Abstract:
A biometric scanner comprising a fingerprint module, a first plurality of fingerprint sensors, and a sensor circuit within the fingerprint module. The first plurality of fingerprint sensors is ergonomically positioned on the fingerprint module to accommodate a second plurality of fingertips of a human hand. The sensor circuit is coupled to the first plurality of fingerprint sensors wherein fingerprints of the second plurality are captured simultaneously by the sensor circuit. A biometric scanner system and a method of manufacturing a biometric scanner are also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application No. 61/294,858 filed on Mar. 30, 2010 to Willie Anthony Johnson entitled “Multi-Pass Biometric Scanner” and is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application is directed, in general, to a biometric scanner and, more specifically, to a portable biometric scanner for field use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Today, identification of detained personnel by biometric data must be accomplished by transporting the detainee to a fixed location having suitable means for the collection of the desired biometric data, e.g., fingerprint(s), voice and retinal scan, measurement of facial features, etc. Such equipment is routinely found only at well established offices of the detaining entity. 
     In the field, i.e., in areas not dedicated to biometric data collection, biometric identification is often limited to one fingerprint or one retina scan for the purpose of admission to a controlled area or preliminary identification of the subject with confirmation of identity being postponed until more detailed identification is possible. Therefore, what is needed in the art is a device or system that can simultaneously collect a plurality of biometric data. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect provides a biometric scanner comprising a fingerprint module, a first plurality of fingerprint sensors, and a sensor circuit within the fingerprint module. The first plurality of fingerprint sensors is ergonomically positioned on the fingerprint module to accommodate a second plurality of fingertips of a human hand. The sensor circuit is coupled to the first plurality of fingerprint sensors wherein fingerprints of the second plurality are captured simultaneously by the sensor circuit. A method of manufacturing a biometric scanner is also provided. 
     A further aspect provides a biometric scanner system comprising a fingerprint module, a first plurality of fingerprint sensors, a sensor circuit and an interface module. The first plurality of fingerprint sensors is ergonomically positioned on the fingerprint module to accommodate a second plurality of fingertips of a human hand. The sensor circuit within the fingerprint module is coupled to the first plurality of fingerprint sensors, wherein fingerprints of the second plurality of fingertips are captured simultaneously by the sensor circuit. The interface module is coupleable to the fingerprint module and configured to communicate with a remote central server. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a biometric scanner  100  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the fingerprint module  110  of  FIG. 1  and an isometric view of a generic interface module  230 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a basic biometric scanner system  300  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the steps in the identification of a subject; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “ergonomically” means: accommodating the unique physical limitations and capabilities of the human hand, e.g., the arrangement of the four fingers (or digits 2 through 5 as they are sometimes identified) and an opposing thumb for grasping limits the ability to collect five useable fingerprints from one hand simultaneously when the receptors are in/on a single flat surface. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is an isometric view of one embodiment of a biometric scanner  100  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The biometric scanner  100  comprises a fingerprint module  110 , and a first plurality of fingerprint sensors  121 - 126 . A portion, i.e., fingerprint sensors  122 - 125 , of the first plurality of fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  may be ergonomically positioned on an upper surface  111  of the fingerprint module  110  to accommodate a second plurality of fingertips  132 - 135  of a human hand  130 . The first plurality of fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  may be “two-handed.” That is, the fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  may be positioned so as to severally accommodate both left and right human hands, up to five digits at a time. Specifically, two fingerprint sensors  121 ,  126  may be configured on a front surface  112  of the fingerprint module  110  to conveniently accommodate the unique position of the thumbs relative to the other digits of the human hand. Nonetheless, other positions for the plurality of fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  are within the purview of this disclosure. 
     The fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  may be individually slidably mounted to surfaces  111 ,  112  of the fingerprint module  110  as indicated by arrows  161 - 166 . Slidably mounting the fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  allows individual adjustment of the fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  relative to one another to accommodate large to small hand sizes, loss of partial digits, etc., thereby achieving a more accurate fingerprint scan. A completely missing digit due to any cause may be recorded by the fingerprint module  110  as “no individual fingerprint.” 
     The first plurality of fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  is electrically coupled to a like plurality of sensor circuits  141 - 146  ( 142 - 145  not shown) located within the fingerprint module  110 . The fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  may individually be UPEK/Authentec TouchChip TCS1C sensors, a product of (manufacturer) UPEK/Authentec of Melbourne, Fla., to be used with sensor circuits  141 - 146  which may be Suprema SFM3050-TC1 modules, a product of (manufacturer) Suprema Inc 16F Parkview Office Tower of Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 463-863 South Korea. Other fingerprint sensor designs and manufacturers are within the purview of this disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the first plurality of fingerprint sensors  121 - 126  and the sensor circuits  141 - 146  are of sufficient accuracy to meet Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Fingerprint Standards. 
     The fingerprint module  110  further comprises a plurality of status light emitting diodes (LEDs)  151 - 153  and a power button  160 . The LEDs  151 - 153  may be individually of yellow, green and red colors to signify to the operator: “fingerprint capture in progress,” “valid fingerprint capture,” and “fingerprint capture failure,” respectively. The first plurality of fingerprint sensors  121 - 126 , the sensor circuits  141 - 146  and LEDs  151 - 156  may be powered by an internal battery or batteries (not shown) of suitable voltage within the fingerprint module  110 . One who is of skill in the art will recognize the opportunity to use rechargeable batteries of the necessary voltage and amperage in this application. Power to the fingerprint sensors  121 - 126 , sensor circuits  141 - 146 , and LEDs  151 - 153  may be controlled by the power button  160 . The fingerprint module  110  preferably comprises a real time operating system. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is a rear elevation view of the fingerprint module  110  of  FIG. 1  and an isometric view of a generic interface module  230 . The fingerprint module  110  may further comprise a USB connector  210  (e.g., USB 2.0 in one embodiment) and/or an RS-232 connector  220 . The USB connector  210  or the RS-232 connector  220  is used for wired communication with the interface module  230  suitably equipped with an appropriate connector and bus. Alternatively, the interface module  230  may communicate with the fingerprint module  110  wirelessly using any suitable standard to include, cellular, WIFI, Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, etc. Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth® Sig, Inc. of Kirkland, Wash. ZigBee® complies with IEEE standard 802.15.4 and ZigBee® is a registered trademark of ZigBee® Alliance Corporation of San Ramon, Calif. 
     The interface module  230  may be a portable computing device such as: a handheld, tablet, laptop or desktop computer, etc., as directed by the end user and compatible with the fingerprint module&#39;s  110  connectors. Alternatively, the interface module  230  may be a specialized computing device so that it may be physically coupled to the fingerprint module  110 . Of course, the interface module  230 , regardless of form, may require an appropriate operating system and device drivers for the biometric data collection functions. The interface module  230  is preferably powered by an internal rechargeable battery (not shown) with a backup of a battery charger/power converter (not shown). The battery charger/power converter may be capable of charging/power conversion from worldwide AC power (110-240 VAC), and 12 V or 24 V DC. 
     The interface module  230 , in one embodiment, controls the capture of biometric data by the fingerprint module  110 . Additionally, the interface module  230  may have computer functions accessed through a touch screen  231  that may be used by the operator to enter known information about the subject/operation being identified, such as: a project name or number for Border Patrol, Military, or program security; subject&#39;s presumed name; subject&#39;s height; subject&#39;s weight; subject&#39;s hair color; subject&#39;s eye color; subject&#39;s race; subject&#39;s age; device&#39;s location; the operator&#39;s name; etc. The interface module  230  may incorporate a flash memory slot (not shown) for saving data to removable media. 
     The interface module  230  may incorporate a digital camera  240  for collecting facial feature data on the subject. Alternatively, in low light conditions where it may be undesirable to have high ambient light, the camera may be IR sensitive and an added IR illuminator incorporated in the interface module  230  to illuminate the subject. Alternatively or additionally, the camera  240  may collect real time video and sound which can be output through a selected external video output to an external display. In one embodiment, the external video output may be a VGA port. Operation of the camera to include: start, zoom, stop, edit, erase, etc., may be controlled from the touch screen  231  so that individual physical camera controls are not necessary. Alternatively, a remote camera (not shown), separate from the interface module  230 , may be used and camera control exercised by the interface module  230  as if the interface module were attached to the camera. The interface to the remote camera may be wired or wireless using appropriate communication protocols. In this configuration, that which the remote camera sees would be displayed on the touch screen  231  to aid in photo composition. The interface module  230  may also incorporate a one-dimensional laser scanner (not shown) for obtaining facial feature data of the subject and/or an iris scanner for iris identification. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is a plan view of a basic biometric scanner system  300  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The basic biometric scanner system  300  may comprise a fingerprint module  310 , an interface module  320  and a remote server  330 . The fingerprint module  310  and the interface module  320  may conduct two-way communication as at  340 . The interface module  320  and the remote server  330  may conduct two-way communication as at  350 . One who is of skill in the art will recognize that the communication links shown may be of several different standards as previously discussed. Each standard has advantages and disadvantages which must be traded off in the adoption of standards for a given user system. The present discussion will be limited to a high-level as to how the identification of a subject is accomplished. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  with continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is a flow chart of the steps in the identification of a subject. For the sake of brevity, discussion of these steps will be limited to fingerprint capture and matching. One who is of skill in the art may readily broaden the feature identification steps to include: facial feature measurements, voice identification, retinal scan data, etc. 
     Identification begins at Start Step  400 . Operator information is entered into the interface module  320  at Step  405 . Known subject information is entered into the interface module  320  at Step  410 . The fingerprint sensors are configured for the first hand at Step  415 . The query “Is First Hand Scanned?” is answered at Step  420 . If the answer to Step  420  is “NO”, the flow chart proceeds to scan the first hand at Step  425  and the chart returns to “Configure Fingerprint Sensors” at Step  415 . At Step  420 , the answer to the query “Is First Hand Scanned?” is answered as “YES” and the algorithm proceeds to “Scan Second Hand” at Step  430 . The algorithm proceeds to “Send Fingerprint Data” to the remote server  330  at Step  435 . The remote server  330  “Compares Fingerprint Data” to a remote database at Step  440 . The query “Fingerprint Match?” is answered at Step  445 . If the answer to Step  445  is “NO”, the flow chart proceeds to “Notify Operator” of no match at Step  450  and then to “END” at Step  465 . If the answer to Step  445  is “YES”, the flow chart proceeds to “Retrieve Profile Information” at Step  455 . The flow chart then proceeds to “Send Retrieved Information to Operator” at Step  460  and then to “END” at Step  465 . 
     In general, each of the off-site components of the portable biometric scanner system should be configured to be moisture resistant and readily transported by a single adult human. Specifically, the fingerprint module  110  and the interface module  230  may be configured to couple to a belt on a human operator. 
     It should be noted that the biometric scanner of the present disclosure has application to a wide variety of users, e.g., law enforcement, military, border patrol, defense contractors, high security laboratories, etc. Each of these users may require specific enhancements to the subject biometric scanner system and its components, such as: component shock mounting, crush resistant carrying cases, water resistant enclosures for the military; operator biometric identification, e.g., iris scan, facial feature identification, as well as access card and personal identification number (PIN) before entry for high security laboratories; GPS incorporation in the fingerprint module or interface module for military, border patrol or homeland security; stand-alone interface module with simultaneous fingerprint and photo capture with interface module identification for parole enforcement, Coast Guard, etc. The accommodation of these specific requirements is in no way to be construed as limiting the claims of the present disclosure. 
     For the purposes of this discussion, use of the terms “providing” and “forming,” etc., includes: manufacture, subcontracting, purchase, etc. Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.