An apparatus for capturing one or more fingerprints comprising: a sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing pixel elements for receiving light representative of one or more fingerprints, a platen and a backplane substrate having a front surface and a back surface; and a housing having the platen for placement of one or more fingers, in which said array is disposed below said platen, in which the front surface of the backplane substrate is disposed below and facing said array, and in which at least one light source is provided; characterized in that the at least one light source is configured to provide illumination to said platen via reflection of illumination from said light source, off of said back surface of said backplane substrate, the light source is arranged along a side surface of said backplane substrate, wherein the side surface extends between the front surface and the back surface of the backplane substrate, the apparatus is configured such that ambient light (11, 12, 13, 19) received via said platen travels through transparent regions located within said array, and travels towards said back surface of said backplane substrate that is configured for specular reflection of said ambient light, and said ambient light (12, 13) is redirected by said back surface of said backplane substrate to travel again through said transparent regions and towards one or more fingers placed upon said platen, and to illuminate and reflect off of said one or more fingers, to enable operation of said light sensing pixel elements to receive light representative of one or more fingerprints of said one or more fingers, and the apparatus further comprises a controller in the housing for operating said light source (71, 124) and receiving an image from said sensor (70, 104), wherein the controller is responsive to an image received from the sensor (70, 104), said image being indicative that an amount of ambient light received via the platen is inadequate to provide illumination to enable said sensor (70, 104) to provide an image of one or more fingerprints with sufficient quality, and configured to then operate said light source (71, 124) to provide supplemental light to the platen to enable said sensor (70, 104) to provide an image of one or more fingerprints of said one or more fingers. a sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing pixel elements for receiving light representative of one or more fingerprints, a platen and a backplane substrate having a front surface and a back surface; and a housing having the platen for placement of one or more fingers, in which said array is disposed below said platen, in which the front surface of the backplane substrate is disposed below and facing said array, and in which at least one light source is provided; characterized in that the at least one light source is configured to provide illumination to said platen via reflection of illumination from said light source, off of said back surface of said backplane substrate, the light source is arranged along a side surface of said backplane substrate, wherein the side surface extends between the front surface and the back surface of the backplane substrate, the apparatus is configured such that ambient light (11, 12, 13, 19) received via said platen travels through transparent regions located within said array, and travels towards said back surface of said backplane substrate that is configured for specular reflection of said ambient light, and said ambient light (12, 13) is redirected by said back surface of said backplane substrate to travel again through said transparent regions and towards one or more fingers placed upon said platen, and to illuminate and reflect off of said one or more fingers, to enable operation of said light sensing pixel elements to receive light representative of one or more fingerprints of said one or more fingers, and the apparatus further comprises a controller in the housing for operating said light source (71, 124) and receiving an image from said sensor (70, 104), wherein the controller is responsive to an image received from the sensor (70, 104), said image being indicative that an amount of ambient light received via the platen is inadequate to provide illumination to enable said sensor (70, 104) to provide an image of one or more fingerprints with sufficient quality, and configured to then operate said light source (71, 124) to provide supplemental light to the platen to enable said sensor (70, 104) to provide an image of one or more fingerprints of said one or more fingers.