← Back to Patent Explorer
US4924085A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Uneven-surface data detection apparatus

Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-06-23
•
Granted: 1990-05-08
•
Expires: 2009-06-23
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An uneven surface data detection apparatus for detecting an uneven surface, such as a human finger, having projected portions and recessed portions. A transparent base having upper and lower surfaces and an upper surface defining an uneven surface contact portion is provided, and a light is incident on the uneven surface so that the light derived from the recess portions enters to the transparent base and comes out thereof. However, a part of the light derived from the projected portions is totally reflected at least one time by the lower opposite surface and focussing lens is integrally formed on the transparent base so that the totally reflected light is drawn out of transparent base and enters to an image sensor.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masayuji Kato
  • 👤 Seigo Igaki
  • 👤 Fumio Yamagishi
  • 👤 Hiroyuki Ikeda
  • 👤 Takashi Shinzaki
  • 👤 Shin Eguchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 02:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/24; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/117; A61B5/1171; A61B5/1172; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12; G06V40/13; G06V40/1324

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim 171 words
An uneven surface data detection apparatus for detecting an uneven surface having projected portions and recessed portions, comprising: a transparent base having first and second surfaces, at least a part of said first surface defining an uneven surface contact portion; a light source for illuminating said uneven surface on said uneven surface contact portion, said light source simultaneously illuminating said projected portions and recessed portions of said uneven surface, so that the light derived from the recessed portions enters to said transparent base and comes out thereof and, at least a part of the light derived from the projected portions is totally reflected at least one time by the second surface opposite to said first surface; a focussing lens integrally formed on or integrally adhered to said transparent base, said focussing lens being located at a position for drawing said totally reflected light out of said transparent base; and an image sensor arranged outside said transparent base for detecting an image of said uneven surface including said projected and recessed portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 171 words
An uneven surface data detection apparatus for detecting an uneven surface having projected portions and recessed portions, comprising: a transparent base having first and second surfaces, at least a part of said first surface defining an uneven surface contact portion; a light source for illuminating said uneven surface on said uneven surface contact portion, said light source simultaneously illuminating said projected portions and recessed portions of said uneven surface, so that the light derived from the recessed portions enters to said transparent base and comes out thereof and, at least a part of the light derived from the projected portions is totally reflected at least one time by the second surface opposite to said first surface; a focussing lens integrally formed on or integrally adhered to said transparent base, said focussing lens being located at a position for drawing said totally reflected light out of said transparent base; and an image sensor arranged outside said transparent base for detecting an image of said uneven surface including said projected and recessed portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focussing lens comprises a convex lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 58 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, said apparatus further comprising: an iris diaphragm having an aperture, said iris diaphragm being arranged in such a manner that said aperture is located at a position corresponding to a center of curvature radius of said convex lens, so that the light can be totally reflected at an area of said aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said iris diaphragm comprises a metal plate arranged in or adhered to said transparent base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said iris diaphragm comprises a metal film formed by vapordeposition of a metal on said transparent base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said iris diaphragm comprises a rough surface formed on said transparent base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said iris diaphragm is formed by a light absorbing paint film coated on said transparent base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said iris diaphragm is formed on one of said first and second surfaces of said transparent base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said iris diaphragm is arranged inside of said transparent base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focussing lens is integrally formed with said transparent base as a part thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said focussing lens comprises a cylindrical portion having one end integrally connected to said transparent base and the other end integrally formed with a convex lens portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially parallel to each other and said transparent base has a third surface inclined to said first and second surfaces, and said focussing lens is formed on or adhered to said third surface of said transparent base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 63 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially parallel to each other and said apparatus further comprising: a total reflection preventing film having an aperture located at a position corresponding to a center of curvature of a radius of said convex lens, and said total reflection preventing film and said aperture is formed on said third surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 82 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially parallel to each other and said transparent base has a third surface inclined to said first and second surfaces and said third surface is formed as a mirror surface, so that the light once totally reflected by said second surface is reflected by said mirror surface in such a manner that a propagation direction of the light reflected by said mirror surface is directed in the transparent base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 34 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, said apparatus further comprising: a shield box accommodating said image sensor, said shield box comprising a wall, a part of said wall being defined by said iris diaphragm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 