prevent overriding of the system by an unauthorised person who might be able to send an electronic signal down the telephone line giving details of the palm print of another person. He would only be able to send the signal for the whole of the area 21 as he would not know which region was being specified by the person at the other end. Also an identification card might carry details of only a portion of the area 21 whilst details of the whole area are stored at the remote location. The possession of the card would not therefore enable an unauthorised holder to send the full identification informa¬ tion. It might be necessary to allow for variable hand sizes, particularly in respect of children and adolescents who are still growing. Figure 11 illustrates how the position of a hand location member 26 might be varied relative to a window 21. A support body 27 would be provided with a series of holes 28 and slots, enabling the location member 26, in the form of a rigid frame, to be moved to a variety of positions by placing pegs 28A in selected ones of the holes and 28. Further identity information could be provided in the form of hand length and width. Figure 12 shows how the reading device might incorporate a further window 29, through which the tip 30 of a finger would be visible and could be marked off against a scale 31 at the side of the window 29. A further window could be provided at a position spaced away from the location member, through which the other side edge of the hand could be viewed so that an indiction of hand width can be achieved. Reading of the features of a palm of a person, to be checked against an identity record of his palm print, could be incorporated into many types of device. For example a photocopier 32 (Figure 13) could have a cover incorporating a location member 22 and a viewing window 21 onto which the hand of a user will be placed. His own identity document 34 could also be placed under the cover 33 so that a copy of the identity document (incorporating the identity strip 6) and the actual palm of the user could be photocopied onto a sheet so that a comparison by eye could be made and a permanent record could also be kept. This would mitigate against unauthorised use as an improper user of the identity document would not wish to leave behind a record of his own palm which might enable him to be traced. Figure 14 shows a transaction recording machine incorporating a swipe slot 35 for a credit card 36. This additionally incorporates a hand location member 22 and a viewing window 21 so that personal identification informa¬ tion taken direct from the user can also be recorded on a payment receipt. Figure 15 shows an access authorization device 37 located on an entry door 38. A user will place his hand against the location member 22 so that his palm features can be read through a viewing window 21. If these features correspond with those of a stored record then access through the door 38 will be granted. Figure 16 shows how a hand held telephone unit may be adapted to incorporate a hand location member. The unit 39 would have a foldable flap 40 incorporating two fold-down walls 41 which can be raised into position to provide the necessary hand location to position the relevant part of the palm of a user over a viewing window 21.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An identity creating device comprising a transpar¬ ent strip of material held onto a backing sheet by a low impact adhesive and having a high impact adhesive on its upper surface, removable strips of release coated material along at least two side edges of the adhesive coated strip and»a supply of coloured powder/ink which may be applied to an area of skin of a user and transferred therefrom onto the adhesive coated strip. 2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the remov¬ able strips define a frame surrounding an exposed region of the adhesive coated strip. 3. A hand location system having a registration area and a location member spaced therefrom, the location member being shaped to receive a selected part of the hand of a user so as to locate a chosen area of the palm of the hand over the registration area. 4. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the regis¬ tration area provides a location region for the identity creating device as defined in Claim 1. 5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the location region is slightly raised above the rest of the registration area, by providing a firm location region surrounded by a resiliently padded area, or by other means. 6. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the regis¬ tration area provides a viewing window for a reading device. 7. A system according to Claim 6, wherein the viewing window is incorporated in a telephone unit, transaction recording device, copying machine or access authorization device. 8. A system according to any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the location member comprises a blade for position¬ ing between two fingers on a hand, or is in the form of a wedge to fit between the outstretched thumb and first finger of a hand, or is provided by a minimal set of upstanding pegs. 9. A system according to any one of Claims 3 to 8 including means for recording the length and/or width of a hand positioned onto the location member. 10. Any novel combination of features of an identity creating device or a hand location system as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: EVANS LEIGHTON DAVID, EVANS, LEIGHTON, DAVID
Applicants: BENNETT MARGARET HEATHER, EVANS LEIGHTON DAVID, BENNETT, MARGARET, HEATHER, EVANS, LEIGHTON, DAVID
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G07C9
IPC codes: A61B5, G06T1, G06T7, G07C9