Patent ID: 7869624

Claim:
A blood vessel authentication apparatus, comprising: a light emitting section configured to emit source light in a predetermined direction from a first position opposite a part of a person, said part having an epidermal layer and a deep layer beneath said epidermal layer, said deep layer having blood vessels that carry blood; an imaging section including an aperture configured to detect scattered light, the scattered light being a portion of said source light that has penetrated the epidermal layer and is scattered by tissue below the epidermal layer at a predetermined depth within said deep layer, the scattered light being reflected by the deep layer back to the imaging section, said tissue in said deep layer scattering light such that less light is detected in regions corresponding to the blood vessels than other regions without the blood vessels, said imaging section being located at a second position opposite the part of the person and on a same opposing side as the light emitting section; a shield disposed proximate to the imaging section, the shield including an outer surface having a first end and a second end, the first end of the outer surface surrounding and extending directly from the aperture of the imaging section to the second end of the outer surface, the second end of the outer surface having a perimeter edge portion that directly contacts a skin surface of the part of the person such that a direction from which the scattered light reflects back to the imaging section is limited to a direction directly underneath the aperture; and an authentication section configured to authenticate an identity of a person associated with the part based on a comparison of the scattered light detected by said imaging section and blood vessel information previously stored.