Validation of the right to access an object
Inventors
Perna, Steven N. • Clifton, Mark A. • KIM, Jongjin • Varma, Bobby S. • Piro, Stephen J. • Mapen, Barry E. • Richards, Kevin P. • Ackerman, David Alan • Lanzillotto, Ann-Marie • Wade, David J. • Davis, Timothy J. • Fleisch, Michael P. • Bhangley, Jitendra J. • Van Sant, Glen J. • Green, John Timothy
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10042994-B2
Publication Date
2018-08-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., authentication or identity purposes, by comparing a digital iris image to a reference iris image and, if the digital and reference iris images match, transition an object from a locked to an unlocked state to allow access to the object.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention is an iris biometric recognition module and an iris biometric access control device/system that authenticates a person to access an object by aligning an iris imager with an iris of the person, operating an illuminator device to illuminate the iris, and operating the iris imager device to produce a digital image of the iris. The device transitions an access control mechanism coupled to the object from a locked state to an unlocked state responsive to a determination that the digital image matches a reference iris image retrieved from a database.
A central feature is that the digital image is a low resolution image selected from a plurality of resolutions. The matching determination selects a low frequency component corresponding to the low resolution image, where the low resolution image and the low frequency component are the lowest sufficient to identify coarse iris features.
The system further supports receiving an input signal comprising permission to scan an iris, aligning the camera with the iris of a person in proximity to the object, sending a first control signal to activate a synchronous emission of light, and sending a second control signal to activate capture of a plurality of digital images synchronous with the synchronous emission. The iris biometric recognition module is implemented with an iris imager device and illuminator device and is coupled with an access control mechanism to unlock access when a match is determined.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover four inventive features. Across these claims, the core coverage includes authenticating a person using iris alignment, illumination, iris imaging to produce a digital image, comparing to a reference iris image, and transitioning a locked-to-unlocked access control mechanism when a match is determined, with a low-resolution coarse-iris matching strategy selecting a low frequency component corresponding to the low resolution image.
Permission to scan an iris and synchronous illumination capture for locked-to-unlocked access
An input signal comprises permission to scan an iris of a person in proximity to the object, the camera is aligned with the iris, a first control signal activates a synchronous emission of light, a second control signal activates capture of a plurality of digital images synchronous with the synchronous emission, the plurality of digital images is received, a reference iris image is retrieved from a database, and the access control mechanism transitions from the locked state to the unlocked state when a match is determined.
Low resolution coarse iris matching via lowest sufficient low frequency component
A first digital image matches a reference iris image by selecting a low frequency component corresponding to a low resolution image, where the low resolution image and the low frequency component are the lowest sufficient to identify coarse iris features, and the digital image is a low resolution image selected from a plurality of resolutions.
Aligning, illuminating, imaging, comparing, and transitioning access control based on a match
The iris imager device aligns with the iris of the person, the illuminator device illuminates the iris, the iris imager device produces a digital image of the iris, the digital image is compared to a reference iris image, and responsive to a determination that the digital image matches the reference iris image, the access control mechanism transitions from the locked state to the unlocked state.
Method of authenticating via iris alignment, illumination, imaging, comparison, and unlocking
A method aligns a lens of an iris imager device with the iris of the person, operates an illuminator device to illuminate the iris, operates the iris imager device to produce a digital image of the iris, compares the digital image to a reference iris image, and responsive to a determination that the digital image matches the reference iris image, transitions an access control mechanism coupled to the object from the locked state to the unlocked state.
The inventive subject matter centers on iris biometric access control that uses permission-based or person-alignment framing, illumination-synchronized iris imaging to obtain digital iris images, database reference iris image comparison, and locked-to-unlocked access transition upon match, with matching based on selecting a lowest-sufficient low resolution and corresponding low frequency component for identifying coarse iris features.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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