54 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said iris diaphragm comprises a metal plate adhered to said transparent base and said convex lens is adhered to said metal plate from the inside of said shield box, in such a manner that said convex lens is integrally connected to said transparent base through said aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 70 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially parallel to each of the and said transparent base has a third surface inclined to said first and second surfaces and said inclined third surface is formed as a total reflection surface or a mirror surface, so that the light at least once totally reflected by said second surface is reflected by said inclined third surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 77 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially parallel to each other and said transparent base has fourth and fifth surfaces substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to said second and first surfaces, respectively, and said inclined third surface is defined between said fourth and fifth surfaces, so that the light reflected by said inclined third surface is then totally reflected, in turn, by said fourth and fifth surfaces.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: a prism arranged between said focussing lens and said image sensor so that the light drawn out of said transparent body passes through said prism.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 49 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transparent base comprises a prism portion therein, said prism portion has a refraction index which is different from that of said transparent base, so that the light at least once totally reflected by said second surface passes through said prism portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source for illuminating said uneven surface is located at the side of said second surface opposite to said first surface on which said uneven surface contact portion is defined, so that the light illuminates the uneven surface through said transparent base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 59 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an object to be detected having said uneven surface is a light transmissible body and said light source for illuminating said uneven surface is located at the side of said first surface on which said uneven surface contact portion is defined. so that the light illuminates the uneven surface through said object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 71 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said object to be detected as said uneven surface having projected portions and recessed portions is a human finger having a fingerprint; said apparatus further comprising: a guide member provided on said first surface for guiding the finger onto said uneven surface contact portion, said guide member being incorporated with said light source so that the light illuminates the uneven surface through said finger.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 76 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said guide member is incorporated with a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, in such a manner that the light emitted from said light emitting element passes through said finger placed on said uneven surface contact portion and is received by said light receiving element, and a part of the light emitted from said light emitting element illuminates the uneven surface through said finger.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said guide member is substantially U-shaped.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 201 words
An uneven surface data detection apparatus for detecting an uneven surface having projected portions and recessed portions, comprising: a transparent base having first and second surfaces, at least a part of said first surface defining an uneven surface contact portion; a light source for illuminating said uneven surface on said uneven surface contact portion, said light source simultaneously illuminating said projected portions and recessed portions of said uneven surface, so that the light derived from the recessed portions enters to said transparent base and comes out thereof and at least a part of the light derived from the projected portions is totally reflected at least one time by the second surface opposite to said first surface; first focussing lens integrally formed on or integrally adhered to said transparent base, said first focussing lens being located at a position for drawing said totally reflected light out of said transparent base; an image sensor arranged outside said transparent base for detecting an image of said uneven surface including said projected and recessed portions; and second focussing lens arranged between said first focussing lens and said image sensor so that the light drawn out of said transparent body passes through said second focussing lens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 201 words
An uneven surface data detection apparatus for detecting an uneven surface having projected portions and recessed portions, comprising: a transparent base having first and second surfaces, at least a part of said first surface defining an uneven surface contact portion; a light source for illuminating said uneven surface on said uneven surface contact portion, said light source simultaneously illuminating said projected portions and recessed portions of said uneven surface, so that the light derived from the recessed portions enters to said transparent base and comes out thereof and at least a part of the light derived from the projected portions is totally reflected at least one time by the second surface opposite to said first surface; first focussing lens integrally formed on or integrally adhered to said transparent base, said first focussing lens being located at a position for drawing said totally reflected light out of said transparent base; an image sensor arranged outside said transparent base for detecting an image of said uneven surface including said projected and recessed portions; and second focussing lens arranged between said first focussing lens and said image sensor so that the light drawn out of said transparent body passes through said second focussing lens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, said apparatus further comprising a prism arranged between said first and second focussing lens.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3975711A Cited
US4728186A Cited
US4684802A Cited
US4785171A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-05-07 1993-11-06 1994-05-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-05-07 1997-11-06 1998-05-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-05-07 2001-11-06 2002-05-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag