Patent US5455968A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6115484A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6115484A
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US
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Economical skin-pattern-acquisition and analysis apparatus for access control, systems controlled thereby
Assignee: Bioscrypt Inc Canada
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Filing: 1999-06-23
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Granted: 2000-09-05
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Expires: 2019-06-23
Abstract
Abstract Surface relief of a finger is read using an optical-fiber prism unit, with fiber terminations at one end to contact the surface, and at the other for light passages along fibers from the first. Light enters where NA<0.5 and fiber diameter is constant with longitudinal position. The device is in a 1.4-2 L case, with a battery or power unit, converter to form a corresponding data array for verifying, digital signal processor to do the verifying, and output to indicate or implement a decision. The optical fiber prism unit has a substantially circular cylindrical wall defining a longitudinal axis, fused optical fibers parallel to the longitudinal axis, a traverser face for output of a skin pattern image from the prism and a generally elliptical angled face for contacting such a skin pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Kent Bowker
- 👤 Stephen C. Lubard
- 👤 John M. Wartman
- 👤 Clive Bolton
- 👤 Stephen G. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12; G06V40/13; G06V40/1324; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/30; G07C9/32; G07C9/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
An optical-fiber imager for use in a skin-pattern analyzer and comprising: an optical-fiber prism having: a substantially circular-cylindrical wall defining a longitudinal axis; fused optical fibers parallel to the longitudinal axis; a transverse face for output of a skin-pattern image from the prism; and a generally elliptical, angled face for contacting such a skin pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical-fiber imager for use in a skin-pattern analyzer and comprising: an optical-fiber prism having: a substantially circular-cylindrical wall defining a longitudinal axis; fused optical fibers parallel to the longitudinal axis; a transverse face for output of a skin-pattern image from the prism; and a generally elliptical, angled face for contacting such a skin pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The imager of claim 1, wherein: the generally elliptical face is at a critical angle for frustrated total internal reflection, relative to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The imager of claim 1, wherein: the generally elliptical face is at substantially forty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The imager of claim 3, wherein: the transverse face is at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The imager of claim 1, wherein: the transverse face is at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The imager of claim 1, further comprising: a cylindrical-section condenser lens, fixed to the cylindrical wall of the prism, for coupling illumination into the prism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The imager of claim 6, further comprising: illumination means for projecting illumination through the cylindrical-section condenser lens into the prism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The imager of claim 7, wherein: the prism and the illuminating means are both supported from the cylindrical-section condenser lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The imager of claim 8, wherein: the illuminating means comprise at least one light-emitting diode fixed to the cylindrical-section condenser lens.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-05 | 2004-03-06 | 2004-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-05 | 2008-03-06 | 2008-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-05 | 2012-03-06 | 2012-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |