Patent ID: 7113621

Claim:
A fingerprint verifying apparatus comprising: a first light emitting device which emits first light of a first color; a second light emitting device which emits second light of a second color; an imaging unit which detects an image of a fingerprint of a finger from said first light reflected by a finger; a fingerprint verifying circuit which has registered fingerprint images, and compares said detected fingerprint image and each of said registered fingerprint images to determine whether said detected fingerprint image is coincident with any of said registered fingerprint images, and outputs a match signal when said detected fingerprint image is coincident with any of said registered fingerprint images, and outputs a verification impossible signal when it cannot be determined whether or not said detected fingerprint image is coincident with any of said registered fingerprint images and continues said first light emitting device to be turned on in response to said verification impossible signal; and a drive switch which turns on said second light emitting device in response to said match signal.